"yes you can." she chuckled Looking up at the sky she said "i suppose dinner's about served. let's head back up to the castle.'

"Yeah, I suppose we should." He took her free hand and then started back towards the castle.

Another Hogsmeade's weekend!!

Cardigan was all geared up, money in one pocket and her bookbag on her back. She was going to get a lot of stuff this weekend!! She needed to prepare for all the christmas gifts she would need to make, seeing it was almost that time of the year. And she's serious about her presents. WAY serious!! The third year was superstitious. She believed, strongly, that what goes around comes around!! I don't know if you'd really call that a superstition, but it's along the lines of one, at least.

Don't ya think?

Not thinking too straightly, she tripped over a rock, causing her to fall over. Crouched over in pain, she clutched her knee, going back up to a proper sitting position. Pressing her fingers lightly on her knee, she cringed, obviously bruised. Oh well, at least it wasn't broken.

Presley leaned against the front gate to the grounds and finished up her charms homework. She liked it here because it felt like home. It felt like summer afternoons when she could convince tutor Jacob to do lessons outside. The shadiest place on the Geneva property where Presley spent her summers was next to the gate that let down to the lake. This reminded her of it just a little, and so even though it ws freezing outside, she did her homework there today. She supposed it was probably a good thing. The cold motivated her to work faster instead of procrastinating, but it also meant that she justified only rechecking her work once instead of three times.

Leo had never gotten a response to his letter to his sister. So against all rules he had shown up at Hogwarts. It was nearly Christmas time and he needed to talk to the little squirt. He stepped up to and through the gate to catch sight of her right there. He had intended to walk up to the castle and ask the new Headmistress for an audience with the kid, but if she was right here..."Hey, Preslet," He called her attention away from her books.

Upon hearing that all too familiar voice Presley jumped in surprise. In less than an instant she regained her composure. "Don't call me that." She snapped. He had lost the right to use cutesy nicknames with her the day he turned his baby sister away from his home when she had nowhere else to go. "What are you doing here?"

Her tone was all harsh. She might have made ammends with her father, but she still hadn't forgiven Leo. Of course she knew why he was there. She'd ignored his letter, and had half-expected him to show up at any moment. She had intended to forgive him to his face. That was why she'd written to Maine. But looking at him now she couldn't find it in her heart to do it. He had turned her away in her time of need. He was her brother for Merlins sake! And that was something she couldn't forgive.

Ronnie made her way to the front gate, popping jellybeans into her mouth as she went. As she got to the gate, she noticed a girl sitting on the ground, holding her knee. Once she was closer, she saw it was Cardigan. What happened? Was she okay?!?!?!

"Cardigan!" Ronnie said, sitting down next to her friend. "Are you alright? What happened?" she asked.

Oh, Ronnie was here!

It got quite boring just sitting there, all alone in the cold.

"Hi Ronnie! Oh, its nothing really. I just tripped over, a rock, and bruised it up a bit. It's not too bad though. Just in a little bit of pain," Cardigan reassured Ronnie, shaking her head in unison. It wouldn't be too hard to walk, or anything like that. It would only hurt a bit!!

Anyways, she could get some ice at the castle when she got back, or just take a bath to make her knee feel better.

That would work.

Leo was a little taken aback at her response. He'd always called his baby sister Preslet. It was like "little Presley" or something. What was wrong with it now? He put his hands up. "Okay, no nicknames." he said, taking a step back. "I wrote you a note. You didn't respond. I came to see what was up." That was his right as an older brother, right?

"Really?" Presley said sarcastically. "Now you want to be friends?" That was so ridiculous! "You know what, Leo? You can't throw me in the garbage, then expect me to be your friend because I wrote to your fiance." Presley slammed her book shut and stood up, ready to storm away.

"And I came to apologize." He cut in. "Pres, I realize that what I did wasn't very brotherly, but I want to make it up to you. I want to be like we used to be." He was still her brother. But Maine wasn't going away. Because as much as he loved Presley, there was no way ever that he would give up Maine because his sister was jealous or something. "But, Presley, you have to know that Maine is here to stay."

Ronnie frowned. "Alright.. If you need anything, just tell me, okay?" she said. She really hoped her friend wasn't TOO hurt!....Gah. Ronnie worried too much. SHE NEEDED TO CALM. DOWN.

