Robert walked into the Greenhouse and let the door slam behind him. Looking around he wasn't sure why he was here, he didn't have anything to do here but then remembered he had been on his way here anyway before...well what just happened. Tossing his bag down onto the nearest work table he walked over toward what he considered his station. The one he had used last year and pulled some pots toward him

His emotions were so close to the surface he felt like he was going to crack. Least I'm in here where the plants don't care what I do. He couldn't believe what just happened, his mind didn't want to wrap around it really. It was just too...fantastical to be believed but he still ached all the same. Trying to stop his mind from replaying it over and over he began stuffing dirt into one of the pots.

She had done it.... He swallowed hard and started packing it in harder. Even now..he couldn't do the thing he loved the most besides flying because he was filled with thoughts of HER. Setting the pot down hard he placed both of his hands on the table and closed his eyes, breathing in and out as he tried to stem the rush of emotions that wanted to escape.

That boy had too long of legs and she was not going to sweat to keep up with him. Lyra knew he headed in this direction but had a hard time finding out exactly where he went, until she came to the greenhouse. She took a chance on Rob being in here and it was at that moment that she saw him at the same station he was at last year. She inhaled deeply and walked over to the station.

"I wonder how I would do with a garden of PINK puffapods," she began not wanting to talk about what just happened. It was something uneasy and she didn't want to think about those two anymore. They didn't matter to her and it was a good thing that she didn't know them anymore than she did at this point. Poor Robert.

Lawson had decided to take a stroll outside and after wandering around aimlessly for the past hour he managed to find himself by the greenhouses. Not a particularly good idea to hang around here because he was liable to run into the Queen of Torture.

Anastasia Bunbury was puuuure torture to him and probably most of Hogwarts too. Although he had noticed that most of the females around here seemed to love her. Marcus snorted softly, they obviously didn't know her like he did. Merlin help them all if they turned out like her.

Ugh...he should leave but he couldn't resist just taking a peek inside the greenhouse to see if she really still did have that flair for plants like she had when she was younger. Honestly though why would you bother making flower arrangements for a rock band?

He stepped inside and had to shield his eyes from the pink. Obviously her taste in colour had not changed. How many times had she pestered him into buying a pink guitar and play it at their concerts? Pfft...as if!!

Well he could see that she still was a good as she used to be. Time to get going before she found him lurking around here and that would not be good, especially for him.

Robert stood leaning against the table. His thoughts getting the better of him as his temper rose along with just a need to get things out. He felt an unfamiliar burning in his throat and his muscles tensed. He had given everything to Mariska and yet she seemed so callus and cold now. He had nothing left. Gripping the pot he had been forcefully filling with soil he picked it up.

Without thinking he spun on the spot and threw the pot against the wall with all his might causing it to shatter. He hadn't heard the door open or the voice of one of the few people who actually cared about him. No. Instead as the shards fell to the ground with the dirt he fell to the ground too with his head in his hands and tears, the likes of which hadn't been seen from him since his grandfather died, flowing freely down his cheeks. It was too much he had finally broken and didn't know what to do. He still cared about Mariska and those few harsh words she had said to him cut through him like a sword.

"Maaaaaarcus," came the soft, evil voice of Anastasia Bunbury from the door of the greenhouses. Mwahahaha she'd known he was going to cave and come visit her one of these days...and now he was caught like a fly in a spider's web. This would be fun.

The redhead marched into the greenhouses further, her long leopard-printed boots click-clacking ominously as she strolled over to the Defense professor. "Is the castle too boring for you now? Or were you looking for a nice, quiet environment to shed a few chords?"

She couldn't resist shooting him a slightly devious grin as she leaned past him to check on the soil of a nice, leafy fern. Still moist, hmm, that was good.

You idiot!! He cursed under his breath for hanging around too long and getting caught by her. Axe, closed his eyes and gritted his teeth slightly at the sound of her annoying voice.

He turned and faced her slowly, because like he would ever give Anastasia Bunbury the satisfaction of knowing that she does indeed get to him. "Of course not Annie. How could the castle being boring with me around?" His lips twitched into a smirk as he looked down at the boots.

