Minerva was wondering around the castle, so much seemed... out of place, that was probably the best word for it. She felt like she needed to clean everywhere, starting with her dorm, but it could wait. She was just happy to be back and be out around the castle. Finding herself at the butterfly garden, Minerva smiled. She loved the garden for so many reasons. Her mother loved butterflies and got her into them at an early age, then there were her special moments she had last term with Ethan here.

As she headed into the garden knowing he would be there to meet her if not already he would be soon, but as she walked in she noticed a sign. "No Butterflies" Well this made Minerva frown, why wouldn't they have butterflies, they weren't expensive to keep, heck they really didn't cost anything. This was a butterfly garden so there had to be bushes that produced flowers that naturally attracted the butterflies, right? Mr. Firth wouldn't have put in a garden and not put the correct flowers. Shrugging she continued to walk into the garden looking around, nope no Ethan yet.

Trying to push the gnawing annoyance over the current state of Hogwarts far into the recesses of his mind, Ethan headed out of doors. For one, he loved the outdoors and was going to one of his favorite places from last term.. and two, he was meeting Minerva who always managed to put him in a better mood, and at a spot he considered to be one of their places.

But as he neared the butterfly garden, he could tell something seemed a bit off. What, though..?

The first thing he came across was a sign near the path at the entrance. The boy bent down slightly, peering at it to read it. Due to budget concerns, we cannot currently keep the Butterfly Garden stocked. Stocked with what.. butterflies? He glanced up at the garden, which seemed very lackluster for some reason, noticing that there really weren't any butterflies. Odd. There were still butterfly bushes and other plants that attracted the butterflies weren't there?

Frowning a little, he walked further into the garden glancing at the foliage. He looked up and saw Minerva not too far away and he gave her a smile as he approached. "Hey, beautiful," he said, giving her a hug. "Let's go sit down," he said, gesturing to the nearest bench.

Minerva looked up when she heard a familiar voice say beautiful. She almost looked around to see if someone else was there, but smiled at Ethan. "Hey" Frowning again she shook her head, "Yeah there are seats right over there." She pointed, but then realized they had sat at those seats before, so of course he knew that.

Looking at all the bushes and flowers she sighed, "This is all.. odd.." Turning to look at Ethan, "So they can't put the nectar out anymore, I still don't understand why there are no butterflies if those are butterfly bushes.." She tried to just shrug it off, but it still bugged her, everything was bugging her around school. "What do you think is going on? I mean with all these changes and what seems to be lack of money." This was just all hard to take, first the feast, then the paying at the common rooms and the potions lab, as well as the great hall, it just didn't make any sense.

Ethan tilted his head to look at Minerva curiously as she frowned and pointed to the seats. "Yes.. right there," he repeated, slowly smiling as he took her hand and led her over to the bench. He took a seat then looked at her.. she was behaving a bit strangely, but he couldn't really say he blamed her. The "changes" were a lot to take in.

Ethan nodded slowly as he looked at the plants making up the garden. He wasn't so sure that the butterflies missing was the only thing that was off about the garden.. it seemed a bit lackluster. And that made him a bit sad to say that about plants. He shrugged at her question. "I'm not sure really because that is a very good point.." He knew of several plants that attracted butterflies and some of them were planted here. "The only explanation I can think of is maybe they were used to a certain amount of nectar.. and with it gone, they went to look for it elsewhere?" He didn't completely buy that, but it was as logical as he could get with that.

He frowned at her next question. That seemed to be on everyone's mind, as well it should be. The state of Hogwarts was just sad and disappointing. "Well, something obviously happened to the money.. and I'm guessing it's something unseemly.. Misappropriation of funds, something like that." Hogwarts, as far as he knew, had plenty of money to at least keep it up, plus all that money that was raised last term.. apparently it was all gone now, but he'd really like an explanation. Didn't the students deserve that? Or the parents that sent their kids to school..? "I'm wondering why something hadn't been said earlier.. so maybe we could just pay a tuition increase instead of having to pay every time we go to the common room or Great Hall.. it's very inconvenient." And what was worse, was having to pay to go to the dining hall for food that was sub-par.

