Emma walked into the bar, her shirt a black tank top with green bra straps, and her jeans weared with holes. Her hair was tied up into a messy bun, and her eyes with darker makeup than usual. She usually would not present herself to public like this, but sometimes change wasnt bad, especially when it was only for one night. She sat down at the bar stool and placed her order of a butterbeer. While waiting, she tapped her black nails on the bar to the beat of the song. She really wanted company, yet at the same time she wanted to be different, she didnt want to blend in with the crowd. She was tired of the everyday gossip of Hogwarts, tired of the endless homework, and tired of people's long excuses. So tired that she had decided to bring herself to a bar, with no one she knew, and to sit herself down and drink. She felt old..really old. She smiled gently at the waiter who brought her her drink. She looked out the window, and watch the rain thud against the windows and doors, while she sat and drank to lonelyness.

Dream walked into Hogs Head through the back door. One of her waiters had called in sick so she had promised to take over his shift. She took off her jacket and put on a half apron. Then she walked out into the main room. She walked up to the waiter on duty and told him to go home for the night. She looked around and was surprised to see a very different looking Emma sitting at the bar. "Hey. you ok?" she asked curiously.

Emma looked up at Dream.."Oh yea I am fine..!" she said with a fake smile, lying through her teeth. "I didnt know you were coming here, or I would have accompanied you on the walk!" she said, taking a sip of her butterbeer. SIghing, she looked around the room, and then back up at Dream.."Have you ever wanted to escape from something, not a real object but more of a idea..?" she asked, looking up at Dream, hoping she would answer.

Leona saw Emma walk into the bar wearing a different style of attire. She seemed sorta upset about something but wasn't sure if it was appropriate to say something. Leona picked up her rum and coke and made her way next to Dream and Emma. She wanted to answer the question directed at Dream but didn't. She took a seat next them hoping it was okay.

Dream listened to Emma's question with a sober look on her face. She watched Leo walk up and sit down beside Emma and Dream grabbed three empty shot glasses. That was a very serious question, and this called for some very serious drinking and girl talk. Dream filled up all three shot glasses with firewhiskey and gave one to Emma and one to Leo, while keeping one for herself. "Yeah I sure have. In fact for some reason, I find myself in that position a lot." she said. "Drinks on me for both of you." she added before tossing back her shot.

Emma was was glad to see Leo sit down next to her, and saw the look on her face.."Dont worry, this look will only last for a very, very short time!" she said with a smile, and was surprised to see a shot in front of her. She smiled up at Dream, and thanked her for her kindness. She quickly drank the shot down after Dream. "I just wanted to be a different Emma for a little bit!" she said with a grin.

Mark walked slowly up to the front of the hog's head and stopped still infront of it. He stood silently by the window with the wind messing his hair up more than usual. He had been away for a long time, too long in his opinion and after noticing school was unusually quiet he decided to head down for a drink (or two!)
He peered through and soon saw the bright colours of both Dream and Leo's hair. Between them at the bar sat Emma, or at least he thought that it was Emma. He couldnt be 100% sure from behind, especially since she semed to be wearing a different style of clothes than usual.

Mark smiled, it would be nice to get in there and see everyone again, that was for sure! He walked up to the door and it swung open with a push. He walked up behind his three friends, he was sure that they hadnt noticed him yet. As he approached he saw for definite that it was Dream, Emma and Leo sat there so he stretched out a hand, tapped Emma on the shoulder. "Did you all miss me?" He asked cheekily with a grin.

Ankaa had been skulking outside the bar, trying to decide whether to go in or not. Just as she was deciding she saw Mark stroll up and burst through the doors. She decided to follow him in. Quietly she slipped through the door just before it shut. She looked around the bar, there weren't many people in but tonight she didn't feel very sociable. She quickly scooted off to a dark corner and sat down in the shadows.

She desperately wanted a drink but as she looked over towards the bar she realised she would have to get up and go over there to order one, and that involved talking to people. She sighed and got up and plodded over to where Dream, Emma, Leo and Mark where.

"Hi guys" she mumbled as she pulled a stool up to the bar and sat with her elbows leaning on the bar and her head in her hands. "Couple of shots for me too Dream please."

