"No, Benjamin, I don't want to go home so I can be pampered. You should like Father right now. I want to go home because I hate it here." Plain and simple, dude. He hated it right now. Forehead still pressed to the glass he shrugged once more and continued, "Besides if I go home they will likely stick me in the library with the tutor all day everyday and ignore my existence." Happened more often than not when they were not on holiday from work. "Oh come off it. Your parents won't make you leave. I am tired of being miserable here, though."

He thought about smiling about the fact that his breath was fogging up the glass and such, but he wasn't in the mood for smiles. "It's easier for YOU, Benjamin. I'm sensitive to these things. All I want is Father's approval and he tells me I am not tough enough... I can't help it. It's just the way it is, ya know. I took after Mum and there is nothing wrong with that." Period. "And to be quite frank the bad ones are out numbering the good ones around here and I am considering simply going back into reclusion if I don't go home." Socializing was not fun with kids his own age. He would stick to shmoozing the Ogden clients and stay away from the kids, please!

Even Benjy's comment about his punching being reserved for him Garrick didn't smile. And yes, he saw the wink.

SIGHS.

"Her friends... none of them like me. It's not fair to her to put myself around her if they are around. Simple." And the fix for it was simple, too. He would remove himself from the equation. "I can't sit with her thanks to that Lex girl. She shoots daggers at me and makes me uncomfortable. I won't deal with being made to feel that way. Not anymore. It's unfair to me, but no one seems to care how I feel or what I think about it all. So..." Shrugs again.

"And you think going home would make it better?" Benjy muttered under his breath. He gritted his teeth, and shook his head lightly. "Sometimes, I swear you don't know how lucky you are..." Benjy ran a frustrated hand through his hair, and before pulling on Garrick's shoulder and turning him away from the window to face him. He couldn't be looking out of it, because it was getting steamed up, so chances are, Garrick was doing it to avoid looking at his cousin. "You could at least look at me," he said, a hint of anger in his voice. "And you know full well if you get pulled for being unhappy, I'll get pulled too." His mother tended to take the same view as his aunt on stuff like that. "And you might think being stuck in the library would suit you, but I don't."

Easier for HIM? Benjy laughed. It was a laugh of irony. They both had insecurities to deal with at home. It was probably why they were as close as they were - more brothers than cousins. "I know you are," Benjy said, "But...sometimes you don't help yourself." He rubbed the nape of his neck. Garrick could be such an idiot at times. "You can stand up to them, you know. You would with me." And it didn't have to be all fists and uncouth - Garrick didn't break his usual code towards Benjy, so why should he have to with anyone else? "Plus, you're not gonna do yourself any favours with Uncle if you write home and say you want to leave cos there's some kids you don't like."

And Uncle would find out, even if Garrick gave excuses about how shabby Hogwarts was.

Benjamin just eyed him at this point. "None of them? How many have you met?" No, really. How many had he met? Had he even taken the chance to put things right with Lex? Benjy hadn't got a problem with the Gryffindor. And that was after she and Lottie had managed to earn him a punch in the face between them before he'd even reached school.

"I care..." he said quietly, though the way Garrick sounded right now, that didn't count for much.

"I am well aware of how lucky I am to have what I have, Benjamin Romulus. Well aware and am reminded every day. But yes, right now I think giving mother what she wants and getting away from this place would be better right now." Hmph. Yes, he did. Benjy didn't get it. Feeling Benjy's hand on his shoulder he tensed and pulled out of his reach as he indeed turned to face him, pain clear on his face. He was really miserable here.

"She would not, Benjy. Not for my being unhappy." Now if Benjy was unhappy then yes he would likely go home. His aunt did indeed take her son's feelings into account. Whether Benjy realized that or not. "I like our library." And yes, he mumbled that, but it was true. He felt at home in the library in the house. It was peaceful.

"Father doesn't pay me enough attention to even care, Benjy." Really. He didn't. "With you it's different, Benjy and you know it. Not to mention I just don't understand... I am overly nice to everyone I meet here. Aside from Beezus. I just don't care for her or care what she thinks." Truth.

And Hogwarts was abysmal, not just shabby and Father would not approve of it if he told him anything of it.

"Enough." He had met enough of them. Yep. "I like her a whole lot, Benjy, but..." Shrugs. He was not going to fight with people that Lotus cares for just because it was not acceptable.

