"I think she does," Adam said with a little nod of the head. "Although if I can manage to successfully find myself an apartment, maybe she can come stay with me for a little bit if her home life is too troubling." Living together would be quite a big step in their relationship, especially since they had just started dating, but Adam would extend the offer so Rubiey knew she had somewhere to go if she needed a place. "That offer is extended to you as well," Adam said with a little nod of the head as he too blew on his tea to cool it down a bit. Deciding that maybe it needed to sit for a second he set it down on the huge foot stool next to them.

As Louisa explained the Marina situation Adam nodded thoughtfully. "I'm sorry to hear that her father is sick," Adam said with a small frown. "Is he a wizard or is he a muggle?" Not that it really mattered, but Adam felt like the wizarding world was more advanced with remedies for illnesses than the muggle world was, although even he knew that some things could not be cured. "How are things going with your mom?" Adam asked when Louisa mentioned the woman's offer for her to stay there for the holidays. "Have you guys been in much contact?" Really Adam and Louisa had such strained relationships with their parents that he felt like it didn't really come up in conversation all that much. He returned her smile warmly when she repeated his feelings about the people here being her family as well.

Louisa chuckled after sipping from her tea, "You're really sweet Adam but I don't think Rubiey and I will be able to move in with you, maybe visit, yes." She did not know about Rubiey really, but Louisa would never be able to sleepover at Adam with Joao shooting her accusations about the boy. Maybe Adam forgot about this detail, since his encounters with Joao were probably zero count, but Louisa was reminded by this every time she saw Joao...which wasn't much, by the way.

"Marina's a muggle-born so her father is a muggle...I guess. I've never met him or her brother." Louisa paused thoughtfully, surprised by this piece of information herself. "She stays with me at the leaky caldron mainly, we never stay in touch after that." Marina usually showed signs of wanting to expand their relationship but Louisa never gave her that luxury - nope, Marina was hired by her mom and that was that.

"Mom's fine. She'd sent me a letter. Well, she wrote me a letter and Marina sent it." Another sip from her tea. "She said that Johnny, my seven years old brother, is very good. He's got asthma." Louisa never spoke in details about her family to Adam. That wasn't really fair since she knew a lot about him so she went on, "They're going back to France in a few weeks, too, which was why she wanted me to come over." A careless scoff escaped her mouth, "I know that Jason, her husband, wouldn't be so thrilled by my coming home so I'm not going to cause another trouble. I wish they just forget about me already." Shifting nervously in her place, she looked up at Adam with a smile on her lips, "My mother doesn't tolerate wizards or witches, my father, the real one, must've been a pain in the butt. I just wish I knew why they got divorced so soon and what was he like. She never tells me."

Adam chuckled when Louisa pointed out a very good point. It was true that they were only teenagers and the idea of sleeping over at one another's homes might been seen as slightly inappropriate...well...not slightly, but definitely. Also Adam supposed he should have considered the fact that Joao would probably personally come to his apartment and try to hex Adam if he found out that Louisa had slept over there. He had a feeling that Joao's jealousy over their friendship was probably never going to go away, and he was pretty sure that him and Joao would never become friends. Not that Adam minded...he didn't want to be friends with someone like that, but he kept that to himself since he didn't want to hurt Louisa's feelings. He was her boyfriend after all. "Well visiting will definitely be a requirement," Adam said with a small smile.

He reached out and grabbed his tea, figuring it was now cool enough to drink as he listened to Louisa talk about her family and Marina. It was in this moment that Adam became incredibly aware of just how little he knew about her family. He knew about her birth father of course, since Louisa had expressed her wishes to meet him and know more about him, but as for her siblings, her mom, and her mother's new husband Adam hardly knew anything. "Asthma stinks," Adam said with an appreciative nod. "A boy at the first muggle school I went to had such terrible asthma that he literally could not function unless he had his inhaler and took it at certain times throughout the day." Adam certainly hoped that her brother's asthma wasn't that bad...it was hard to tell from Louisa's comment. Adam understood how she could see Marina as more of a guardian than as someone she could trust and see as a mentor.

"It really is a shame how muggles aren't very understanding of us being different. Perhaps what's more amazing is that more seem to feel the way your mom, my parents, and Rubiey's mom feel than supportive and understanding. I guess people can hate what they don't understand," Adam said with a shake of the head before taking a sip of his tea.