Dream was so busy listening to Emma that she didn't even realise that two more people had come into the bar until Mark was standing in front of her, tapping on the back of Emma's shoulder, and Ankaa was sitting at the bar asking for a shot. "Hey guys!" she said with a grin. "We missed you." she said to Mark. She grabbed two more shot glasses and filled them up. She slid one down to the bar to Ankaa and handed the other one to Mark. Then she refilled her own and Emma's. "There's nothing wrong with being different the your norm once in awhile, Emma." she said. Then she saw the look on Ankaa's face. "What's wrong Ankaa?" she asked.

Emma felt a tap on her shoulder and knew by the way it was tapped it was of a male. She quickly thought, her possible choices were Mark, Christiaan, Jahn or Remy. Two of the boys she would hex to the ground, one she would not be surpised at, and the other she would be surprised to see. Turning around, she was happily surprised to see Mark. "Hey, Its great to see you!" she said, giving him a hug from her seat. Looking over she saw Ankaa join them, "Hey" she said, and then turned to Dream.."I may look different but atleast I dont have the sad looking face that Ankaa is wearing right now!" she said grinning. She hadnt laughed in a long time.

Leona took the shot gratefully and accioed herself a lime for a chaser. she smiled quickly at Mark and Ankaa, and like the others noticed that something was wrong with her. She didn't say anything to the slytherin but knew she would speak up when ready. Leona began fumbling with her clothes trying to entertain herself wihle the others talked.

Dream watched Emma and Mark reunited and she gave another worried look to Ankaa. Then she noticed Leo shuffling around a bit. She pointed her wand at the front door and the open signed changed to say "Private Party". Then she reached into the cash register and took out a large handful of coins. She dumped them in front og Leo and said "Why dont you play some music for us. A lot of blues, country, jazz, soulful music. Make sure that Me & Bobby McGee and Take another Little piece of my Heart by Janis are in the mix, ok?" she said to her.

Ankaa downed her shot and sighed. Dream had asked her what was wrong but she couldn't really put her finger on it, she was just out of sorts.

"Well, I'm not totally sure, I'm feeling a bit down really. I love my friends here and all but I feel like something's missing, just a bit sort of disconsolate, pathetic, I dunno, it's hard to explain."

She smiled weakly round the group and summonsed a pile of gold coins from her pocket and piled them up in front of her on the bar, listening to the sad music.

"I think I'll have the rest of that bottle if you wouldn't mind Dream."

Dream turned back to Ankaa as she began to speak. She nodded a little, having felt the same way lately. Then she watched Ankaa take a pile of gold and put in front of her and say she wanted a whole bottle of firewhiskey. Dream grabbed a new full bottle and pulled the cork out of it before handing it to Ankaa. "Your money's not good here tonight so keep it. Drinks are on me." she said softly. "I know what you mean though. I've been feeling kind of weird myself. I dont know what's wrong, but I'm easily irritated at the moment and find myself avoiding the situations when they arise instead of confronting them which I usually do."

Leona listened in on her friends that seemed to be in a rut. She felt sad for them, but knew that wonderfully changes would come, they always did at the end of a stalemate of the soul. Leona put the songs on the jukebox and added the Pink song U and Ur Hand, feeling that it would be appropriate. She then perused more of the muggle classic rock having a field day not coming upon an artist she didn't like.

Mark returned the hug that Emma gave from her seat before smiling at the shot Dream had just pushed in his direction. He picked up the little glas before tlting it in Dreams direction and drinking it in one. Putting the glass back onto the bar he looked around at the faces sat around him. With the exception of Leo there did seem to be a certain air of disheartedness, something different about the friends around him, seems like Mark had come to the right place after all.
"Judging by the faces around here, were gonna need a lot of fire whiskey!" he joked as he took a seat at the bar too. He pulled out some money and gave it to Dream for another bottle. "Youre taking the money and that final" he said before Dream even had the chace to say otherwise. "Last thing we need is the Hogs head shutting down because you gave us guys too much free drink!" he said with a smile

Dream watched Leo get up and put some music on. Then Mark picked up his shot glass and gave her a silent toast. She smiled back at him, happy to see her favorite guy housemate back in action again. As he pulled out some money and mentioned needing more firewhiskey, she opened her mouth to object to him paying, but he cut her off adamantly, and she shut her mouth. She refilled the shot glasses and lifted hers up in the air. She looked over at Leo to make sure she was included in the toast as well. "Here's to a happy return for Mark, and company in misery for the rest of us." she said.

