While she would usually spend the early afternoon in the greenhouses working on a hybrid experiment or simply tending to her own plants she had growing in there, Paige found herself in the garden of her Head of House instead. No real reason other than she had allowed her feet to take her where they willed. Maybe it was the momentary release from an academic setting? The feeling that, rather be in a place that tended to structure itself around academia, she was in a place that was a reflection of another's passions.

Walking along, her hand gently running itself over the leaves and petals of the flora as she went, the Hufflepuff knelt down in one area and dipped her fingers into the soil and smiled. The ground was well loved here...although there was a sense of something intruding...which cause her blue eyes to glance around the area until they fell upon a small patch of intrusive green that she was sure Professor Myers had not intended to be a part of his garden.

Removing her fingers from the ground, dirt caught under her finger nails, Paige scooted closer and began using both hands to lift the weeds out of the ground, roots and all.

Mason had not been sure at first if he could enter this garden. After all, the sign said 'Professor Myer's garden' and not 'free for all garden' and if he wasn't allowed inside he'd simply say that he thought he could enter and would apologise. No harm in doing that. However, it was at that moment that a girl with a Hufflepuff badge walked past him and began to take care of the flowers.

Either she had not seen him or he had been ignored.

He watched her for a moment as she walked around and tested the dirt with her fingers. Whatever she was doing, she seemed to be smiling so that was a good thing right?

"It would go much faster if you used magic" he said as he gotten closer and stood next to her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

Mason had not been sure at first if he could enter this garden. After all, the sign said 'Professor Myer's garden' and not 'free for all garden' and if he wasn't allowed inside he'd simply say that he thought he could enter and would apologise. No harm in doing that. However, it was at that moment that a girl with a Hufflepuff badge walked past him and began to take care of the flowers.

Either she had not seen him or he had been ignored.

He watched her for a moment as she walked around and tested the dirt with her fingers. Whatever she was doing, she seemed to be smiling so that was a good thing right?

"It would go much faster if you used magic" he said as he gotten closer and stood next to her.

Paige had no idea she had not been alone in the garden - never the sort to purposefully ignore someone unless outright demanded to do so - so when a voice came from such close proximity she nearly jumped right out of her skin. Her fingers had been nearly knuckle deep in the soil, gently massaging the roots of the weed, so bit of earth flung every which way when they came shooting out of the ground as she jumped back.

"P-pardon?" she squeaked, wiping her bangs to the side and smudging her forehead with dirt in the process. "Oh...um...I prefer to do this sort of thing by hand. Roots can be quite delicate and magic does not always compensate for such details." Had she gotten dirt on him? Eep. "S-Sorry about any dirt..." she apologized, flicking some off his shoulder. "I didn't know anyone else was here."

He had not meant to scare her, he really hadn't but Mason had to bite his lower lip to not laugh at how startled she had gotten and how bits of earth had flung around after she had jumped back.

He couldn't argue her reason for not using magic to pull out the weeds as it made sense to him as well and before he could ask if she needed help, her hand was on his shoulder and he leaned back a little because he did not like it when someone was in his personal space. "That's okay" he said as he brushed the last bits of dirt off of his robe. "You uhm, you got some dirt" he pointed to his own forehead "Right there"

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

He had not meant to scare her, he really hadn't but Mason had to bite his lower lip to not laugh at how startled she had gotten and how bits of earth had flung around after she had jumped back.

He couldn't argue her reason for not using magic to pull out the weeds as it made sense to him as well and before he could ask if she needed help, her hand was on his shoulder and he leaned back a little because he did not like it when someone was in his personal space. "That's okay" he said as he brushed the last bits of dirt off of his robe. "You uhm, you got some dirt" he pointed to his own forehead "Right there"

So offense would have been had were he to have laughed outright...although his reaction to her cause the Hufflepuff to feel as though he had just offended him unintentionally. "S-Sorry," she softly squeaked again, taking note that he did not point to her forehead but rather his own just now. "Huh? Oh." Laughing softly, Paige used the sleeve of her robes to wipe her brow. Robes could always be washed later.