Sitting she took his hand into hers and looked around. Sighing she really would have liked to see the butterflies, but that wasn't going to happen. Listening to his explanation she frowned more, "Well I hate them not being here. I always enjoyed coming here. It was so pretty and relaxing." Looking down, Min starting tracing his hand that was in hers and playing with his fingers.

Shrugging a bit, "Whatever it is I hope it can be fixed. This place is depressing. I feel bad for the first years. They haven't got to see how great this place can look and how wonderful the food can be." She was so disappointed in the way Hogwarts was looking. Oh and the paying.. let's not get into the paying, "Yes, they should have warned the parents, because these poor muggle borns, plus some students didn't have any money, why would they bring money unless they were going to Hogsmeade." That was really the only reason to have any money at school. "I know Ella and I talked about putting a jar near the coin slot with knuts for students that might not have them. I don't know if that will help anything, but at least we can try." She shook her head, "Was your common room and dorms dusty? Ours were horrible." That was the other thing bothering her, it was so dirty everywhere.

Trying to smile she was tired of that talk, she was happy just to be outside with Ethan, "So any big issues with students yet?" She wondered if anyone was trying him yet, she hoped not that wouldn't be very nice. "I want to head to the library at some point today and see about those books Professor Shirmer gave the school." She was wondering if she would recognize them or if they were different from the ones that use to be in her office."[/b]

Ethan's eyes gazed out towards the plant as he absentmindedly stroked Min's hand with his fingers. "It's still relaxing, I guess.. just missing something.." he mused aloud before removing his hand from her grasp and pulling out his wand. "Not the same, really, but maybe this will help.." He swished his wand into the air and muttered, "Papilio." A trail of conjured butterflies emerged from his wand and flittered through the foliage. Shrugging a little, Ethan sat back and his eyes followed their trail.

He nodded a bit to her words, wondering how many first years might just transfer out of here. It really was depressing.. the least they could have done was warn them, then perhaps the students would have been better prepared and it might not have been so bad if they each had paid a handful of galleons more or brought their own dinnerware. He shrugged again as she continued. "Not only that.. but knuts? Sure, it really isn't much money.. but who carries around that many knuts? I hope they have some place to make change.. have you heard if they do?" If not he was going to run out of them quickly, not because he didn't have enough money, but because he had more sickles and galleons than knuts.. "Yes, I think we might do that too for Ravenclaw," he said in regards to the jar, then he turned to look at her. "Min.. do you have enough for yourself?" He knew she had some but was by no means well off.. he wouldn't feel right about getting in to his own common room if she couldn't get into hers. Then he nodded again. "Much dirtier than normal, yes.." Though he shouldn't have been surprised. If there were no elves to cook for them, there were no elves to clean for them either. "I guess that falls to us.. good thing magic makes quick work of it."

He gave her a small smile. "Nothing too bad yet.. There are a couple that were really pushing their luck at the feast. Luckily nothing came out of it, but I think I'll be keeping my eye on them," he chuckled. He could see those two being a handful all term. "And I guess they all look to me and Beezus regarding the state of Hogwarts.. it really bugs me that they didn't even let the prefects know what was going on. It would have been nice so we could lead things a bit better." He shrugged again before saying, "Anyway, enough about that.. how has your day been?" He offered her a smile and laid his arm along the back of the bench behind her. He wanted to enjoy sitting out here with her. Oh.. the library.. He chuckled, it not being his favorite place though he knew she loved it. "Well, if you need some company.. there a couple advanced Herbology books I need to check out." He was determined for that O on his NEWT.

Minerva looked at him curiously as he let go of her hand a bit of a pout on her face, because she was not wanting to stop holding hands, but the pout suddenly changed to little school girl giggles and a smile as he pulled out his wand and conjured butterflies, “Oh Ethan.. I forgot about that spell.” She watched them flutter around and turned kissing his cheek. “Thank you, it’s just what was needed. Turning her eyes back to the butterflies she smiled more.

