Maxwell laughed and bowed. "You're most welcome milady." He stood closer and took her hands in his. "What should we do then?"

Taylor smiled and laughed, "It is up to you, kind sir. I am free for the rest of the day so i don't really care." Her smile brighten.

"Hmmm? I don't know Do you want to get something to eat?" He asked feeling a little hungry, he was after all a growing boy.

"Sure." Tay smiled, "Your house table, my house table or the kitchen?" She didnt care where they went. Taylor was in a really good mood.

"I would say yours but i don't want to chance running into Violet. Let's go to mine." Maxwell said happily.

"Oh yeah Violet...." Tay thought about it for a bit, "If we go to yours though there is a chance of running into Logan.... which is fine by all means since we are friends but would there be tension still?" Taylor didnt want any tension right now because she was in a really good mood.

Maxwell half smiled. "I promise there will be none on my end." He said smiling

Tay nodded, "Then lets go." She smiled, "Logan already told me that he likes you so there wont be any tension on his end either." With the promise of no tension, Taylor's smile grew. She was happy there wont be tension today any more.

"Ok sounds great, i'm starving!" Maxwell said smiling "Let's go." He said taking her hand and walking toward the castle.

Taylor laughed and walked toward the castle, holding hands with Maxwell, "Then lets go." She smiled.

On the greens a distance away from the Whomping Willow, Vickers sat fumbling with his camera. There was a new attachment he wanted to try out today, given how he wanted to somehow include the famed tree in his photo but anything closer than where he sat would risk his equipment. Violence and technology—magical or otherwise—are not good bedfellows.

He peered through the view finder and was pleased with how well the attachment worked. He set it onto the tripod then brought out the telescope, once again making sure he was looking at the north star before tweaking the camera set up to capture the same area of the sky. Then he stood up and got the camera started with his wand, flicked the shield charm in place and made his way back to the castle.

Ella walked down to the Whomping Willow carrying her sketch book and pencils. She was eager to do something that would make her stop thinking about the craziness going on at home and she wasn't sure she wanted to talk about it yet to anyone. Instead she spread out her plaid blanket on the cushiony grass and stared blankly at the willow. I wonder if my mom would come back if I just walked right into the willow...she'd have to come back if I was hurt. Shaking the horrible thought from her mind, Ella pulled her sketch book on to her lap and began to work.

Tay skipped down the pathway to the whomping williow with her guitar across her back. She saw Ella and called out, "Hey Ella." She saw that Ella had a sketchbook and smiled.

"Hey." Ella said softly, not looking up to see who was greeting her. She was concentrating quite hard on getting the branches of the willow just right, something that was distracting her from her previous train of thought. When the willow suddenly moved, Ella whipped her sketch book to the side and glanced up to see Taylor. "Sorry. Hi Taylor, want to sit?" She attempted a cheerful tone and scooted over a little, offering the second year a smile.

Tay smiled, "Its fine." She sat down next to her, "How are you doing?" Taylor put her guitar down by her side. "Anything new, fun or anything?" She stretched out her legs and arms, careful not to bump into her.

Ella bit her lip, deciding Taylor's company would be a good distraction from her thoughts, and decided to try and be cheerful for the moment. "I'm doing-well I'm doing okay. How are you?" Spotting the guitar, Ella smiled. "Practicing?" She asked, curious. As for Taylor's next question, Ella had to work hard not to frown. What had happened lately that had been fun? "Well I did meet an older boy from Ravenclaw. His name is Max, a fifth year I think, and he caught me dancing around like an idiot." She said sheepishly, recalling the incident. "He was quite nice about the whole thing and I guess we're kind of friends now." Which was nice. Ella had always wanted an older brother and Max fit that bill perfectly.

Taylor smiled, "That is good that you are doing good. I am doing good as well." Tay nodded, "Yeah i was going to practice a bit.... would you like to play it though?" She gestured to the instrument. "Max?" Taylor laughed, "There are sooooo many MAxwells and Maxes here." She smiled, "Though i dont believe i have met that one despite him being a fellow ravenclaw.... I'm acutally mostly friends with gryffindors than my own house." Taylor shook her head giggling a little bit, "That is good that you are friends with him now." She smiled at Ella again.

Ella returned the smile, nodding. "I'm glad you're doing good too." She said cheerfully. Her gaze then went to the guitar resting by Taylor. She really did want to play it but was nervous. She only knew a couple of songs and was quite nervous to play for an audience, even an audience of one. "I-I don't know. I'm not very good." She said, looking from the guitar to Taylor.

Ella laughed when Taylor commented on the number of Max and Maxwells at the school. "You know, you're right! I didn't really even think of that. How strange..." Parents sure seemed to like the name! "He's on the quidditch team if that helps." Ella said, shrugging. "It's always good to be friends with people from other houses. I'm making it a point to make some from each...if I can find any slytherins that actually want to befriend a hufflepuff." She added, smiling. "Yeah, I'm glad I met him." She added.

"Practice makes perfect so if you want to go at it then I wouldn't mind." She gave Ella an reassuring smile. "On the team...... yeah i should know him then since i am a reserve on the team but i actually never official met him." Taylor laughed, "I kinda of keep to myself when we are practicing at the pitch." She smiled, "I know a slytherin who is really nice." Tay nodded slightly, "I think she has hufflepuff friends too.... i dont really know." Taylor chuckled some, "Her name is Angela..... funny thing is i dont remember her last name.... i barely ever remember last names." Tay grimaced.

Ella was still staring at the guitar and was only vaguely aware of what Taylor had said. She nodded, looking up at the girl and smiling. "Alright, maybe I'll give it a try." She picked up the guitar and placed it in her lap, wanting to hear what Taylor was saying next before attempting to play.

Ella laughed, remembering that Taylor was also a quidditch player on the ravenclaw team. "Oh yeah! It's funny you've never met then. I understand the whole keeping to yourself thing though." She said, smiling at her friend. "Don't feel bad about the whole last names thing, either...I never remember either. I should like make flash cards or something!" Ella said, giggling.

She then looked down at the guitar and picked it up gently, looking at Taylor nervously. "I'm going to try now, okay?" She asked. Then she began to play the song she had learned recently, singing softly.

Taylor listern to her play and sing. Her eyes close a little so that her ears would be able to pick up each note better. A smile was on her face and her hair was nodding to the beat. Tay opened her eyes again and smiled at Ella. She would of course wait until Ella is done playing to make a comment.

Ella finished playing and placed the guitar back down in her lap genty, not quite ready to hear what Taylor had to say about the littler performance. She drummed her fingers anxiously on the guitar and after a few minutes said, "So...what did you think?" Ella had practiced this song in particular many times, something about the lyrics and the beautiful melody. She hoped these factors would help her out when she had decided to play it for someone.

Tay smiled and nodded, "Well i dont see how you dont think you are that good. You played wonderfully. A good song, the notes flowed and it was just awesome to hear you play." She smiled sweetly at Ella. The song was a good one that Taylor had heard a few times before.

Ella couldn't help the blush that had made its way to her cheeks. Something that happened whenever she was given any kind of praise. "R-really? I mean thanks. I'm glad you liked it." She was positively cheery now, forgetting all the worry from earlier. It felt nice to hear that she was good at playing, even if she had trouble believing it herself. "Now it's your turn." Ella said, handing over the guitar to Taylor, anxious to hear her play something.

Tay smiled,"Yeah really. Your welcome." She laughed. Taylor smiled at Ella's cheeriness. Her eyes grew a little when she hand it over, saying it was her turn. "I'm not that good though.... your ears might bleed...." Taylor trailed off and gave a half smile, "Though i will try to play." She started playing a song.