Hecate was walking the grounds, clipper in hand. She looked around and saw Sierra with a spray bottle. "Sierra?" She said looking at the bottle. "What are you doing?"

Sierra stood up and left the plant she'd just protected. She walked down the rows and rows of other plants until she came to a different type of plant. She had no idea which plants the other students had already protected, but she figured if she moved around a lot and tended to as many different plants as possible, she'd stand a good chance of reaching the ones that hadn't been protected yet.

She had just bent down next to a plant when she heard her name. Spinning around, she saw her mother stand nearby, clippers in hand. "Hey, Mmm..." She caught herself just in time, though. "Hello, Professor Lafay." She didn't think she'd ever get used to that. She turned back to the plant and started spraying it's leaves and base. "We made minsecticide in the last Herbology class," she said, "and now we have to spray down at least four plants here and another four in the greenhouses." Looking at the clippers, she added, "What are you gathering?"

"Nothing," She said making her clippers disappears. "Wait... minsecticide? I've heard about it, but I thought it was weak... I could brew something more potent..."

She watched the clippers disappear then shook her head. "You know I wouldn't have told no matter what it was," she said, looking back up and meeting her in the eye. "If you need an assistant later, just let me know." Silly Mom.

Sierra nodded and held up her spray bottle. "Minsecticide," she said. "I'd never even heard of the stuff until the other day." She stood up and brushed a bit of dirt off her knees. Approaching another species of plant, she knelt down beside it and began to spray it from all different angles.

"Really?" she asked, looking at her mother. "I don't doubt it, but...what is it?" While she waited for the answer, she turned back and sprayed the rest of the plant. No pests would be getting to this one.

"Well... it may... harm... and well... are we done here?" She said looking around, "Did you... spray... enough?"

By this time, Sierra had moved on to the final row of plants toward the back of the gardens. She knelt down beside them and studied them. There was one that looked a little poor. It looked sort of forgotten next to the rest of its lot. This one hadn't been sprayed yet, she guessed. She decided to give this one a good little shower of spray. How it'd been overlooked all this time was beyond her.

"I'm done here, yes," she said, spraying down the leaves, "but no, I haven't sprayed enough. We have to spray eight plants, and this is only number four." She gave her mother an apologetic look then turned back to the plant. She sprayed it until she'd covered every possible inch of it. If a pest got through now, it seriously had superpowers of some kind.

"Come with me to the greenhouses," she said. "We haven't talked in a while." She brushed a bit of dirt off her legs then headed toward the greenhouse.

"Fine... lead the way." She said with a sigh.

With the ants crawling up his arms now, Daichi still had not noticed the small little creature for he had been too busy with spraying. He continued to spray the Minsecticide over the plants and when he thought he was done he stood upright again to move to another location.

However, when he walked through the student garden, the few ants on his right arm were now making their way up his robe sleeve and to his scarf. Still , the Slytherin did not notice anything and when he found another section that needed to be sprayed he checked the leaves of the plant who's name is again did not know , and saw that some insects had already made tiny little holes in the green. Obviously, they had been eating from the plant.

Getting his spray bottle ready, he sprayed the solution over and under the unknown plant and had to tilt his bottle a little for the Minsecticide inside the bottle was only half full now. The Slytherin smiled and stood up to move to some blue and red colored flowers when he suddenly stopped in his track, eyes wide.

Happy to be almost done Hannah worked even harder to complete her task. She had already been under attack twice and was ready to get out of here. She decided to just spray every plant that she came in contact with.

She walked to the first bush and sprayed it until it looked soggy. She moved on to the next bush and sprayed that one as well. She sprayed everything in sight partly because she just wanted to be done but also she felt like she was getting revenge on everything that attacked her and maybe wanted to attack her. Surely with as much as she was spraying nothing would stand a chance.

She needed to walk to the back of the garden to get the plants over there that she had missed, but she was a bit nervous. One does not get attacked by stuff and not get nervous. She timidly walked to the back andj ust started spraying like a crazy person. When she was done she gathered her belongings and walked out quickly hoping that it would be a long time before she would have to return here again.

With all the classes and reviewing and school duties they have, it was getting tough to get some quiet together-time with his adorable ginger gal. So when a free period that came up, Vickers grabbed the opportunity-- and Louisa-- and trotted down towards the Student Gardens, towards their garden trellis swing that, not too long ago, he had done some maintenance to keep it pretty and bug free. Dont want any interruptions from the critters after all heh.