Minerva was trying to figure things out and think along the best lines of why things were the way they were, “I just don’t get way they need students to pay, but I guess they used knuts, because they didn’t want the students to pay to much, but just what was needed.” Even though what was needed seemed very odd for Hogwarts. “They really should have sent letters or something though, it should not have been this big of a shock for students. The poor first years faces when they saw it and didn’t have anything on them and the questions from some of them. I just hate them get this as their first impression.” It just wasn’t fair, they should be see Hogwarts as the place Min saw it as, not a dirty, run down castle, as it was looking. She then looked up surprised by his question, but she shouldn’t have been. They had been dating for a year and half and he knew all about her family. “Oh I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me.” She did have enough at the moment even if she did give a bit to some first years, but for the entire term she would figure that out as the year went on she decided.

Chuckling a bit she leaned back against his arm, “Yes something that magic has up on muggles, cleaning doesn’t take as long. It still is going to be a job getting everything cleaned up the way it should be.” Plus with their class work and homework, seriously the professors were just going to have to step it up and be the parental units here and clean this castle. She gave a small smile as he asked what she had been up to, “Cleaning” well they had been talking about it. “I was helping Ella and Wade in the common room. I actually taught a first year a few cleaning spells so he could help out. Then I was in the girls dorm helping Laura, we did most of the rooms.” She then gave a interesting I did something else smile, “Plus I decided it needed something so I charmed the walls a bit.” That was allowed, right.. She wasn't too worried telling this prefect, she didn’t see him getting her in trouble.

Speaking of prefect jobs she frowned not liking that people were giving him trouble. That wasn’t very nice, some probably thought since he was a friend first they could get away with some things, then a guilty look crossed her face, didn’t she just have that same thought. “Well hopefully they calm down when they know they can’t get away with things.” Then she frowned more, “but it is not your responsibility for the way this place is. I don’t think the puffs are being like that. I really haven’t seen much of Oakey and Nessie, we cleaned without even talking to them first.” Maybe Ella and her were just to independent and didn’t wait to be told, but she figured that’s the way it should be. Give him a small kiss on the cheek again she smiled, “I think your guys are leading just fine.” Here him say about checking out books, she smiled knowing why, “So another year of studying for an exam, we don’t’ catch a break do we?” Since they started dating each year one of them had a big exam, but it was good that they had each other to help study.

Christmas made her way down to the butterfly garden it was lovely here and she hoped to make some new friends soon

Derry was walking around, her book tucked under her arm, looking for something interesting in the grounds. Butterfly garden..? Oh... but there was no butterflies... Hogwarts was just so horrible, nothing was right, nothing was how it should be, it all seemed to be... so disappointing.

She was so busy with her imagination, wondering what it would be like when it actually had butterflies in it, that she didn't notice the rock on the floor. The rock that she tripped over and dropped all the books in her arms. Oh... no........

Christmas was just looking at the garden when she saw a younger slytherin trip over a rock and dropped all of her books and she made her way over to her and said "Are you okay?"

Seriously?! How many times was she going to get lost today?! This was utterly confusing to her! And frustrating! Not only THAT, her hair was in serious need of some brushing! Stupid her for leaving it back at her dorm! Now she felt SOO incomplete without it! It was actually making her hands fidget every now and then!

As she was somewhat desperately trying to find her way back to the castle with her current state, she appeased her fidgeting by running her fingers through her hair. No, it wasn't like the full effect of her brush, but it was something! But that would only distract for a moment!

WHAT WAS SHE GOING TO DO?! HOW WAS SHE GOING TO SURVIVE?!

HOW IN MERLIN'S BEARD WAS SHE-WHOA!

..She had almost fallen to the disgusting ground! But thankfully had caught herself! Her blue eyes had went directly to the floor below her to find the culprit..to find it was a SIGN of all things..Not only that..a sign that had some uninteresting information about some butterflies apparently and blah blah blah..

But whatever, this sign still had NO right to be in her path like that and almost make her fall! She narrowed her eyes a little bit and then swiftly lifted her leg giving the sign a kick.. She stared at the sign muttering,"..Stupid sign..And your..Unfortunately stupidly placed..self!" She gave it another quick kick.

...Now she felt a little better...

Tag was walking throughout and inside the castle, seeing if he found any new additions to the school. As far as he saw, it didn't seem like it, but things were in worse shape due to all this money problem.

But, he did find the butterfly garden. Or, what was left of it. It didn't look that much butterfly-y. Things were going down the drain here at Hogwarts but the kids had to deal with it. "There's nothing here." Tag said as he slapped his hands down to his sides in utter disappointment.

