Alright, so Alice might have gotten a little sidetracked, but only because of the snow. It was to blame when she had gone off route just a little, because she had seen to most perfect patch of snow and had just need to stomp in it with those pretty little boots of hers. And then she might have become a bit distracted again when she found the loveliest spot to make snow angels in. And then once more when.. y'know, it would be much easier to just say she was late, wouldn't it?

And she was late. But she was there, now, ready to build the most marvelous snowman ever with her best friend. She had even brought the carrots for the nose in a teeny little bowl, see? Even though some of them might have disappeared into her tummy on the way down to the pathways. That wasn't important, though. "MELANIE, I brought the carrots!" Alice informed the older girl, waving one of the orange vegetables in the Gryffindor's face before popping it into her mouth.

"So. Are we gonna build a snowman, or what?"

The Gryffindor first year had finally lodged himself in a tree out of sight. His backpack was hanging on a nearby limb and he was watching some girls. Just watching...for now.

He had no idea what these girls were talking about. Something about carrots? Why did they have carrots? Were they just out here in the cold to eat carrots? If so, that was really weird. GIRLS WERE WEIRD

There was snow in the tree around him and he was itching to do something with it. Ofim looked at the tree branch next to him and it was LOADED with snow. SCORE, he thought to himself. He anchored himself with his legs to the tree and grabbed the snow redden tree branch.. and SHOOK IT so that the snow would topple onto the girls below him.

Melanie stood there, still waiting. Tick tock, tick tock. Ah, she hadn't worn a watch so why was she making up clock sounds in her head? Shivering a little, Melanie wished she had worn a few more layers to stay warm in. Melanie then decided that if Alice didn't arrive within the next ten minutes, she'd go back inside and get a cup of hot chocolate to warm herself up.

Now... how was she going to go about counting the time? Oh. She'd just count the seconds. One... two... three... four...

What?

"Alice!" Melanie let out a relieved sigh. Now she wouldn't have to count so high or freeze outside. She grinned and embraced the girl in a hug, momentarily ignoring the fact that Alice was eating the snowmen's noses. When she let go, she looked down at the little bowl. "Alice, save some for the snowmen... they need to be able to smell the clean air," Melanie said, patting her head before looking around. Now... "Did you bring mittens? Gloves? We'll make a giant snowman. The biggest one ever." Because that would help take Melanie's mind off of things very easily. Redirecting her energy... that was what she was supposed to do, right? Yes. So she'd direct it into making a ginormous snowman.

The Gryffindor continued to look around. Where exactly would it be the perfect place to build a snowman? "Queen Alice, where do you think we shoul- EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP." COLD.

VERY COLD. Melanie had seen something white falling. Was it a sudden blizzard? It couldn't be because it didn't seem to continuing. She shook her head, watching the snow fall off. "Alice! No throwing snowballs at me!" she said, with a slight frown as she turned to face the younger Gryffindor, hands on her hips. Because that wasn't nice.

Winter time, snowing time, cold time. This is the time of the year where you get frostbites if you stay outside for too long, right? Juliet was not going to do that but she needed to get out from time to time. OWLs is definitely scaring her. One more book and she'll be going crazy. So today is definitely a rest day. No thinking about the OWLs whatsoever. Just pure fun and relaxation outside.

Of course it would not be as fun as it would be without a company. Juliet invited Tiffany to spend this relaxation day with her. That'd be fun. Now, Juliet is just hoping that Tiffany is not in the middle of studying because she could never ask her to stop what she is doing for this. No. So fingers crossed! ^^

While waiting for Tiffany, Juliet walked over to the pathways and just enjoyed the white snow. You have to admit it's really nice looking at it. It's like confetti only awesome and better.

Save some for the snowmen? Nah, Alice just wanted to eat some more. "Don't be so uptight, Mel, they'll be enough carrots left," she stated, grinning at the older girl as she popped another vegetable into her mouth. Mmm, they were crunchy. She rather liked that sound they made when she chomped down on them with her teeth. "Yep, I've got gloves." Her clothed fingers wiggled at Melanie as she began to check off their snowman-building materials. "You've got buttons. I've got carrots. Who's got the scar—"

Wait, what?

