Early September still held warm days and this was one of them. The long legged third year was particularly excited about this. Summers were usually wet in Glasgow and the days the sun decided to shine Lulu made good use of her hours exploring the nearby parks. Today she was on a walk with an empty knapsack on her back. Last year she had discovered some mushrooms and interesting plants growing alongside the paths and different areas of the school grounds. She wondered if she could use them for potions and took Sir Robin with her. Not because she thought she needed a companion, seeing as a kleptomaniac black-footed ferret wasn't the greatest choice, but because Patterson didn't trust him to behave in the common room.

Lulu kicked a pebble before a yellow flower caught her eye. From a distance it looked like monkshood enough but Patterson didn't know enough about flowers yet. She knelt in front of it and reached into her pockets for a pair of gloves. "Don't eat that, Nugget!" hissed Lu, swatting at her ferret when he sniffed the leaves of the plant. "I can't afford another of ye, if ye croak."

William walks around the pathways. He hopes to find his friends or evwn new ones.

Ronnie noticed a girl about her age walking around the pathways by herself. Well why not...she was walking by herself to it was the least she could do. She walked up to the girl and smiled and then looked down at some sort of creature...umm...what was it. "What kind of pet do you have there?" Ronnie asked with a smile not sure what was going on.

"I've never seen one before." Ronnie said blushing. She sat down on the grass just off the pathway in case some one else walked by. "I'm Ronnie by the way...Well actually it's Veronica...but I hate that name." Ronnie realized she was going on about nothing important so she shut up and looked at the girl. Waiting to see if she was going to respond.

Anakin was sorta kinda TIRED of being holed up in the castle. As beautiful and serene as the place was, all he'd been able to think about the night before was when he'd be able to get OUTSIDE. Where it was pretty, and the weather was nice.

So first thing that morning, he grabbed a yummy egg sandwhich from the house elves and headed down to the paths. Where it was nice and sunny and cozy.

Ah, the pathways. Evan had missed here... It had always been one of his favourite places, except for the spring time, when it was crowded with all kinds of bugs. But now, since it was getting cold and all, the unwanted creatures were gone, and he could wander around with a whistle and smile. Thus, with a football in his hand and in the blue outfit of Chelsea, he went for his small clearing, where he would be practising at today. He had to practise a lot, after all, and the early morning time was perfect for silence, when most of the people were sleeping and the rest having a long, weeked breakfast.

Bissy couldn't sleep at all. She tossed and turned in the bed. Then, she got out of the bed and changed her clothes. Everybody in the dorm was sleeping so getting outside and taking some fresh air seemed perfect to her. She left the castle and started walking. There were pathways surrounded with trees. She headed towards them and thought it was a really nice place. However, she was shivering because of the cold breeze. After taking a few steps, she saw a boy walking ahead of her. He looked familiar to her and realised that he was Evan Cartwright. What a nice coincidence it was. She called out to him saying: "Taking a morning walk, Evan?"

Pretty sure that he would be alone for at least an hour, Evan was startled when he heard a voice calling him. Turning on the spot, he came face-to-face with Bissy, and smiled. She could come and watch. She could even join, if she wished... he was fine, really, as long as it wasn't someone younger than fifth year, and a Huffie. Bissy was none of those, obviously. She was on quite the clever side, even.

"Not really, gonna play some football," he said, showing the ball in his hand. "How about you? Couldn't get used to the dormitories yet?"

She looked at the boy smiling. He was the warmest person she had ever met at Hogwarts, even warmer than Josh. Of course the lion boy couldn't be warm towards her when Evelyn clang him wherever he went. She didn't want to think about this matter. It'd be wiser to enjoy the clear and the fresh air. Playing football? Wasn't that the thing muggles play with a motionless ball? Yeah, probably it was.

She approached the seventh year snake boy and said: "Isn't a bit early for practising?" They kept walking along the path. "I couldn't sleep well tonight and thought it's no use turning in bed so I got out to get some fresh air. And luckily I have found a nice company." she uttered beaming.

GIGGLE.GIGGLE.

SKIP.SKIP.

SQUEAL.

That was the pattern that seemed to occur when Minnie Petrov was walking errrr...SKIPPING somewhere. With a merry little smile on her face, she kept up with her squealing/weird humming thing. She smiled past a few students, radiating in their directions. She wanted them to like her and find her pretty and want to be friends with her. ^___^

Surely it was early in the morning but that didn't stop Minnie and her hyper antics. Only a truely SILLY person would think she wasn't NOT hyper at this time of day.

esggrhgsfgsfgsd.

SHE RAN INTO SOMEONE. Pattern was RUINED. The little girl pulled back, wincing."I'M SOOOOOO SORRY, PERSON. I AM, I AM. I SWEAR I AM!"
She squealed, worried look on her face.