As he continued to examine the place Tag saw a girl talking to and kicking at a sign. "Ummmm...." Tag said carefully at the girl as he walked in front of her. "What's... going on?" What was her need to kick the sign?

Before she could give this sign another piece of her mind someone had come to interrupt her! Fortunate for the sign. For now. She then looked at the younger boy who interrupted her placing her hand on her hip. Nicola flipped her hair and then said,"Isn't it obvious?" She raised an eyebrow,"I'm letting off some steam.." Speaking of which, she gave it another kick.

"Stupid sign shouldn't have been in the way..Trying to trip people like that.." She then crossed her arms frustrated again.

Why was this little boy making it his business to know how she let off of her steam? Rude! Very rude!

Tag laughed when the girl flipped her hair. Not because he was literally laughing, but because it reminded him of some people that liked to and that like to flip their hair consistently. Alec, Dylan, Peyton and probably some other people that he couldn't put his finger on. "Nice hair flip. How long has it taken you to perfect it?" Tag asked her with a slight, quiet chuckle. And, yes, he was being serious about the hair flip question.

He then raised an eyebrow when she said it was 'obvious'. Perhaps to her it was, but not to the leprechaun. "Maybe it was obvious for you? Could you let off steam somewhere else, or on something else? What has the sign done to you?" He wasn't quite sure as to why he was trying to defend the sign.

"Maybe it just fell down?" Tag said with a mere shrug.

"Err, Tag." The blonde said as he held out his hand towards the slightly distressed girl.

Nicola raised an eyebrow when he laughed. What was so funny? She couldn't help but notice he had laughed not too long after she had flipped her hair? Was he mocking her? Before she could give this blonde funny sounding joker a piece of her mind, he was suddenly complimenting her for her hair flip. Oh well, that changed everything, including her whole mood & posture. She smiled brightly and said in a very eager tone,"I know right?!" Nicola smirked and then said,"Please, it's always been perfect.." This boy was suddenly not seeming to seem so bad as she was thinking a few moments ago.

"Well obviously it was obvious for me.." She raised an eyebrow again,What's it you how I let off my steam.." Nicola then said,"Hello? I just said it, this sign is responsible for tripping me! And almost making me fall over!" She then huffed out of frustration.

"No one told the sign to be placed PRECISELY where I was going to placing my feet..Otherwise..I wouldn't have tripped..And then the sign wouldn't be at fault for trying to trip me.." She nodded, feeling satisfied with her argument..

She looked at him when he said something about a Tag? OH! That was his name.. Nicola looked at him letting the name sink in."Tag.." Hmm.. Nicola stared at his extended hand before she slowly placed her own hand in his saying,"Pleasure..I think.." She paused before adding,"Nicola.."

Tag watched the girl slightly more amused about how she talked of her hair like it was the best thing in the world. Maybe she was full of herself? He kinda knew someone who thought her hair was perfect, Peyton, but she did it in a funny manner. This girl seemed to be taking it all in. "Oh, you've always had hair that was perfect. Were you a bald baby, then?" the boy was only curious. Maybe a bit over the line, but sometimes people were really bald as babies but then ended up having really nice hair when they grow up.

An now it seemed that the girl was back to the attitude? Feisty one. "Maybe you should watch your step a little more closely. You know. Unless you're a complete klutz. Wouldn't it be responsible if it were trying to intentionally hurt you? I mean, its not like it said 'let me place myself right in front of you, hehehehe'" Tag said. Honestly, he wasn't quite sure what he was saying.

To Tag it just sounded like the girl was trying to find some petty reason to put blame on this sign. She was keeping quite the constant talk about it. It was just a sign, Tag thought, how much could she say about it.

"YES! My name IS a pleasure!" Tag said beaming brightly as he shook Nicola's hand. "Let me guess, they call you Nikki as a nickname?"

Eyes still following the conjured butterflies trailing along the garden, Ethan grinned widely as he heard the excitement in Minerva's voice. "They won't last long, but it will do for now." He watched them for another minute, smiling as she kissed his cheek. "Well, I'm glad you like them.. they do help add a bit of cheeriness that seemed to have faded from here." Putting his wand away, he reached down and loosely took her hand in his again.