Loads of things happened at once. She saw a load of snow fall on Melanie's head, for one. Then Alice felt a bunch of the icy cold stuff land on her own hat. And the fifth year had started to scold her. For why? "I didn't throw snowballs at you," she clarified, shaking her head and sending little bits of snow flying every which way. But where had their attacker come from? The fourteen year old began to scout out the area, her eyes finally landing on a younger boy in the branch above them. "It was HIM." Did he know who he was messing with? Had he not heard of her reputation? Ah, well. Boy was about to learn. Alice didn't have any issues with practical jokes, nah, she had a sense of humour. But she also had a competitive streak, and that snow, it meant WAR.

"Fire missile!" Which meant launch snowball number one at him. It hit the boy square in the nose, splattering across his face. "Score one for Fischer! And the crowd goes wild!" Yep. He could applaud now.

Ofim got a laugh out of one of the girls thinking that it was the other throwing snowballs. He was sure that they wouldn't have figured it was him. Who would think that there'd be some guy in a tree making snow fall on them, right?

Just as he was readjusting himself in the tree he heard one of the girls YELL. SHOOT HE HAD BEEN SPOTTED.

Before he could do anything he felt a snowball hit him in the face. OUCH.
"Good shot!" he yelled in her direction as he wiped the snow off of his face.
Now the fun was starting! He grabbed his backpack and made his way down the tree.

He ducked behind the tree and started piling snow into snowballs.

He threw one at the girl that had gotten him in the face. BAM right in the shoulder

The lioness was supposed to be studying quietly in her dorm under this cold weather when it started snowing. She should be sitting next to the fire and reading loads and loads of books that she had borrowed from the library. But then she got an invitation from Juliet and that made her break her usual rules and decided to step outside to take in some fresh air.

Making her way to the pathway, Tiffany had to admitted that it was really really extremely cold down here and the wind kept making her sneeze. It was difficult to walk but it was worth trying because the snow was really beautiful. In the past few winter breaks, she usually went back home and spent the holiday with her family so she could barely see how Hogwarts looked like when it was covered with blankets of snow. But now she saw it all. It was...amazing.

She had got all that utensils that they needed for building a gigantic snowman with her even though Juliet didn't tell her to prepare them. She thought that she would love to build one with her right? She tiptoed as she picked up some snow from the ground and made them into huge snowballs. With a blink of an eye, she threw one of them at her back, backing the others and was ready for a defense. "Got-cha, Juuuuuuuliet!"she laughed when she turned to face her and threw one at her once again. They should keep Mr. Snowman waiting while they had some fun first.

Juliet starred at the blanket of snow. It looked really pretty but of course the weather was not to her liking. Try living in the dungeons at this time of the year and you will exactly know how all the Slytherin feels. What was up with Mr. Slytherin guy and taking the dungeons spot out of the numerous floors at Hogwarts?!

Juliet was ready to walk a bit more when suddenly out of nowhere someone attacked her by a snowball. OH NOOOO!!!!!!! The freezing ice melted onto her face but that was not part of her worries. It was more of the fact that SOMEONE just threw it to her.............

Her head swiftly glanced to the person the moment her familiar voice was heard. TIFFANY! Juliet wiped her face with her sleeves. Just to take the water off of her. It had to be her. "Tiffany. arghhh!" Juliet cried. "Don't do that again. That's really REALLY cold" she said walking towards the Gryffindor. However, the moment she got nearer to Tiffany, Juliet then immediately snatched snow and threw it as well to Tiffany.

Laughing at the Gryffindor, Juliet placed her hand around her shoulders and dragged her to the road. They're not going to just stand there and do nothing. Nope. It was a time to go out and take a walk even if it is in the middle of the winter season. Who cares about getting sick anyway? "What are you doing this summer?" Juliet asked.

