After being helped to his feet the Gryffindor put his arm around Taryn and began to walk towards the covered walkway leading into the Castle.

"But, I'm so uncomfortable Taryn..." he fake whined as they continued to walk. "We can go wherever you want afterwards if you go with me." Yes, bribery was key to many things.

HMMMMMMMMMMM.

"Even if I want to go see the ducks for the fifty-thousandth time?" Taryn tilted her head and grinned at that. Even that? Hmmm?

Or maybe, by the time they got all the way up to the tower and back (not counting when they'd get stopped by the staircases) they might just decide to stay inside.

The duck pond, how did he know she would ask to go there? They needed to ask Mr. Murdoch for a time share down there or something. "Sure, even the duck pond."

The fourth years then entered the door leading to the inside cool air.

Logan flinched a little as Ella splashed him with water, and Peeta meowed in surprise. Peeta shook his fur hard, making water come off. He then began purring and continued rubbing his head against Ella's leg.

Logan chuckled. "No worries, it's okay!" he said, waving a hand. He then laughed. "I'm just always here to save the day, ma'am." he said in his manly voice, and winking at her.

Logan laughed. "Well who doesn't like you?!" he asked with a smirk. "Eh...I don't know.." he said. "Maybe he likes us equally..?"

Ella couldn't help but giggle as she watched Logan and Peeta react to the water that had hit them. She hadn't meant to but was somewhat relieved to not be the only one dripping.

"I'm glad." And she was, happy that he didn't mind a sopping wet girlfriend splashing him. Her smile brightened at his next words. "Yes, you always are." Very dependable, that Logan. Ella sprawled out on the ground in front of the fountain, hoping the sun would help her to dry off a bit. "Good thing it's warm!" She said sheepishly. She patted her lap, inviting Peeta to come and sit.

Raised eyebrows. That's what Logan got after his next comment. Raised eyebrows followed by a blush. "Can't think of anyone at the moment." She said, smiling. She was happy to share Peeta's affection, that was A-Okay with her. "I'll take it." She said with a slight nod. "Oh, my sketch book." Still floating in the fountain, forgotten. "Guess it's a gonner..." She added, frowning.

Jayden skipped around the courtyard, whistling merrily as she went. "Merlin, I can't believe it's May already." She mumbled to herself, saddened by the thought of the soon to be end of term. Jayden loved Hogwarts, and she hated the thought of actually having to leave the place so soon.

Sure, her home life was nice, it always had been; but the family dynamic was going to change soon, with her baby brother going to be born in June and all.


Merlin.

Logan smiled. "That's what superheroes are for!" he said, doing a superman pose. Logan watched as she sprawled out on the ground. He looked down at her, and decided that talking to her from there would be kind of awkward, so he sat down, his back against the fountain. He then nodded. "Yeah." he said, watching as she patted her lap. Peeta immediately hopped onto her lap, purring loudly. Logan laughed.

"I think everyone likes you. And if someone doesn't like you, they have a serious problem." he said. Logan then laughed. Then he frowned as she said her sketchbook was a gonner. "Wha-" he began, but then he saw it in the fountain. "Oh. I'm sorry. Maybe there's a spell to fix it..?" he asked. "Or we can get you a new one. I have many extras up in the dorm..." he said, looking at her.

Avery stood at the side of the courtyard, watching a girl skipping around it. She looked happy and joyful..maybe Avery could join her. Avery half skipped, half walked to the girl and tapped her on the back. "Hey!" She said in a friendly voice.

Jayden was off in her own little world when suddenly a friendly female voice called out to her and she was tapped from behind.

"Oh! Hello there!" She greeted the girl, her blue eyes shining with pure glee. Everything was going so well today, and now she had someone new to meet and chat with. Jayden loved to meet new people, especially nice ones.

"I'm Jayden, nice to meet you!" She introduced herself, extending her hand for the other girl to shake.

Avery looked at Jayden, she seemed really nice Avery thought as she shook her hand. "I'm Avery, nice to meet you too" She said, smiling widely at Jayden.

"Nice to meet you Avery, I love your name!" Jayden complimented the girl. She always liked different names, they made hers almost seem.... normal and less boy-ish.

"I can't believe it's almost end of term, can you?" She asked.

Ella giggled, nodding. Yes, that's exactly what superheroes are for. A smile crept on to her face as she watched Logan sit down against the fountain. It grew wider when Peeta jumped happily into her lap. "Purrrrfect." She joked, laughing softly.

"Clearly." Ella responded, smirking. "Same goes for you, you know. People definitely like you." She looked at him curiously as he began to frown and then was reminded...her sketchbook. "It's alright. Not much in there anyway." She said, giving him a small smile. "If I feel the urge to sketch, I know where to go then." She added, reaching out and squeezing Logan's hand. Not that she had much time for those things these days. It was all studying and worrying and falling into fountains...