Ethan nodded slowly, thinking about Minerva's words and processing his own thoughts. "Yes, I think you're right.. a knut really isn't much when you think about.. even for someone not well off. Though it will add up by the end of the school year." He took a deep breath and tried to calculate an estimated amount in his head while listening to what she was saying. "Yes, that would have made things so much easier if they had sent a letter home or informed us somehow before we got here.. Or even just had us pay a few more galleons to come back so we wouldn't have to be so inconvenienced." Anything, really, to have prepared them for what was to come. He frowned a bit as she mentioned the first years, knowing she was right. Their first impression could not have been good. Poor kids, most of them being away from home for the first time and this is what they experience. He thought of his own experience that first night at the Ravenclaw turnstiles and how they had to scramble to work together to make sure everyone was able to get inside. The adults really dropped the quaffle on that one. Ethan took the hand that was in his and gently opened it so her palm was facing upwards. He dug in his pocket and placed a galleon in her hand, closing her fingers around it. "Here.. I want you to have this.. it should cover most of the year for you to get in your dorm. Provided you can get change for it." Maybe he'd talk to his head of house or the headmistress about getting change stations set up.. or he'd just have to owl the bank..

As she leaned against his arm, he leaned his head against hers and chuckled a little along with her. "It does make things easier.. but maybe I should check on some of the younger boys dorms to make sure they were able to use the cleaning spells properly." As far as he knew, there weren't any first year boys.. but were there second year boys? They might need a little help, the spells weren't that easy. It did really annoy him that the castle was in such a state and that the students were expected to pick up the slack. Did he not have enough to do with his prefect duties, studying for NEWTs, Quidditch.. not to mention any free time he'd like to have? When was he supposed to find time for keeping maintenance on a castle?? He laughed a little when he asked what she had been up to and she told him cleaning. "Well, I knew that.. doesn't sound like much fun though. You haven't been doing anything else?" Not that she had much time to get up to anything else. They did spend quite a bit of time together already and they hadn't been back all that long. Ethan wasn't sure what kind of answer he had been expecting. "Charmed the walls?" he asked, slightly interested. "To do what? Or just to brighten the color?" That could get rather interesting depending on what exactly you charmed it to do.

He laughed a little as talk turned of his prefect duties. "Hopefully you're right.. I hate to have to be the bad guy.. but I will be if I'm pushed to it." The younger ones would learn soon enough. Ethan had a somewhat friendly and laid-back personality, but that didn't mean he was going to be walked all over. Then he nodded, frowning a little. "I know it's not my fault.. but the younger ones do look to the leaders for guidance. And it's a little hard to provide that when we don't even know what's going on ourselves." He did have some good thoughts on the matter though.. or at least he thought and he planned on discussing things with the other two Claw leaders. But then he smiled at her kiss on his cheek, forgetting anything else for the time being. Then he chuckled at her words. "Another year of exams.. I think I have my study schedule worked out though, thanks to OWLs. And I do hope you'll help out once in a while," he grinned, remembering the help she had given him during his fifth year. "Don't worry, I won't be all about studying all the time. I think I have pretty good time management. I will make time for some fun for us too."

NO! Of COURSE she wasn't okay. She was embarrassed!!!! But she wasn't hurt or anything, which was nice. One of her books had fallen in a puddle though.....

NOOOO!!! IT WAS ALICE IN WONDERLAND!!! THAT WAS HER FAVOURITE!!!! Well... they were all her favourites but still... Derry stacked her dry books up and tried to hide her blush behind her hair as she held the soggy one away from her robes. "I'm fine." she said curtly, dumping the stack of dry books on a wall and taking out her wand. She pointed it at the wet book and mumbled the hot air charm to start drying it out, completely ignoring the fact her hands were grazed and her robes were soaked around her knees from another puddle.

Christmas smiled and said "Well just making sure, I'm Christmas" Christmas hoped this girl would be up to talking to her

Minerva kept watching the butterflies, “Oh Ethan these are just what was needed, thank you so much.” She relaxed a little more as the butterflies disappeared, “You will have to teach me that one again, I want to remember it better.” It was a great spell to know, especially with her love of butterflies.