Now that Tiffany had caught the heels girl's attention. Very well. Beaming childishly, she walked towards her, keeping handfuls of snow in her hand. She had to be prepared for any attack from her right? Just in case Juliet fought back. "But I had a lot of fun playing with snow,"she exclaimed as she hopped around Juliet and smiled. She was about to set all the snowballs free when she was attacked by the snake suddenly. The ice melted on her skin and she was right. They were cold and she would probably catch a cold or something after that but who cares? She was having a lot of fun, especially when Juliet joined in the game.

"I don't know if I have to spend it with my family or not...but I surely want to sleep at someone's house rather my own house,"she shrugged. Last year she spent her holiday with Melanie and had a small sleepover at her mansion. She would like to do the same this year but she just didn't know where to go. "What about you?"she asked.

She bent down to pick up more snow to form her new weapons when she felt the girl's arms wrapping around her and drag her away from their war field. Weren't they supposed to have a snow fight? Tiffany pouted. She had brought all the utensils here for them to build a giant snowman, Juliet. "Waaaait...where are we going? Aren't we building our Mr. Snowman?"she asked with her pleading eyes.

It was the day after the for lack of better word interesting staff meeting. Stepping out of the castle Leo breathed in the chilly winter night air as he looked out over the white snow covered grounds. It was just something about winter, low temperatures and snow that made him smile. Pulling the cap down on his head, buttoning his coat close and pulling on a pair of leather gloves Leo was set for walk before dinner.

Nothing beat a walk to clear your head and work up an appetite before dinner in the great hall Leo mused to himself. Walking along he didn’t think much at all he just let the sounds filling the night air do it for him. When he came into the pathways he stopped.

Leo wasn't the only one who thought it was a perfect night to go for a stroll. However, Medea only discovered so when she'd passed by a window on the ground floor, slowing down until she turned around to head outside. Lack of proper warm jacket and gloves for her hands wouldn't be much of a problem for a little while. She'd had her sweater on, sleeves stretched over her hands as they bundled into fists.

The freshly fallen snow was beautiful for lack of better of words, but Medea's attention was drawn elsewhere. A pair of footprints in the snow. Going but not returning from what she could see. It was late and students shouldn't be outside. Following them, it didn't take long before she happened upon they're owner.

Oh! Not a student. Medea smiled. "Guess I'm not the only one."

But I had a lot of fun playing with snow,

Juliet looked at her. Tiffany always brought a different feel for Juliet. Juliet grew up never having younger siblings nor older ones so she grew up not-so-really playful. It's a good thing though, having Tiffany around. She smirked at Tiffany and gave her a look "Yeah it's fun..... when you're 5" she teased. Okay, snow is fun to play with "And not on my face" because that dear Tiffany was really REALLY cold. Juliet felt like she had a 5 seconds frostbite.

Summer was always boring when Juliet goes home. She misses sleeping in her bed and have her daily routine by herself but it always felt boring. The manor wasn't really that inviting and the only time Juliet gets to have fun is when her father has time to prepare a party. Which doesn't really happen that often. "Ahhh" she nodded her head after what the Gryffindor said.

Suddenly Juliet clasped her hands together and bounced in front of Tiffany "We should have a sleepover this summer" she invited. Yeah, her parents wouldn't mind anyway. That would be really awesome. They can do so many things in the summer. "If you want, that is" yeah, the decision is entirely up for Tiffany.

Waaaait...where are we going?

Juliet stared at Tiffany and shrugged "I don't know?" yeah, she has no clue "I'm bored. I thought we could walk around?" unless if she has other suggestions.

Standing on the edge of the courtyard in his own little bubble thinking of what had happened so far in the term Leo chose a path to go down amongst the big spider web of possible path’s to take. Walking in a slow but steady pace he let the atmosphere of the trees, and shrubs shrouded in snow surround him.

