Ryder was excited. There was so much that he wanted to learn. Why he had picked the one person who did not actually teach a class was because....well, he didn't teach a class. Over the summer he had spent a lot of time outside and had become very interested in the way things were run at Hogwarts that he didn't really pay attention to before that is behind the scenes.

If you asked him, he wouldn't be able to tell you why he had suddenly become so interested in it. There was just something that held appeal in the whole area to him. He was almost obsessive you could say.

He walked up the stairs to Mr. Masterson's hut, and knocked twice on the door, moving constantly from one foot to another with anticipation.

A new term. More students to bother him.

Excellenttt.

"Comingg," Constantine called, getting off the couch and heading towards the door, opening it to the sight of a kid, resembling something along the lines of being in desperate need of a bathroom. "Ehhh...straight on through to the back of the hut, if the toilet's what you need. Just, remember to put the cover down, please."

The door opened to reveal Mr. Masterson himself. Really, Ryder thought, who else was it going to be, it was his house. That aside. It was MR. MASTERSON! The one person that he had been itching to meet all summer.

Toilet! He thought that he needed the toilet! He was going to let him use his toilet! Awesome!

"No, no, no...I don't have to use the toilet!" he said, excitedly, rushing through his words. "I actually came to meet YOU! I've been so excited about it all summer," he said as one continuous sentence, speaking almost to fast to understand.

Constantine blinked.

"You waited all summer...to see me?" Well, wasn't that an ego trip? "Why? ...What do you want? I didn't do it. I swear. It's all LIES." What exactly was he denying anyways?

He was talking to him. So cool.

"OH," the sixth year said. "It's nothing bad, really, a little exciting though if I do say so my self," said Ryder. "I want to know aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall about groundskeeping," he said excitedly, dragging out all way to much.

Constantine spent a good minute trying to gauge whether this boy was becoming completely serious, or was in much greater need of a bed at St. Mungo's. "You...want to know about groundskeeping? Why?"

"Because I love outdoors, and the greenness of the grass, and all the trees, the forbidden forest, and how it isn't forbidden, but because it has been called that for so long, the name has stuck. And the lake, and taking care of the giant squid fascinates me. And all the pathways that are worn down across the grounds from students from thousands of years. And the animals. Love them. And the noises. Just sitting, listening to them all is one of my favourite sounds. I did that a lot this summer, it was very relaxing!" All that was said in a rush. He just found lately that he got started on something, something that he loved, and could not stop.

Constantine leaned against the door frame. "I hate to break it to you, kid, but groundskeeping is more than hearing sounds. It's about being vigilante and aware, not to mention, considering of just how much work there truly is."

Yes. Of course. He knew it was more than that, of course he did. No, not really, but he WANTED to learn, and wanted to learn from him.

"Can you teach me?" Ryder pleaded. "Please, Mr. Masterson, please," he continued.

Was this kid for real? There were SO many other jobs out there in the world...and he, at the age of 16, decided that he wanted to become a groundskeeper? Not even Neo knew until the last possible second that he was going to become a groundskeeper. This kid had to keep his options open, soo...

"No."

Ryder was shocked. He felt the disappointment flowing through him and fought to keep it from showing on his face. But he couldn't. His happy expression on his face fell as Mr. Masterson's words sunk in.

"No," he echoed. "nooo," he said, this time it barely above a whisper. He waited a minute before he said anything, so that he had control over his voice. "Why not?" He asked.

Having searched at the feast and just keeping a general eye out, Jake could not find the person he was looking for anywhere. It wasn't until he thought back reeeeeally intently that he recalled Mr. Masterson being pretty much omnipresent when the issues with LouAnn arose... Jake didn't know what it was... and right now he didn't care. So, with a worried frown creasing his features, Jake approached the groundskeeper's hut thing only to see that someone else was already talking to the man. Jake hung back a little, knowing that he'd hate to be interrupted if HE was in the middle of talking, but stayed close enough to make it clear he needed a word with Masterson.

Because he was... worried.

Ohhhh, he hated those looks. Jadyn always gave them to him when he did the "I got your nose!" trick.

"Mr. Montgomery," Neo started, trying not to be swayed by the child's look, "While I'm flattered...you're young! You have so much time ahead of your to choose what you want to be once you graduate from this school. You should take the time to explore your options and find other areas that interest you. Why don't you go visit Professor Shackleton-Clark? I'm sure she'd be more than willing to help you explore some careers."