"Mozeltov," Leo said quickly taking the rest of her drink as she finished up her music selection with Guns N' Roses. Leona loved that band, and she hoped she did a good job picking out the music. Her friends always told her that she excellent tastes in music, and she hoped t was so, she didn't want to gang to seem worse.

"Wow, we're all really bummed out aren't we? I thought I was the only one who felt like I was walking round under a cloud. Thank God I've got you guys."

Ankaa raised a half smile and toasted everyone

"To drowning our sorrows"

She downed her drink and shook her head as it burned down her throat

"After a few more of these I'll either be suicidal or feel like dancing, just never sure which!"

Dream smiled at Leo and Ankaa and then downed her own drink. She hissed as the fiery liquid burned down her throat. She loved that part. When she heard Ankaa's comment about more drinks and she'd feel suicidal or like dancing, Dream grabbed the bottle of firewhiskey in front of her, and poured new shots for everyone. "Let's find out, and whatever it is, we'll do together." she said cheekily. She picked up her glass again and neatly tossed back that shot as well.

Jojo had already been sitting alone in the Hog's Head when Emma entered, looking completely differnt from her usual self. Taken aback, Jo didn't know what to do, just sitting there and staring. More people arrived, and they all had a different reaction to Emma.
Somehow, though, Jo could relate to the new look. She had pretty much been feeling like how Emma looked the past few days, even weeks, but just covered it up and went on with her life pretending to be normal.
When Dream changed the sign on the door to "Private Party", however, and the others started to gulp down firewhisky, Jojo decided to let her presence be known.

"Hi guys." she said with a small smile that twitched back into an expressionless line.
"I was in here already, but ... if you want me to leave, I will..." she continued, nodding her head towards the sign on the door.

Dream was startled as she heard a voice pipe up from somewhere in the room. She turned and saw Jojo sitting there and she grinned at her comment. "No dont leave! Private party just means friends only cause drinks are free. I'm not paying for strangers, but everyone from the group is welcome to join and drink." she said with a wink as she filled up a shot glass of firewhiskey for Jojo. "Come join us and have a drink." she said as she pushed the shot glass forward in invitation.

Emma smiled when Jo joined them. She saw Dream pouring out more drinks, but waved her hand to show she didnt want anymore. "I would, but I have seen what getting drunk can do to you, and I really dont want to relive that experience!" she said meekly, remembering the reason she and her sisters ran away from their father. Smiling, she looked up.."See I am still my old, concious, protective self, just with a new look!" she said jokingly. She didnt want her friends to think she was a wimp about not having anymore to drink, so she added.."My dad is an alcoholic.."

Jojo grinned back at Dream and Emma as they invited her to stay.
"Thanks," she murmered, taking the glass of firewhisky Dream pushed toward her and closing her eyes as she gulped some down and her throat sizzled.
Her smile disappeared, however, when Emma mentioned her dad.
Lowering her eyes to the ground, Jojo winced at the words, and looked back up at Emma, staring at her sadly.
Still watching Emma carefully, Jo took a few more sips of firewhisky, making sure not to drink too much, for she, too, had seen what being drunk could do to people.

Emma glanced over and saw the expression on Jo's face. She knew what Jo was thinking, and couldnt help but be thankful for her friend. Looking down at her hands, she laughed and grinned looking at everyone.."Black isnt really my color is it?" she said jokingly. Smiling, she noticed Mark had been quiet.."You've been really quiet.."

Mark picked up another shot glass as the others talked around him, he picked it up and put it to his lips, 'my dad is an alcoholic' he heard Emma say. He looked sideways at her before putting the glass back down on the table without drinking it. Seems people here had bigger problems than him. As he pushed the shot glass away Emma spoke to him.
"Me quiet? That must be a first right?" he asked with a grin. He had a question that he had been wanting to ask Emma foe a while now but wasnt sure if now was the time. Instead all he managed was "But im ok really, i dunno why but i never seem to get into the spirit of Haloween as much as most magical folk do!"