Leo didn't hear Medea come up behind him until she was practically upon him since snow had the bad habit of muffling the sounds of people's feet but not their footsteps. Managing not to jump in fright which took some feat Leo turned to look at her. "Hmm?"

"Evening Medea, It’s a nice night for a stroll before dinner don’t you think?"

Slowing her steps to an almost pause a few feet away, Medea bundled up her hands a little more before crossing her arms. "Hello." she said softly, taking a glance to their surroundings. "It is... yes. Are you taking a stroll by yourself?" As obvious as that was. Well, there could've been a chance he was meeting someone. Seren? Josephina?... Bellaire? Scabio-

Ahem. Probably not Scabior and definitely not out in the cold.

Leo turned his attention to Medea first noticing her eyes and then her very, very bundled up hands. Furrowing his brows he asked the obvious question. "Are your hand's cold?" Looking around them at the winter shrouded trees he wished he had remembered to bring along his camera so he could take a picture of the trees. Nodding Leo confirmed "Yes I’m taking a stroll by myself. Would you like to join me?"

Her hands? After a moment's hesitance, she uncrossed her arms, glancing down to her hands that automatically unclenched from their fists, allowing her sleeves to unwind from around them. Well, she probably shouldn't have done that. Yes, they were cold. "A little, I guess." Chuckling quietly, Medea started to pull at her sleeves again. Back into bundles they shall go!

"If...that is alright vith you." Truly and not just because she was already there. She wouldn't mind taking a quick stroll with Leo before dinner. It was going to be a nice night and it'd be a shame if someone didn't see all sites of the freshly fallen snow before it was too dark to do so.

Time out? Yes, that sounded good.

Zhenya walked down from the castle and, without actually thinking about it, turned into the pathways. She walked for a while, turning left, right, right, somewhere, elsewhere... until she layed on her back under a tree and closed her eyes, just to relax. The year was hectic. She had been avoiding people a lot, that was certain. Well, she didn't feel very welcome since being back, but that still didn't surprise her very much. She relaxed by herself, listening to the chirping birds, the rustling leaves, and enjoying being with nature.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Time out? Yes, that sounded good.

Zhenya walked down from the castle and, without actually thinking about it, turned into the pathways. She walked for a while, turning left, right, right, somewhere, elsewhere... until she layed on her back under a tree and closed her eyes, just to relax. The year was hectic. She had been avoiding people a lot, that was certain. Well, she didn't feel very welcome since being back, but that still didn't surprise her very much. She relaxed by herself, listening to the chirping birds, the rustling leaves, and enjoying being with nature.

The fight with Tiffany at Honeydukes made him thinking too much about that. Seriously, Gary need some distraction. Too much things that stuck on his mind now, not just the fight. But also his school stuffs, NEWT, future career too. Can't believe that in a few months he would leave Hogwarts and graduated. He was enthusiast to start his new life, but in the other side he was kinda scared too. He was about to prepare himself for NEWT by studying. But he wasn't in a good mood for that. He decided to leave his dormitory and had a walk around the castle.

Wrapping himself in coat, the Head Boy walked with camera bag on his shoulder. Winter photography is always fascinating for him. He took some photos of the trees which were covered by snow at The Pathways. His blue eyes spotted someone familiar who layed her back on one of the tree. He just smiled and took the candid photos of her. Then he came closer and noticed.. Was she sleeping? "Hey." he said and tapped her shoulder. "What are you doing here?"

Zhenya was enjoying the quiet when she heard footsteps. Were they footsteps? She didn't care, she switched her mind off from the noise.

Tap. She felt someone tap her shoulder. And speak... it was Gary. She smiled before she opened her eyes, and they soon found his looking at her. "Hey. I'm just relaxing with my old friend Nature," she said happily. "What are you doing?" She sat up and moved over, giving Gary some room under the tree if he wanted to sit down too. He was so handsome, she couldn't stop smiling. Was she THE luckiest girl in the castle? She must be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Zhenya was enjoying the quiet when she heard footsteps. Were they footsteps? She didn't care, she switched her mind off from the noise.