Louisa nodded in agreement to the visit thing. Marina would be the one to apparate Louisa there or drive her or whatever, Joao would be probably abroad. "I'll definitely do that. Besides, I can't stay away from JB so much anymore." Louisa chuckled and stole a glance at the puppy nearby.

Sipping more tea, she listened to Adam's friend story and nodded in sympathy, "I'm sorry to hear that about him. Johnny's got a pretty bad one, too. My mother took him to France last year and got admitted into a hospital for two months before being diagnosed as asthma. I think that's why they're going there soon, too." She let out a sigh and gulped the last of her drink.

"Yes, they are afraid and usually hate what they don't know or can't explain." Louisa's tone was bitter, "I bet if Danny or Johnny were wizards what my stepfather would feel like." She cackled, making the poor puppy jump, and then stared quietly at her empty cup. "You know? Jason, my stepdad, was a great man. We were very close, closer than to my mom also...but once this magic thing popped into our life, he moved away from me and I'm not his precious little Louisa anymore." Sniiifff.

Adam smiled at the puppy when Louisa mentioned not being able to stay away from JB for so long. "He is hard to resist, isn't he?" said Adam with a bemused smile and a shake of the head. JB had begun to chew on one of the bones from the bottom shelf, making him completely oblivious to the conversation that him and Louisa were having. Oh JB did have the good life in Adam's opinion...no studying, no tests, no drama. When Louisa mentioned Johnny's asthma being as bad as his friend's was Adam frowned. "It really is depressing, and sometimes there's not really much the doctors can do to make it better, you know? If the medicine is not helping...well..." Adam let the sentence trail off. This conversation was taking a depressing turn, mainly due to Adam and his pessimistic attitude, and he didn't want it to kill their cheerful mood. "I hope that your brother continues to stay healthy and such."

Adam listened as Louisa talked about her stepfather, frowning slightly as she mentioned that their relationship changed drastically after he found out she was magical. "I think that's the worst kind of hurt, you know? When you firmly believe in your heart that someone cares so deeply about you and loves you so much that nothing would prevent them from feeling that way. Then when you find out that's not the case...well...I can't think of a pain much worse than that. I'm sorry that happened between you and him Louisa," Adam said, giving her arm a little squeeze before he took another sip of his tea.

"Haha!" MJ laughed triumphantly. "That's you!" Wrestling her monster tomatoes was the best workout the small girl had ever had! They were getting seriously big now. MJ had to go down there every day to trim them in case they swallowed up the neighbouring plants. She actually thought she was managing them pretty well. Though she wouldn't like to feed anyone the tomatoes. And she should probably notify the Professor... Errrr, skip the Professor part. Maybe MJ could get away with uprooting them completely if they got too mischevious; or donating the fruits to the Potions department in the interests of student welfare. She laughed out loud at that thought! Without paying any attention to the things going on around her, she body-slammed another giant tomato stalk. MJ was actually quite enjoying herself!

The plants were harmless enough, just, overly large, and somewhat mischievous. "Tomato anyone?"

Lilly went up to her patch of flowers. Cool, they were nearly fully grown. The lillys were lovely. The violets weren't so great. She ripped them out of the ground, just like she felt ripping her stupid twin's hair out. Lilly had brought some strawberry seeds to plant too. There was some soil next to the lillys to plant something else. Her seeds were chucked into the hole and covered up the delicious fruit. They were obviously magic strawberries that would grow quicker, but also have faces and feelings. Extra juicy.

The cold weather had started getting to Kurumi and she longed for the warm summer months where she could walk around freely in a T-shirt and shorts. However, summer usually meant that it was too hot for her to keep her hair down, and she was starting to like wearing her hair loosely around her shoulders.

She had her Arithmancy textbook under her left arm and her right hand was idly playing with her hair as she looked for a quiet spot to begin getting a head start on her Arithmancy homework before things got too hectic with the rest of her classes. There had been a sudden influx of classes once again after all.

Setting her bag down, Kurumi adjusted the purple scarf tied around it so it hung nice and neat. She blush a bit, remembering the day in the pathways, before sitting down on the grass beside it. She knew she liked the student garden, it was always spring in here.

