Kat wanders in to breakfast. She is late today but gives no reason why. Kat eyes up Marvo

and gets all flustered. "You found a good book to read then? What do you think?"

She wanders a bit closer and then goes all shy. She whispers to Marvo, "So has Lizzy already asked you to accompany her to the ball, or can I get there first?"

Marvo pauses a fork of bacon half way to his open mouth....

He starts to slowly redden and appears he may any second burst into flames! Eventually (to him it seems like hours later) he closes his mouth.

'Erm.... well.... Lizzy won't be asking me, we...she... I... well... we go way back...WAY back. more like brother and sister really... she hasn't... won't that is.... couldn't... erm... no one has... erm...'

He smiles not quiet sure what to say next and wonders just how red it was possibly to go!

Kat grins at Marvo’s response. "You don't need to be so surprised you know! I know Morticia won't ask you now being as she's found someone else. And if Lizzy won't be asking you either then... Well, I mean was there someone else you would have preferred?" Kat starts to blush herself. "Would you like to go with me?"

At first Marvo wants to say 'Why dose everyone think I wanted to have Morticia or Lizzy ask me!' but then Kat asks 'the question' '.....'

Then Marvo Smiles, a very broad smile and takes Kats hand and lightly kisses it. 'My Lady... It would be an honour to escort you to the ball' He bows and then he starts to giggle. 'Oh god! that sounded so lame didn't it?' He starts to blush again.

Kat goes very red and giggles "Why thank-you, kind sir." Kat giggles again. "Ok, I guess we can stop looking embarrassed now..."

Kat decides that she has stood there long enough, and having asked the question she had been sooo nervous about she sighs. "Ok shift up, let me in..."

Kat wriggles in beside Marvo and continues to grin as she picks up a slice of toast. "Morning everyone. So what other gossip is there? Anyone else got a partner yet?"

Marvo, realising for the first time they are not alone at the table blushes more and pushes his plate away.

Morticia laughs at Kat. "Thank you sooo much! It was awful to be the only one with a date, now they can pick on both of us."

Kat grins. "That's ok." Whispers "didn’t want anyone else to get in there first." Kat winks. "So Egreen then?" How did that happen?"

Morticia giggles. "You all surprise me by being so surprised! You know, Cer actually thought I was going to ask MARVO! Can you imagine that?" She laughs, calms down and blushes. "I - well, I just like Egreen... he's very nice and a real gentleman... telling me he likes my hair and stuff, and that he thinks I'm-"She lowers her voice. "attractive!"

"Ooo. That must be nice. I must admit I did wonder about you and Marvo as you seemed to get on so, um, well." Kat grinned. "That sounds a little silly given that you always argued. What are the pair of you going to go to the ball as? Or is it a secret?

<Editor: for continuity’s sake Egreen and Morticia excuse themselves and leave for a few minutes.>

Ceridwyn, after seeing Kat jump on the chance to ask Marvo, knows now why she said what she did in the bookshop. "Kat, I'm sorry I said what I did to you, that was rude, and untrue, however, I don't like Marvo in that way, just intellectually, so you had and have nothing to worry about." Ceridwyn smiles.

And in a moment of courage, speaks out, "Andy, are you going to the ball with anyone yet?" She blushes and looks away, but then turns back, with new found confidence. "If you're not, would you consider going with me?" Ceridwyn nervously takes a gulp of pumpkin juice, and anxiously awaits Andy's response.

"Hi Ceridwyn. I don't think you were the only one who was a bit rude. Thanks. And Sorry. I guess my emotions were running away with me because I like Marvo. Anyway, I guess you know why now." Kat blushes and whispers "Good luck with Andy..."

Andy, surprised at Ceridwyn's question, responds, "No, I'm not going with anyone. I'll go with you. Yea, that'd be great!" Andy was attracted to Ceridwyn and he was excited that she asked him of all people.

Marvo try's to go invisible while this conversation is going on but doesn't seem to be able to remember the spell :-) 'Erm... I just need to pop to the Common room. I'll see you in a bit?' He stands and hesitates for a moment looking at Kat, then steps away

Letitia strolls in , looks at everyone and laughs. 'You lot are pathetic ' she sneers 'Look at you all , *some* of us have been helping our father's to regain control over Evil forces whilst you lot sit and chat. I haven’t been around as much as I would like to have been because of my dads problems , but it is all sorted out now.'

Letitia slumps into a nearby chair and starts to cry 'Its been too much *sniff* , I really wanted to be here *here* but my family comes first *sob* I have missed out on so much of this term and I don’t know how I am ever supposed to cover old ground *sniff*

She pulls out a bright red hanky and noisily blows her nose. 'Where's Egreen?'

Marvo looks intently at Letitia 'What? What control? WHAT Evil Forces?'

Kat looks and Marvo and then at Letitia. "You can't help it can you. Why don't you talk to Professor McGonagall? She might be able to help with the work side of things. You know most of the first part of the year is spent going back over the stuff we did at the end of last year anyway. There hasn't been a vast amount of new material yet. Except in potions of course, you know Snape. Divination has been slow because we've all been in the same class and every lesson something seems to happen. Last time Morticia had a vision which saved Madison...

Anyway, I don't know where Egreen is. Last I saw of him he was heading for the Slytherin common room with Morticia."

With Kat’s interjection it doesn’t appear Letitia will respond to him and he excuses himself to the Common Room. Letitia, who is Gryffindor’s prefect excuses herself a few minutes later to head for Gryffindor Tower.