Anywaysssss....

"So, how have you been?" she asked as she got comfortable in the grass. It was nice to finally sit down after running about Hogwarts all day, looking for Oliver. He had disappeared that night, and she had decided to let it go and just wait for him to come back in the morning. But that morning, he didn't. She had finally found him after about three hours of searching. It was quite annoying how he seemed to ALWAYS be running off ever since the beginning of the year.

"I'm good! Nothing really amazing and exciting has gone on yet though," Cardigan said, knodding. She definitely wasn't the most exciting person with the most exciting life out there. She was, actually, quite dull at times. Mostly she was happy and bubbly, though. Just ask around Hogwarts, and they'll probably say the same thing.

Though, she wasn't bothered by it. Not at all. Stuff like that didn't really get to her. It would have to be SUPER mean to really hurt her, inside and out.

She wasn't the person you'd necessarily want to be mean to. She was too cute and cuddly for that!:3

"What about you Ronnie?" Cardigan asked, in reply to her question. Surely she had at least one thing interesting going on!

Sutton loved the cold and the snow. She loved big coats and sweaters and clunky snow boots. She loved the way everything glittered after a fresh snow, they way no matter where you were it looked like a post card.

And so, she had decided to go out in the snow... all alone... mostly because Edmund and Logan were both busy, and she hadn't seen Minnie in the common room. At some point, she was surprised to see that she had made her way aaaall the way down to the Front Gate. There wasn't any further to go. With a sigh, she looked around. She didn't particularly want to go back to the castle yet.

Taking out her wand, she cast the spell they learned in charms: "Protego Caellum!" And then she went a bit off the path and just laid down in the cold snow, excited that she could feel the cold without getting wet. That was pretty cool!

Isac really didn't care for snow. He didn't like the cold nor the wet feeling. Though the protego caellum charm worked fairly well to keep him dry. He'd finally pulled out his thick winter jacket that he and Amelia had gotten for him last winter, and was all bundled up in it with a hat, mittens and scarf to top off his bundled up look.

Heading down the path, he decided to head for the front gate, with no particular reason, just to head that way then just follow the boundary was his thoughts. Who knew what sorts of adventures he might find by doing that! He'd spent the afternoon helping Professor Kitridge decorate the hall and the large tree. Shivering he found himself at the front gate when he heard someone say a incantation. Looking around him he spotted Sutton lying down in the cold snow.

A shiver went over him even more as he watched her lie there. "Aren' ye cold?" he asked coming closer stuffing his hands in his pockets his shoulders hunching.

Sutton heard someone's feet crunching in the snow. Who besides her had wandered out this far from the castle when the front gates were shut? Sneakily, she made up a ball of snow in her hand on the opposite side of her body from where the person approached. When the voice talked, her eyes snapped open to look at who it was. "Isaac!" she exclaimed with a giggle. "I'm a little bit cold, but I don't mind."

A mischievous smile spread across her face a split second before she launched the snowball right at his chest, directly on target and coming fast. Then the snowball broke apart before it ever made contact with him, and her grin turned into a pouty frown. Looking up at him, she tilted her head a bit to the side, considering him. "Protego caellum?" she asked curiously.

Darn Professor Bellaire teaching them that charm!

"Nice." he said shaking his head. "I can' see how anyone can get used te this." he said wrinkling his nose. Yep, too cold for him. "Jus' couldn' stay inside any longer." Nope, he was feeling cooped up, cold or not! Looking up quickly as a snowball came flying at him. HAH! His charm had worked. Smirking he wiggled his eyebrows "Hehe yep, nice try though." Shivering again, he sat down next to her in the snow. He'd use the bluebell flames if he knew how to make them actually get heat from them.

"What are ye up te?" he asked hunched over at leat he was staying dry though with the dampness not being able to seep through his trousers. "Other than laying down in the snow, and trying not te freeze yerself?"

When Isaac sat down with her, she scooted close to him. They could keep each other warm! Ooh! And he could make fire! That was so cool!! When he asked Sutton what she was doing, she shrugged. "I don't know... I just wanted to get out, too, I guess..." she said gazing at the blue flames before looking up at him and giving him one of her sweet smiles. "Sometimes there is just way too much drama in the Common Room, ya know?" Drama seemed to be running rampant lately in the Hufflepuff House. Sutton didn't understand it.