"I'm Paige, by the way," she smiled. "Paige Skeeter. I would...um...offer my hand but..." She paused to look down at them, dirt covering her palms and caked underneath her fingernails. "...the sentiment is there."

He shook his head and waved his hands to gesture that she shouldn't say sorry. "No need to apologize, i simply get a bit uncomfortable when people get to close unannounced." Like she had done earlier to brush of the dirt from his shoulders. "The gesture was nice though" he smiled, "I just got startled a bit so i guess we're even now" he laughed.

Paige, so that was her name? "Mason Winslow" he greeted. "I transfered here this year" in case she was wondering. Looking down at the dirty hand , the Ravenclaw held out his own. "I'm not that weird that i cant shake your hand" even if it was covered in dirt.

"Need any help with removing these weeds? You may need to tell me how its done though, i don't want to damage the plants" He didn't pay that much attention to Herbology classes. Sorry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

He shook his head and waved his hands to gesture that she shouldn't say sorry. "No need to apologize, i simply get a bit uncomfortable when people get to close unannounced." Like she had done earlier to brush of the dirt from his shoulders. "The gesture was nice though" he smiled, "I just got startled a bit so i guess we're even now" he laughed.

Paige, so that was her name? "Mason Winslow" he greeted. "I transfered here this year" in case she was wondering. Looking down at the dirty hand , the Ravenclaw held out his own. "I'm not that weird that i cant shake your hand" even if it was covered in dirt.

"Need any help with removing these weeds? You may need to tell me how its done though, i don't want to damage the plants" He didn't pay that much attention to Herbology classes. Sorry.

His words honestly just made her want to apologize more, but she was going to try to refrain from doing so. Although that was a promise that was hard for her to keep. Apologizing and thanking. "I guess so," she laughed. She could probably leave the thoughts at that, however, with karmic debt breaking even.

"Mason," she repeated with a nod, soon to be followed by an apology that would slip out before her brain could even process she was doing so. "Sorry...I...may have also assumed that dirty hands were a bit unappealing as well." So...this time she extended her hand properly for him to accept, completely announced this time so all was well. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

Glancing over her shoulder, Paige felt a bit terrible for the discarded weed that had been abandoned during the small tussle and quickly knelt down to scoop it up with her bare hands. "Oh, sure. That would be much appreciated," she chirped, by herself and Professor Myers as well. "I was going to replant these in out on the grounds somewhere rather than put them in compost...and I prefer to work with my bare hands but....you are under no obligation to." She glanced around a bit and spotted a square pot a few yards away. "Could you...start my handing me that planter over there? Please?"

Mason laughed as Paige extended her hand as well and he shook it. Did this mean he had made a new friend? He hadn't made a new friend since meeting Janelle on the train. He also wanted to ask why she was saying sorry so much but he refrained from asking in case it made her uncomfortable. Maybe she didn't even want to say sorry and it was just an instinctive reaction. Like how pulling first years in to the Great Lake when being pranked was his. ......ahem..."Thanks" he said instead as she welcomed him to Hogwarts.

Looking at the discarded weed on the ground as well, Mason wasn't surprised when the girl knelt down again and picked it up with her bare hands. "I'll use my hands as well, if you say its better for the plants" He said but then did take out his wand to summon the planter she mentioned.

Too lazy to walk.

"Here" he placed the planter down next to her on the ground and knelt down himself before carefully tugging on the weeds with his hands as well. "Where on the Grounds did you have in mind?" he asked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

Mason laughed as Paige extended her hand as well and he shook it. Did this mean he had made a new friend? He hadn't made a new friend since meeting Janelle on the train. He also wanted to ask why she was saying sorry so much but he refrained from asking in case it made her uncomfortable. Maybe she didn't even want to say sorry and it was just an instinctive reaction. Like how pulling first years in to the Great Lake when being pranked was his. ......ahem..."Thanks" he said instead as she welcomed him to Hogwarts.

