Seclusion. (Open o'course)

[Corey Faulkland]

The talk he'd had with Gallaudet only convinced him to keep his badge. It didn't make coming to terms with what had happened and what he'd done any easier. The badge was burden, curse and blessing, the blessing being this room. He had a retreat the at few knew about and even fewer would ever venture into.

One would find the Gryffindor sprawled out across the couch. After dinner he'd decided it best to simply crash somewhere midway between the tower and the Great Hall. Thus the lounge seemed best. He was tired, but sleep would come with the price of thinking himself there, or, until fatigue took over and he crashed out. It was after all only nine-thirty...he had plenty of time.

"The House looks to me, I can't let 'em down again...especially not now." The boy muttered to himself. He didn't look distressed, actually for the first time in awhile he looked far from. But as was the same with generally everyone else, his surface following April of last year was a weak facade. A wall of illusion that only few knew what was on the other side.

[Drew Thornton]

"You know if you talk to yourself, people will start looking at you funny," Drew commented as he stepped into the Prefect's Lounge. His plan had been to find a quiet place to study and he had sought out the Lounge, hoping the light would be better than the Common Room. He hadn't heard exactly what Corey had been saying when he came in, but had heard the Gryffindor voicing something to the empty room.

[Corey Faulkland]

"Remember to check for first years behind you?" Corey questioned with a small and clearly forced chuckle. Did he have rounds tonight? Merlin he hoped not, as far as he was concerned the aurors could have his rounds. The blokes never slept anyway. Rumour was they had their own coffee room on the ground floor somewhere. He wanted to know where it was, and raid it for his own benefit, and maybe Drew's.

"As to talkin' to meself, well, people already look at me funny. Reminds me, I got a pool on how long the new transfiguration teacher will last, want in?" Corey questioned, small eyebrow raised. All part of a facade, well the pool was real but the rest just a diversion that probably wouldn't stall for long. If anything he'd give it all away in his sleep.

[Drew Thornton]

"The firsties are scared of me," Drew shrugged, plopping himself into one of the more comfortable armchairs. "Someone started a rumor that I'm actually a vampire." He laughed at the idea.

"As for Bloxam? Gone by Christmas, no problem," Drew answered. The professor had the attitude that he'd rather be anywhere else. Those types never lasted long.

[Corey Faulkland]

A vampire? He was just tall, any second year could easily counter the rumour of a vampire with something more meanginful. Giant perhaps, vampire no simply braindead this lot was. "Really now? Why am I not surprised, from what I've seen their a brain dead bunch here on reach relatives except for maybe two or three of em." Corey countered seriously. The sad thing was two of the most braindead in appearance were in Ravenclaw. An omen perhaps? But, moving on.

"So..." He paused, drawing out the word leading up to the inevitable question. It was true, many had actually put in sooner than that like after the first week, but he was still there. Still there, still teaching and still unenthused. "In or out?" The boy inquired, eyebrow remaining as it had prior.

[Drew Thornton]

"Ten galleons on the end of December," Drew answered. The guy struck him as the type that would stick it out for the semester even though he wanted to bail mid- November. "I say he's packed to go by the last class before we leave for break."

[Corey Faulkland]

"Gone by Christmas, would be a ruddy nice present for the lot of us." Corey agreed, generally speaking of course. The man certainly had a care free front. But he wasn't sure just how long that would last, it could only be a rouse, a beginning of term rouse to lure into a false sense of security.

"So, how's O.W.L. year treatin' ya so far Drew? Worn out yet?" He questioned with a small chuckle, it had seemed forever for him, and he knew next year would be worse. But he wasn't sure if he was ready for it. For any of it. Or even if he could get there in one piece.

[Drew Thornton]

"It's tough..." Drew admitted, shaking his head at thye idea that the year had barely started and he was already feeling overwhelmed. "Dang, now, I'm sorry for giving everyone else a hard time. The only saving grace is some of the new teachers kind of went easy on us. And Raynor is out. Dang, I think she would have laid the work on thick if she could."