Hearing Benjy say that last bit made him shuffle his feet and look at the ground. "I know. Feels like you're the only one. I wish she cared a little, too."

If Benjy hadn't shown his frustration already, it certainly showed when Garrick used his middle name. "I don't know what's gotten in to you, Garrick," he said, eyes narrowed. "First you're doing it for yourself, then you're doing it for your mother..." And Benjy STILL hadn't gotten to the bottom of what was actually making him unhappy.

Because if it WAS that people didn't like him, then it was lesson he needed to buckle up and learn to deal with. Had Garrick really been that sheltered growing up? Or maybe it was just that Benjy had inherited his Uncle's genes... Either way, that wasn't going to get any better if Garrick thought going home to hide in the library was for the best.

"Yeah, but you couldn't give that as your excuse..." Benjy countered. "And if you blame the state of the castle...well, that'd be the same for both of us. Mum would just say I was happy with it because I'm a natural slob..." He scowled at that.

And suddenly, that was it.

Benjy flipped.

Because he couldn't see what was different, apart from Garrick not helping himself.

And that was why Garrick soon earned himself a slap on the cheek.

"Garrick Morpheus!" Benjy said, raising his voice. "Will you please stop pitying yourself, and get past these stupid notions of caring what people you have no feelings for think about you." As in, can you PLEASE pull yourself together? Now. "It's never affected you in the past, and whatever has started it now is stupid."

Enough? Benjy shook his head. "One?" That was the estimate he reckoned on. "Then why are you giving up?" Where was the boy's fight? Gosh, they argued over petty stuff all the time. Now it was apparently something important, and Garrick had turned into a weakling of a flobberworm.

A small smile curled on Benjy's lips, but it was of little consolation. He was just so frustrated with Garrick right now. "Bloody 'ell, Garrick, just... Argh!"

Could he go bang his head against a wall yet? It'd probably be more satisfying.

This... He sounded like the senior Ogden and Garrick couldn't handle that. The more Benjy berated him the more Garrick's face reddened all the way up to his ears. His hands shook with rage and then before he did something he would regret he turned his back on his cousin. With his hands clenched he shook his head.

"You sound just like him. He'd be so proud." And that was all he had to say as he began to walk toward... he had no idea where he was going aside from away from Benjy. He had been SUCH a big help. SARCASM.

This... He sounded like the senior Ogden and Garrick couldn't handle that. The more Benjy berated him the more Garrick's face reddened all the way up to his ears. His hands shook with rage and then before he did something he would regret he turned his back on his cousin. With his hands clenched he shook his head.

"You sound just like him. He'd be so proud." And that was all he had to say as he began to walk toward... he had no idea where he was going aside from away from Benjy. He had been SUCH a big help. SARCASM.

He could see Garrick was now boiling up. Which was almost reassuring, as it showed there was something inside amongst all that self-pity and woe.

And yet, it still hurt when he turned his back.

"Garrick..." Benjamin said, as his cousin began to walk off. "I'm not trying to sound like him." He paused, torn, before following. "I'm trying to help...running away won't fix anything." And yes, that's what he was doing right now. Benjamin knew the pressures Garrick had at home better than anyone.

"And if you don't think I'm right. Then come stand up to me...tell me...show me why..."

At that, Benjamin stopped following. He was hoping Garrick would take up the challenge, and was quite happy to accept the consequences if it helped knock some sense into the guy.

We're waiting...

"I am not going to fight you. Aren't you always right? Better at everything than me?The son my father wish he had. So yeah I am going to walk away and go write mum. Have a great day, Benjamin. I love you." And that was seriously all he had to say. Yep.

Challenge not accepted. His mum would be so disappointed if he was fighting with Benjy again and the last thing he wanted to do was upset her again when she was the only one on his side.

Benjamin couldn't help but stare after him. That was it?

Blink.Blink.Blink.

He'd been prepared to take a punch, or some of his acidic sarcasm, or really, just a civil discussion. But this...? Benjamin's heart sank a little. It almost felt like Garrick had somehow ripped something out of him, without actually doing anything.

Benjamin didn't like it. One bit.

"You know that's not true..." he said, unable to hide the sadness in his voice. "I'm on your side."

Not that it felt like it made a difference. Now it was Benjamin's turn to stare wistfully into the distance.

Garrick paused for the briefest moment and shook his head. "You know I'm sensitive and yet you ripped into me just like he does." Pulling the folded piece of parchment from his pocket he wadded it up and tossed it over his shoulder toward Benjy. "You two are so much alike it pains me. Have a look at that."