Kurumi knew that she needed a location that fit her poster. One that would really get people thinking and what better place than one that had a lot of rocks? The courtyard was made out of nothing else but stone after all. Lots of rocks and other similar things. So, wand out once more, Kurumi performed another Semi-Permanent Sticking Charm and then walked over to one of the large stone pillars and gently laid it flat against it, smoothing out the edges and making sure that there were no air bubbles trapped under it.

Kurumi took a step back to eyeball it, making sure that it wasn't slanted one way or the other and then proceeded back inside. As she did, a random stone rolled in front of her, causing the prefect to jump back. Right, keep calm...it was just a rock...or was it? Just to be safe, Kurumi kicked it to the side and then continued on her way.

It was early in December, yet Sierra wanted to get in one more observation before the Christmas break. She'd be going home for the holidays, which wasn't far away, but she sure didn't want to bring her homework along with her. Nope. No homework. She'd do the rest when she got back to school.

She paused right where she was and looked around. She was in the courtyard, which should be a pretty decent spot for stargazing. She felt kind of ridiculous stargazing at this very spot, but seeing as this was a magical school, the others should very well expect things like this to happen.

Either way, Sierra just wanted this over and done with soon. After setting up her telescope, Sierra set to work looking through it. She noted how the four stars she'd spotted before had shifted to the right. Hmm. Odd, that was. After a few more minutes, she finally spotted a different star--Leo Minor. Sierra looked at it for a bit longer, made a few more notes, then packed up and left.

Gideon had done his best on the PSA they were to make for COMC, even if he wasn't the best artist. Thankfully he had been able to duplicate a picture of a kappa he had found in a book to make it look halfway decent. Now all he had to do was find an appropriate place to post it and do so. With the water nature of the creature he had picked, the fifth year almost picked out by the lake, but one, he wasn't a fan of doing anything to the trees outside and two, it was probably best to warn someone BEFORE they got even close to where it would be.

Not that Mongolian water monkey demons were found often in Britain, but due to the events of the whole term...one never knew. So Gideon decided on one of the closest places to the lake that provided a flat surface on which to hang his poster. And in the end, that was the courtyard and when he reached the area he saw he hadn't been the first to chose the location. No biggie.

The 5th year unrolled his finished work, a dark poster promoting safety against kappas with white letters to offer a nice contrast that was easily read. As he held it to the wall, Gideon slipped his wand from his pocket and used sticking charms to attach it. He then stepped back to make sure it was level, nodding as he found himself satisfied with his work.

SPOILER!!: Poster

Now to finish the write-up, he mused to himself, turning from the poster and heading back inside the castle.

For the first time in days, Daichi finally had the time to walk around freely and enjoy the fresh air outside. Being stuck inside the castle with homework simply wasn't his thing and the Slytherin wondered how it would be if he was in his fifth or seventh year for his owls and newts seeing as he was already exhausted with the normal homework they had gotten.

As he stepped in to the courtyard, he couldn't help but notice the posters hanging around. He curiously walked up to one and read what was on it. Floppy, his duck friend from the pond waddled behind him like a puppy...or ...ducky. Oh right! the CoMC homework. Eeeeh.... he knew he had forgotten something! But he didn't feel like making homework at this sunny day so he turned around and walked away from the poster before sitting on the edge of the wishing fountain in the middle of the courtyard. Floppy jumped on the edge as well and lay down beside him.

It was almost the end of the term and she couldn't help but feel nervous. Damn her cousin, damn her Aunt and her boyfriend who wanted them to migrate to Japan when they marry. However her anger was growing, she just couldn't blame them, can't she? They knew from the very start that sooner or later, this was going to happen. It was not like she asked for it, but it was inevitable.

As she crossed her arms, she sighed deeply. She was even aware that she was lagging behind with some classes. Yet really, she was just too depressed to even think about perfecting homeworks and attending classes that she don't even like! She was starting to get rude to some students and and teachers too. Was this the effect of receiving that news? Well, she wasn't really enjoying it. Next thing she knew, she was already at the courtyard, in front of the wishing fountain. Oh, how she wish she could just forget about the whole thing and just be happy with her time at the school. Maybe that'll ease her nerves up a bit.

Beezus started walking. She could really use a bestfriend by this time, too bad she couldn't find Erin. Just then, she saw Daichi and a duuuuck?! The eaglette frowned and stared at him. 'Just what is he doing?' She thought.