Looking at the discarded weed on the ground as well, Mason wasn't surprised when the girl knelt down again and picked it up with her bare hands. "I'll use my hands as well, if you say its better for the plants" He said but then did take out his wand to summon the planter she mentioned.

Too lazy to walk.

"Here" he placed the planter down next to her on the ground and knelt down himself before carefully tugging on the weeds with his hands as well. "Where on the Grounds did you have in mind?" he asked.

"Thank you," she replied with a small smile, quickly and gingerly setting the weed and all accompanying soil into the planter. "This patch right here seems to be the only spot where weeds have popped up...as far as I can tell at least." It was an awfully large garden, after all.

Scooting a bit more to the side to give him some room to squeeze his arms and hands into the area, Paige began pushing and wiggling her fingers into the soil around another weed. "Do you have an interest in Herbology?" she asked, blue eyes flicker upwards towards him as she massaged the soil. "Or just looking for a quiet place to relax?"

And yes, Mason, you could consider Paige Skeeter a friend. She was easily won over.

Digging through the dirt with his bare hands next to Paige, Mason couldn't help but smile a little at the activity. He enjoyed being productive and there was something quite satisfying about pulling the weeds out of the ground. "Can i ask what year you're in?" he asked as he moved his hands to pull on what he thought were weeds but was actually one of the good plants.

Unaware of what he was doing, the Ravenclaw digged further to find the plants roots and was already tucking on it as he answered her question. "Nah, i'm more interested in Defence" he said, talking about Defence Against the Dark Arts. "I was exploring the Grounds" he said and with a mighty tuck he ......

......pulled out the roots of the lavender and held it at eye height.

"And i saw you entering the garden which i wasn't sure about if the students could so i followed" ok that had sounded a lot less creepier in his mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

Digging through the dirt with his bare hands next to Paige, Mason couldn't help but smile a little at the activity. He enjoyed being productive and there was something quite satisfying about pulling the weeds out of the ground. "Can i ask what year you're in?" he asked as he moved his hands to pull on what he thought were weeds but was actually one of the good plants.

Unaware of what he was doing, the Ravenclaw digged further to find the plants roots and was already tucking on it as he answered her question. "Nah, i'm more interested in Defence" he said, talking about Defence Against the Dark Arts. "I was exploring the Grounds" he said and with a mighty tuck he ......

......pulled out the roots of the lavender and held it at eye height.

"And i saw you entering the garden which i wasn't sure about if the students could so i followed" ok that had sounded a lot less creepier in his mind.

"Seventh," she replied, pushed her fingers further into the earth not that she had loosened up the soil until her knuckles brushed against the surface. "Yourself?" Although perhaps an answer she would know had she paid more attention during the Sorting this feast. Her attention had been on Ravenclaw for a time, but for very different reasons involving some sort of confrontation between Dieter and her step brother. Something she was still to nervous to ask the latter about.

Speaking of paying attention, she REALLY should have been keeping a more watchful eye on what her impromptu gardening companion was doing. Unfortunately, by the time she realized which 'weed' it was that he was uprooting...he was already holing it up at eye level. Which, good for him, caused her to miss the borderline stalkerish response to why he was in the garden right now.

"Mason," she hissed, her tone high pitched and very squeaky. "That isn't a weed! That's lavender...it's supposed to be here. We need to replant that!"

She was a seventh year? Mason looked at her for a second before turning his gaze back to the dirt. He had honestly thought that she was a fifth year , maybe sixth, but seventh? No. "You must be excited to graduate" he said. "what do you want to do after Hogwarts?" did she want to work? Continue studying? What? "And i'm a fifth year he added.

"W-What?" the guy stuttered as Paige suddenly hissed his name. Tone high pitched and squeaky. It reminded him of how his own mother sounded when he had done something wrong and she was angry with him.

