Hospital Wing

"Yeah." Shadow said to Natalie. She then turned to George. "Ok, but I swear, you go into my mind without my permission, and you'll wish you never did."

"Oh Shadow...behave," said Natalie grinning

"Simple warning." Shadow pointed out. She nudged Raven, who had gone into a trance-like state.

"Hello Natalie Patterson," George said.
"STOP SCARING MY MONKEY!" Holly whinged, "Youre making me sad!"
She frowned to show sadness.
"Look George, only go into Shadows mind when- never....Never go into Shadows mind,"
Then she sent George a telepathic message.
Only when I ask you to
They grinned at each other.

"I heard that." Shadow said with a smile.

Holly jumped.
"Heard what?" she asked, the innocent look not suiting her.
She grinned.
"Fine," she said, "Never,"
Riley laughed again.

Shadow rolled her eyes and nudged Raven again.
"Huh?" Raven said.
"You zoned out on us."
"Oh."

Hayley had wtached the conversation which was taking place. George being scared, Riley and Holly flirting, Raven zoning out, and Natalie doing her homework- nobody being normal. She smiled at the coolness of it all. "So," she said to Riley, "You going with Holly to Hogsmeade?" she grinned.

Riley blushed and glanced at Holly.
"Em....I dunno-"
"Yeah," Holly said, surprising herself, "If you want to yeah,"
Riley smiled.
"Then....then yes,"

"Well, that's settled then. I'll go with Jake, Natalie can go with Gareth, and Holly with Riley" Hayley said."So sweet," she added glancing at them.

"Yay....triple date," said Natalie gleefully.

Hayley smiled.

"Coolness," said Natalie, "so I guess we should assign a meeting point....Madam Puddyfoots (sp?) sound good...at 11 mind...I need to go a give my tranfiguration essay in."

"Yeah, Madame Puddyfoots it is," said Hayley smiling at Jake, "That okay?" she asked. "Aye," he replied.

"Yay," said Natalie enthusiastically

Hayley grinned. 'Finally, a decent relationship,' she thought.

"Finally, a relationship," said Natalie, thinking about Gareth.

Hayley laughed. "Go Nat-Nat," she said grinning.

Shadow watched the plans, smiling slightly.

Hayley grinned too.

"You and Jimbo joining us?" Holly asked Shadow.

"I want to..." Shadow said. "But being allowed? A different matter."

Hayley furrowed her brow. "What do you mean- if you don't mind me asking that is," she said.

"If I lose control of my emotions, I can kill a lot of people. To avoid that, I'm confined to the castle." Shadow answered. "It's the same for Raven."

"Oh," replied Hayley, "I'd hate to have to do that. Is it hard, just staying here?" she asked.

"Raven breaks the rules and leaves the castle. I tend to explore the castle." Shadow said.

"Me too," said Hayley smiling. "I like to explore, especially at night."

Shadow nodded.
"Me too, there are several occasions where I walk around the castle at night. Raven does as well, but it's usually for pranking purposes."

Natalie frown.

"Is that when you hung Al Potter for the astronomy tower...at night?" she asked.

Shadow shook her head.
"Broad daylight. He decided to tease me, and I guess my temper got the better of me. Mcgonnagle's face was terrifying. Mouldy would have run away screaming. Raven's a bit more subtle than that."

"I always liked Al...why did he tease you?" Natalie asked, "He was always nice to me."

"Guess." Shadow replied, shrugging.

"The part-demon thing," said Natalie, "his father would be so diappointed."

"Some people just can't see round it, not that I can blame them." Shadow said.

Holly swallowed.
"Youre not different though," she said thoughtfully, "Well you are....everyone is....but like.....yeah, you knwo what i mean i hope,"

"Everyone always knows what you mean Holly, you have that gift," said Natalie, grinning at Holly.

Shadow nodded.
"I see what you mean. Most people don't hate the Centaur, because they're quite peaceful, or werewolves because they're only dangerous once a month, and they can be controlled. Demons, on the other hand..."

"Demons on the other hand....," Holly repeated, "You never know whats coming with them....,"

"We're always a danger, and very difficult to control." Shadow said.

Holly shrugged.
"But we all know you can control it," she said, "Most of the time,"

"That's because I make sure of it, and I have something that makes me want to hang on to my human side." Shadow said with a smile.

Eliza and Zeke snapped out of their conversation.
"We're part humans too." They murmured.

"Well....I have never felt in danger round you Shadow...Violet Riddle maybe...but never youy," said Natalie, smiling.

Shadow smiled.
"Thanks." She turned to Eliza and Zeke. "What's your other side?"

"Um..." Eliza looked over to Zeke and he nodded. "Faeries. And we don't mind the whole part-demon thing, Shadow, Zeke just..." Eliza struggled to find the right words, "...it's because of the part-human thing. Zeke just finds it harder to control his other half. That's why he snapped and fought you, Shadow."

Shadow shrugged.
"It's ok, we all lose control sometimes. It's just a bit more deadly for some of us." She said.

Holly watched them talking.

Zeke nodded. He sensed the feeling of losing control well up inside him, so Eliza, recognising the symptomes, took him over behind a curtain and performed the well-used ritual of calming Zeke down. They came back, Zeke looking a little subdued and breathing heavily.

Shadow watched this.
"Have you tried taking something to help control your emotions?" She asked.

Zeke sat down and put his head in his hands.
"Yes, we tried." Zeke said shaikily. "I nearly killed Eliza. She was in a coma from the shock." Eliza nodded.
"The way we do it now works best." She said.