Buried under few layers of clothes, Louisa's face was pink from the warmth and the hand holding hers. She had a content small smile on her face as both of them walked down from the castle to the greenhouses and then maneuvered around to get into the garden with their swing. "I think leaving the swing behind is going to be the hardest thing." She chuckled nervously, knowing it was the embarrassing truth.

She stood before the not-as-snowy-as-she-imagined swing and raised her eyebrow. "Shouldn't it be covered in snow?" Someone has been taking care of it and considering that there are only two people who cared about it, it was Vickers. Louisa squeezed his hand and bumped her head gently against his shoulder affectionately. She waved her wand to get the dampness off the seat and then plopped down. "Okaaaaaaay, young man. It's truth or truth time." Cue the smirking and rubbing hands together. He had the drinks so... out with them.

He pressed his lips together sadly "Yeah, thats also something I've been thinking about...." he replied regarding about the swing "I would be dropping by Professor Bentley's office and ask if we can take it with us.... its just... well would you have room in your house? Or I could take it back home at the Manor its just.... well... I'll just tell you another time." Its his after-Hogwarts plan thats been percolating at the back of his head for quite some time now, but hasnt really gotten the nerve to talk about it with anybody.

He felt her head on his shoulder when she realized why there wasnt any snow. He grinned, and lovingly squeezed the hand that held hers. Yup he totally maintained it mmhmm

Truth and truth. This got Vickers to laugh out loud as the game that inspired it, Truth or Dare, now has special significance between them. As they settled into the swing he carefully opened a small box with the drinks he requested from the elves "Yup... and since its kinda the season I thought we'd have a little toast first...." he uttered as he brought out "Hawaiian Lava Flow-- Hogwarts issued of course... " he grinned as he handed Louisa the other glass. Of course that meant it was non-alcoholic, the elves made it after all.

But what they were about to mix into it might as well have been a heavy dose of Ogden's finest anyway...

He took out the vial and poured in the contents into the frothy drink, the clear liquid blending in like a shot of clear syrup. He held the glass aloft and clinked it against the Head Girl's "Happy Valentines Day Louisa" he smiled.

Take it with them! Louisa's face brightened at this idea, "We can put it outside by the pool." In her house since it was hers and not her family's. Unlike the manor that despite being breathtakingly beautiful and was the place where her boyfriend grew up and considered home, it was not cozy and intimate enough for her. She nodded, they would talk about it some other time.

She expected the box, the drinks, but not the occasion! Her cheeks were even redder as she chuckled softly and let his glass clink against hers. "Happy Valentine's Day Vincenzo." Siiiip. She could feel the weird taste of the potion ruining the fabulous flavor of the drink. Maybe they should've waited until it was mixed well with the mousse? Eh whatever. She took another gulp to drown the aftertaste. MMmmMMM! Much better. "Okay. Question mister." She shifted on the seat to face him and could feel the tension urging her heart to accelerate. "Does it bother you that I keep in touch, and quite closely, with my ex and guy friends?" She knew the answer without a truth serum. Now... she wanted to make sure it was true. GULP.

Outside by the pool? "Perfect!" he whispered proudly. Yes it would fit excellently with the rest of Louisa's outdoor set up, and he knew it would find a good home.

He took a large gulp of the drink, trying to make that potion glide straight to the back of his throat. So far he only tasted the drink, which was excellent. Compliments to the elves. He lowered the glass and cradled it between his fingers. Okayyy question time....

And boy what a question.

He blinked at her as her words sunk in. Truthfully-- with or without the potion-- he hasnt thought much about it. "Well.... I know you keep in touch with Dallin..." or Mr McKinley in all other conversation including addressing him "Its never really bothered me... I dont know why.... I mean I know what the Aparecium says but... I dont know.... maybe because you've never really given me any reason to think why I shouldnt trust you...." he trailed off as he raised his eyes solemnly to her. Which then prompts him with his question...

"...Do you still feel deeply for any of them Louisa?.... I mean, do you still.... want any of them?... the way that I want you?"

She was biting on her nails lightly as he pondered her question for little time and then blurted out the answer. Oh Dallin.. she wasn't thinking of Dal, to be honest, when she asked the question but Vickers did include the others. Ugh, the Aparecium. Louisa hated that paper. Her annoyance with that piece of trash was instantly wiped off her face at the mention of trust. Her heart calmed down and she dropped her hand from her mouth, assured.