And then, as he looked at the plant still in his hand, he shrugged his shoulders and placed it back down. "No big deal, we'll just plant it back and Professor Myers would never even know"

......eeehmmm..."How do you put it back in the ground?" he asked , scratching his neck. Had he ever told her that he never really paid attention to Herbology?

Toddles comes out and helps master Meyer. Toddles helps water plants. Toddles likes plants. Soo pretty and smelly. Toddles like smells. Toddles likes helps outside. Toddles loves smells of things.

Sometimes Owen cooked. Sometimes Owen ate. Sometimes Owen jogged or ran...and other times Owen visited Professor Myers' self-claimed garden to do a bit of studying or just to chill. It was the perfect place for chilling, he had to admit, especially when Professor Myers was out and about playing his banjo.

So, yea, Owen was there that afternoon, layng on the grass, ankles crossed, one arm behind his head and an opened textbook covering his face. He thought he noticed someone approach so the badger picked up the book from his face, sat up and saw Toddles milling about. "Hey, Toddles. What you up to?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

She was a seventh year? Mason looked at her for a second before turning his gaze back to the dirt. He had honestly thought that she was a fifth year , maybe sixth, but seventh? No. "You must be excited to graduate" he said. "what do you want to do after Hogwarts?" did she want to work? Continue studying? What? "And i'm a fifth year he added.

"W-What?" the guy stuttered as Paige suddenly hissed his name. Tone high pitched and squeaky. It reminded him of how his own mother sounded when he had done something wrong and she was angry with him.

And then, as he looked at the plant still in his hand, he shrugged his shoulders and placed it back down. "No big deal, we'll just plant it back and Professor Myers would never even know"

......eeehmmm..."How do you put it back in the ground?" he asked , scratching his neck. Had he ever told her that he never really paid attention to Herbology?

His eyes somewhat gave away his thoughts, at least the emotion reflected there was surprise, which cause the Hufflepuff to smile slightly. Honestly, were she to know his thoughts, she may not have been all that surprised. "Surprisingly...yes," she laughed. Something she hadn't imagined for herself even last term when it came to facing her final term. But Merlin was she ready to move on and to the next chapter in her life. "Healing studies at London WU hopefully. I've put in my applications already...for early acceptance...so hopefully everything will be figured out by February." So that way she didn' have to worry about that on top of final exams and NEWTs.

Fifth year. That...had been a confusing time for her. Very confusing. "OWL year. They aren't as terrible as people make them seem."

Okay...so THAT look he had now was rather unpleasant...but he has just ripped a helpless lavender from its home! She had HEARD about what had happened when Daxton Prince had torn up the greenhouses - granted this was miniscule compared to that - and Paige would rather not see a grown man weep. The amount of karmic debt that would earn them both was...well...they best just find the lavender a new home before that happened.

"EEEP! Here, give her to me and make a small hole right there," Paige instructed, pointing to an area AWAY from there weeding section. Because how ELSE did you put something back in the ground?!

Totally not panicking. Totally not.

The garden was a place that Noelle had been to, to study whenever the common room had become to stuffy. She was heading out there now, to study some more. Just not her regular studying... her animagus training studying.

She'd asked the professor if she would be able to start training this year. She was hoping to find out something soon.

Looking around the garden, she saw Owen sitting and talking with a house elf. Noelle approached with a wave before sitting beside. "This seat isnt taken right?" Technically, it wasnt a seat but....

She waved at the house elf. "Hi there! I've seen you around but have never introduced myself. Im Noelle." She usually said her full name because she was fond of it, but she felt that first name basis was good enough now. Because did house elves have last names?

Toddles water plants. Yes Toddles does. Toddles hears master and turns head. Toddles bows toward master. "Hello Master Owen. Toddles water plants. Toddles likes plants." Toddles touches plant. Toddles finds soft. "Master need things from Toddles?"



