The Silva Residence. 8D

His eyes lit up. He stood, grinning. "Really?! What made you change your mind?"

"...I dunno. You just looked so pathetic out there. Now, come on, get up! I'll fix you some breakfast."

Even with the verbal sting of looking pathetic, Nicolas followed her to the Silva house like some lost puppy, saying "thank you so much" repeatedly.

"Yeah, yeah." she then quickly ran upstairs to the bedroom, and came back with an old T-shirt and sweats. "Why don't you take a shower and change into this? You really smell-no offense or anything. The clothes might be a bit big on you though-Max is a lot taller then you. I'll cook you up something while you're showering."

"Thank you again," Nicolas said, graciously taking the clothes and going up to take a shower, closing the bathroom door behind him. He removed his shirt, and jumped back when he saw himself in the mirror. He was a lot scrawnier, and his hair was now grown out to his shoulders and he was pretty gross-looking overall.

Nevertheless, he took a shower. A very long shower.

By the time he had finished with the shower, Ms. Silva had scrambled eggs, toast with strawberry jam, and some pumpkin juice on the table.

"We're just going to throw out those old rags you were wearing early. They're beyond repair-even magically."

Nodding in reply, Nicolas began downing the food. He made sure not to make a mess, as he was a houseguest, but he did eat all of it rather quickly. "That was delicious," he said after he had finished. His face had lit up and he looked rather happy, like a little kid getting a new toy. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this, Ms. Silva."

"Oh it's no trouble." she said shrugging. "Max is only home at holidays and even then he doesn't stay at the house much. He's always busy doing SOMETHING, that boy, so I don't really get a chance to dote on him much. There's always Matt but he's starting to grow up too now... would you like more? You're as skinny as a rail!"

"Yes, I'd love some more!" Nicolas exclaimed, but quickly changed the topic. He didn't want to sound greedy if Ms. Silva was hesitant to let him in in the first place. "And I'd imagine Max would stay home more... I'd always stay around my house during vacations."

Ms. Silva was still talking as she piled more food onto his plate. "I'm not sure, honestly. He used to stay home a lot too. But then he became really involved with his friends-always doing stuff with them. And, I think he has a girlfriend too... very nice girl. I've met her before."

"Oh, yeah! She's in my house. A friend of my girlfriend's, actually." Nicolas began eating, after he was done speaking.

"Oh, really?! How nice! Her name is um, let me think... Gabrielle, right?"

Nicolas looked confused. "No, her name's Libby. Red hair, kind of tall?"

Ms. Silva shook her head. "No no, quite opposite of that in fact... she was more on the shorter side, and she had chest length black hair... maybe a year or two younger then he was? Do you know a girl like that?"

"No," Nicolas said, shaking his head. He swallowed his toast as he registered this in his mind, and then a realization came over him. Unless Max and Libby broke up, Max is cheating on her, he thought. They probably broke up though. They fought a lot... broke up a couple of times, I think. Yeah. That's a logical solution!

"Hmm, maybe she's in a different house then you are. You said you were in Hufflepuff, right? I was in Slytherin, which is odd considering I'm a Half-blood. But still, there are always surprises popping up at Hogwarts!"

"Yes, I'm a Hufflepuff. And not all Slytherins have to be Pure-bloods. Sometimes they let Half-bloods into Slytherin!"

"Yeah, I know that. I'm proof of it!"

Ms. Silva reached over, and patted Nick on the head like he was a little boy, and smiling a bit. "I'm sorry to say but you're in need of a hair cut!"

"I'd agree... just how short, though?"

"We could keep it a little longer, if you want-I think that's the style right now. But it's your choice."

"Nah. Cut it as short as you want. I shouldn't be picky. Besides, if you cut it shorter, it would be longer until I have to cut it again."

"I'll just do it medium length," she said. So that's what she did. She parted it, and gave it a good trim. "There, you don't look quite like a homeless person now."

AND SINCE IT WAS CHRISTMAS TIME, MAX COMES HOME. YAY.

But what was waiting for him in the kitchen, sitting at the table, eating one of Ms. Silva's meals? NONE OTHER THAN NICOLAS HIMSELF, GRINNING HIS SHOTA-LIKE GRIN AT MAX. "Hey, Max! Your mom is so nice!"