(Editor appears to be nothing further heard from Letitia though soon after this Marvo takes on the role of Prefect for Gryffindor house – suspicious or what!!???).

**********

Letitia mutters the password and comes into the Gryffindor Common room. 'Yuck, it stinks of fire in here, what the heck have you lot been doing whilst I've been away?'

Marvo returns to the Common Room followed by a House Elf with a tray of breakfast things. He asks Yvette if she is ready for him to try to help her. Yvette looks up miserably and nods. "Why so glum?" he asks.

Yvette takes a piece of toast and nibbles at it every once in a while. "I have the remains with me." She gestures to the bag of ashes on the table, then looks down. "I dunno, life, I guess."

Marvo stops eating. 'You're worried about life? What have you got to worry about? You'll do fine I'm sure.' He rubs his mouth on a napkin.

'Anyway. I was thinking about your book. . I have suspicions about it. Do you have it with you?'

Yvette shrugged absently. "I guess..." She shook her head and reached for the bag, then dumped it on the table. "There!"

Marvo examines the ashes. He looks briefly at Yvette then turns away from her for a moment, still looking at the ashes. 'mmmm....'

He turns back to Yvette. Smiling, an almost mischievous grin. 'This is VERY cleaver you know. You see, these AREN'T ashes!'

Marvo places the ashes on the table and waves his wand over them. 'PRAESTIGIAE RETROAGO'

Nothing happens for a moment and Marvo begins to look confused. Then the ashes start to shimmer and change shape....

Into a book! It is bound in purple silk, the letter on the cover shimmering and changing colour.

'EMBRACING THE ILLUSION'

'Interesting' says Marvo, flicking through its pages, which seems to glitter as they move.

'Looks like you have a very important book here. A number of VERY powerful Illusionary spells.'

He smiles and hands the book to Yvette. 'Be careful with it. Such power often comes at a price'

Then a strange look comes over Marvo's face. 'You'll excuse me... I believe something is going on...'

He starts to leave. Then stops and turns.

'But then again... I'll sure there are a few 'Slithering' that could do with the odd illusion or two' He smiles. Then frowns and leaves.

Yvette stared after with an open mouth, then blinked rapidly. She opened the book and began reading...and learning...and knowing...

*********

Marvo returns to the Great Hall and joins Kat again. He smiles. "So... where were we?'

Kat looked up as Marvo returned. She'd had her nose stuck in the new Pratchett book for quite a while now, and her breakfast had been left half eaten. Strangely the breakfast things had been cleared around her, and a fresh cup of tea had appeared. She hadn't really noticed, she had been so engrossed in her book. She'd mumbled to some of the others as they left.

Now as Marvo entered she noticed and put her book down. Carefully marking the page she had got to with a scrap of paper. Kat grinned. "Why hello again. You were going to suggest some ideas

about fancy dress I think"

"Was it? really? I don't remember that?' He looks suspiciously at Kat and smiles. 'Well... I DO have an idea, but I, that is, I hope it doesn’t sound too, well... Silly...'

He moves closer to Kat to whisper hoping no one can here 'I wanted to go as a.... Pirate' <weak Smile>

"Ooh. Into swash-buckling eh?" Kat grins. "Well it'd be quite easy to make look good. The best I'd come up with was a cat, but being called Kat that was just a little too obvious." "So did you want to borrow some big gold circular earrings?" Kat tries to hide a smile at the thought of Marvo wearing earrings. "Do you suppose that we have to dress on the same theme? If so what could I go as if you went as a pirate? They didn't have female pirates did they?"

'Well I don't know... I don't see you as a pirate anyway. perhaps a princess? but no, That would look just like a ball gown.. erm.. any ideas?' Marvo eyes an extra plate of bacon a house elf has just put on the table <the house elf giggles > but he resists the temptation.

"So you want to see me in a nice dress? Well I suppose that I could always be your hostage. You know, skimpy dress and chained about the collar." Kat grins as Marvo stares open mouthed, and blushes profusely.

"Ok, maybe you're right. How about Aladdin and that Arabian princess, what was her name? Jasmine? That's sort of like a pirate. Or a medieval couple. That'd be quit hard. I could just dress as a pirate but in feminine things I suppose. How about vampires. A muggle vicar and nun? Ooh, I don't know..."

"I think the Aladdin would work, but if you prefer pirates, well..."

Kat notice a fresh cup of tea appear next to Marvo's bacon. "Seems those house-elves have worked you out. Go on eat it!"

Their banter about costumes continues for a while.

Morticia and Egreen return to the room and sit down to talk. A few others drift in:

Morticia's father enters the room and smiles at the children. Then he walks over to Morticia. "Well, my little lark," (Morticia shudders with almost physical agony) "I must be off now, work is calling."

"Already?" Morticia complains.

"I'm sorry, very important things... I must head off to France immediately." He bows down and pecks her on the cheek. "Take care. And please DO at least TRY to get better in Potions. Quidditch is fun, but nothing more."

"Says the former Seeker for the French National Youth Team," mutter Morticia, but she grins.

Mr Lagrand smiles back. "See you around Christmas! I promise I'll be home this year."

He looks at Egreen and smiles. "Mr Gedward junior, I assume? There's a lot of family resemblance... Have much fun at the Midwinter Ball."

He nods at the children and leaves the room. Morticia beams with relief and happiness.

After Morticia's father had gone, everyone currently sat around the table heaves a sigh of relief. Kat remarked: "You'll be glad he didn't ban you from going to the ball then? At least he'll be out of your hair for a bit. You can relax now."