As Daichi sat on the edge of the wishing fountain, he looked down at his best friend and smiled at the duck. That Auntie in entracing enchantment class hadn't been so bad after all. Yes, he disliked the lots of pink and her behaviour made him feel like he was a little kid. Not to mention the homework assignment ...he could not believe he had actually gone up to the Headmaster to say how great Auntie was. The Slytherin began to smile however when during that awkward conversation with the man he had said that his spell work was nice. No one had ever complimented him like that. Most professor just said , 'good job, or try harder' but to hear those words from the headmaster himself just brightened up his day.

He reached with his hand inside his robe pocket and pulled out a piece of chocolate. Unwrapping the paper, Floppy eyed her master's movement with curiousity and if not with a hungry look her little eyes. "Sorry Floppy, chocolate is not good for you" Daichi said and began to eat from the chocolate. But as he was eating , he felt as if someone was watching him. Glancing around, his eyes fell upon Beezus who was clearly...staring at him. His cheeks flushed a little, remembering how she had ignored him throughout a few classes and lowered his hand. The chocolate away from his mouth. "Uhm...hi!"

He was talking to the duck? Merlin, what's happening with the people nowadays? She kept staring at him not because he was nice view or something. Bleeeh. But because she was finding him weird. Well, considering his transformation from last term, he indeed was kinda weird. She even wondered if weird was his middle name. Then he took out something from his robe and....oh, chocolate. Beezus liked that treat, but she was still allergic to it so she still hates it.

She shrugged and was about to walk away and leave the Slytherin boy be when he suddenly glance around. No time to back away and run, she just had to confront him. "Hello....Daichi," the eaglette greeted back when he said Hi. He uhmmm.. he did not know she was staring at him, right? "Errrr--is that your duck?" she quickly asked, so no questions would be aimed at him for staring as she slowly walked over to where he was. They can talk now, can't they? After the several events that happened? And the few reasons she was mad at him for a while.

Daichi's chocolate brown eyes followed the girls movements as he saw she made an attempt to turn away before she walked up to him. An Hello...only a simple Hello was given to him. No hair ruffling? The Slytherin pouted slightly when the hair ruffle didn't came and took a bite from his chocolate.

"Yes she is!" Daichi said and his slight pout formed in to a huge smile. "Well, actually she is from the pond but i used the spell we had learned in Entracing Enchantment class to befriend it. Her name is Floppy, cool right?!" His smile widened and his eyes began to twinkle as he looked at the cute little ducky and Floppy began to QUACK loudly. "Oh! By any chance, do you have a piece of bread with you?" Because he wanted to feed his duck friend but was too lazy to go to the Great Hall.

Why was he pouting? Whyyyyy?! She was curious that she was about to ask him that, "Why are you..." but decided against it by the last second.. "Oh, never mind." Beezus said quickly as she looked at the duck while the Slytherin boy introduced her it to her.

She was listening but her mind was in fact wandering off. Entrancing Enchanment? They had that class? Seriously? She didn't know anything about that. It seemed like she missed more than she had anticipated. "Oh..I..I see, but I..wasn't at the class. It's good to meet you though..errr...Floppy," the eaglette decided to greet the duck too so Daichi won't feel bad or anything. "Is she uhhmm..magical?" Silly question, but she wanted to know.

And then it was quacking all of a sudden. Beezus backed out a bit, "What's happening to her?" Last thing she needed, to be in trouble with a duck. And that succeeding question afterwards. "Uhhhmm..no, no bread here. But we can get something for her from the Great Hall or the kitchens." Beezus suggested. But if it wasn't such a good idea then the duck would just have to starve.

Nevermind. HE HATED THE NEVERMIND TALK! It was like asking if someone was okay and they answered with fine but in reality they were dieing inside! And so, Daichi's lips formed an even bigger pout and his cheeks blowed up a little as well before he let the air out.

"Be happy you weren't there..." He mumbled under his breath and took another bite from his chocolate. "It was a disaster really. The only good thing was that i learned how to befriend Floppy" he pointed towards his duck. "We had to practise the attracting charm and well... Glenn this Hufflepuff girl kept following me around and Kurumi even tried to kiss..." Not only his cheeks but his whole face and neck , up to his collarbone turned red as he remembered what had happened in class. Glenn chasing him EVERYWHERE. Kurumi saying he was dreamy and almost kissing him while he himself had fallen madly in love with the Ravenclaw Gwen. He could luckily keep his mouth shut about her because they had agreed never to speak about it again.

Daichi's mind traveled back to earth as he heard Beezus' voice. He gave her a blank look before an "OH!" escaped his mouth and he shook his head. "I don't think she's magical..." At least he hadn't seen anything unusual because other than following him around and quacking the whole time as if having a conversation and eating. "Nothing, she's just hungry" the Slytherin said and laughed a little.