Toddles hears other voices. Toddles sees mistress. Toddles bows towards mistress. "Hello mistress. Need things from Toddles?"

Mason looked at her as she told him that she wanted to study being a Healer after Hogwarts. He did not know her up until now so he couldn't judge her choice but he did hope that she was comfortable with her choice. Making these life changing decisions were hard and Mason himself had no idea what he wanted to do after Hogwarts.

But then again he still had two years to figure that out.

He was surprised by how fast this girl was in terms of sending in her application and he took a mental note to take her example when he started in his seventh year, if he knew what he wanted of course. "I hope you get accepted" he smiled. "And i'm not really worried about my OWLS" he said. Except for maybe Herbology.... Judging by how he did not even know that the lavender in his hand was a plant and not a weed. "I read a lot so i know i get at least half the grade with the theory" he said as he handed over the lavender (seriously? it had been a plant?)

Grabbing his wand from out of his pocket as Paige instructed he'd make a hole where she pointed at , Mason thought about which spell to use when he remembered that they were doing things the muggle way. "Sorry..." he muttered and put his wand back before digging a hole in the ground with his hands. "I'm this lazy person who tries to do everything with magic" he laughed. "Thanks for saving me though, imagine the Professor walking in the moment i ripped out the ...Lavender you said it was?" he didn't even want to know what would have happened. From what i heard about how the man was, probably a lot of crying.

Noelle was there too. Owen looked up at her friend and chuckled. "Nah, you can sit here." He said, patting the space next to him.

Back to Toddles. More chuckling. "None, Toddles. Just wanted to know what you were doing. Do you need help with watering the plants or something else?" He wasn't committed to doing anything at the moment anyway. He then realized that he didn't know why his Gryffindor friend was there. Maybe she was about to do some gardening, perhaps? "By the way, what brings you here Elle?"

Toddles was just.... adorable. If Noelle could pinch Toddles' cheeks, she would. But restraint was a thing.
"No thank you Toddles." Noelle wasnt used to having house elves do things for her. Even though she had been at the school for 4 years now, she still made her bed every morning just as she was taught. She was raised on the farm. It was in her blood. 'Can I get you anything though?" She asked politely.

Turning to Owen, she sat down and wiggled to get comfortable. She had a sandwich with her and offered him half. But not wanting to be rude, she offered a quarter of her sandwich to Toddles. "I came to do a little studying. Sometimes the common room gets a little stuffy." She nibbled her sandwhich. "What about you? What are you doing out here?"

Master offers Toddles helps? Toddles says no. Toddles shakes head. "No no todddles needs do this. Toddles elf. Toddles works." Toddles water plants. Yes Toddles does. "Toddles helps master. Toddles is elf." Toddles does job. Toddles thinks what master can do. Toddles has idea. "Does Master has frog cards?"

"No no mistress. Toddles not needs." Toddles helps himself. Toddles is good elf. "Mistress not needs any water?" Toddles likes help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChanceCoeur

Toddles was just.... adorable. If Noelle could pinch Toddles' cheeks, she would. But restraint was a thing.
"No thank you Toddles." Noelle wasnt used to having house elves do things for her. Even though she had been at the school for 4 years now, she still made her bed every morning just as she was taught. She was raised on the farm. It was in her blood. 'Can I get you anything though?" She asked politely.

Turning to Owen, she sat down and wiggled to get comfortable. She had a sandwich with her and offered him half. But not wanting to be rude, she offered a quarter of her sandwich to Toddles. "I came to do a little studying. Sometimes the common room gets a little stuffy." She nibbled her sandwhich. "What about you? What are you doing out here?"

Noelle was good people, and Owen was glad that she was his friend. "Thanks, Elle." He mumbled as he accepted the half sandwich that she handed him, smiling as she also offered a portion to Toddles although Owen was going to be really surprised if the house elf accepted it. They rarely accepted any gifts.