Jonathan fancied a walk because if he didn't, he would fall asleep on his bed for the second time of the time. Winter was never his favorite season among the four. But an activity or something would be better rather than staying indoors where he'll just procrastinate.

He didn't know what to do, so he brought his journal and muggle pencil. Speaking of which, he never got to buy his quill. He lost his quill last term and has completely forgotten to buy one again. Nahh. Pencils were more convenient than quills anyway. Problem is, he can't answer his OWLs with a pencil, right?

His feet dragged him to the Student Garden. So why was he here again? He doesn't even know. Instinct perhaps? Spotting on the corner was a very familiar person, with a very familiar scarf. Jonathan smiled as he saw Kurumi. Thankfully, he went out for a walk today. She seemed to be studying though. Jonathan walked over to where she was sitting. "Hello princess." he smiled as sat down beside her. "Studying?" he asked.

Kurumi opened her bag and pulled out the box she had been given by Professor Hadley and set it on her lap. She just needed to tap the box and the Walnut would appear, then it was a matter of trying to figure out how to make the Walnut open.

Kurumi pouted her lips and was just about to remove her wand from its turquoise holster when she heard a voice come up behind her. She knew who it was before they sat down, however. "Jonathan?" she asked turning her head around. Yep, she was right. "Jonathan!" She quickly set the box down next to her and smiled at him. Wait...had he just called her Princess? She blushed instantly. "H-How are you?"

She glanced at her Arithmancy book and then at the box. "You could say that. I'm doing Arithmancy homework...or...attempting to do it."

Jonathan tapped her head as she called his name. "that's a really nice scarf. Who gave you that?" he teased. So no more awkward Jonathan, right? He should be back to his usual self since all the awkwardness has already been took up last year and then recently a few days ago.

Then he put his arm around her shoulder "I never thought of calling you that but I heard it from Josh" back when they were talking in the bathrooms, Josh mentioned that nickname. It suits her too. "I'm bored actually" he smiled. Bored as in, he doesn't want to start procrastinating again like he did last term. What Kurumi's doing seems to be fun. Her wand was out and she had this box. Speaking of which, he has the same box back at their dorm. He forgot what it was for.

But before he could ask her about the box, she suddenly explained it--- ARITHMANCY HOMEWORK. Jonathan's smile turned into a frown. He forgot about that homework. Heck, he doesn't even know there was a homework in the first place. He scratched the side of his head "We have Arithmancy homework?" he looked confused. He has completely forgotten about it and plus, Arithmancy wasn't his strongest subject either.

"Just some guy," she teased, playfully sticking her tongue out. She already felt more comfortable around him. It must have been all the pent up nervousness of not knowing whether or not Jonathan returned her feelings or if her feelings were really genuine. Over the past few days, she was beginning to feel that she had definitely made the right decision...but she was still unsure about using THAT label. "But, they should know that I always have it with me."

She blushed a bit more when Jonathan put an arm around her shoulders and she responded by scooting a little closer to him. "Y-You were talking to Josh about me?" That thought shocked the Gryffindor and her eyes widened. Josh had been her first crush at Hogwarts, however short lived that had been since Josh had most certainly entered the big brother zone, but that didn't mean that she didn't giggle whenever he was around. "Bored? Well, I think that homework can certainly help you with that boredom." That, and she wouldn't pass up the chance to spend some time with Jonathan.

She giggled. Jonathan really didn't pay much attention in classes outside of Potions, did he? "You are lucky you have me around then," she laughed, playing nudging him with her shoulder. "It is safe to say that after each class has ended that we have homework." She took out her wand and tapped the box once. The lid instantly opened and vanished into thin air to reveal its walnut contents.

Now...how did the spell go....

Kurumi reached over Jonathan for her parchment and returned to her sitting position to look over her notes. Aha! There is was. She brought her wand down, then up, and finally flicked it at the walnut. "Arithmos Revelio!" Numbers immediately appeared over the box, but they were not crystal clear. In fact, some of them were very hard to see at all.


"Erm...can you read all those?" If Jonathan could, then perhaps she would be able call that good enough. After all, the spell was rather advanced and a fourth year wouldn't be able to make all the numbers appear perfectly, especially not the first time.

