Kalli nodded and tried again, this time everything was crystal but there was still fur around the edges and it still had eyes. Sighing, out of happiness more than out of frustration, Kalli turned to Nashita, "Nashita, I'm getting better! I'm actually doing it!"

Leane rolled her eyes as she leaned her hip against the table, facing Matt with her and on her hip as she teased with a wide grin, "Really? What if I told you the spell? Would you cast it?"

.

"I told you that you could do it." Nashita smiled before turning the teacup back again. "Don't get fustrated, just try again. You're doing great." Nashita encouraged.

"Of course." Matthew grinnned. "So what's this spell, smartie pants?" He asked, his hand on his wand

.

Kalli grinned as she tried it again, resulting in the same result as before, only the eyes were gone.

Leane grinned as she wrapped her arm around Matt's shoulder and leaned in, whispering softly, "Well, I'd tell you, but I don't think you could handle it. And then there's the fact that you'd be stuck with a talking rat for your entire life because I don't know the counter spell to negate the effects, nor do I really know how long the spell lasts. You prepared for the commitment?"

.

"See, you're getting better." Nashita grinned.

"Well considering how amazing I am, I'm pretty sure I could handle it." Matthew winked, forcing himself not to think about Leane's arm around his shoulder. She was simply irresistable. If he only leaned in a few inches-

Stop... Matthew told himself before slipping out from under Leane's arm.

.

Kalli jumped in excitement as she finally made the tea cup completely crystal. "Thank you so much Nashita!" Kalli exclaimed as she hugged Nashita with a grin, "I've finally done it!"

Leane sighed as she went back to making the guinea pig turn into a crystal tea cup, "Forget it.. I don't know what your problem is with me, Sommers, but it's seriously getting on my nerves today," Leane said through gritted teeth as she turned the tea cup back into a guinea pig and placed it back into the cage.

.

"I told you." Nashita smiled proudly before returning to her own books.

Sighing, Matthew just shook his head, not bothering to come up with an excuse. "Sorry." He mumbled just as the bell rang. Gliding out the door, Matthew disappeared to the dorms to get his books.

"Hey, did you poke him or something?" Ben joked as he walked over to Leane with Jack at his side.

.

Leane sighed as she packed up her things and fell into step with Kalli, "I have no idea Ben.. He's been acting so strange lately.. He acts as if my very presence annoys mhim and tries to avoid me, while other times it's as if everytyhing's alright. I just don't get it! Has he said anything to you guys?"

.

"I think we might have messed with his head a bit in lunch." Ben admitted shyly to which Jack and Nashita nodded.

"I wouldn't worry about it though." Nashita added. "I'm sure it'll all blow over." She said, not noticing the guarded look that Ben and Jack shared as they walked towards Care of Magical Creatures.

.

Kalli sighed as she looped her arm through Leane's, "Lee, I really wouldn't worry about it. Matt's just a bit confused at the momen, I'm sure everything will be back to normal by morning."

Leane, looking up at Kalli confused herself as they walked, inquired softly, "Confused? About me? Why? What's there to be confused over?"

.

"Its nothing really." Ben said shyly, looking at Jack warily.

"I didn't bring it up." Jack said, his hands in the air.

"Nice, guys." Nashita said, rolling her eyes at the couple. "It was suggested at lunch that Matt has a thing for you." She explained. "And now the idea is in his head is making him at all bonkers."

.

Leane stopped in her tracks and pulled Ben to a halt as well, "What did she just say Benjamin Newvine. Clarify it for me before I shred you to pieces."

"L-lee.. Lee, come on, don't be drastic," stammered Kalli as she hesitantly put her hand on Leane's shoulder, a bit weary of Leane's temper rising and her hair crackling.

"Don't be drastic?! Kalli, Newvine may have just ruined my friendship with Sommers! I love Matt, there's no question, but there's no way he thinks of me as anything other than a sister nor does he feel any differently about me than any of you!"

"Lee, Ben wasn't the only one.. Don't take it out on him.."

.

"Yeah, I mean we were just messing with him and now he's gotten all confused." Ben said, forcing a small smile. "Don't get mad, Lee."

"Its really nothing." Jack said, protectively stepping between Leane and Ben.

"He'll get over it in a few hours." Nashita shrugged. "I wouldn't freak out over it."

.

Letting go of Ben roughly, Leane glared at him, "How could you guys have done such a thing! He's one of my dearest friends and you may have just ruined everything we've built together. Now everything's going to be awkward because we all know he'd never say anything if he did like me.."

Storming away from the group, Leane darted towards the school doors to head down to Care of Magical Creatures.

