Truth be told, Treyen never considered such a thing when talks of a badge happened. Not that he'd often spoke of it, but what Arya said didn't cross his mind until now. He still laughed, softly, when she spoke. "I didn't, actually." It sounded very much like her.

Again, the badger trio completed itself. They each had something the other didn't.

Once she offered her hand, he took it and joined her. Hmmm, where? "The Great Hall, perhaps." He smiled. Treyen suddenly felt like being surrounded by many more students. So, either the Great Hall, or the Common Room. The first option seemed like the best one, though.

Off to the Great Hall, then. Unless Arya had a better idea.

It was practically April, so it was really nice and warm outside. Amelia enjoyed the walk out to the courtyard so much that she wasn't sure she wanted to go back to the castle when she was done stargazing. But she couldn't stay out all night when there was curfew, so it needed to be done and within good time.

Finding a perfect spot on level ground, she set down her telescope and started to set it up. She planned to look at Polaris, the North Star tonight. It was one of the most known stars in the sky, and one worth getting a proper look at.

Once the telescope was set up she looked into the lens to see that everything was in focus. Polaris was in the constellation Ursa Minor. She knew that Ursa Minor was also known as the 'Little Bear'. She also knew that Polaris has been used as a point of navigation for centuries as it was so bright; she had used it as a reference point when she used the Nocturnal earlier in the year.

Turning her attention to her notes, she looked up the coordinates for Ursa Minor just to make sure that she had no problems with looking for the star:

Quote:

Right Ascension: 15 hours
Declination: 70 degrees
Visible between latitudes 90 and -10 degrees
Best seen in June (at 9:00 PM)

Coordinates used as a reference, Amelia located the North Star. She looked at it through the telescope and saw it a lot brighter than she had ever seen it. She wasn't sure why she had never looked at it through a telescope before.

After looking at the star for a bit she pulled away from the telescope. She did a drawing of Polaris in her notebook.

"Yeah, I am planning on it... eventually." Hopefully next term if she worked up enough courage. A smile appeared on her face when Max told her she looked quick. The next star Chaser or Seeker...that would be wicked! "Are you a big brother?" She asked suddenly, curious. "If not, it's too bad. You sure know how to encourage smaller kids."

Ella raised her eyebrows when Max explained the probability of getting attacked. She didn't understand that kind of thing so she just sat quietly, eyes wide. Her eyes grew wide when he told her it had been about ten terms since the last attack and she looked around nervously. That is, until she realized he was only kidding with her. She let out a relieved sigh and giggled. "Very funny." She said, though she was smiling.

Ella followed Max's gaze to the stars and smiled, the sky was quite beautiful tonight. She rolled her eyes when Max said he wouldn't be busting out moves any time soon. "You really shouldn't care so much what other people think." Easier said than done of course but life was much more fun with a little spontaneity. "Plus, if you ever do decide to go for it, just look for me. I clearly don't have a problem with embarrassing myself..." She said, giggling.

"Good," he smiled again. "When the time comes, if you need a pep talk or anything, you come find me, okay? I'll be around and about with the Ravenclaw team, most likely." At the mentioning of being a big brother, Max raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "Nah. I have one older brother. I'm actually the youngest." Max was just a natural encourager. He enjoyed building others up. "I'm glad I could encourage you - I hope you do pursue your dreams of joining your Quidditch team!"

Heh. Not caring about what other people thought was not as easy as it sounded. "I know," he murmured, fidgeting with the hem of his robe sleeve. Unfortunately, he cared far too much about what others thought of him. Embarrassment was the worst emotion in the world - he liked to avoid it at all costs. "Hah. All right, Ella. If I ever decide to 'go for it,' I will most definitely use you as my inspiration," he grinned. He doubted that would ever happen, but he ever went mad, he guaranteed he would recall Ella's carefree spirit.

