Lorcan walked down the street, still holding Lexi's hand. He gave it a squeeze.

"So, where first?" He looked at her expectantly, knowing that he had already pushed his luck far too far already that afternoon to demand they go to the robe shop first.

Sneaking through Hogsmeade from the Post Office (he couldn't have his post sent to the school for the sake of secrecy) was proving to be easier than Garret had imagined. The parcel he'd ordered was tucked safely under the soft material of the jumper Daphne had given him for Christmas and bundled up as he was in a long scarf, his robes, a cloak AND a hat, there was no way anybody could tell that he even had anything under his robes.

Nope. Noooo waaay...

In fact, he was so safe that he could probably even nip into the Three Broomsticks for a drink to warm himself up before heading back to the school. AND nobody would see him!

Oheeeeppp... so cold.

Livvy shuddered under her cloak and pulled down her blue hat to cover her ears. Why was February still as freezing as ever? When was the warm weather going to come? She wouldn't mind feeling the nice warmth against her skin from the sun. She stuffed her cold and bare hands in her pocket as she shuffled through the streets of Hogsmeade.

February. Pfft.

February meant Valentine's Day. It was an icky, yet romantic, holiday and Livvy didn't like the idea of waiting around for someone to ask her to be their Valentine. It was nerve-racking and wasn't exactly something to brag about when no one's asked you.

Oh wellz.

Time to warm herself up! As Livvy headed towards the Three Broomsticks in hopes of getting a nice and warm drink, she came upon a figure wrapped up in cloths waddling around. ACK! Stalker! Ax-murderer! Maybe Livvy was thinking too much about it and was just being silly, but she gripped her wand from under cloak and tiptoed over. Taking a deep breath, the girl ran over to the figure screaming, "AAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

"Wot the-" Garret dropped the package to the icky, slick ground as a girl came screaming at him with her wand trained right at his head. His gloved hands (also courtesy of the thoughtful Miss Hopton - who was soooo in love with him) shot straight up in the universal sign of surrender, "I didn't do nuffink! It wasn't me!"

No one was gonna mess with anybody at Hogwarts until they went past HER. And Livvy was going to be their worst nightmare. Skillful in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Beater of the Quidditch Team, and now Chaser. Face the wrath of the Livmeister! Just as she was about to swat at the figure, they held up their hands in surrender and the voice seemed familiar to her.

She let her hands fall to her side, cocking her head, and peered to get a good look at the figure's face. where had she heard that voice before? Where had she heard that... that... accent slash lisp thingie?

"Garret?!" Livvy asked, in disbelief. If it was Garret, what in the world was he wearing? He seemed like a penguin with all his waddling.

Then his attacker spoke up and he almost groaned at the irony. His hands dropped immediately and he pulled off the hood of his cloak to grin sheepishly at her, "I had no idea you'd be so excited to see me, luv," he bent down and picked up his parcel before hiding the name on the front in as casual manner as he was capable of, hoping she wouldn't catch a glimpse of it, "Else I'd've skulked around more corners, ya know wot I mean?"

AH-HA! It was Garret. Livvy grinned crazily up at her friend that she hadn't seen for so long. It seemed like it had been ages since they last spoke or hung out. Centuries. An era. Though in truth, it was probably only like eight months. But that seemed like an eternity to her. Eight months with any Garretness was enough to make someone go mad. Though, Livvy was probably mad to begin with.

"Of course I'm happy to see you, G-Man. I haven't seen you in forever!" she said, her cheeks turning slightly red as he called her 'luv'. It reminded her when he called her 'Luvvy' instead of 'Livvy'. How clever-like.

Livvy was inclined to give the boy a hug, but he quickly bent down before she could do so. She watched curiously as he picked up the parcel he had dropped and covered the name before she could read it. Mmm? Skulked around more corners? Livvy grinned and just shook her head. Silly Garret. "Yes. I get what you mean," she said, winking at him.