... until he asked his question.

Louisa gulped and her mind raced for the words, or well for facts. Did she feel deeply for any of them? "Technically I never felt deeply for anyone other than Dallin, which was my thirteen years old self mistaking a brotherly feeling for a crush, or Joao, who makes me feel uncomfortably attracted to him sometimes." WHATTHE. She quickly added, "But I don't want him to be with me the way I want you to be with me. Joao's fire. I am fire. You're my ice and I need you to fix the things I burn with my fire." Geddit?

"Was I ever... a substitute?" The potion was still working, right? Louisa looked like a teacher blurting out question after the other. Quick and right to the point. "Not now, but back in summer. Was I briefly a rebound?" Yeah she knew he had something for the Gryffindor Prefect, she didn't mind. She just wanted to be aware of the full picture.

....never felt deeply for anyone other than Dallin... he nodded understanding. For some reason he wasnt surprised by it, as it would explain the way she sat on him-- which still had the same, racy effect on him to this day. Weird.

But Joao-- now that was the first time the Ravenerd realized there was something more to him than the flirting at the pool he saw. It wasnt just flirting, there was something already there, a history. His eyes grew large with anxiety. Good Merlin what did he just.... ruin something between them? Blundering Vanderbilt goes off with the Birthday girl while Boyfriend--ex Boyfriend?-- is abandoned by the pool? "I.. I didnt know.... " he stammered as his eyes fell to the ground, shock and shame mixing in his face "I'm sorry... " he mumbled barely above a whisper.

It took him a few seconds to have the rest of her words sink in and thats when he finally looked up, his face was still remorseful but there was a twinkle in his eye "I'm ice?..." he repeated. "I dont feel cool, unlike Eijah, now he's cool.... I feel more dull.... like the earth." And as his gaze fell on his glass which still had about half their drink remaining he suddenly had a thought"Earth and Fire equals.... molten lava..." he added and he gazed up into her face, the twinkle in his eye still there "...thats a dangerous combination." as it can literally change the face of the Earth.

And now she asked him another question, of which got him to furrow his brows in confusion "Rebound? Rebound from who--" and he trailed off. Was she referring to Kurumi? His lips presses together as he sat silently. His emotions for Kurumi has never passed his lips, not even to the Gryffindor Prefect. What feelings he had for her was written down in some convoluted poem for a class activity, which wasnt a surprise why she didnt understand as he barely understood it himself. But there was that question and his answer is "There really isnt anybody for me to rebound from Louisa...." he started "... yes, I had the hugest crush on Kurumi since the day I met her back in New York, even before I came here. But ever since I got here, learning who she was with-- who she's with now-- its taught me to accept the fact that I was never an option anyway." He gulped as he collected more of his thoughts, it was like flipping back through the pages of his past "It was hard for me to hear them talk about each other at the pool because of how I felt for her, its like a wound that was healing but it kept being peeled open." He wasnt sure if that was the right analogy but thats how he felt like back then "...But to think that you were some substitute-- like 'Oh since I didnt have Kurumi so I'd hook up with you instead?'...." He set the glass aside and took her hands in his "Havent I told you that the first time I really liked you was when we made this swing?...." he knew he had to have said that to her already, but it bears repeating as it was the truth, potion notwithstanding "That was way before your party... and it was there that I finally had the guts to do what I felt about you all along." A blessing with the way the refreshments were prepared then right?

Did it answer her question? It was a pretty lengthy response but he wouldnt be surprised if it brings up more questions. But now it was his turn to ask her another one "Is there anything about me that you want to change?" because he knows he needs to improve, he just didnt know what, blind he was on himself.

She didn't like the way he looked like when she brought Joao up... but it soon hit her that they never talked about it. Her eyebrows furrowed then, "You're not dull." Thank Merlin she had some of that truth potion in her right now. "You're maybe like the earth." And he better not be meaning the soil. "But it's not because you're dull. It's because you're rich." Oops. "Not like financially rich, but skilled. Talented." Please get it quickly and make her embarrassed blush go away!

....
..
.