Ella smiled. It would be nice to have a pep talk before she tried out, especially from someone who had been playing Quidditch for a while. Plus, Max seemed to know the right thing to say which would be helpful in that kind of situation. "Sounds like a plan, Max. Thanks for offering your help too." She said cheerfully. Because older kids weren't always eager to talk to or be seen with a first year. "I think I'll definitely go out for the team, even if they already have some pretty awesome players." Like Alec...who in his first year had become an amazing seeker...who could compete with that?!

It was surprising to hear that he was the youngest member of his family. She would have put money on him being the oldest. "I'm the oldest in my family. Just my baby brother and me...hopefully I can encourage him like you encouraged me." That would be nice. Ella liked to think that she could be just as helpful to her brother, at least she would aspire to be.

She laughed when Max told her that he'd use her for inspiration in the event that he tried dancing. "Please do." She said with a nod. "So Max..." She said next, looking up at him nervously. "If I see you around Hogwarts, which I probably will, would you be embarrassed if I said hi to you?" Because Ella kind of liked Max and it would be nice to have an older student around that she could talk to incase she needed advice or whatever. She looked at him, wondering if he would want to be seen talking to a first year. She felt so little compared to him.

"Anytime," Max responded simply, tilting his head back to look at the stars once more. "That's the spirit. You could add to that level of excellence and be quite the player yourself!" He thought of Indy, who tried out and made the Ravenclaw team her first term. A little dynamite, that one. Max could see Ella being another one of those players that blows away the school. "Though - I will say - if you join the team within the next few terms and you're a Chaser, don't expect me to go easy on you when you play Ravenclaw. I take good care of my goal posts." He grinned. That was a challenge, not a threat. Hopefully that kind of talk would be further motivation for her to get out there and work hard for it!

Ah, the oldest. A natural-born leader. Max could never be that way - he was too introverted for his own good. But he did care about people immensely, and he did hope Ella had taken his kindness to heart. "I'm sure you will, Ella. I would bet on that." He had already deduced that she was a nice kid. By the time she was his age, Max figured she would be one of the leaders of her house with her kindness and lightheartedness.

Upon Ella's next question, Max finally turned his gaze away from the sky to look back at her in utter disbelief. What kind of question was that? "I... don't know if I should be offended that you're asking me that." He wrinkled his forehead and scratched his eyebrow, looking at the ground. Had he said something wrong? Did she not trust him? "I... guess I'm not your stereotypical 'older student' because... I would never," he was looking at Ella now with the utmost sincerity, "ignore you or dismiss your greeting. Friends are friends, no matter their age, house, gender, or species." His expression had softened and he was just smiling again. "Of course I wouldn't be embarrassed. I'd actually be very happy if you did."

Ella laughed softly when Max told her he wouldn't go easy on her. "I wouldn't want you to! Challenges are what make you better after all." It was true, doing something that had no challenge was rather boring, at least in Ella's mind. Plus you didn't learn anything from the experience. "I won't go easy on you either, by the way." She added with a grin. Hopefully she would be good enough to make the other teams at least a little nervous. That would be great fun!

She smiled as Max told her she would do a good job being an encouraging older sister. It was important to her, being someone that inspired her little brother, so it made her feel good.

Then Ella became quite nervous. Max's was looking at her and his expression made her regret asking her last question. She hadn't meant to spoil their conversation but she was genuinely curious about whether he would want to speak with her again. "N-no please don't be offended." Ella said, her eyes wide. "I only meant-" but what had she meant exactly? She had meant that in her eyes, she was an annoying eleven year old whose company was probably nothing more than an annyonance to an older student. She was about to say so but decided to listen instead of back peddling. She tried to hold his gaze as Max spoke directly to her, his serious tone had not escaped Ella and she was all ears. When he finished she looked back at him, a wide smile now on her face. "You're quite smart." She said, hugging her knees to her chest. "I mean- about the whole friends being friends despite...well, you know what you said. It sounded better coming from you anyway. I just didn't think an older student would want to be friends with me... Anyway...I'm glad we're friends." The small badger stood up, dusting off her robes, and gave Max a hug. She didn't know if he was a hugger but she definitely was. When she backed away, she put her hands on her hips and looked at him, head tilted to the side. "It'll be a pity when I beat you...that is when I make my house team and play you in Quidditch. Hope it won't ruin our friendship..." She was playing with him, feeling quite silly suddenly.