Minerva listened as he talked about the money and she thought about how confusing it all was when she first learned about the wizarding money. She couldn’t image the muggleborn first years trying to understand and needing to use it to get into their rooms. It was all just so concerning. The next thing he did caught her off guard, it didn’t surprise her though, because he was always worrying about her and so sweet. “Ethan you really don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine, honest.” She leaned giving him a small kiss. She knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer, but she had to say that he didn’t have to do it. They had been together long enough for her to know that about him, and for him to know her background on the wizard money area or money at all really. “Oh I think I over heard Oakey telling someone that the machine can somehow know when you put something bigger in and keeps track of you entrances, I’ll ask him about it if you want.” She might have heard wrong, but that’s what she thought it was at least.

Shrugging to his comment she chuckled a bit, [b] “Well it’s what I have been doing. Laura and I were doing all the girls rooms, so that the first years didn’t have to worry and everyone else.. well it was a welcome back surprise. “It is a big job, so it’s taking a lot of time.” Even with magic, a few people doing it was going to take some time. Then she chuckled at the look she got about charming the walls, “I just made them a brighter yellow, but now that you say that.. It would be fun to do more. Maybe I could make them keep changing colors, or write something to flash on the walls.” Hmmm she started thinking more about this. That could be interesting and fun.

Listening to his Prefect duties and the things going on, Min was exhausted just thinking about it. “Well they will learn and you are not the bad guy, it’s your job. One that has to be taken seriously.” Without order, this place would be crazy she thought to herself. She turned to really look at him, “Ethan you have so much going on right now, I understand if well if you can’t spend as much time with me. I do want to help you study though. That was fun last time and it’s a productive way to spend time together.” She hated the thought of not spending time with him, but didn’t want to make him feel he had to either.

Mmk, so Ascanius wasn't lost. Not exactly. No, see the way things worked was that MACHO MEN, like him, did not get lost. They went on adventures and detours and that was what had just happened. See? Not lost, just going on an adventure in a part of the castle he had never been before. And he was ridiculously cool and attractive so there was nothing to worry about. Ahem.

Basically, Stark was just adventuring. Everything would be fine and he could people watch because that was his favorite. Smirk. People were odd.

This had to be one of the biggest let downs of the entire school. The butterfly garden without any actual butterflies. What next? The lake without the Giant Squid?? These people were ridiculous beyond words. In fact, they needed to put up signs telling what was still working the way it was meant to and what was not, it'd have saved her the walk over here.

It only took one look at the place for her to decide on heading back but then she caught sight of something else--er...someone else.

That was the dude that liked winking! The one she thought had gotten something stuck in his eye and his name was......."YOU!!!" Close enough. BEAM. "I hope you haven't come looking for the butterflies." Or did he waste his time too?

As he continued to people watch, Ascanius was all smug. This school was NEVER a disappointment when it came to the girls who came to school here. Seriously fine specimens everywhere he looked. Sad that the guys weren't as attractive as he was, but that was a high bill to reach anyway. Couldn't blame the poor suckers.

And then someone was talking to him. Or yelling at him. Eh, it was the same thing he had come to learn when he was talking to people with red ties. They were all screamers. Hurt his ear drums most days.

Slapping on a smirk, he retorted, "Me?" Yeah, he remembered this one. He remembered ALL of them. Wink. "No... I didn't. But I'm assuming you did, gorgeous?"

She kept her eyes on him as she made her way over, just trying to put the name back in her head. She couldn't very well go through the entire conversation calling him you, now could she? NOPE. Even after she had gotten close enough she just kept staring until finally it hit her...actually, it hit her the moment he called her gorgeous.

She'd almost forgotten how nice he was when it came to complimenting people! "I did." She confirmed with a nod. "Pity the school's too poor to even accommodate them anymore." Though, really, she never thought it would take that much to keep butterflies. They didn't seem like very expensive insects. All they did was float around looking prettiful. Hogwarts never ceased to surprize her.

Oh and he wasn't here in the butterfly garden to see the butterflies. How curious.

"What are you doing all the way out here then? Are you meeting someone? Running from someone? Lost something perhaps?"