She couldn't help it, she was scared. D: Minnie smiled though, trying to look SOMEWHAT nice.

Lulu was digging her fingers into the softened soil with some effort. Although the flowers and the leaves were mostly used for the potions she did know, Patterson was certain the roots could be useful for something. Plus, wouldn't it be helpful if she could transplant it to a biodome? She'd have to ask the Herbology Professors about that. That was a piece of magic she wasn't prepared yet to do. To control an environment, even if it was inside some kind of magical globe, wasn't an easy feat, she was sure.

The dark haired girl fell on her bottom when a voice startled her. She threw her gloved hands up, sending the soil clinging to the bulky fingers flying. "Pet?" repeated Patterson as she gathered her bearings. "Oh, you mean Robin?" inquired the girl pointing a gloved finger at the black-footed ferret sniffling around the unknown girl's knees when she sat down on the grass. "Sir Robin is a ferret but he's kinna special. He's a black footed ferret. They're kind of rare especially in these parts. Name's Lulu Patterson," said the girl finally, tugging a glove off and extending the uncovered hand to Veronica. "Nice to meetcha, Ronnie."

Ronnie giggled when the girl sent soil all over. She looked at her hair and noticed bits were in it. She starting picking them out while listening to the new girl. "Ferret? I've never knew they could be pets." Ronnie said blushing. There was very little she did know about pets besides cats. She looked down as the ferret began to sniff her knees"Can I pet him?" Ronnie asked thinking it was best if she asked before she just stuck her hand out.

"He won't bite will he?" Ronnie asked blushing even more. She really didn't want to offended her. "It's nice to meet you Lulu." She smiled and took the extended hand shaking it. Ronnie fully sat down on the grass and crossed her legs Indian stye.

Lulu nodded before as she shook Ronnie's hand. Not a lot of people thought about ferrets when considering pets. In fact, most didn't. At least that had been Lulu's personal experience. She found every term two or three people, at the very least, who seemed startled by her choice in companion. "Well, ya know. I wouldn' tell someone to get a ferret for their first pet," informed the Slytherin girl thickly, returning to her previous work carefully, digging up the monkshood plant, roots and all. "They're eager, and temperamental and hard to train." Patterson shook the plant in an attempt to dislodge the dirt from its roots. "Sir Robin here doesn't listen to me. He listens more to my friend Greer. Reckon he fancies her because of her hair."

While Lulu tried removing the knapsack from her back, Sir Robin had bravely breached the distance between himself and Ronnie. He climbed up on one of her knees, observing her boldly with beady dark eyes. Lulu watched him for a moment before wrapping the small plant with some paper towels. "Reckon he fancies you too. Just like 'im, really. He fancies most people save me. He doesn't bite so it's okay to pet 'im, if you want. I wouldn't squeeze him or hug him, though. He's not much for hugs. He likes climbing shoulders and heads bettah."

With his hands stuffed into his pockets Finlay wandered down the pathways. He was still feeling totally hungry, but hadn't yet managed to get to the great hall. He was far too busy, and it was only the first day. If this was what the rest of the year was going to be like, then it was going to be very interesting. He was thankful for the apple that Sophie hd given him though, it had kind of made a difference to how hungry he had been. And he really was going to consider getting an magic alarm clock. It would be very useful.
But at least he was awake now...for now at least.

"It's only the beginning of term." Mia muttered as she walked with a purposeful stride down the pathways, after the Head Boy. The beginning of term and already she was handing out advice.

When she finally caught up with Finn, Mia gave him a hard poke in the back with her finger. Well to her it was hard but he probably wouldn't feel it. "So Mr Headboy, let's hear your side of the story."

Finlay frowned as he felt someone poking him in the back. That wasn't very nice. You didn't go around moking people in the back. Folding his arms, he turned around to see who it was. Oh. "Hi Mia." He smiled at her, but frowned again when she spoke. Well...she would want to know about that. He wasn't that surprised to be honest.

"She said I was pushing her away." He shrugged, and continued on walking. "Then she dumped me. End of story." Kind of seemed worthless now. He hadn't seen Marie since, and part of him was pretty glad. He didn't know what he'd do if her saw her. He wasn't very happy about it. He didn't like getting dumped. It was happening far too frequently recently. "Do we have to talk about it Mia? I'm sure Marie's told you enough."

There had been about half a dozen questions on her lips. Like did he think he was pushing her away? And why did he give up so easily? And had he actually loved her? But those questions died the moment he said he didn't want to talk about it.

Mia pursed her lips for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders also. "Fine, if that's what you want." she said and hurried to keep up with him. "I guess we can talk about me then. I kinda ran away from home." Yeah beat that Finlay.

