Phoenix shrugged, a little embarassed at the attention her work was getting 'I've always been able to draw, my mum says I could draw before I could walk, here, take a look, there's all sorts in there.' Phoenix passed the sketchbook over to Aurora and took a step back.

Wow... they were good... "These are brilliant. Honestly, the closes I get to drawing is writing music and even then it's all scruffy." Aurora flicked through the sketchbook, stopping now and again. "It's all so pretty!" And was doing a wonderful job at distracting her from Katja... and other people...

'I'm currently learning how to put spells on some of the doodles to make them change colour and move and other stuff, like this one.' Phoenix stopped Aurora's flicking and pulled out her wand, pointing it at the picture of a galloping unicorn and it's foal. She muttered a spell under her breath and the picture began to move and small whinneys emitted from the picture. 'Cool isn't it?' she said with a smile.

Oh... special charms..! "Wow! That is so cool!" Aurora stared in awe at the unicorn. "Honestly... that's awesome! I'm useless at charms like that!" Well, that was true, she could do a couple but... otherwise... useless.

'That's only a temporary one because of the sound, my dad actually taught me that...' Phoenix said it before she even realised what she was saying, she trailed off and looked uncomfortable as she looked down at the picture in front of her.

Phoenix shook her head 'I'm still working on the permenant ones, haven't quite mastered them yet.' she said with a small smile.

Aurora was thoroughly impressed. "Well, seriously, that's so cool. Have you tried a potion? I mean, moving portraits move because they're developed in a special potion, maybe you could try something similar?" Hmm, though the potion could ruin the picture... that was one to think about.

Phoenix nodded 'I have heard about those but they are really difficult to brew, let alone adapt, apparently it can take years for the potion to become ready to be used properly, I have actually tried in the past but they never worked or produced nasty side effects. Phoenix winced as she remembered the incident with the winged horse picture a few months ago, the picture had actually come to life for several hours and caused all sorts havoc before some Ministry officials had to be called in to sort it out.
'You're quite welcome to have a go if you want to.' she said with a smile.

He was still going to claim the responsability! "Yeah, I guess you are right" he shrugged "And if they asked what happened, let's say you fell down..." it was a good excuse but he has forgotten her bloody robes "Oh and for the blood..." before he could think of anything else Marie has already asked for his sweater "Yes, no problem" he took it off and gave it to her "Here you go".

Better give her something to cover her robes than people watching her with blood all over her. That was just not...good. Nikolas told her about his boring day and when he mentioned the word parents, it seemed like she didn't like the word or maybe it was just his imagination. How often? "Once a month. Because if I don't do it, my mom would start sending me a bunch of letter asking why haven't I wrote them" he chuckled. It was pretty annoying. "And you? Do you write to them?" he asked. Nikolas didn't knew why she has asked him that.

Marie was telling him about how awesome her day has been. "I guess you had a blast with that broken nose..." he started " I mean who wouldn't want a broken nose and being covered in blood?" he teased.

Aurora thought for a second. ”Hmm, yes, I can see that. The Fluxweed doesn’t always work on ink or pencil.” she said. ”Though there are alternatives, you could use the pulp of a Draconia fruit... that has similar properties...” Hmmm, though the flowers liked to set you on fire if you tried to take the fruit. ”I might try it some day.” Though she had other stuff to experiment with first!
This girl looked really familiar... ”Do I... know you?” Aurora asked, tilting her head to the side. Then she realised, ”Oh! You were the one at the fountain!” With Jonathan and... yeah.

Louisa smiled at him sideways. She had only him.. hmm.. well that was true, she didn't want anyone else at the moment too. So that was good, right? "Yeah." To both questions, she did have only him and she wanted to sit. The girl had danced for fifteen minutes and by 'danced' she meant 'stumbled' a lot. That made legs uncomfortable afterward, no? Well, hers were!

João smiled back at her charmingly. She had smiled to that in a genuine way, so that meant she liked the idea. Pointing at a nice, big tree, he made his way towards that and sat down with his back to the trunk and to the way. He wanted some privacy with her, after all, and he didn't want anyone to spy on them.

"Louisa," he said with a little smile though his manner was serious. "I wanted to speak something with you."

Louisa followed him to the tree he'd gestured to and was about to sit on the ground with her face to the road... when he went around it and sat on the other side of it. She walked around and sat side-facing him. And then he talked.