Then picking up some speed he turned the corner and began making his way to the library. Perhaps he could get some peace and quiet in there.

Benjamin rubbed his brow, and took a deep breath. "It doesn't mean..." Eurgh. What Benjamin wanted to say was that being sensitive wasn't an excuse. But that was just going to line him up for being compared to his Uncle again wasn't it?

Siiigh.

Squatting to pick up whatever Garrick wanted him to read, his cousin's comments choked him. He let himself fall down backwards on to the stone floor, and bit his lip as he ran his fingers through his hair. Ogden senior was the only father figure he had...was it so bad that they got on, when Benjamin's mum found what seemed like every excuse under the sun to shun him?

A tear threatened to roll down his cheek, and without a look to see wherever his cousin was headed, Benjamin started unfolding the letter, unsure what to expect.

The corridors were really quiet today as she'd noticed. She thought to question it but discarded that on the basis that she couldn't really care much. If there were no idiots in the corridor then that was a bonus for her! An extra special bonus really because ICE-CREAM. Mhm, she was going to get some and Felix was coming with her.

She had yet to persuade the feline to try any but the term was still young, he'd change his mind soon enough. Maybe she'd stick a dead rat in a bowl? He'd eat that, yeah?

Turning another corridor she nearly ran into a distracted looking Garrick who didn't stop but kept walking on. Blink. Good thing she was watching where she was going. Not something she did often, mind you. Heading on to the next corridor she found the other half, Benjy. He didn't look any happier.

This got her eyebrow raised and she was about to approach him when she noticed the letter in his hand. It'd technically be rude to just walk over, wouldn't it? He seemed to be...um...she didn't even know so she kinda just stood there at a small distance, kneazle in hand and staring.

He didn't want to believe what he was reading. He held the letter lightly between his fingers, shaking slightly. His head rested on his free wrist, hand clenched in his hair.

No wonder Garrick hadn't taken well too Benjamin's reaction. Sigh.

Hearing footsteps nearby, Benjamin looked up slowly. If it was Garrick returning, he really didn't know what to say. A tear was threatening to roll down his cheek, and he looked a pretty pathetic sight.

It wasn't his cousin though.

He gave Lex an attempt at a smile, and pushed himself towards one side of the corridor. "Sorry..." he said quietly. You know, for blocking the corridor.

Blink. Blink.

Definitely not okay. She shifted Felix from one had to the next, just trying to figure out what might have been good. At first she couldn't think of anything so she stood there bringing up a smile of her own. "For what?" He hadn't actually done anything, just, looked miserable. People didn't typically have to apologize for that.

"It's none of my business why you're upset," and she wouldn't pretend it was either, that led to waaaay too many problems, "but I can tell you that wallowing in misery afterwards never helps." Her smile got a bit wider, like she was trying to coax his into stretching wider too. For her, she found it was best to move on quickly, but that wasn't for everyone and the last time she suggested that it wasn't received well so she'd keep that bit to herslf.

Lex fell silent again wondering if she should simply leave him now and she did take another step forward but then she stopped and gave him a curious sort of look.

"I was heading down to the kitchen to grab some Ice-cream, maybe you wanna come? It might make you feel ...I dunno...a little better...?" She couldn't imagine he'd have wanted to sit alone all miserbale like when there was ice-cream and company in the kitchen.

"For being in the way," he answered with a sniff. He looked sadly again at Garrick's letter, and slowly and carefully concentrated on folding it back up.

Looking back up at Lexi, Benjamin sniffed again. Upset didn't really feel like it was the right word. Empty would probably be closer. Guilt probably fitted in there too. It was like Garrick had ripped a part of him when he'd walked off.

"Thanks," he said, slightly comforted by her words. The edges of his lips might have the slightest hint of a curl upwards on them too. He tucked the letter safely in his pocket, and rubbed his hands over his face. He wasn't sure he was wallowing, but his certainly wasn't of sorts right now.

After such a good morning skateboarding too. More sighs.

"Ice-cream?" Benjamin asked, going to stand up. He wasn't sure it was what he really needed, but he didn't have anything better to do. He was in no mood for homework, and his closest buddy-come-worst enemy had walked off to goodness knows where. "I guess I could...do you have to pay for it?"