"Nice place you got here Annie. You must feel right at home amongst the dirt and...dung!" He made sure to stand still as she leaned around him, when he really wanted to do was recoil from her. Giving her the same devious grin, Axe leaned down slightly. "I know I am irresistible but really Annie, using the plants as an excuse to get closer to me." Marcus straightened back up and chuckled softly.

Lyra's mouth opened as she gasped for air. Rob just thew a potted plant and one of Bunbury's! She was just about to say something when the TALL Ravenclaw hit the floor with his knees and began to cry. She'd seen this scene before as it was a reminder of her past.

Her green eyes looked back to the talking professors as neither of them seemed to notice the two of them. Without a word, she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around her friend. Now as not the time to say anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

You idiot!! He cursed under his breath for hanging around too long and getting caught by her. Axe, closed his eyes and gritted his teeth slightly at the sound of her annoying voice.

He turned and faced her slowly, because like he would ever give Anastasia Bunbury the satisfaction of knowing that she does indeed get to him. "Of course not Annie. How could the castle being boring with me around?" His lips twitched into a smirk as he looked down at the boots.

"Nice place you got here Annie. You must feel right at home amongst the dirt and...dung!" He made sure to stand still as she leaned around him, when he really wanted to do was recoil from her. Giving her the same devious grin, Axe leaned down slightly. "I know I am irresistible but really Annie, using the plants as an excuse to get closer to me." Marcus straightened back up and chuckled softly.

"Mmhmm same old, same old big headed Axe," Annie remarked dryly. "Tell me, how do you get in and out of the doorway of your classroom with that inflated balloon on your shoulders?"

She could have laughed out loud but no no, he didn't deserve the satisfaction of hearing her giggle. HMMPH.

"Really, and here I was, thinking you looked right at home with the earthworms and rats from the dungeon earlier." Annie click-clacked to his other side and inspected the next plant, a small but mighty strand of devil's snare. "Careful now, you're not on your home turf here...and if my memory serves me, it's you who came here to visit me. Clearly you're missing something."

She picked the small terra cotta pot up and glanced at it at eye level with a frown, before almost dropping the little pot when a sudden shattering sound made her jump. The redhead whirled around to glare at the ridiculous man beside her, pushing one long-nailed finger into his chest. "MARCUS LAWSON! What did you just break?!"

Robert couldn't seem to control himself. He'd been so in control of himself since he got the news that now it finally seemed it was too much as his emotions ran wild and he cried. He could remember the last time and only time he had cried like it happened yesterday so vividly did it stay in his mind as they stood watching his grandfather, the only person who truly and absolutely cared about his growing up and him as a person.

He was startled as he felt a pair of arms wrap around him but knew who it had to be. He was ashamed and yet it seemed now that the gates had been opened it wouldn't stop until he had exhausted himself. He was 18 years old for Pete's sake he shouldn't be crying...especially not with Lyra around. Looking up at Lyra he swiped a hand over his face and hugged her back. She was there for him. Always had been. "It's too much..." he whispered hoarsely as he clung to her.

She could feel his pain. Yes! The girl had a heart and lost a loved one before for different reasons. Heartache was just another form, but the loss was the same. "I know," she whispered and then heard Bunbury speak of the breaking noise. Hopefully, Rob would just play along as Lyra began picking up the pieces...to not only the broken PINK POT...Pretend it's green. Pretend it's green....but to her dear friend in need.

Time for action!

She quickly stood up, leaving Rob on the floor for a moment. "Ummm, Professor," she addressed her favorite Bunny with a worried look. "It seems as though...well...my friend has broken a pot and is...rather upset over the fact of...the broken pieces." OF HIS HEART! NOT THE POT! "I'll clean it up." She smiled with a worried look then leaned back to Rob.

"At least you could have picked a green one. Not the PINK," she mumbled, trying to make a small joke.

He let out a loud laugh, "You never seem to have a problem with it before my dear. But you know my big head goes with my big muscles." Marcus pulled up his sleeve and flexed for her. "Come on Annie, don't be shy you know you want to feel them." He gave her a wink before pulling his sleeve back down.