Just some guy, huh? So she's playing along to this. Jonathan laughed softly and leaned nearer "Wow... This guy must be so cool. I'm quite jealous." he winked. Is Kurumi seeing this side of him the first time? He usually likes teasing a lot. Especially to people he knows and who he consider he is close to. His hand reached for the purple scarf "Really? That's good to hear." he smiled. Jonathan liked hearing that.

He didn't talk to Josh "he interrogated me" he looked at her "about you." Well there were a lot of awkward questions that he had to answer the seventh year Gryffindor "But I'm not telling you anything." he said sticking his tongue out as well.

Then just suddenly, there topic changed into homework. Jonathan doesn't like doing homework. He gets bored easily just looking at it. Especially when the homework involves subjects he's not strongest at. He likes Potions, Charms and transfiguration subjects. So Arithmancy is not exactly the subject he is mostly interested in. "Homework will just make me more sleepy." he laughed.

"Yeah." he looked at her "I'm lucky to have you" it may mean a different thing to Kurumi but it also means something else to Jonathan. Okay. No more awkward situation. Jonathan knows that if this will be awkward, they will both be silent for quite a long time too.

Looking at the parchment, Jonathan's eyebrow raised, "Nope. No idea" the whole thing was a mystery. He can see some numbers are visible but some are definitely hard to read. "Why not try the spell again?"

Kurumi laughed and rocked back and forth a bit. This was nice, but sitting on the grass talking. Kurumi hadn't felt this comfortable around a boy in a while, and it was very refreshing and gave her a little glimmer of hope that had all but gone out over the past year. "Well, I think he is kind, but I suppose others would think of him as cool," she nodded. She smiled a bit when he read. "You don't have anything to be jealous about." At least not as far as she was concerned. She rested her head on his shoulder.

Wait...what? Josh had interrogated him? If Josh had been busy playing bad cop, what was going to happen when Salander found out that one of his snakes and her were...well...whatever it was that they were. There was still no label on it, but Kurumi rather liked it that way. She felt more free but not in the way that people would associate the term with. It was almost like the labels were not needed, right? "I hope...he didn't give you too much of a hard time." Josh could be, well, a little too Josh at time. "He has been like a big brother to me ever since my first year, so he can be a little protective..."

Kurumi rolled her eyes at him. How was he going to do well on his owls if he fell asleep doing a simple homework assignment. "Well, they I will just have to figure out a way to keep you awake," she laughed. "I'll...pinch you every time you start to look sleepy." Unless he had a better idea.

She blushed at his comment, although she really didn't understand the weight behind what he was trying to tell her. Still, it made her blush nonetheless and the tips of her hair began turning a cherry blossom pink color. Her free hand flew to the tips to try and hide it. "S-S-Sorry, it does that from time to time you know," she said sheepishly. Stupid hair...it was always doing that when she didn't want it to.

Kurumi squinted her eyes at the numbers floating above the chestnut. "You're right," she sighed. They were a little too fuzzy. She repeated the wand movement again, focused a bit more, and then repeated the incantation. The original numbers faded like black smoke into the air and were replaced by orange ones as if someone had taken a magic marker and written on the air itself.

Kurumi blinked her eyes several times. The numbers were a bit blurry, but much easier to see this time. Professor Hadley had said that their numbers might not come out clear after all. "How about now?" She remembered what the numbers were supposed to be, so asking her would be no help. Jonathan had apparently slept through most of the lesson, so he didn't seem to remember the numbers, which was good for her because she could keep trying to perfect the spell if he couldn't read them.

Kind and cool, now that's something he hears everyday. "Cool?" he laughed. "Come on Kurumi." he sorta disagrees to that "Other than the Slytherins, people don't say that about me." he scratched the back of his neck. Yeah, he heard annoying once and then there was arrogant. Probably Jonathan has been giving them bad first impressions? Dunno. Probably it's his facial features? At a glance, you won't really think he's nice. Jonathan tilt his head as well when Kurumi rested on his shoulder. He just giggled at the jealous comment.

Hard time? "I had fun." he said. Well, he thinks they both did. Josh was liking the fact that Jonathan kept freaking out everytime they talk about Kurumi and the longer the interrogation got, Jonathan began to tease him with answers. "He's physically fit" he added. Random but it's something he just noticed about the guy. Jonathan was a little bit shorter than Josh perhaps. "So does that mean I should be careful?" adding to the 'he can be a little protective' comment. It's sad how he'll be graduating soon.