Was that all? Lex grinned over at him, quite oblivious to the sniffle and putting away of the letter. "Don't worry about it! Running into you wouldn't have been so bad." She liked running into people...just...not when it hurt...

Her grin was in danger of falling when she finally did notice the sniffling but then his smile, she could have sworn it got somewhat bigger. That was something and it made her grin wider. "You're welcome!" Really it was, especially if it got him frowning less.

Oooo, he was wondering about the ice-cream, this meant he was considering it, yes? Hopefully! Ice-cream was better with company!!

"Mhm, ice-cream." She confirmed, giggling as Felix nuzzled her face. "There's a neat ice-cream machine down in the kitchen, it's got lost of flavours!" That was one of her favourite things about the thing. "You don't have to pay, they haven't put anything up at the kitchens, it's a free zone, now come on, let's go!" BEAM.

Ice-cream made her happy.

Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "You'd want to trip over me in the middle of the corridor?" he asked, a look of amusement briefly flickering across the sadness in his face. It was gone almost as quickly as it came, but it showed he was softening ever so slightly.

Her grin though, was proving to be a tad infectious, and it tugged the corners of Benjamin's lips up that little bit more. His furrowed brow relaxed a bit too.

It was only now Benjamin noticed the feline. He wrinkled his nose a little as his nuzzled Lex's face. Maybe he should have gotten a cat. His toad was just simply a nuisance. He didn't even know where the thing was right now, and it certainly wouldn't be of any comfort if it was here. Not like a cat to be stroked.

But then, Garrick had a cat.

"Like how many?" he asked. An ice cream machine in the kitchen was certainly news to him. Especially a free one! He wouldn't have to needed to go quite so hungry of late if he'd know about that.

And gosh, she was enthusiastic. "Right. Lead the way." He was following. Just maybe not quite so...bouncy as she was. He'd go at his own pace. Mhmm.

Heading out of the classroom with her bag slung over her shoulder and the sextant in hand, Cassia walked slowly thinking of where to go. She wasn't going to head all the way to the grounds now. She'd find lots of places to work in while she got there. Even if it was more fun to go out. But she had forty minutes and mustn't waste. As she walked through the corridor, she stood by the window peering out. Not like she was going to see anything. There were on the seventh floor.

Seventh floor. And window. Cassia dropped her bag down to the floor. She could see the sky, duh. Might as well take advantage of it. At first she needed to locate Polaris. Their body for the year, right? And not just for the year but they must keep him as it helps finding north. No one knows when north is needed. Mhhmm. This wasn't just for fun. The snake's eyes searched the skies, as they have learned she needed first to find the big dipper. It was not hard to find it. It looked like a bowl or a pot. And a handle thingy. HERE IT IS! Big Dipper check! Now Polaris most be at the tip of the pot. She kept looking closely just for good measures. Yuup. Here it was.

Awesome. Now to use the fancy tool.

Heading out of the Astronomy Tower she found herself quickly walking through a corridor on the seventh floor. Make no mistake, she was going outside but she had to walk through the castle to get outside and that was easily enough down. As she walked along the corridor she came to a section with a great view of the sky. Mmmmmmmmm, she wanted all her measurements to be done outside but whatever, she was already here and that pot was staring at her again.

Merlin, you could swear that thing was following her or something. First up in the classroom and now the corridor? Hopefully it would keep following her even after she entered the grounds because she needed to be quick about it. 40 minutes, no time to waste.

Lex got closer and followed the outline of Ursa Minor. If that was Ursa Minor then that would mean that that right there was...Polaris! Excellent!!! She pulled up the sextant immediately and began that trying to gather the measurements. Had to be quick about this. She still needed to visit the grounds!

It was now time for what they just learnt. Using the tool to measure the latitude. Cassia wiped her hand onto her robes because hers were clammy a bit and she didn't want the sextant to slip or be dropped. Nope nope nope. She could handle delicate tools. She totally could. Pffft. Here she was now.

The snake started by pointing the sextant to the horizon, pressing the clamp followed that. Which caused the index bar to be released. Going smoothly here. All was good. Then, eyes on mirror to bring Polaris to the horizon. This she found a bit tricky but at last managed it. All was good so far. Then adjustment time. She released the clamp to do so. Then give it a bit of swinging to verify. AMhhmm. And she was ready to read the angle.

35. Okay. Cool.

She leaned on the wall and started scribbling on a parchment.

Woot! And now to next destination. She picked up her bag and took off. FunNnN!