Sutton pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees. Okay, maybe she was a little cold. But hey! It was colder here than in Ohio! Trying not to shiver, she held her hands out to the blue flames. "How'd you make these?" she asked.

Smiling over at her as she moved closer, he set the flames infront of them. "They give off a little heat but not much." Yep, he wished they'd give off more! He'd use focalia to create wood and the incendio charm but thought he might get into trouble for starting a fire out here. "Oh these are easy, jus' do this." he said swirling his wand again and saying the incantation.

Nodding as she said she'd just wanted to get out. "I know, I don' really like bein' inside thet much, and though 'tis cold I'd rather be out here then all cooped up inside." Ugh, yeah Ed had told him about the drama that had been going on, "I've heard a little about it, thet and the Gryffindor's haf mention things happening te." Yep, two students now having been sent home? UGH! "Te much stuff goin' on. I'm glad I'm stayin' out of it." Yep except for his bout with the nurse and having his shoulder all taped up. The next day would prove how well it had healed with the quidditch game!

Sutton watched carefully as he demonstrated how to do the spell, and then she repeated it. A small wisp of blue flame shot out of her wand but sputtered out quickly. She frowned at the spot where her flame had disappeared then looked at Isaac inquisitively. Maybe he knew why?

Oh great... so the news of the drama had spread. "It's not just that stuff... it's all this stupid stuff about liking people and relationships and just... dumb. Why can't people just get, like, get along?" It was rhetorical question. She knew that even in all of his older-studenty wisdom, he wouldn't have an answer. In a defiant voice, Sutton responded, "I'm staying out of it too! I want to make friends."

A gust of cold wind blew her hair into her face. She shivered and pulled her coat closer around her, burying her face in her knees to block it from the wind until it passed. "Have you noticed that things keep disappearing from the school?" she asked curiously... it was very odd.

"Pretty much the same." she answered with a shrug. None of her friends explored with her anymore. They were all 'too old' for that stuff. *sigh* She needed to meet more first years.

But, Adam, who was her age, explored with her! He was totally fun. He was just like her pretty much! She grinned at the thought of him, feeling excited to finally tell someone about her new crush..."But, I do have a new crush..." she added, her cheeks turning slightly pink as she said this. Heheheheheheheee.

Watching as Sutton attempted the bluebell flames, he nodded encouragingly. "Ok try again, but this time concentrate on the size of the flame, and keepin' it goin'." he said encouragingly. It had taken him several tries before he'd actually succeeded in getting them to stay going. And the size mattered, otherwise they'd just fade out.

Nodding he made a face "There seems te be a lot of thet goin' around." he said nodding. He was glad he and Amelia were doing fine, as were Ed and Nell. But so many friendships and even relationships were going sour lately! "'Tis jus' sad the way people haf been fightin' lately like they are determined te be miserable and make others jus' as miserable!" Yep that was his opinion of it all! "Exactly." he said nodding.

Shivering as well his arm went around her like automatically. She'd become sort of like a younger sister he'd never had, just as Ronnie had. Unfortunately his kindness sometimes backfired on him but he wasn't going to stop just because of one or two things happening! "I haf." he said nodding quietly "'Tis like someone or somethin' is like...taking them fer a reason."

With Isaac's encouragement, she tried the spell again, doing just as he said, focusing on the size of the flames and keeping them going. Once again, the blue flame shot out of her wand, and as she focused, it grew larger until it was large enough to be sustained. First smiling on the ground at the place her little blue fire was sitting, she then turned her face up and beamed at Isaac. "Thanks, dude!" she said happily.

As he talked some more about all of the crazy drama that was going on, Sutton nodded her head some more in agreement. "Mhmm... I guess it's like they say... misery loves company," she said sadly. Then she suddenly brightened, "But I'm not miserable, and I love company, so I guess happiness likes company, too!" Sutton let out a quiet little giggle.