But she wasn't hungry. Floppy was quacking because the spell had stopped working and now jumped off of the edge of the fountain and waddled her way over to the bridge nearby going to the grounds. O____o "Floppy wait!" Daichi shouted and forgot about Beezus for a second. The duck didn't listen to him and kept waddling away from him. The Slytherin grabbed his wand and waved it in the air with a circle "Malin!" And flick "Calin!" . Purple smoke surrounded the duck and it stopped moving for a second before it turned around with a dazed expression. The duck quacked loudly again and waddled back towards his feet and Daichi turned around with a huge grin....before he remembered Beezus was there... "Uhh..."

And he was pouting again. This time, bigger. And his cheeks even blew up a bit. What did she do? Beezus frowned with curiosity but allowed the matter to just settle in without inquiry.

Next thing, Daichi was telling her all about the Entrancing Enchanments class and she felt so dumb listening to him. Not because he was a bad story-teller but because she wasn't there when she should have been. She was a Ravenclaw for Merlin's sake and she skipped classes! Just how dodgy was that?! "Glenn. Yeah, I know her." she commented when the Slytherin had mentioned the girl. "Uh..huh..whaat? She what? Followed you what? And Kurumi..kiss? Whaaaaa..?" Beezus mumbled and stuttered as she tried to absorb what he said. "Let me this straight..Kurumi tried to kiss youuuu? or is it the other way around?" Oh, yeaaah? Just when she thought Daichi wanted to kiss her. Bleeeeh.. Beezus quickly shook her head with that thought. Why was she thinking about that all of a sudden. That was when she noticed she was gasping lightly. She nipped her lip and tried to calm down. "Yeah, I think you're right. Lucky I wasn't there," because that class seemed like one word--CHAOS.

It was a good thing he was talking about Floppy now. No need to keep on talking about other things. "I see." The duck wasn't magical so it wasn't gonna talk back when you talk to it. "A magical one's bet---" Beezus started but wasn't able to finish off when the duck waddled away and Daichi was...running after it? Without even thinking, she followed him..and the duck. "Daichi! wait.." Then he grabbed his wand and did something. He sort of charmed the duck. And it waddled back to where he was. Beezus quickly closed her half-opened mouth and walked to where Daichi was. "Uhhhh? Wha..what was all about?" Was that what he meant by befriending the duck? By using a spell? Beezus looked at him, and at Floppy and back again.

Daichi stared at Beezus with a slight frown on his face. Had she missed the lesson or something? She is a Ravenclaw right? His eyes went to the badge. Yup. So she was not a nerdy ravenclaw? Daichi blushed feverishly as Beezus didn't seem to understand his story. Though, if he had been in her shoes he would have been confused too. "N-no...Kurumi tried to...you know..with me" he mumbled and looked down at his shoes which were strangely interesting at this point. He could still see her in his mind, standing so close and...his face reddened even more at the thought. He had never spoken about this out loud but the Slytherin had a tiny crush on the Prefect. Never EVER! would he say that out loud though. His thoughts were interrupted by Beezus' voice and he looked up. A small smile crept on his lips as he nodded his head. "Yeah... be happy"

He hadn't heard Beezus calling for him because he was too busy befriending his best duck friend and when the spell had worked he blinked at her. "It's the spell we learned~!" he said excitedly, flailing his arms up and down a little with his wand at the ready. "You want me to teach you the spe---

BOOM!

The edge of the fountain they had been seated only a few seconds ago exploded after Daichi had flailed his arms. His eyes widened and he let out a loud yelp at the sudden noise and waved his hand to clear away the smoke.

REALLY?

So Kurumi tried to kiss him? Beezus couldn't make up her expression. Why did Kurumi do that? Was it because Jonathan wasn't at Hogwarts? She also heard rumors about the new Hufflepuff guy Lewis and Kurumi. Was the Prefect cheating on her boyfriend? Or did they broke up already, and she just didn't know? Whatever the answer was, she didn't want to judge so she gave Daichi a small nod and said, "O-okay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spell? What spell? The one he learned at the Entrancing Enchantments class? And Daichi was going to teach her? "Errrmm Daichi, I think that's not a very..."

TOO LATE.

A part of the fountain exploded. And she saw that it was caused by the Slytherin boy. She even heard him yelp at the pounding noise of the explosion. Next second, smoke was entangling the two of them. "What did you do? What did you do?" Beezus asked frantically as she coughed. "Daichi.What.Happened?!" Merlin's beard?! Did she just see what she thought she saw? The eaglette seconded what the snake did and tried to clear away the smoke too, hoping against hoping that the harm done wasn't that...severe.