"Yea it must be a first!" she said jokingly. She looked at him curiously, she found it odd that he was quiet because he was thinking about Halloween. "It's actually my favorite holiday!" she said with a grin on her face. "I dont know why, I've always like Christmas, but there is just something about Halloween.". She paused trying to think of the right way to say it. Continuing her sentence, she said.."It is so scary and magical, its almost intriguing!"

Mark listened intently as Emma explained her love for this holiday. "Yeah i know, thats exactly it. As magical folk most witches and wizards love Halowwen but im not the worlds biggest fan to be honest." Mark had grown up in a mainly muggle environment and had a feeling this had something to do with it. "I remember all the muggle kids getting really into it when i was growing up and i guess it took some of the real magic away from it for me." he said, before realising that was a pretty unenthusiastic way to look at things.
Trying to lift his spirits about the holiday he continued, "But all the things we have going on in the castle this year should make things more interesting. The feast and ball and that." He played nervously with his hands as he contemplated his next statement, "so..errr, are you going to the ball then?" he asked turning to face the shot glass hoping to mask some of the slight coloring of his cheeks.

Dream heard all the talk about alchoholics and saw Mark push away his glass. Good thing they werent paying or business would have just gotten really bad. She didnt have a lot of experience with alcholics unless she was talking about herself, but she wasnt that bad. It wasnt her fault she could hold her liquor better than most people, and it made it perfect for owning a bar so she wasnt complaining. Then she heard Emma and Mark talking about Halloween. "Oh it's my favorite holiday too Emma!" she said enthusiastically. "Dont worry Mark. You'll have a blast. It's by far the best holiday of the year at Hogwarts. Maybe we can do something extra special for you to make sure you get into the spirit." she added impishly.

Emma glanced at Mark for a quick second before she answer his question. She didnt really understand what he was getting at, but answered the question truthfully. "Yes I was planning on going, but no one has asked me yet, so right now I am a loner." she said jokingly. Then looking back up at him, she asked, "Are you going?"...

Mark was surprised to hear that Emma would be going to the ball alone. "Really? I thought that you might have been going with Rupin after....well you know" he said getting redder in the cheeks by the second. His hand reached out to the shot glass he had put down afew minutes ago, before putting it to his lips and downing it in one. Maybe it was to settle his nerves, or for abit of 'dutch courage' he wasnt quite sure.
"but yeah i'll be going. By myself too by the looks of things" he said with a nervous laugh as he glanced across to her. "You know....." his nerves got the better of him. "...ah nevermind." he finished. Mark couldnt believe what a baby he was being, he was usually as outgoing and outspoken as they come!
"Refill please" he asked dream as he lifted the shot glass in her direction.

Emma rolled her eyes..."Rupin...Rupin who? He's nice..but Ankaa suits him best!" she said bitterly. "I ended it, rather quickly!" she added. She stared down into her water for a moment, watching her own reflection, and heard Mark order for a refill. Hearing the horrible silence, she looked over to Jo for encouragement. Taking a deep breath, she recomposed herself and looked back at Mark "Do you have a outfit for the ball yet..or are you just wearing a tux?" she said casually triyng to make conversation.

Mark listened as Emma mention Rupin and Ankaa, this was a development he wasnt aware of. "Oh, i didnt realise that you'd ended it." he said truthfully to her with a small smile he attempted to hold back. "Im sorry....kinda" he said but this time he couldnt hold the smile back. Hearing about the untimely demise of Emma and Rupins relationship seemed to cheer him up no end. Emma then asked him about this outfit for Halloween.
"Well ive got a costume planned out for the competition, but i think im gonna wear a tux for the ball. It's gonna be a formal thing i think." Mark had decided that if he was going to ask Emma to the ball, now was as good a time as ever. "If your really that interested then you could always go with me and find out for yourself." he said with a grin as his heart pounded heavily in his chest. "but its up to you of course" he added quickly.