Wow? Louisa didn't know whether to simply turn this honesty hour into something else or just continue to stare at him. Maybe say something too? "Yeah," he did tell her about that moment when they built this swing and it was as shocking to her as his shock about Joao just now so.. they were even? Hehe. "Umm... I just.. I wanted to make sure, I mean I was sure that you aren't doing it on purpose but..." She smiled and waved her hand dismissively, "It's over. I got my answer." She dropped her propped leg off the swing and snuggled closer to him, hugging his arm and setting her empty glass aside.

Oh he asked one more question. She answered quickly, "No." Again she was grateful she had the truth potion in her. "I like you the way you are, even with your... uhh.. too quiet and peaceful moments, I don't want it to change." They made him the boy she felt she was his and she wouldn't change that. Louisa leaned her head on his shoulder again and kept one of her arms hooked around his, her other hand held the drink.

No more questions from her, she just wanted to sit here with him on their swing with their hands locked together.

There was a small smile that tugged at his lips... yeah he knew what she meant by rich. The thing about molten lava is that when it cools it also becomes the most fertile land on the planet where plant life grows at its best. And where plant life grows, everything else follows. And now perhaps an inception of a thought starts in his head... what does the future hold for them together?

As she snugged closer to him he looped his arms around her for a tight hug, resting his head against hers. Upon hearing her response he tilted his head and peered into her face. "Ohh... I'll try not to be too calm or peaceful then..." he murmured smirking, kissing her lips lightly. Only she knew what he truly meant by that.

*wiiiiiiiiibbbbbbbblllllle*

The little girl shifted the cardboard box under her left arm so she could use her right hand to wipe her eyes. This was happening a lot as she made her way down to the Student Gardens. Every so often she'd pull over to the side and plop her self down on a bench and gingerly peek into the box at her poor, poor kneazle but that would only make her start sobbing again. Her eyes were already red rimmed and were probably going to get worse as the next hour or so went on.

She gingerly set the box on a bench and sat down beside it. In hindsight, she really should've come here before the wake and looked for a good place to bury her kneazle but instead she had gone around crying and looking for hugs and telling people about how her Barnabus had passed away cause the Common Room situation. She hugged her white cardigan tighter around her shoulders and sniffled again. She HAD wanted to wear all black but it was still kind of chilly out and she didn't have a black jumper...

She pulled the box up onto her lap and traced a little pattern on the lid. Another sniffle. Okay okay. Before everyone came and she buried her pet, she had to take ONE last look. Blue gingerly lifted the lid and peered into the box. AND, cue the fresh tears. She closed it shut and a sob broke out again.

Worst. Day. Ever.

Awkward. Awkward. Awkward.

Theo wasn't JUST making an appearance as Blue's bestie, but because any animal dying was a sad day, even if the said animal WAS Barnabus. Blue's beloved kneazle cat. Theo caught a glimpse of Blue walking with her cardboard box under her arm, just a while in front, but he decided not to bother her.

Somehow, he felt like the last person she'd want to see, what with his frequent torments over Barnabus.

But it wasn't too long before she came to a stop at the student garden. Right, that WAS where it had all been arranged. And oh look, he was the first guest to arrive. Yippeeee.... "H-Hi... Blue." And she was crying, which was always a bad thing.

"D-d-don't cry, Blue..." Cos the boy had sensitive eyes, and any sign of other people welling up, set him off, too. He patted her on the shoulder and sighed.

Actually... he WOULD hug her. But that'd creep her out.

Alice hurried down to the Student garden as fast as she could. Her poor little sister was probably in pieces down their, mourning her obese kneazle. HMPH. Yeah. The tiny lioness had given Blue the kneazle as a birthday present last year, and, apparently, she had become very attached to it. Why, though, the Gryffindor had no idea.

It was the most useless kneazle in the history of the planet.

She hated it almost as much as Cleo had. The thing was huge and good for nothing. And it slobbered all over EVERYTHING. It was revolting. But, yeah. She came to the funeral anyway.. 'cause she cared about her ickle Blueberry. The third year had dressed in a pair of black jeans and a plain black tee— mourning clothes. Kind of. Alice thought she looked very punk rock. Mhmm.

And when she reached the Student Garden, there she was. Blue was standing all alone, peering into a little box that probably had Barnabus in it. And Cleo was there, too. Alice came up behind them and wrapped a comforting arm around her sister. "You holding up okay, Blue?" She asked softly, even though she knew she wasn't. The lioness could hear Blue crying, but said nothing. The poor thing. "I brought words. Y'know.. just in case you needed them." Because, C'MON. It was an honor to have a QUEEN speak at your funeral, Barnabus. He should have been honoured.