"Would it be weird if I gave you a hug, Garret?" Livvy asked, suddenly. Hugging was giving. Giving was like sharing. And sharing was caring. And caring was... pure brilliance.

Would it be weird?

Garret's freckles appeared almost pale under the furious blush that turned his face, neck and ears hot. He shouldn't be having this reaction! Not when Cela hugged him on a regular basis, and he was getting used to having Daphne hug him but... but...

"Nope." He shook his head, appearing a little too eager for his taste, and he didn't like that squeak at all. He cleared his throat and tried again, "Why would it be weird? It's not like I'm a chimaera or... like ya know... like I liked you or anyfink... like that."

He couldn't look at her. NOPE. So he kept his eyes trained on a spot just over her head as he held his arms open for her to step into. MERLIN'S SPOTTED UNDERPANTS, Livvy was going to HUG him!

Was that too forward?

Sure Livvy and Garret weren't the type of close friends that hugged all the time and acted like they were best friends, but she still felt like a hug was appropriate for such a reunion. And unfortunately for Garret, it was still rather bright out, so yes... Livvy noticed the color rising to Garret's cheeks also. She stifled a small giggle at the boy.

Livvy blinked. And then she grinned. And then she snorted at the joke that Garret made. Yes... it was true that he was no chimaera. And... well... who was she to speak for him about the liking her part? Livvy was probably the oblivioust of the oblivious. "I guess you're right," she muttered, gently and quietly.

Why was she feeling so weird and awkward? She gave hugs to people ALL the time. Just because she hadn't seen this kid in almost a year, it shouldn't change the mood... right?

Livvy felt like she was going to burst out laughing as she watched him extend his arms out for her to walk into. The expression on his face was worth a million dollars. SO FUNNY. It had a billion of meanings to it that Livvy couldn't interpret, yet she was so fascinated by it. Her eyes fixed on his face as she stepped in, holding her arms out and wrapped her arms around Garret, squeezing him gently. "Mmm. How have you been?" Livvy asked, quietly, just loud enough for him to hear.

The moment she wrapped her arms around him, he lowered his own arms slowly and patted her back awkwardly. He gave good, non-awkward hugs to Cela and Daphne all the time, and even Evie that one time last summer, but... he took a liberty and leaned his cheek on Livvy's dark hair, "Sneaky."

So maybe that wasn't the answer she was expecting. She probably expected something generic... but he HAD been sneaky. He'd not forgotten his crush on her, in fact... the parcel he had on him right now, the one crushed between them... it contained a very big chocolate heart... For her.

It felt rather weird to Livvy... giving a hug to Garret. She didn't believe she had ever done so in the past before. Their interactions usually involved running around the castle and buying treats from Honeydukes. But it felt nice.

Livvy felt the boy leaning against her hair and she heard him muttered something. She laughed and leaned back from him, raising an eyebrow. "Sneaky?" That wasn't exactly the appropriate answer to her question. But she'd take it. Livvy could only wonder what he was talking about, when he said 'sneaky'.

Lexi smiled at Lorcan and said, "Wherever you need to go." She didn't really care where they went, it was nice to be away from the castle and grounds for a bit.

"Oh, alright then. We might as well start in the robe shop, since I had to burn mine when I got pushed in the Moon Calf mess." he wrinkled his nose at the memory.

He side-stepped a slushy puddle. "Just watch out for the snow, I wouldn't want to have to dry out your bum again." he grinned at her and winked.

Lyddia walked down the Hogsmeade street on her own, quite enjoying her own company. Sha had quite a bit of money with her but wasn't really anxious to spend it. She was remembering all the things that had happened last time she came to Hogsmeade. She laughed at the thought.

She was sure Carmela still hadn't found Pansy, and Lyddia was beginning to worry because Terref had dissapeared as well. Maybe they went of on a romantic adventure together. Psh, yeah, that's what happened. Terref, who's scared of Pansy ran away with Pansy on a romantic adventure.

Okay, Lyddia, you make sense.

Lyddia grinned to herself again. Suddenly she felt something at her feet and she looked down. Ohmigosh, it was Pansy!