Tap. She felt someone tap her shoulder. And speak... it was Gary. She smiled before she opened her eyes, and they soon found his looking at her. "Hey. I'm just relaxing with my old friend Nature," she said happily. "What are you doing?" She sat up and moved over, giving Gary some room under the tree if he wanted to sit down too. He was so handsome, she couldn't stop smiling. Was she THE luckiest girl in the castle? She must be.

"May I?" he asked if she let him to join. Hopefully she didn't mind. Well, how could she mind about that? He's her boyfriend right? Putting his camera bag, Gary took a seat beside her. Seemed like they hadn't spend their time together for a long time. Actually, they did. Even since they decided to start dating again but he rarely to see her around the castle. Was she invisible or something else. Or maybe he was too busy with his own life.

What was he doing here? Actually the Head Boy didn't have anything to do here, he just wandered around the castle because he was bored and need some distraction. "Escaping from real life." said him kidding. Well, he wished that he could, forget all about school things and her personal problem even just for a while. "Nah, I'm just wandering around castle and looking for some distraction." he smiled.

"Did you come back home for Christmas?" Suddenly he asked. Because he didn't see her at the time. Gary just stayed at Hogwarts during holidays, his uncle and the family had gone back to Canada since last year and he didn't have much time to go back there.

Zhenya smiled at Gary as he sat down next to her. It felt different to her, being back at Hogwarts and being with Gary again. Well, she thought she had just changed so much that she didn't feel like the same person around Gary. But hopefully he would still like her. It concerned her sometimes, thinking that he might have been expecting the old Zhenya. The thirteen year old Zhenya. But here she was, now fifteen and more independent, and more confident. But, more quiet. Escaping from real life? She half smiled at him, almost wanting to agree.

Distraction? A cheeky smile flew across Zhenya's face, "Well I hope I'm a good enough distraction for you," she said, leaning in quickly to kiss his cheek. She really really missed him.
"Yeah I went home..." she said, musing on how to elaborate. "Well, not home as in with my family, but home as in... the new place I live in." She loved it, and was so glad she got to be alone there - well, most of the time. But no family to bother her. It was peaceful. "What did you do?" she asked, realising she hadn't really spent a lot of good quality time with him much.

Laura looked at Zoe and giggled. "You don't get along with anything, your so stupid." Laura really didn't like Zoe, why was she here anyway, surely she should be somewhere else, where they taught people to count because the last time she had seen Zoe surely she couldn't even count to two she was sure of it.

Laura giggled. "Oh I know of a lot more dangerous sports that Quidditch and that is why I quit." Laura really had found sports that were a lot worse that Quidditch and she wasn't going to let Zoe have a go of it, it was a lot scarier than Quidditch and she didn't think it was safe for Zoe to try. "That easy to do." Laura had done that loads. "Now the Forbidden Forest is a different story loads of bad creatures that I'm sure you'll be scared of."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Zhenya smiled at Gary as he sat down next to her. It felt different to her, being back at Hogwarts and being with Gary again. Well, she thought she had just changed so much that she didn't feel like the same person around Gary. But hopefully he would still like her. It concerned her sometimes, thinking that he might have been expecting the old Zhenya. The thirteen year old Zhenya. But here she was, now fifteen and more independent, and more confident. But, more quiet. Escaping from real life? She half smiled at him, almost wanting to agree.

Distraction? A cheeky smile flew across Zhenya's face, "Well I hope I'm a good enough distraction for you," she said, leaning in quickly to kiss his cheek. She really really missed him.
"Yeah I went home..." she said, musing on how to elaborate. "Well, not home as in with my family, but home as in... the new place I live in." She loved it, and was so glad she got to be alone there - well, most of the time. But no family to bother her. It was peaceful. "What did you do?" she asked, realising she hadn't really spent a lot of good quality time with him much.