Jojo's eyes widened at Mark's words and spit out her firewhisky in a huge spray all over Mark and Emma. She tried not to swear as the drink dripped down her chin and all over her outfit. "FINALLY!" she burst out, turning red with embarrassment, then quickly added, "This means you guys are a couple now, right?" she said hopefully. Jo knew about what had happened with Rupin and Emma and Ankaa, and she had been almost as mad as Emma about it.
Realizing that Emma, Mark, and herself were soaked in firewhisky from her mouth, Jo stood up so quickly that the chair she had been sitting on fell over. She picked it back up, and looked meaningfully at Emma, then looked at Mark.
She knew that Emma's answer was a yes, but decided to let her friend say it herself. "Ok, Emma, once you answer, I'll meet you in the bathroom.. to.. well, change." she said bluntly, looking down at her own soaked clothes then at Emma's, then stared at Emma meaningfully as she walked away towards the bathroom.

Emma smiled sweetly, and was just about to answer when she felt her shirt become wet. Looking down at total surprise, she saw that she was drenched in firewhiskey, she looked up to see Mark dripping wet too, and poor Jo blushing deep red. Rolling her eyes, she again tried to answer Mark, but was quieted by Jo yelling "Finally". Looking at Jo, she then said back.."Yes I will Finally answer him, if you Finally stop interuptti.." but again was interuptted by Jo babbling. Smiling sweetly at her friend, she said.."I will meet you in the bathroom soon!". Getting up to follow behind Jo, she walked over and whispered in Mark's ear.."Yes!". Following behind Jo, she entered the bathroom, and quickly accio new clothing. After cleaning up, she walked back out in a pink tank top, jeans and she was back to her normal brown curly hair pulled back into a pony tail. Sitting back down..

Dream listened to the conversation going on between Emma and Mark, and deliberately kept quiet, sensing all kinds of undercurrents going on. It was hard to see where Mark was leading things, and it was rather amusing to watch him stumble over his tongue so many times. he was usually as cool as they come. Hearing him ask for a drink, she poured it for him. Before she could hand it to him, he had asked Emma and JoJo had asked if it meant they were a couple. Her eyes widened in surprise and once Emma and Jojo had left for the bathroom, she turned to Mark. She handed him his shot. "Maybe you need a double?" she asked.

Ankaa was surprised when Mark asked Emma to the ball, right in front of everyone, and surprised again when she accepted. She raised her glass to them as she slowly slurred

"I'll drink to that. Congratulations guys."

Then she got up and patted Mark on the back and wandered off to the toilets to find Emma. She waited outside until she came out because she wanted to speak to her out of earshot of all the others.

Emma came out of the bathroom waiting for Jo to catch up. She saw Ankaa, also waiting for her. Sighing, she put on her best smile and walked over to Ankaa. "Hi, Can I help you..?" she said meekly. Looking around, she could see that Dream was re-filling up Mark's drink, and looked back to see if Jo was coming. "Where is that girl and her mouth when you need it!" she said to herself in her head. Finally her gaze, came back to Ankaa..

Jojo was surprised at how quickly Emma had changed into other clothes and went back out. She accio some new clothing for herself, a light aqua 3/4 sleeve shirt with ripped jeans. Walking out while fixing her hair into a high ponytail, Jo saw Emma standing with Ankaa. Jo hurried over to the two, not caring if they were talking about something important, and ended up right next to Emma, saying loudly, "Come on, we should get back to the others.."

Ankaa took a deep breath as Emma came out of the toilets and stopped to speak to her. This was the moment when she'd find out if Emma was still her friend

She suddenly didn't know where to start and stuttered

"Look Em, about Rupin, I didn't realise, I didn't mean...aw hell, I suppose you're mad at me anyway, I guess I'm just trying to apologise but I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to know."

She looked sadly at Emma to see what her reaction would be. Ankaa fully expected her to walk away from her at the very least, and probably cast some kind of hex on her for good measure. Ankaa knew if she herself was in Emma's position she would be sorely tempted to cast a skunk-smell spell, but she kept her hands clasped together, prepared to face whatever Emma threw at her.