Oh she was definitely deluded if she thought he had come to visit her. "I am at home anywhere love. And I make any place look good and you know it" he gave her another wink just to really annoy her. "As for visiting you Annie, well you know I didn't want you to feel left out or anything. I mean all the time I've been spending with Caroline and all must be pretty upsetting but there is plenty of Axe to go around."

Marcus turned at the sound of the breaking pot and then looked at Annie. "This is why you are a Herbology professor and not the DADA one. The sound came from over there" he pointed his finger to the direction the sound came and rolled his eyes. "Obviously someone else who doesn't like your taste in decor."

Robert just sat there on the ground as he tried to regain his composure. He winced as he heard Bunbury and hoped that she liked him enough not to yell at him. He really wasn't in a state to take it right now. Hearing Lyra's words he heard the truth behind it. She knew what he was going through. They had talked a bit about it but never broached the subject but there was no denying she knew and for that he loved her.

He watched as she stood up and spoke to the professor his love for his best friend growing even more as she covered for him. He didn't deserve such a friend. His tears stopped as he gained control of himself though his eyes were still teary and he laughed softly at her remark. "I don't think I paid attention to what colour it was to be honest. Here let me help you..." he said quietly as he started picking up the broken shards. "Thanks."

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

He let out a loud laugh, "You never seem to have a problem with it before my dear. But you know my big head goes with my big muscles." Marcus pulled up his sleeve and flexed for her. "Come on Annie, don't be shy you know you want to feel them." He gave her a wink before pulling his sleeve back down.

Oh she was definitely deluded if she thought he had come to visit her. "I am at home anywhere love. And I make any place look good and you know it" he gave her another wink just to really annoy her. "As for visiting you Annie, well you know I didn't want you to feel left out or anything. I mean all the time I've been spending with Caroline and all must be pretty upsetting but there is plenty of Axe to go around."

Marcus turned at the sound of the breaking pot and then looked at Annie. "This is why you are a Herbology professor and not the DADA one. The sound came from over there" he pointed his finger to the direction the sound came and rolled his eyes. "Obviously someone else who doesn't like your taste in decor."

Alright Anastasia had to bite her lip and turn her head away this time to keep from laughing at Marcus and....his muscles. Of course she had peripheral vision and snuck a peek at him from the corner of her eye...just you know, checking to make sure that he'd stayed in shape after all these years. Mere curiosity, that was all.

"Oh Caaaroline, your darling little school-aged girlfriend...they just get younger and younger all the time, don't they now," she made a tsking sound in the back of her throat. "You must really love the nagging if you go to that tart every time you get a boo-boo from doing those heroic Auror things you like to do. Does she quarantine you every night too, hmm?"

She snorted without waiting for a response and marched past him to find the source of the breaking pot. Annie turned the corner and gasped, absolutely shocked to see....

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyNerd

She could feel his pain. Yes! The girl had a heart and lost a loved one before for different reasons. Heartache was just another form, but the loss was the same. "I know," she whispered and then heard Bunbury speak of the breaking noise. Hopefully, Rob would just play along as Lyra began picking up the pieces...to not only the broken PINK POT...Pretend it's green. Pretend it's green....but to her dear friend in need.

Time for action!

She quickly stood up, leaving Rob on the floor for a moment. "Ummm, Professor," she addressed her favorite Bunny with a worried look. "It seems as though...well...my friend has broken a pot and is...rather upset over the fact of...the broken pieces." OF HIS HEART! NOT THE POT! "I'll clean it up." She smiled with a worried look then leaned back to Rob.

"At least you could have picked a green one. Not the PINK," she mumbled, trying to make a small joke.

"Miss Noir! Mr. Chambers, I am stunned!" Annie's face was almost equal to that of a child's being let down on Christmas. "Breaking precious pink pots, right in front of me!"

She folded her arms and slowly tapped one leopardy boot, just joking really. "But of course, since I see it was simply an accident, and Mr. Chambers looks very upset, it's not an issue. I know it's not because you didn't like the color of the pot."