Today was a sad sad day for one little Bluetiful and Ella felt absolutely awful that she'd lost her pet. Even though she'd never properly met the guy, he shared a name with her own Pygmy puff so they were clearly bonded in some way. Duh. Besides, Bluetiful was Ella's sister now. They were family and that meant sticking together, especially through the hard stuff.

The blonde smoothed her dress and somberly walked to the student garden, box of tissues in one hand and extremely large Ellasaurus sundae in the other. People would be needing ice cream after this, she just knew it. She'd even attempted to charm the dish to stay cold so she was hoping that worked.

...

Oh Blue was crying and just looked SO sad. Frown. Frown. Frown. Ella bit her lip for a moment or two before making her presence known. Sniff. "Bluetiful I'm so so sorry this happened." She said sincerely, walking over to the younger claw and giving her a squeeze. "I brought tissues...and ice cream for after." Yes, she'd clearly thought of everything. Her eyes then landed on Hulk and she gave the girl a sad smile. "Hulk, it's nice to see you though I wish it wasn't under these circumstances." Yes, she'd heard people say this sort of stuff at her Granddad's funeral and it seemed appropriate in the moment. Oh. And Theoman was here too? FROWN. She was still cross with the boy so he got a little nod of the head and a quiet, "Theoman."

Harlan joined the small group of people already there for the funeral thing. This was saaaaaaaad. Dying was so sad. Even if it was a cat, because even if Harlan thought cat's were stupid and boring, it turned out that not everyone thought so.
Also, if any of Harlan's pets were to die she would cry. A lot. So people needed skittles.

'Hi...' Harlan said awkwardly.. 'I heard about your beast- your cat dying.'
She smiled at the younger girl. Harlan wiped at her own eyes when she noticed the ickle girl crying. Must have an eyelash in her eye or somefing, Harlan didn't cry about cats.

'I'm sure your.. Barnabus had an awesome short life full of food and naps with you..' That must be ok, right? Cats didn't really do much other than sleep and eat. 'My nan can watch him now.. She died too. Just not in a common room. She wasn't even a Ravenclaw or anything, but still, they're both dead now.' Harlan rambled on, no, she was not crying or upset, not at all.

Kurumi felt awful about all this. It was supposed to be a good thing that the common rooms had finally come unlocked and students could get back in. Kurumi was overjoyed to see Walnut - aside from the disaster that he had made of the common room with his urine - but it was short lived when she found out about other students' familiars who had not fared so well.

It was hard to be happy about seeing her familiar again when there were so many tears from others.

Pulling her black sweater, Kurumi weaved her way through the student garden looking specifically for Blue, but she had to wonder if others would be here as well. Others who had lost their familiars. She had instructed Walnut to stay in the common room - which he was NOT please about - but Kurumi felt bad taking him outside for this sort of thing. She didn't want to seem as though she were flaunting her familiar surviving the lockout. Not that she had anything against those that may have brought their's. Walnut just like to flaunt...a lot.

"Hey...everyone," she said with a somewhat forced smile when she found the small crowd that had gathered. "Blue...did you find a stone that you liked?" Because the offer to engrave it with magic was something she was serious about.

Kurumi wasn't very good at these sorts of things...seeing as the last funeral was for her mother and the wounds from that time were slowly being ripped open again. If there was one thing she did know about all this it was this - facing death alone was scary. Being with others reminded you that there was more than just sadness...so if her being her could do that for Blue and others, then that was what she was going to do.

This was the reason Dora didn't have any pets. Cause they always up and died on you. Though it really wasn't Blue's fault that her kneazle was locked in the common room all that time. The professors and headmistress were to blame for that, and should probably reimburse her or something. Dora wasn't stressing over this though. The only reason she was showing up, was to show some support to her dorm mate.

She'd tried to hide the blue streak that was still in her hair, cause it didn't really match her outfit, but it was still somewhat visible in the single brain going down her back. At least it was Ravenclaw blue and not some neon blue. Holding onto her bouquet, she wandered through the garden until she found her fellow claw surrounded by others she knew. They all got shy waves as she went up to Blue and offered a condoling smile. "Hey, Blue... sorry about your kneazle." She noticed the teary eyes, and... maybe she should have brought tissue instead of flowers.