"Thanks Mia..." Finlay paused, and turned to look at her. She knew that he didn't really like talking about these things. He hadn't meant to push Marie away, but if he had...then he was sorry about it. She'd find someone better now away. Part of him missed her, but he wanted to move on. Finn had enough to deal with this term...

But then Mia spoke again, and Finn eyed widened. "What?" He stopped walking again. "Why?" He looked concerned. What had made her run away? He had thought she was really close with her family. "Mia...?" He asked. He really was concerned. What had happened that had made her run away?

Of course she knew that would shock the crap out of him but she hadn't expected him to stop walking so abruptly and she walked straight into him. With a sheepish grin, Mia stepped back and looked up at him. "Had a fight with my dad." It still pained her to say that but she managed not to let it show on her face. Only her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

"He lied to me Finn. He lied to me for sixteen and a half years." She folded her arms across her chest and stared up at the castle. "So I took off and stayed with Nik." Which had been great but she couldn't deny that she did miss her family especially her father. Unfortunately she was too stubborn to go back...yet.

Finlay sighed, looking down at his best friend. He knew her well enough to know that she was probably upset about this, and so he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her. "Oh Mia....I'm really sorry." He might have hated his dad quite a lot, but he knew he'd be pretty upset if he had a fight with him.

Her father lied to her? Finlay frowned, rubbing her back gently. He wanted to comfort Mia. Make her feel better. "Mia...what about?" It would make him understand more if she told him, but he'd understand totally if she didn't want to tell him. Pulling back, he smiled at her. "You don't have to tell me...but I'm here if you want to talk about."

Mia leaned into him when he wrapped his arms around her and she took a few deep breaths to keep herself from crying. She had done enough of that over the summer. Poor Nik, had no idea what to do with her when she was blubbery mess. "Thanks."

She heaved a deep sigh at his question and while Finn was her best friend..."I know. But right now I'm not up for talking about it." There were a few things she had to find out before she went into it. "When I am though, I'll come find you." It seemed they were now even on the not talking about things.

"So how's the Headboy duties going?"

Evan chuckled at her question. Yeah, it was a bit early, for most of the people. And normally, if it was for anything else, he would have been quite bothered to wake up at that hour, but for football he would do anything. And to practise much more than before to get a contract from a real Premier League team was worth everything. He didn't say all these out loud though, right now only Mina knew, and he wanted to keep it that way. He didn't want to talk about it much.

"Yeah, but can you see ANYONE around to bother me or hit the ball or whatever drama they want to do with a handsome prefect with a ball?" he asked, grinning. Nope, not even the birds were awake yet. After a little walk, he stopped as they were in a clearing now wide enough to have a one-goal match. Raising one eyebrow at her as she told she couldn't sleep, he wondered why she couldn't sleep well. She didn't seem to be the type to be home-sick... maybe she was ill? He hoped not, she'd better NOT be home-sick.

"Why couldn't you sleep?" he asked with a concerned look as he set the ball on the ground, ignoring the 'nice company' comment. Being her prefect at the same time, he needed to identify and problems and solve them.

"I'm your best friend Mia...I'm supposed to comfort you. You don't need to thank me." Finlay really meant it. He didn't want her to cry. He'd hate to see her do that. He pulled away, smiling at her. She didn't want to talk about it? "I understand Mia....just like I don't want to talk about..." Yup. She knew.

He was glad when she changed the subject. He motioned up the path. Did she want to keep walking? "They're not too bad." He smiled. He was enjoying it actually.

So after the less than lovely almost meeting of the yearbook staff, Cassie finally ventured from the common room. She figured it really made little sense brooding over what happened and besides it wasn't like her to let what other people say get to her.

Dressed in jogging shorts and tank, Cassie made her way to the path and proceeded to jog along, dark ponytail swishing behind her. For now she figured that it was best she put her efforts into getting ready for quidditch tryouts.

As she jogged along the path she couldn't stop her mind from wandering back to a little look she received from a certain someone in the office, the memory of it made her smile.

Mordred made his way down to the grounds after receiving a note from his best friend Chloe. He brought it with him to the pathways to re-read it again together with his father’s bamboo pan flute. Mordred was thrilled to see it tucked inside his trunk with his father’s note attached to it:

Take care of this Mordred. Your mother and I figured you could use this to accompany you. Have a great term in Hogwarts. – Dad

His father must’ve slipped the instrument inside Mordred’s trunk the day before he left for school. He knew how much music meant to Mordred, and he figured it could also be one of the few things his son would want to have during his first year as he adjusts to his new environment.

Mordred then kept both of the notes inside his pocket, looked for a nice boulder to sit on, and began to play the flute.