Munching away on his sandwich - mmm, that was good - Owen shifted a bit to face Noelle. Studying, huh? "Really? You study?" He teased. As for him, "Nothing. Just napping before you got here." He tried to get a bit of studying done too. Keyword tried.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddles

Master offers Toddles helps? Toddles says no. Toddles shakes head. "No no todddles needs do this. Toddles elf. Toddles works." Toddles water plants. Yes Toddles does. "Toddles helps master. Toddles is elf." Toddles does job. Toddles thinks what master can do. Toddles has idea. "Does Master has frog cards?"

Welp. See, them house elves wanted to do everything by themselves. "It's okay to ask for help sometimes, Toddles. No man is an island after all." No distinction among humans or otherwise too. Erm...frog cards? Owen tilted his head as he searched through his pockets. "Not sure. But...yeah, I have some. What are you thinking?" Yes, yes, he had several frog cards in his pants pocket. Don't ask why.

SPOILER!!: precious pea Mason

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckyLinJi

Mason looked at her as she told him that she wanted to study being a Healer after Hogwarts. He did not know her up until now so he couldn't judge her choice but he did hope that she was comfortable with her choice. Making these life changing decisions were hard and Mason himself had no idea what he wanted to do after Hogwarts.

But then again he still had two years to figure that out.

He was surprised by how fast this girl was in terms of sending in her application and he took a mental note to take her example when he started in his seventh year, if he knew what he wanted of course. "I hope you get accepted" he smiled. "And i'm not really worried about my OWLS" he said. Except for maybe Herbology.... Judging by how he did not even know that the lavender in his hand was a plant and not a weed. "I read a lot so i know i get at least half the grade with the theory" he said as he handed over the lavender (seriously? it had been a plant?)

Grabbing his wand from out of his pocket as Paige instructed he'd make a hole where she pointed at , Mason thought about which spell to use when he remembered that they were doing things the muggle way. "Sorry..." he muttered and put his wand back before digging a hole in the ground with his hands. "I'm this lazy person who tries to do everything with magic" he laughed. "Thanks for saving me though, imagine the Professor walking in the moment i ripped out the ...Lavender you said it was?" he didn't even want to know what would have happened. From what i heard about how the man was, probably a lot of crying.

Shyly ruffling her hair, Paige bowed her head in gratitude for his words. "Thank you...daddy's live-in healer is optimistic about my chances...he it the one who encouraged me to apply early decision," she explained. Supposed to show certainty and dedication...or something to that regard. "Just...a bit terrifying when you just know it's your vocation in life...but it could all fall through." There...were ways of her finding out early...but she was too scared to attempt such. She would rather wait for the time to come than tap into that side of herself. "That's good," she nodded, with regards to his OWLs - although she hoped that that did not mean he was overconfident. "The practical portion is where I tend to stumble....save for a few subjects."

Holding the lavender gingerly in her hands, Paige waited for the appropriate size hole to be dug before returning the plant to its rightful home. "Mmmnmm," she said softly, shaking her head. "I think that is a natural reaction for wizarding kind, to want to use magic for everything. I just find something...comforting, I suppose you could say, in doing some things by hand. Feels almost more intimate...personal..." Paige then gave a quick glance towards the door. "Hard...to know for certain with Professor Myers...I think the fact that you acted with no malintent would have spared you."

Probably.

Noelle and Owen had something in common, they liked food. Well, they probably had more than that in common, but for right now, thats what the most common was. So she knew that offering the sandwich wouldnt be a big deal. She'd done it many times before.
Of course, Toddles didnt accept the part of the sandwich she tried sharing with him. House elves just werent appreciated enough.

Noelle watched Toddles and Owen's interactions. She tilted her head, wondering what a frog card was. And Owen had them.... She peeked around at him to figure out what it was he had.

"Studying. Its a thing. A thing I do.' She said with a laugh. She could always help him study if he wanted. She hated studying, but she needed top scores if she was going to be an auror one day. "Oh man.... a nap sounds great though....." Naps were life.