Bunbunz smiled gently at the two students and then started walking back to her plants again. It might have been an accident but they still had to do the cleaning up. "Be careful with the broken pieces, dears, they could be sharp...I have dragon-hide gloves in the back if you need them."

This was the first time that she and Rob actually talked about something other than the usual. There was something about him that she liked talking too and keeping an eye on, but with Rob, she had to keep her eye on him. She smiled then looked up as Bunbury began to speak to the two of them.

Lyra stood up quickly once again as Bunbury confronted them. The disappointed look on her face was enough to upset the Hufflepuff even more. Another worried look crossed her face as she nodded her head in a fast motion to show that the gloves would be a good thing. No use in scarring her hands with broken PINK pot pieces.

"Yesma'amthankyou," Lyra said as fast as she could, turning on her heels and walking to the back room for two pair of gloves. The girl walked rather swiftly to and back, then handed Rob a pair of gloves as well.

"Here," she said as gloves seemed to swallow her tiny little hands. OKAY! So her hands weren't so tiny but the gloves were HUGE!...on her that is.

Mmmhmm...she was so checking out his muscles. And who could blame her right? He may be thirty five but as far as he was concerned he still had it. Even though it had been almost ten years since he had been apart of the band, he still had women coming up to him. Yeah he was the MAN!!!

Oooh look who was turning a lovely shade of green. Marcus raised an eyebrow at Annie and then smirked. "Well I've noticed that as woman get older they tend to get snarkier...or is that just you?" He readjusted his robes and brushed off some dirt before looking back up at Annie and he smiled widely. "Oh wouldn't you like to know. But a gentleman never kisses and tells."

He watched her walk over to the students who had broken the pot and folded his arms across his chest. He had decided that since he was here they may as well get everything they wanted to say to each other out now.

Robert looked up from his spot on the ground as Bunbury came over and he braced himself for what was to come. He was shocked however when he heard her response and glad at the same time no points had been taken or anything. He watched as Lyra stood up and went to get some gloves.

He picked up one of the broken shards and stared at it for a moment his mind momentarily stunned as he took in the damage he had done. His attention was caught again as Lyra came back and taking a deep shuddery breath as he returned to normal, took the gloves from her. As hers engulfed her hands he chuckled with a genuine smile and put his own on. He started slowly picking up the pieces of the pot and he supposed his heart. What a metaphor. "I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't...it was...." What was he trying to say? He just shook his head and looked up at Lyra unsure of what to say. She had seen his most vulnerable side that no one had seen before. What does one say after that?

Anastasia watched Lyra get the gloves and briefly thought about helping the kids clean up the mess....Merlin knew she might have broken a few pots in her time, usually over someone's head or another...but she decided against it. Both Lyra and Robert looked unusually serious for cleaning up shards of pottery so Annie's intuition told her something else was the matter, and that wasn't any of her business.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Mmmhmm...she was so checking out his muscles. And who could blame her right? He may be thirty five but as far as he was concerned he still had it. Even though it had been almost ten years since he had been apart of the band, he still had women coming up to him. Yeah he was the MAN!!!

Oooh look who was turning a lovely shade of green. Marcus raised an eyebrow at Annie and then smirked. "Well I've noticed that as woman get older they tend to get snarkier...or is that just you?" He readjusted his robes and brushed off some dirt before looking back up at Annie and he smiled widely. "Oh wouldn't you like to know. But a gentleman never kisses and tells."

He watched her walk over to the students who had broken the pot and folded his arms across his chest. He had decided that since he was here they may as well get everything they wanted to say to each other out now.

Her business, however, did lie with Marcus Lawson. Oh yes, she heard him going on about the idiot intern. "And I've noticed that men get stupider as they age...funny...." she marched right up to his face and leaned in, locking her blue eyes on his brown ones, tilting her head just slightly as she studied his face close enough to cause him discomfort.

There was a long moment of silence and then Anastasia snapped out of it and marched past him. "Funny, I counted at least five gray hairs in that goatee of yours, Mr. Gentleman...best be watching yourself. I'm sure even a tart with her head in the clouds will notice when you're more wrinkly and wizened than Kazimeriz himself."