The serious smile he had on his face made his words more charming and effective. She nodded, unable to reply, as her heart was jumping against her chest. She did have a hunch about what he might ask her or 'speak' with her but after Dal, Louisa was not going to jump to conclusions or let her emotions drive her... even if they were already.

João turned slightly to face her more comfortably. He stood there, silent for a moment as he translated the stuff he wanted to say to English. It was better to just cut it to the point. Looking into those blue eyes, he said "I like you, Louisa, that hasn't changed in these four months." And hopefully he had made it obvious too. "And... I want to move that... attraction to the next stage. With you." He smiled a little. He had never been so lost for words in his life. Well, almost. "I want to call you my girlfriend."

He had a feeling this wasn't how the British did it, but it just had to do. Girls liked 'originality', after all, no?

Louisa smiled when he said he liked her still, even with all the ranting and lame tears she'd shed in front of him because of Dal - she thought he'd found someone else, like that India who danced and looked way better than Louisa. She even had an accent... that was attractive, right?

His last few words sent a bang across her chest - a good feeling bang. Her heart sank somewhere and then came right back to its original place. He wanted her to be his girlfriend? Like.. for real? The way Ellie was to Dallin? Okay, she really didn't want to bring that on her mind...HELLO! in a romantic breathtaking moment here.

After staring at the ground for a second, she lifted her head shyly and spoke, "Umm.. that's really.. uh.. nice of you." What? She'd never been in a similar situation and she absolutely forgot everything she'd read about relationships. "I like you, too." And about the girlfriend thing? She put a strand of her hair behind her ears, kept her smile on and replied, "When you say the next stage... is that changing our titles to boyfriend/girlfriend?" Her mind suffered from a block, sorry.

João watched her surprised and overjoyed expressions with something boiling inside him as well. It was a mixture of contentment and 'I knew it'. He wasn't relieved though, for he had been at ease since the beginning. He knew he was irresistible to a great degree, and she was another example of it.

Smiling at her as if trying to comfort her, his smile got bigger and even blood rushed to his face when she revealed she liked him too. Well, he knew that as well from Adam and her actions, but actually hearing it was better.

Taking that touch of hair as a positive gesture--it could only mean that she wanted to listen to him and she was open to him--he nodded with a charming smile on his face.

"Sim, senhorita. Você está certa." He smiled at her mischievously before explaining: "You have won the biggest prize for guessing right."

His charming smile was just so comforting and appealing. She giggled when he translated what he'd said, "And the biggest prize, I take it, is you." She had a smirk on her face. He was kind of a prize - considering his wealthy family, good looks, and unique attitude toward other people. He wasn't too nice nor too rude, not too romantic nor too clueless. He was just fine. Great, even. Yes, she was going to be his girlfriend.

"I think we're going to make a perfect boyfriend and girlfriend, then." Talk about flowery, red, and unrealistic dreams of a teen girl. If Louisa had the mind of her twelve years old self, she would've gagged at what she'd just said.

A fuming Thomas Broadmoor stormed his way across the grounds and out to goodness knows where. Scowl in place on his face, he was ready to commit MURDER!

..Or perhaps punch a tree.

He was SO annoyed with Hogwarts; the professors; the students.. But mainly he was annoyed with himself. There was no hiding here from his slowness to learn here, no way to compensate for it and cover it up so no one would notice. He wasn't like ANYONE else here.

He came to a halt and drew his wand. His magic, so far, had only shown itself when he was angry. Exploding televisions and microwaves. He wondered if he could use it now. Get out his frustrations on an inanimate object. He pointed it at a tree (Gwen would have canaries if she saw this. D: ). “Diffindo!” He spat, and slashed his wand in an angry 'Z', watching as the bark cracked and parted into the same patten.

O________O

Wow..

He lowered his wand and quickly pocketed it, looking around to make sure he was alone. He hadn't expected it to work. He wandered over to the tree and tentatively reached out a hand to touch the lines he had created.

Lexi was skipping... YES SKIPPING... along as she spotted Tom and decided to follow him. Heh. Ooooh he looked MAD! Seeing him successfully cast Diffindo made her smile brightly. Moving to lean against a tree off behind him she cleared her throat.

"It's all about intent. If you REALLY want the spell to work and you put enough feeling into it, it will. Nice work, there," she said nodding toward the now defaced tree. Hehe.