He was slightly blushed when Zhenya kissed his cheek. Damn, now she was succeed to make him awkward. But then he just chuckled to keep himself cool. Especially when she did say if she was a good enough distraction, Gary started laughing. Not because he was laughing at her, but because she was funny and maybe right too. Well, maybe she could be a distraction because he was happy when she was beside him. And usually when he was happy, he was easier to abandon any bad things that haunted his mind.

"You haven't been back to your parents yet?" Suddenly he asked. Gary knew that she went away from home because she told him. Too bad, he started to like her family even when she was away he had a big fight with Dimitri, her brother. But they were nice and welcomed to him. Bet that her parents were so worried because of that. "Tell me, why you don't want to go back to them?" Asked him a bit serious. Perhaps he could help a little bit?

And what did he do during holiday? Nothing. He didn't come back to his uncle, just stayed at Hogwarts and not many things happened. "Just stay here, study for NEWTs, and I had a fight with Tiffany." He spoke suddenly. Crap! Did he just mention about his fight days ago in Honeydukes? Well, that happened when they had Christmas and New Year holidays. But quickly he told her who Tiffany was. Not his other-girlfriend, okay? "Tiffany is my best friend, actually she's like a little sister for me. No need to be jealous."

Parents? Oh, so he wanted to talk about her family... She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "No haven't seen them since... well, since I left. I thought about it but every time I think about them I just get so upset. I don't think I can forgive them for keeping this from me, and then making my home... my safe place awkward and uninviting." She shook her head. "I got to spend time back at my real home in Russia, and it made me realise that the people who raised me to be how I am was my grandparents, not my parents. I just don't know what to do." she stopped, not sure where to go from there. Would he understand? She was still a bit upset with Laura for making her feel like she was being stupid for feeling this way about her family.

He stayed at Hogwarts? Zhenya could have kicked herself. Why didn't she stay over the holiday? She should have. wait... Tiffany? She raised her eyebrows slightly until he added that she was his best friend. Well, figures that he moved his attention to another female when she left. The slight jealous feeling she had still persisted, though. There was another girl. But if she was just like a little sister... Zhenya laughed slightly. Well, that made her feel more at ease. Surely there would be no romantic feelings if he saw her as a sister.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Parents? Oh, so he wanted to talk about her family... She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "No haven't seen them since... well, since I left. I thought about it but every time I think about them I just get so upset. I don't think I can forgive them for keeping this from me, and then making my home... my safe place awkward and uninviting." She shook her head. "I got to spend time back at my real home in Russia, and it made me realise that the people who raised me to be how I am was my grandparents, not my parents. I just don't know what to do." she stopped, not sure where to go from there. Would he understand? She was still a bit upset with Laura for making her feel like she was being stupid for feeling this way about her family.

He stayed at Hogwarts? Zhenya could have kicked herself. Why didn't she stay over the holiday? She should have. wait... Tiffany? She raised her eyebrows slightly until he added that she was his best friend. Well, figures that he moved his attention to another female when she left. The slight jealous feeling she had still persisted, though. There was another girl. But if she was just like a little sister... Zhenya laughed slightly. Well, that made her feel more at ease. Surely there would be no romantic feelings if he saw her as a sister.

He just kept silent and paid attention to her story and the reason why she didn't want to come back to her parents. Somehow he felt guilty because he was involved to their plan to keep that secret. "I know you're still mad at them." he started stroking her hair. "Don't you miss them? I think your parents missed you badly." he spoke again. At least she still had parents who loved her so much. Well, Gary didn't have any right to force her. And maybe he should change the topic. But he didn't have any idea about that.

Hearing that she just laughed when Gary told that Tiffany was just like his little sister made him feel relieved. Yeah, because no need to be jealous with her. "Come on, I'm not a person who will fall for his own sister." He said and laughed. He missed his little sister, even they were working together for homework but it didn't mean that she had apologized him. "I think she was jealous with you. She said I'd forgotten her because of you." he told Zhenya what made him and Tiffany had a fight. Because he need someone who wanted to listen about that story.