She sighed lightly and picked up a pair of pink gloves for herself, intending to split a rapidly growing spider plant and try growing it with a bit of Devil's Snare, see how that worked out. Of course she noticed that he was still there...she was just waiting for him to say something. Some clever comment or another....he was as bad as she was at wanting the last word.

Okay this was a little too close for comfort but he stayed put no matter how much he wanted to step away from her. And ugh...she still insisted on wearing that god awful perfume. That vanilla scent wafted around him and his eyes began to water and his nostrils stung from the awful smell. What was with trying to smell like food anyway?

"Must be from the five years I spent with you. One gray hair for each year, I'm surprised there aren't anymore." Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly at the way she spoke of Caroline. "She's only four years younger than yourself Annie." he looked over to Annie with a smirk on his face. "I can see how you would feel so much older though, really Annie I counted at least half a dozen wrinkles around each eye. Maybe you should speak to Zan, I bet you he has some stage make up left over. I hear the stuff's really good at covering up...imperfections."

Oh he wasn't going anywhere. Nope, they were probably going to be at this all day or until he finally made her snap and she eventually threw something at him. Which she certainly likely to do because she was crazy. As he stood watching her put those stupid pink gloves on, he belatedly realised that he had suggested that he had kissed Caroline.

Craaaaaaaaaaap!!! That's what he was going to be in when she found he had said that. Because he had not kissed Caroline Avalon!! He eyed Annie, for a moment as she played wih her stupid plant. Oh he had better speak to Caroline before gossip Queen did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

Okay this was a little too close for comfort but he stayed put no matter how much he wanted to step away from her. And ugh...she still insisted on wearing that god awful perfume. That vanilla scent wafted around him and his eyes began to water and his nostrils stung from the awful smell. What was with trying to smell like food anyway?

"Must be from the five years I spent with you. One gray hair for each year, I'm surprised there aren't anymore." Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly at the way she spoke of Caroline. "She's only four years younger than yourself Annie." he looked over to Annie with a smirk on his face. "I can see how you would feel so much older though, really Annie I counted at least half a dozen wrinkles around each eye. Maybe you should speak to Zan, I bet you he has some stage make up left over. I hear the stuff's really good at covering up...imperfections."

Oh he wasn't going anywhere. Nope, they were probably going to be at this all day or until he finally made her snap and she eventually threw something at him. Which she certainly likely to do because she was crazy. As he stood watching her put those stupid pink gloves on, he belatedly realised that he had suggested that he had kissed Caroline.

Craaaaaaaaaaap!!! That's what he was going to be in when she found he had said that. Because he had not kissed Caroline Avalon!! He eyed Annie, for a moment as she played wih her stupid plant. Oh he had better speak to Caroline before gossip Queen did.

"Oh pleaseee, Axe, you know I was the highlight of your life until Jimmy came along and stole me away," the redhead muttered darkly, not bothering to glance away from her precious plants. Too many tangly roots here to lose her concentration now and besides, she knew it was the truth. She didn't need to see his face to confirm that.

Her grip tightened on the spider plant, though, when he spoke next. "Speaking of Ethan...." she managed to say calmly through clenched teeth, "How you do you two know each other??? I can't see him putting up with your big-headed self-absorbed act for any amount of time. Ever. At all."

This was not going so well now. Annie could feel her blood pressure rising as her fist slowly started choking the life out of the plant in her hand...

"He didn't steal you away. It was your whole intention in the first place to go after Jimmy, I was merely the means to get what you wanted." Marcus stepped towards her, his eyes flashed angrily. Yep she had finally managed to get to him. Thank you again Annie, for bringing up bloody Jimmy.

Marcus took a few deep calming breaths as he watched her tend to her plant and he allowed himself a small smile. So she didn't know about him and Zan. Good, because he wasn't about to tell her either. Seems someone had a thing for his friend.

It was now time to leave before they did actually start throwing things at each other, he could see her starting to get all fired up and he was not hanging around for when she exploded. He made his way toward the door of the greenhouse and was about to make his exit but not before...