Pinch as a wake up button? He liked the idea but then it wold just motivate him more to sleep. "I don't think that will be a very good idea" he winked. Were there any other options left? Kurumi could just think of anything. And she should be prepared because when Jonathan says homework makes him sleepy, it's not an exaggeration--- it's the truth. Kurumi might have to pinch, spank, punch him a lot.

He looked at her hair. Oh yeah, she's a metamorphagus. Her hair changes colors. He saw that color once, when they were at the gazebo, right? Jonathan looked at it closely, she doesn't need to hide it actually. He's practically okay with it. In fact he even likes it that her hair color changes depending on her mood. He laughed as he thought of something "this is really cool." he said as he was still staring at the tips of her hair. Jonathan hasn't met a metamorphagus before. Kurumi would be the first one.

Looking at the parchment now, it's a little bit clearer than the last one "i think it's 28061052749?" Is he correct? The 0 in the middle is kinda has a 1 before it. So he's not entirely sure. "One more time" he said. She's good at this. Plus, Jonathan really needs to pay attention more in class.

WOW!!!! A GARDEN!!!! Not that Adam was shocked to see one. It wasn't as if he was oblivious to the fact that they existed. Or was he? Adam smiled happily, munching away on a carrot. No surprises there. But it was almost gone. NO. Not good! But he could ask anybody who came to talk to him if they had any carrots. Random but that was his middle name. Next to INSANE! O yesh. He was cool like that. And his persona most definitely showed it. In a weird, Adam kinda way.

Neko sighed and walked into the Student Garden, not paying attention as usual. She tripped over her sandaled feet and crashed into someone. O jeez. "Oh, I'm sorry. Wasn't watching where I was going"

Adam jumped when someone fell into him. Instinctively, he grabbed hold of her but still didnt manage to keep his balance and fell backwards. O boy. He looked up at the girl and smiled. She was prettty. Very pretty. "I noticed that" he replied as he stood up and brushed himself down. He looked at the carrot on the floor and pretended to pout. "Got any carrots?" he asked. It was her fault he'd lost his carrot and now he wanted another one. But something told him she didn't have any.

Neko gasped as she fell over and was looking down at a boy. Neko had to admit, he was extremely handsome. She quickly stood up and shook her head furiously, trying to lay her dark hair correctly. It didn't work. Ah well. She looked up at the boy in confusion. Carrots? "Ah...no..." she stammered.

Adam smiled at the girl. That same smile that ALWAYS seemed to have girls tripping over to talk to him when he was in his old school. Though he still didn't quite understand why. He was just like any other thirteen year old boy in the school. Except he had an addiction to carrots. Ah. He suspected correctly. He pretended to put again. Dang it. He needed carrots. "Nevermind" he replied sadly. Of course, his sadness all too fake.

"I'm Adam by the way" he told the girl, a smile plastered over his face again. She was so pretty. He'd have to get his flirting head on with this one. "And who, may I ask, are you, pretty lady?" he asked.

Neko almost smirked. ALMOST. She raised a questioning eyebrow at the obviously fake sadness.

Neko smiled. "Neko" she responded, blushing. Ahe wasn't THAT pretty...was she?

Was she doubting her prettyness? Adam WOULD NOT have that. No way hozay. He put his hands on Neko's shoulders and looked straight at her tilting his head slightly. "Yep, definitely pretty" he told her examining her properly. Awww. She was blushing. That was cute. He let go of her shoulders and smiled cutely. "Pleasure meeting such a stunning young lady" he told her, his smile failing to disappear but truth clear in his words.

Neko turned her head away slightly her black eyes slightly doubtful. What made Adam think she was pretty? "I'm not pretty..." she murmured, her Japanese accent coming out.

WHA...? Adam raised his eyebrows and turned Neko's head to look at her again. "Wanna bet?" he asked. This girl was going to be difficult to convince. "Honestly, girl, do I have to drill it into your head because I actually will do it" he replied.

Neko sighed. she wasn't pretty. That had been drilled into her head since she was a child by her father. She had wished she could remember her mother. But that wasn't the point at all. SHE WASN'T PRETTY.