Ryder was slightly aware of the person that was standing waiting to talk to Mr. Masteron. He recognized him out of the corner of his eye, but didn't feel like turning to see if it was actually Upstead.

"BUT, Mr. Masterson, I have already decided what it is that I want to do. I want to be able to spend my life outside, and take care of things. Which is why I want to learn how to be a groundskeeper, so that I know all that," he explained, his voice once again becoming excited!

Constantine shook his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Montgomery. I highly suggest you get a meeting with your head of house. At least discuss things over with her before you commit yourself." Hopefully, she can change his mind...

Because it was what Mr. Masterson had asked him to do, and it was Mr. Masterson asking, Ryder was going to go see his head of house. And talk careers. He wasn't going to change his mind though! He was set on this. Sarah was going to think he was crazy!

"Okay, Mr. Masterson, I am going to go see my head of house, and then I will be back. You can't change my mind that easily, not when it is set," Ryder told the older man. With a wave to his idol he opened the door that led outside and started the trek back up to the castle waving to Jake as he passed him.

Giving Ryder a distracted wave as the boy passed, Jake hurried up to the door, eager to get there before Masterson closed it. The boy attempted not to look too concerned or worried, but at the same time didn't want to look emotionless or whatever. He bit down hard on his lip and looked up at the man. "Sir?" Jake started, not wanting to jump straight into it...

Thank god, Neo breathed. "Very well, Mr. Montgomery," he smiled, returning the boy's wave and following him to the door as he left. He was really hoping that Shackleton could help him get off this groundskeeping mindset.

"Ah, Mr. Upstead. How may I be of assistance," Constantine asked, looking down at the rather subdued boy.

The way this whole situation had ended up was making Jake really disconcerted but... well... who else would he choose to ask? Jake shuffled his feet and took a deep breath... rehearsing what he was going to say had helped... but Jake was still nervous... Had he ever spoken to Masterson?

"Sir," he said again, quite quietly, looking down at his shoes and taking another deep breath. Okay. "I was... wwwondering... Wuhh-well, see... I kn-know... I ssssaw you with Luhh-LouAnn alot last... last year," Jake took another steadying breath, realising his voice was shaking in anxiety. "I wa- I was wondering... Do yuhh-you knnnn-know where... where shhhhe is?"

And now it was said, and Jake looked at the groundskeeper, eager for an answer. What if she had... been arrested or something because of what he'd told Kazi?

He didn't want to think about it.

Masterson's eyes narrowed as he studied the boy. Something seemed off. "Yes," he nodded, "I do know where she is." He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Are you alright, Mr. Upstead?"

In contrast, Jake's eyes widened. That was torture... that was. "Whuh-where is sh-she?" he asked, voice slightly insistent, though he tried his best to keep it from going all high. Straight away, Jake realised he was losing control, and the boy looked out over the grounds and took a steadying breath. Think of climbing... things to climb...

"I'm... fine," the boy replied, avoiding looking at the man. He needed to work at this whole 'calm' thing.

Masterson considered the boy for a few seconds. "I apologize, Mr. Upstead...but I'm afraid that I cannot reveal that piece of information to you." Why did Neo feel like he was going to regret saying that? The boy did not look fine at all.

With that said to him, Jake let out a noise that sounded like something between a wail and a sob, both of despair. He held up a hand to the side of his head and clenched at his hair, trying to understand. Even though the man said he couldn't reveal that, Jake still HAD to ask.

"W-was she arre-arrested?" he asked frantically, now looking straight at the man. "'Cause- 'cause- 'cause of the... what I t-told Kazi? Ab-about the nuhh-nightmares?" Jake truly needed to know that. The secrecy of the answer was worrying. Kazi had reacted quite... interested when Jake told him about those dreams. "Ab-about thuh-thuh-the dead kids?"

Chiiiiiill out, Jakers, the boy thought to himself, calming down a tad even as he thought it. That's right.

Constantine raised an eyebrow at Upstead's reaction. "No, Mr. Upstead, she was not arrested. As far as I know and can say, she is well and safe. As she should be." He unfolded his arms. "Are you quite certain that you're alright?"