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him and planted one straight on her.

"Bet good old Jimmy was never as good as me in that department" he murmured before letting her go and leaving her behind, just she had done to him all those years ago.

Lyra began placing the rather large piece in one hand until she could make it over to put those pieces in their new correct place...the trash. "An accident," she said as she finished Robert's sentence for now. She knew it was something he was not meaning to do, she was just glad it wasn't anything else.

"How about we clean this up and go for a walk around the lake?" Fresh air seemed like a good thing at the moment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussiegirl

"He didn't steal you away. It was your whole intention in the first place to go after Jimmy, I was merely the means to get what you wanted." Marcus stepped towards her, his eyes flashed angrily. Yep she had finally managed to get to him. Thank you again Annie, for bringing up bloody Jimmy.

Marcus took a few deep calming breaths as he watched her tend to her plant and he allowed himself a small smile. So she didn't know about him and Zan. Good, because he wasn't about to tell her either. Seems someone had a thing for his friend.

It was now time to leave before they did actually start throwing things at each other, he could see her starting to get all fired up and he was not hanging around for when she exploded. He made his way toward the door of the greenhouse and was about to make his exit but not before...

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him and planted one straight on her.

"Bet good old Jimmy was never as good as me in that department" he murmured before letting her go and leaving her behind, just she had done to him all those years ago.

"That's not a BIT true at ALL, Marcus Lawson, and I could fill FIVE HUNDRED greenhouses with what YOU don't know!" Anastasia shouted, whirling around now and accidentally yanking the entire spider plant and its root system right out of the pot.

She raised her fist to in fact throw the whole dirty mess at his stupid, good-looking face when....when he KISSED HER?!

WHAAAAAAAAT in the name of Moaning Myrtle riding on a pink thestral pony over Merlin's fire-scorched eyebrows DOES HE THINK HE'S DOING?! A million and one thoughts raced through Anastasia's brain but she could only gape after the man, clearly at a loss for words as that insolent, ridiculous, terrible, annoyingly right good kisser strolled out of her greenhouses as coolly as he had walked in.

"URGH!" she growled to herself, turning back around and fuming as she realized that yes, she had just messed up all her work from earlier and no, she was too upset now to fix it. The redhead blinked back her emotions and ripped off her gloves, tossing them down on the filthy, messy work station before storming out of the greenhouses in a huff. She. Needed. TEA. And a good couch to cry on.

Sarah walked into the Greenhouse for the first time. It was a warm place. She looked at the various plants that sat there, she never knew any of them. She had a lot to study about the magical world. Sarah was just wondering about the plants when a shout reached her ears. She moved a little closer and turned to look at the Herbology Professor shouting at Mr.Lawson. She ducked swiftly enough to avoid spider plant soaring at her. The Professor didn't even notice someone was there and she had just tried to knock them down.

Sarah looked up again, seeing when it was safe to get up. The scene made her mouth fall open. She adjusted her features and got up clearing her throat, "Ahem!" she coughed, making her presence into the place known as Professor Lawson walked out. She gave the Herbology Professor a strained smile, she wasn't that good in hiding shocks.

FORGET THE FRESH AIR!

Lyra's eyes widened with surprise. Her mouth gaped open as she inhaled deeply and held her breath. She.Could.Not.Believe.Her.Eyes.

Blink....blink blink...blink......................blink

"Thank you, Rob, for running here," she mumbled as she placed her hand on his shoulder to grab his attention. Gossip! That's exactly what this was and EXACTLY what the girl LOVED the most. "LOOK!" Her loud whisper was enough that it should've got Robert's attention. southerntalk She pointed to the two professors in an embraceable...odd...moment.

OH! And then Bunny pushed and ran. Lyra preferred Truebridge more, but it was because she found the man cool. Lawson was just...scary but he had KraziKazi to thank for that. Maybe Bunbunz thought the same as Lyra, she did most of the time anyway.

"Dude, this is high gossip time," she mumbled again as Bunbury took off running. Wait until people hear about this! WOOT for ME!