Max chuckled softly. "Good. I look forward to the challenge," he said, bending his fingers as quotation marks around 'challenge.' Heh. He greatly looked forward to seeing her on the pitch before he graduated.

As Max watched Ella's expression crumble, he felt bad, but he was also glad she understood what he was saying. "With you?" he questioned right back. "Honestly, from all I've seen from you so far, I don't see any reason why someone wouldn't want to be friends with you." She was sweet and had an endearing innocence about her. She was like a little baby panda. Max just wanted to pat her head and feed her bamboo.

Ella was getting up. And then she... hugged him? His eyebrows raised in surprise once more - the only person he ever really got hugs from was Ellie - but the corners of his mouth slowly turned upward in a smile once more. He gave her a brief hug in return, awkwardly patting her back in the process. And then she definitely threatened him. Teasingly, he knew, but that was more than a challenge. "Oh ho ho! Getting kind of pompous there, eh? Do you really think you can take on the best," he was joking, "Keeper in the school - nonetheless the entire powerful Ravenclaw team? You'd better start practicing every day! Bring it on!"

Of course, no matter how powerful the Ravenclaw team was, Max knew Hufflepuff was a pretty equal match for them. He didn't admit that to Ella, though.

Ella felt a surge of confidence when Max told her that he couldn't see why someone wouldn't want to be friends with her. She turned slightly pink as she smiled at the older boy. "Thanks..." She said softly, looking anywhere but at Max. She wasn't so great at accepting praise.

The little badger surpressed a giggle as Max awkwardly patter her back. Must not be a hugger... She let the giggle go when he reacted to her friendly challenge. "Not pompous...just confident." She said, a grin on her face. She rolled her eyes at his comment about being the best but had to admit, he and the ravenclaws were a force to be reckoned with, at least as she saw it from the stands. "Oh no worries, I'll be practicing as much as I can! I'm kind of determined now." She said excitedly.

Max stretched his arms in front of him, suppressing a yawn. "Confidence is good. It'll take you far." Or so Max heard. He wouldn't know from first-hand experience. "I definitely look forward to seeing you on the pitch one day."

As he felt another yawn coming on, Max ignored his body's internal clock no longer. He rose to his feet, uncertain of the time, but he figured they had been out for awhile. He wouldn't want to get Ella in trouble by staying out too late. "I suppose it's about time we go inside?" He stretched once again now that he was standing, this time with his arms high above his head. His yawn escaped this time, the sound bouncing back at him from across the courtyard. His arms fell back to his sides and he smiled softly, taking a few steps toward the castle. "It was nice to meet you, Ella. I'm sure I'll see you around again soon."

Ella watched as Max yawned, feeling one escape her as well. She rubbed her eyes, realizing it was probably getting late. She nodded when he suggested they go back to the castle. She began walking towards the castle alongside her new friend, a sleepy smile on her face. "It was nice to meet you too, Max. Yeah! I hope we do." She said cheerfully.

Hailey followed Mikey out of the owlery and had to pick up her pace as he dragged her to the grounds.
"Where are we going?" She asked but her words got caught in the wind. Mikey kept walking and then finally, they found themselves in the courtyard.

She stopped to catch her breath. "That was a workout," She mumbled.

"Pfft, a workout would be you out of breath and practically on the floor," Mikey chuckled, pulling Hailey to a nearby bench to sit on. At least they were out of the smelly owlery and into some fresh air. But then Mikey remembered that something more important had to be discussed. "Are you going back home for your birthday? 'Cause if not, I'll catch you in a few weeks," he chuckled. Every year he'd go back for his birthday since he stayed at school for spring break. It was only fair.