Lyddia picked Pansy up and, naturally, Pansy began attacking Lyddia. Lyddia ignored the scratches that were now oozing blood and carried Pansy as if she were Terref.

What was she going to do now? And where was Terref?

Lexi smiled weakly at him and said, "Yes, let's keep the focus off of my bum, why don't we." She then giggled and gave him a wink. She let herself be led toward the robes shop by her Nemean.

Jason went walking down the street. " Lyddia, hi, how are you?" Jason asked her. " So, you ok since I saw your cat scratch you?" Jason Lyddia. " I am going to HoneyDukes candy shop" he told Lyddia.

Carmela was happy to be out side now..
t's been so long, always busy with homework... hmm.. It was a little cold, but yet refreshing. She looked around at all the students, laughing having fun, which made her think of Lyddia.
Were was she? Maybe she'd go on a hunt for her, after all it is a wonderful day why not enjoy it.

Carmela was happy to be out side now..
It's been so long, always busy with homework... hmm..

It was a little cold, but yet refreshing. She looked around at all the students, laughing having fun, which made her think of Lyddia.
Were was she? Maybe she'd go on a hunt for her, after all it is a wonderful day why not enjoy it.

She Walked along the roads of Hogsmead street. Wishing Pansy was here to join her fun..

ooc: not cat, ferret

"Hi, Jason! I'm okay, I'm used to Pansy scratching like that. Besides, she's not mine she's my friend's. She'd lost her and now Pansy turned up again." She smiled at him as Pansy squirmed in her arms. "Honeydukes, huh? Last time I went there I stocked up on so much candy I still have some left." She laughed, then noticed Carmela not far from Jason and herself.

"Blair!" She yelled at her. "Come get your animal!"

"Sorry. I did not know Pansy and Terref were ferrets" Jason said to Lyddia. " I am glad you are ok" Jason told Lyddia. " How about going to Madame Puddifoots?" Jason asked her." Your friend can come, too" he told Lyddia.

Katlyn walked through Hogsmeade looking for her cousin. "Where is she?" She asked herself. She kept walking until she found a spot and stood there waiting patiently for her cousin.

Jule had gotten a feeling she was being needed at Hogsmeade. Though she had tried to ignore it, Jule finally walked towards Hogsmeade. As she walked down the street, she saw someone who she hadn't talked to in a while now. Katlyn Way. Her cousin who was just like her, in the younger days. Jule had given up on pranks and just try to focus on school. "Hey munchkin," she said, smirking as she apporoached her cousin.

He raised an eyebrow in return, only he wasn't so practised in the art to pull it off like she did, "You'll see."

That is, if he ever worked up the courage he needed to give her the stupid gift already. Maybe he just needed to buy time, and with that thought, he dropped his hands and tucked them in his pockets, "Wanna go get a hot drink or somefink?"

Livvy giggled slightly at his attempt to raise his eyebrows at her like she had done so just moments before. It looked funny to her and cute. Wait. Cute? Where did that come from? The cold was getting to her and her brain. Most definitely. Not thinking clearly anymore. "Can't wait then," Livvy said, grinning as she too dropped her hands to her side and wrapped her arms around herself to create warmth.

Fuuuuuhh-reeeezzzinng. Her teeth chattered quietly as she watched Garret for a moment. Wanna? CHUH-YAH! "Love to. Come onnn... I'm freezing," Livvy said, shivering slightly as she grabbed Garret's arm and pulled him along towards the Three Broomsticks entrance.

"Finally Jeez" Kat said as her cousin approaches her. "Do you know how long i've bin waiting for you? Well it really wasnt that long" She said with a slight laugh. Knowing her cousin would spaz out on her for saying that she grinned at her. "What i really mean is Hola primita querida" She walked up to her cousin and gave her a deathly hug. For some reason she hasnt talked to her in like forever. "I havent seen you in like forever" She said to her with a little tear coming down her cheek. "I missed you" Talk about drama queen