Flexing her wrist she sent her wand sliding into her hand. "It's the same with anything, really. If you REALLY want to accomplish something and you don't give up on it, then you will succeed. And... I heard what Lafay said to you in Potions class. Don't let that old hag get to you, Tom. She's mean to everyone. I think she takes joy in hurting other's feelings. That's the sign of someone that truly doesn't like themselves if you ask me." Smiling brightly she then nonverbally cast Papilio. She sent several pink and black butterflies fluttering around Tom's head. "What would you like to work on? I don't pretend to know every spell... or to cast them all first try, but the ones I have mastered I can teach you. It took me some time to learn them as well. We all start off being unsure and such." Meaning there was NOTHING wrong with Tom. Not from Lexi's point of view.

Tom's heart jolted when he heard the clearing of a throat to get his attention. Eyes narrowing dangerously, his head snapped around to look at who it was, only to find it was his friend (and unofficial partner in crime), Lexi Denver.

“Aincha no one nevah told you not to sneak up on people like tha'?” He asked her, although his tone was neither angry or impatient. Just.. usual Tom. His accent often made him sound annoyed even when he wasn't. He couldn't help a small smile when she praised his spellwork.

Nodding to her words, he began to understand why his spell had worked. He was angry and focused and he wanted it to work more than anything. “It's me tampah.” He replied. “Me maagic works bettah when I'm angry.” ...But surely that wasn't a good thing.

He shrugged his shoulders at the mention of Lafay. “I dun' care wot she blaady finks.” He lied. “She's as bittah cow if yer ask me.” He said as bluntly as he usually was. “I found brewin' the potion weren't too bad. I jus' struggle wiff note takin' an' tha'.” He nodded in agreement to Lexi, and then grinned. “I drew a pitchah of 'er. All 'orns an' fire.” He chuckled. “Fought it woz pretty appropria'e.”

Oooh.. Butterflies!

Tom's eyes widened and he laughed, feeling better for Lexi's company. “I dunno.” He replied. “Somefin' destructive.” Something he could pretend was Lafay as it smashed to smithereens. ...Nice little lad Thomas was.

Lexi couldn't help but giggle a little as Tom turned around and told her that she ought not to sneak up on people that way. "Turns out sneaking is one of my specialties. Sneaking and spying anyway," she said with an eyebrow waggle. She HAD been quite sneaky in her years at Hogwarts.

Lexi flitted to his side and let one of the butterflies light on her outstretched finger. "Then we will have to find a way to channel that anger and be able to bring up that kind of focus all the time when you are casting," she suggested as she smiled at the butterfly.

"Well good! One ought not to think on what others THINK of them. It's useless really. If I let it bother me the number of people who dislike me or think poorly of me... well I wouldn't leave the tower probably. Turns out jealousy and pettiness drive most teenage girls' emotions," she said with a giggle. That was her take on it anyway. Waving her hand about she looked back to Tom and smiled. "You know I don't have issues with Potions either... I just dun like Lafay. And... if you want I can help you with your note taking or... writing and whatnot. ANYTHING you need help with I will help if I can." She would feel awful if she didn't at least offer to help Tom improve on things before... she wasn't here to help him at all.

Something destructive... Lexi twirled her wand around as she let her eyes wander the area. OH there was a discarded pumpkin juice bottle. Heh. Plastic so it wouldn't harm them. Good deal. "Expulso is a charm that literally causes something to explode... wanna see it?" she asked with an eyebrow wiggle. Not waiting for an answer she pointed her wand at the bottle and yelled, "EXPULSO!"

HEHEHE. The bottle made a loud POP and then blew to bits as she watched. YAAAAY! Heheh. Charms, she was pretty decent at them, too.

Faina leaned up against the a tree on the outside of the pathway. She breathed in the sweet air, closing her eyes.

Nate crept up behind the tree that Fai was leaning on and threw his arms around it, clamping her to the tree. "Muahahahahha!" he said in a voice that didn't sound much like his own. As was his idea of course, to scare the living snakeskin out of Faina and then brace for the punch he would most likely promptly receive.

"Aaaahhh!" Faina yelled, thrashing against the arms. She went to implant her elbow into the creepers stomach but ended up hitting the tree. Faina started to laugh at herself. She had just hit a tree!

"Haha, you just hit a tree!" Nate said hysterically through fits of heaving laughter, he dropped his hands, came around the tree ad hugged Faina. "Hehe.. Hi!..." he said to her. He wa cracking up. A tree, her elbow, brilliant somehow. Perhaps he had had too much pumpkin juice at dinner.

"Well hello to you, too," Faina mumbled, standing on her tip toes to reach his lips.