"I am out of breath!" She said flailing her arms as she was helped onto a bench. But not that much out of breath. At least she wasn't on the ground.

Her birthday--how could she have forgotten? Okay, maybe she didn't. But good thing Mikey brought it up. "No, I don't think so. My parents are visiting some famous Healer in Austria so they won't be home," Hailey said with an upturned nose. Her mother had mentioned that she would sending her present by owl. Hailey only hoped it was presentS in the plural.

"You're going home? You're leaving me?" She said sadly. Great, now she had no one to celebrate her birthday with.

"Are you not loved enough that your parents won't even be home for your birthday? You need to come with me then. It'll be a birthday for three people in one weekend. Should be fun," Mikey nodded. He obviously wasn't going to leave the vampire alone on her birthday; seeing as his was the day after. So what better way than to bring her along with him. His parents obviously won't mind since they already consider Hailey part of the family. Let's just hope she doesn't mention this to her slug cousin. Then Mikey would leave her at school, all alone.

"If you don't come, then you get no cake, or PRESENTS,"

"Apparently not," She replied indifferently. This probably wasn't true, though. Her parents probably figured Hailey wanted to stay at school with her friends. Little did they know, she didn't have many friends. Only a few close ones.
Anywho, the offer to go to the Evans' excited her. It was even better than being at Hogwarts!
"Reallyyy? I'm invited?" She asked with a grin, though she already knew the answer was yes. Three people? Oh yes. She almost forgot about Mikey's twin. Her eyes reflected the tiniest bit of hurt when he mentioned her because she had been in the dark about the whole twin business until very recently. All that stuff that was kept from her...it reminded her of what Hunter had said--that anything kept from you is a lie. But that made her sad so she put it out of her mind.

"Well then, count me in!" She said enthusiastically. A birthday was not complete without those essentials. Especially the last one. She wondered what Mikey was planning on getting her.

"What do you want for your birthday, Mikey?" She eyed him from the bench.

"You're always invited to the Evans' special occasion celebrations. You just never show up so there always an empty plate of cold food with your name on it," Mikey laughed. His mom always did say the vampire can join us if she wanted to. But she rarely did. But this birthday, SHE WILL AND BETTER JOIN THEM. Or else no more paints, presents and anything else Mikey buys for Hailey. Not to mention relationship hugs and kisses. Ha, that would be funny. And mean, which Mikey wasn't.

For his birthday Mikey wanted..nothing really. "Nothing. I don't get high hopes on getting gifts or something I actually want for my birthday so I don't really ask for much or anything anymore. Though, maybe a new potions set would be nice. Dying my sister's hair another color would be nice too,"

"Really?" Hailey said with an air of surprise. She really did believe him about the plate of cold food. How could they invite her and not let her know? Their fault for wasting food, duh.

"Nothing, eh? So why were you mailing a birthday wishlist to your parents just an hour ago?" She said with a mischievous grin. A new potions set? She would have to keep that in mind.
"You are NOT dying your sister's hair another color." She had nice hair already.

"Well, you live all the way on Scotland, which by the way, has to be like rearrange since it's too far!" he said, sighing. Honestly, why would she live all the way in another COUNTRY. Couldn't she just live in another district from his? Things in the summer would have been a lot easier if it were that way. Plus, Mikey wouldn't want to live in Scotland. Too much grass for him. "It mostly said clothes, my sizes, shoes and money. Nothing really like a toy or something. They know that if they get me something like that, I'm going to take it apart and experiment on it. Clothes is much less risky,"

"But why nooooooooooot? Besides, you're not gonna be there to stop me!" Nope. Because she lived in SCOTLAND.

"It is not that far, stop being so dramatic," she said rolling her eyes. Hailey pulled up her feet and tucked them under her so she was sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce style and then patted the space next to her so Mikey would sit down. It's true, Scotland was far away but they always had floo powder and muggle trains. And next year, they would be able to Apparate. So it wasn't so bad living far away after all.