Kalli sighed as she put her arm around Ben's waist, "Don't worry, Lee will be fine. She just.. she's having a rough time right now and she's not so sure about things.. Finding out about this just kind of.. pushed her over the edge so to speak.. Don't worry, he's not really angry with you. Just give her a bit of time," she encouraged with a smile.

.

"I know." Ben smiled as he hugged Kalli before slipping out of her embrace and returning to Jack's side.

"She'll realize that we didn't mean any harm." Jack assured the group as he opened to doors leading to the grounds for them.

"Do you think Matt really likes Leane?" Nashita asked, working to keep her tone casual. "I mean before we messed with his head."

.

Kalli sighed, "It's possible it might have developed like that.. They've always been close to each other and have always been teasing each other. Not to mention when Lee started getting admirers she didn't want, she'd always pretend she and Matt had a thing going on.. So it's possible on her end, but I'm not so sure about Matt.. what do you guys think?"

.

"I think its possible." Ben shrugged, earning a small nudge from Jack. "But you never know." He added quickly before continuing to walk.

"He does kind of look at her sometimes like he's never seen her before. Kind of like Josh looks at you Kalli but then he'll catch himself and look away." Nashita said shyly.

.

Kalli nodded, "I've noticed that a couple times.. But I don't think that's cause to believe he has feelings for her. He has that kind of far off look a lot lately, not just with Leane," she added with a smile at Nashita.

-

Leane sighed as she slowed her pace and leaned against the stone archway, glad to be at a large distance from the rest of the group, who could only be seen as specks leaving the school from Leane's view, "Honestly.. what are those guys getting at! Matt doesn't like me.. and I only feel sibling affections towards him, right? Besides, it's not like he's asked me to the All-Hallows-Eve-Ball or anything.. if he had then I'd start to wonder about his feelings towards me.. But I guess the question is.. who do I have the bigger crush on?"

.

Nashita gave Kalli a small smile as the group reached Care of Magical Creatures where Matthew was already waiting for them.

"Hey guys." Matt smiled shyly as Nashita, Ben, and Jack walked over to him.

.

"Hey Matt. We're afraid Ben kind of... let it slip that you might like Leane," Kalli said with a sigh, "Speaking of whom, isn't she here yet? She took off ahead of us.. she should have been here by now.."

-

Leane sighed as she trudge along the long route to the Care of Magical Creatures class, taking as long as she could so he'd have less time to get awkward glances from her group of friends.

.

"That's great guys." Matthew hissed. "Now I cna't ask her to the Ball without a whole awkward rejection." He ranted quietly.

Nashita listened quietly to Matthew's rant as she ducked her head.

"I don't know what happened to minding your own business but I really wish some people would start using it." Matthew sighed as he put his face in his hands. "She's one of my best friends. What am I suppose to do now?"

"You could ignore her existence." Nashita said bitterly before standing and running out the door, not caring about class anymore as she ran for her dorm.

.

Kalli sighed as she watched Nashita run off. Looking at Matt, she said softly, "You couldn't have been gentler? If you really do like Lee all that much, just tell her. Knowing Lee, she's confused and afraid things will get awkward between you two fast. She doesn't want to lose you as a friend, she loves you. Just how deep that love runs, only she knows for sure."

-

"Shita?" Leane asked curiously as Nashita darted towards her. As she started to pass, Leane noticed how upset she looked and held out her hand to stop her, "Shita, what's wrong? What happened?"

.

"Well how was I to know that Nash was going to run off?" Matthew sighed.

"Because she obviously has a thing for you." Jack said.

"Wonder why." Ben teased, earning a smack in the arm from Jack.

"Girls are so confusing." Matthew laughed nervously.

~~~

"Nothing's wrong." Nashita said as she sucked in a deep breath to hide how upset she was. "I just, have better things to do. Ditching's healthy once in a while." Nashita said before ducking from under Leane's arm and running off for the Ravenclaw tower.

.

Kalli rolled her eyes as she smacked Matt behind the head, "You're such a dunce. Worse than me."

-

Sighing, Leane let Nashita go, knowing she didn't with to speak right now. Heading down the hill to the group waiting outside Hagrid's Hut. Leane stayed towards the back, debating if she should go near Matt, or if he'd rather her stay away.

.

"If I would've known then I wouldn't have said anything." Matthew shrugged.

"You're just not sensitive enough." Jack laughed.

"Maybe you should turn to guys. Considering you're rotten luck with women." Ben suggested playfully.

"I think I'll stick with women anyways." Matthew laughed. "So where's Lee?" Matthew asked, having not seen her come down.

.

Kalli slightly motioned behind the group as she noticed Leane come in out of the corner of her eye, it was impossible to miss the hair after all.

"Want us to head out so you two can talk?" Kalli asked softly, "Hagrid won't miss you two if you slink out the back for a bit."

.