When Isaac put his arm around her, she scooted closer so she could easier fit close to him under his arm. Boys Fellow human beings were warm. And then Sutton shivered again... this time not from the cold. She didn't like the idea of something or someone sneaking around and taking things that didn't belong to them. "What if... what if they take a... a s-student?" she said in a very quiet voice, her eyes fixed on the dancing blue flames in front of them.

"Good job!" he said his smile widening as she finally got the flames to appear and stay sustained not flickering out! Beaming back at her, he said it again "Well done."

Well that worked well, when she scooted closer against him. Well if Amelia came by at that moment, he would have to explain but hey, she was like a sister to him! AND IT WAS COLD! Laughing at her comment "I guess 'tis true. Misery usually does love company, and wants to spread that misery te everyone else." Grinning he nodded "Happiness definitely loves company." Yep, he liked spreading around his happiness when he was happy! Grinning down at her he sighed watching the warm air turn to vapor infront of his face.

Squeezing her gently he understood where she was coming from with that fear. "'Tis not gonna happen. I promise ye." Yep, he would do everything in his power to keep her safe. And he knew the professors and headmistress would do the same!

Sutton felt a little better, hearing that Isaac say that it wasn't going to happen. Rationally, she knew that he couldn't promise that, but it made her feel better to hear him say it... and it probably helped to have his protective arm around her at the moment, too.

It was time for a change of subject. Sutton didn't like all of this sad, downer stuff. That wasn't really her thing. Something happy... Hmm...

Finally, she turned and flashed a sweet smile up at him again. "Is your girlfriend really pretty? I bet she is! I bet she is beautiful and nice and adorable and smart and funny, isn't she?" Because Isaac was awesome, and he deserved a girl who was all of those things! Most of which she would never be...

He hated the feeling of fear and worry that was starting to come of all the happenings around the school. His shoulder even just throbbed at the memory of what had apparently started all of it back on the train. He wondered what was happening to everyone, why the things were happening around the school, why Peeves appeared to be everywhere even more mischievious then normal.

Did it have to do with that orb thingy the last few years? Or was it something else? Irrational fear was one thing but a fear of what might actually be out there, that was completely something else!

Startled at her sudden change with the bright sweet smile his own flickered as she asked about Amelia. "She is very pretty, beautiful even." he responded nodding. He loved her a lot, the last year had been hard, not to mention the summer, but things had been a lot better! Well...other then the hospital wing issue, but he wasn't going there. "Amelia's a dear, but so are ye. Yer like a sister ye know thet?" Pausing a second "I've always wanted a sister."

Sutton smiled happily at Isaac as he talked about his girlfriend... Amelia... that was her name. It must be so lovely to have someone who would talk about you that way... who thought about you all the time and wanted to protect you and keep you warm and... never wanted you to be... sad...

Did he just say I was a dear... just like Amelia?!

Ahh... friendzoned

No, not friendzoned... sisterzoned.

Story of her life, but it was okay. She got to meet more awesome people this way, so she tried not to dwell on her slight disappointment. Giving Isaac another smile, she said, "I've always wanted a brother! Loads of sisters, no brothers..."

Seeing her smile he shivered and moved closer himself without thinking. Yep now he'd made that move. HECK, she was like 5 years younger then him! What was going to happen? SNORT, nothing, and she was like a sister. If Amelia didn't like that...well then pfft.

He caught the look on her face when he said sister and wondered if he'd made a mistake. She didn't think he might...oh no...Ed had warned him. He didn't mean to disappoint her! But he didn't want to lead her on thinking maybe some day... Sighing he bit his lip.

Seeing her smile, he hoped she wasn't mad at him now and just hiding it now! "Ye haf sisters huh? I've got nothin' no sisters nor brothers." So he liked the idea that she was like a sister to him, same with Ronnie!

Sutton tilted her head a slightly when he let out a sigh and bit his lip. Was he disappointed about something? "What's wrong?" she asked with a concerned look in her eyes. Did he not get to see Amelia very often and miss her or something?

As he was talking about family, Sutton shrugged. "Sometimes having family isn't all it's cracked up to be..." she said quietly. She was always living in her older sisters' shadows or being grouped together with her younger sister. Her parents loved her, she knew, but she couldn't even remember the last time she spent any time alone with her parents. Maybe at a doctor's appointment?