"You want clothes for your birthday? Really?" She asked in a nasally voice, her eyebrows flat on her forehead. What good were clothes for a guy? Only girls liked clothes. And money? Okay maybe that was a good thing to ask for. "Why would they get you a toy, though? You're not a child."

"I'm spending the summer with you, remember? I'll be watching," She said with another grin. Plus, even if he did dye his sister's hair, she could probably dye it back in a flash. The advantages of being a witch.

"IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD!" Mikey spun around. He obviously knew it wasn't, but seeing as Hailey was used to drama, he should go along with it. "It's like taking a spaceship to another planet," he added, finally sitting down next to Hailey. He could always take a train to visit her. But that would be such a long ride and Mikey would get jet lag afterwards. Which made him more irritating than usual.

"I am a growing boy! I need new clothes," he pouted. Yes, he wanted clothes. Mikey was already out growing some of his clothes he had just gotten last spring. That can't be good, right? "By toy I meant like something I can take apart," he explained. But that stopped the year he almost burned his bedroom. Good times. "The entire summer? I think NOT,"

Hailey watched him with raised eyebrows. Clearly, he was scaring her. Other side of the world? Really? She always thought Scotland was above England...how wrong she was. "Really? It's that far? Maybe I should ask my parents to move to London..." She started, her eyes darting back and forth as her brain whirred. She never thought it was such a big problem until now. And she didn't want to be far away from Mikey! Maybe it was time to move.

"Yeah, I'm sure you are, since you've grown like twenty inches," Hailey snorted. She was being sarcastic, of course. Mikey kinda seemed on the short side to her and didn't look like he had grown much at all. Or maybe she was just missing it since she saw him a lot. As for the toy, she understood better. "Ohhh, I get it," She said, nodding her head. Well, there was nothing wrong with taking things apart--if you put them back together, of course.

"You don't want to spend the entire summer with me?" She asked with drooping eyes. He seemed so certain about it.

Did she just- Sigh. Mikey has to break things down again. "No, Rose. I was joking since I live in England and you live in Scotland, a completely different country. They're not really that far apart," he explained. But still, which would be better? Mikey moving to Scotland or Hailey moving to England? Oh well. Floo powder would have to do for now. Or until next year when they could apparate at least.

"Lord, have I?!" Mikey said, touching the top of his head and looking down at his feet. How could he have missed it? Then again, it was his own body so he sometimes can't tell when it's changing on him. "No, Hailey. I don't want to spend the entire summer with you. I already see you every single day here. It's too much for me," he said sarcastically. Which Hailey was going to take seriously of course. "You're spending the whole summer with us considering my sister wouldn't let you leave and will glue you to the floor,"

"Ohhh okay. I didn't think the were!" She said, reaching up to curl her hair on her finger. Why couldn't he just say things simply? Sarcasm was not her thing.

When he touched his head, she giggled again. "I was only joking, silly. You haven't grown at all," She said as she looked him up and down. He looked the same as ever. Had SHE grown at all? Probably not.

"Wait...are you being sarcastic?" She said real slow, afraid of being wrong. Maybe he was totally serious about not wanting to spend the entire summer with her. After all, it must get annoying. But she hoped he was joking because that really hurt her feelings.
But then he confirmed that she really was spending the whole summer with him and his family. This brightened her considerably and she smiled.
"She'll glue me to the floor? Great, I'll bring glue remover."

Those existed, right?

"Gee thanks. Now I'm going to stay at this height forever!" he complained. Mikey really didn't want to be five-foot-five for the rest of his life. That was considered short for guys. Especially a walking stick like him. People would think he's be taller for his age. Mikey nodded. He would never be THAT mean to someone. Especially not to Hailey. She would start crying and avoid him forever. Or at least until she had much homework to do.

"Or lock you in a closet. Which doesn't make you leave faster," he chuckled. Arianna was pretty demented at times. Then again, look who's twin she was.