If she was reading this thing right and that star really was polaris, which it totally was--had to be because she said so and she wasn't going looking for another star, then the reading she was getting was 30. Okay. Sure. whatever you say sextant. It was the boss of her calculations tonight and she wasn't going to argue. Not with her current time constraints.

She pulled out her parchment and quill then hastily began working it out. This kind of math was a no brainer so no grumbling while she did it.



And now it would seem she was done here. Lex took a last glance in the direction she was coming from to make sure she wasn't being watched or followed, that just wouldn't work. Not when she was about to make a break for the grounds.

Everyone knew staying inside was less fun. DUH.

Marigold walked up the corridor. She could see other students looking in the sky and decided to do so as well. She squinted. So... If that was the Little Dipper... Theeeeeeeeeen THERE was Polaris!

Now to use the sextant thingy. She was running a bit behind so she tried to hurry.

Professor Airey had wanted them to work with an older student, but who was Forrest to bug someone? The man wouldn't know anyway, so... he'd still keep indoors, because that was how he understood. Indoors, and he was fine on his own.

And of course, he was going to start at the closest corridor: the seventh floor corridor. He saw a few people were as lazy as him too, but that didn't matter, did it?! Nah, Professor Flamsteed was probably at class reading some NASA stuff. Did the ever man read Muggle astronomy? He'd said he liked muggle--

FOCUS, CHARLTON!

Well, yes, back to star-finding stuff. He walked to the closest window and raised his head up to the sky and squinted his eyes. Where was Ursa Major-minor-something? Was that--no, perhaps that--no it wasn't, it didn't look like it. So Forrest spent the next minute pointing at the distant stars and hmmmed to himself, but as the seconds passed, his hmmms got more urgent. Where, oh please where was it?! He gasped, but before panic could take over, he had already found them.

Stupid stars moving in the sky.

He followed the big dipper and soon enough he was gazing at Polaris.

Success.

Okay, next place. She remembered the corridor having a nice view, after all she used this corridor every day. Every morning on her way out of the dorm and in the evening on her way in she would stop and admire the view. Yet now this was a purposful viewing for all the practical people out there. Sarah would say that all these experiences and views added to her being a writer.

Okay. This window was not meant for sargazing, yet she hped it would walk. She pushed her face against the cod pane (a delightful feeling let me tell you.. cold glass against her face...). She found orion again (seemed to attract her eyes). Using her knowledge of the constellations she navigated her way around until she could see polaris again. Great. Now how was she going to put the sextant against the pane? It would hurt her eyes to have it against it. At the same time she still needed to measure and that.

Okay so after his success, Forrest lowered his head onto the toy--he had already spotted Polaris so it wouldn't be as hard the next time, see?--and was going to set it up but really, it looked so, so very alluring to play and... he just pressed at random parts, poked at the weirdest places as he giggled at all times. Seriously, playing with it and trying to guess its mechanism was the best fun he had had at this school.

Forget about Polaris, he was going to try finding out how this thing worked exactly.

So, sitting down at the window-side--wow the stone was COLD!--he brought it up close to his eyes and frowned to himself in the most serious way. He was going to explore it, okay? It was serious stuff! He kept pressing, pushing and poking, and did some more squinting, and didn't forget the gasps and faces full of wonder here and there. See? That was the pure reason he wasn't working with an older student so not like he was AFRAID to ask for help. "Hmmm," he said thoughtfully as the angle changed while he pressed THERE, "Ooooh," he said more deeply as the angle bar travelled back.

...footsteps? Professor Airey was out there patrolling?!

He gasped and shot to his feet with immediate effect. He couldn't dare look who the newcomer was. How much had he seen? Oh dear, oh dear! He had just defied a professor--Professor FLAMSTEEDD! He turned halfway to gaze out of the window again as he was flushed red. He wanted to just sit there and examine it further! Five minutes was NOTHING for this precious piece of tool, but Professor Flamsteed requested that they measured the angles so...

Polaris. There. Check. And now that he had more idea about how it worked--some more examination later perhaps if he did puppy-eyes to Professor Flamsteed?--he pointed the tool on the horizon and his finger found the clamp easily as if he had built it. He pressed it sloooowly to release the index bar as his reference point was Polaris and--he was done.

73°.

He sat down back at the window-side and his tongue flew out to take its place between his teeth while he did the calculation and wrote it down to his notebook.

90°-73°=17°

Done. Now onto the next destination.