The Duck Pond
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...S/DuckPond.png

Between the Quidditch Pitch and the Front Gate is a small pond. Not more than thirty feet across in any direction, this small body of water is home to eight ducks. This is a peaceful abode, shaded by leafy trees and graced with five rickety, wooden benches. Much like next to Broc and Bonny’s pen, Mr. Firth has provided a container that holds small pieces of bread that the ducks love.

However, just like in the Butterfly Garden, you notice a small sign in the same scrawl that is clearly Mr. Firth's handwriting. This one reads: "Due to budget constraints, we can no longer stock bread for the ducks." A careful observer would also notice that there seem to be fewer ducks than there were last year.

Like every other term that the School had a duck pond. Daichi Katharos woke up in the early morning to view the pond and say hi to the ducks. It was like a ritual to him now since he had been doing it since his third year. He had left his school bag in the dormitory and as he walked outside he pinned his Prefect badge on his Slytherin uniform.

He passed the Front Gate and turned left to the duck pond, smiling from ear to ear when he heard the ducks quacking in the water..or grass..or where ever they were walking right now. "Hi duckies~!" he called the moment the pond came in view and he cheerfully waved his arms as he stepped closer (a few of the ducks waddled away from him as quickly as possible)

"You must be hungry.. i'll give you some pieces of bread!" he told the adorable creatures and as he walked to the container he opened it to see it was ...empty? Hmm..Had Mr.Firth forgotten the bread? or was he here so early that he hadn't placed the bread in the container yet? The Slytherin scratched his neck and looked around to see a sign.

"D..due..to.." Merlin this handwriting was BAD! "Due to...busted?" huh? oh wait, budget! "Due to budget con..constraaaiints, we can no longer stock bed for the ducks?!" Daichi gasped. "The ducks have no beds?!"

...oh..bread not beds. Daichi stared at the sign and sighed. "I can't give you bread today duckies~" this was saaad. Daichi sat down on the grass and stared at the water.

Ky was bored already. ALREADY. And it hasn't been a day since he has been here. So far, this new school - Hogwarts, didn't impress him at all. First of all, the plastic plates and silverwares at the feast was just...strange. No house elves in this large school, which means more chores for the students. The stupid metal boxes were placed EVERYWHERE around the school, and forces people to pay a knut everytime they wanted to enter. What is up with this school? Why is it being in such an economical state? Hogwarts was a prominent wizarding school around the globe; Ky expected more than this.

But he was, however, excited to hear that they have an enormous ground and flying pitch. That suited Ky just right, because he was an outdoor person. He could not live without outdoor fresh air every ten seconds.

Ky wanted to grab his broomstick and practice flying around the quidditch field, but he didn't feel like doing that right now. At the moment, Ky wanted to explore the Hogwarts ground and get used to the places around the castle. Hopefully along the way, he'll discover something impressive as he anticipated, something as cool as the Whomping Willow he heard rumors about.

As Ky walked around the pond, he noticed the ducks floating on the waters. Ugh, ducks. Ky doesn't like ducks at all, and never will. Ducks are still better than cats though.

As he was walking, Ky noticed another boy near the pond and talking to the ducks? Or was he talking to himself?

Ky observed him for a while. Err...is this normal? Especially when this person is talking to ducks. DUCKS! Ducks are just...ducks! What's so special about ducks that made the boy look so attentively at them?

He couldn't help his curiosity anymore and walked over to him. "Hey, what's so interesting down there?" Ky asked, edging just a tiny bit closer to the pond. "Is there treasure down there or something?"

Aaaah! The pond looked beautiful in the fall weather.

Daichi looked away from the ducks to look at the sky for a moment. It was grey but the sun was shining. He stretched his long legs and leaned back against his arms. His fingers were tucking at the grass behind him.

Hearing a quack, his brown eyes immediately went to where he had heard the sound and saw two ducks waddling out of the pond. The duck lover squealed in delight and waved at the two ducks before he noticed a pair of legs standing near him and the pond.

Eeek! He hadn't seen that right?! Well, then again, almost the whole school knew his love for ducks so why hide it, right? "Hiya~" he greeted back and watched the other edge closer to the pond. Treasure?

Daichi nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! The treasures are the ducks!" *proud face!*
"Just look how cute they are~! They are cute right? Right?!" choose wisely boy! "are you new?" he bluntly asked the other male as he looked at the water counting the ducks in his head...was it just him or were there less ducks this year? Maybe some were shy and hiding? The SlytherPUFF looked around, trying to find them.

As the duck gave a loud quack, Ky immediately lept back an inch. He redeemed himself and let out a deep breath. Ducks aren't scary, it's just the noises they make can be quite alarming sometimes.

"Heeey..." Ky greeted back awkwardly to the random duck-loving person. He likes ducks a little too much, doesn't he?

Treasures are the ducks? Never heard that saying before.

"...I guess..." Ky looked at the ducks carefully. Cute? More like...little human-chasing devils. Ky shuttered at the thought of his dreadful history with ducks. "...they are yummy though." Yes...Ky doesn't mind them when they're cooked and roasted. Yum. They won't quack or chase anyone then.

Ky nodded. "Yep. Transferred." He continued to observe the ducks from a distance. Don't make any noise, ducks. "Is Hogwarts always like this?" Ky blurted out the question that was on his mind since the feast. "Please don't tell me we're going to have to go through those metal boxes for the whole year." Those things eat up money!

Anyone?
 

It was a nice afternoon after the classes, and Forrest decided to discover the grounds for a change. It would be his first time since the train ride although it was the third day since the beginning of the term. He'd been too scared lazy to wander outside, but inside was a little filthy, so... better to enjoy the sun outside.

As he wandered, he came upon a pond and got closer curiously. He smiled to himself in delight. The ducks didn't look very magical, still the scenery made him feel happier for a reason and he started to walk around it to examine the pond at every angle--and that meant he'd examine the warning up close too.

'Due to budget constraints...'

His smile was frozen on his face. He re-read it as if he was expecting it to change magically, but it didn't.

Despite everyone's reassurances, he'd failed to see anything WONDERFUL about this school so far.

Hmpf.

Having been told that they had a butterfly garden and duck pond in the school grounds Kahlan had decided to go out and try to actually find these places, after almost an hour finally finding the duck pond. Smiling she glanced over the pond as she watched the adorable ducks, though there didnt seem to be many of them in comparison to what she heard...

But then again nothing was like the stories she'd been told it was like!

As she turned around she noticed Forrest also standing nearby, the smile forming into a grin as the Blonde quickly flounced over to the other first year.

"Helloooo again" she greeted enthusiastically, wondering if she should hug him before she figured that what she'd seen of him he'd been shy and if she did he may quite possibly die from being overwhelmed!

Could that even happen?

Oh look, his ONLY friend!

A big smile formed on Forrest's face too as he turned at her. What a coincidence, eh? Just a few minutes ago he was trying to find a way to reach her and here she stood now! He was happy to see her, really. Could she see it in his face?

"How are you?"

Well at keast now the blonde definitely knew that this person did actually enjoy her company, which was good considering she liked to talk to him. That made them friends didn't it? Kahlan supposed it did and also let a GIANT grin smile cross her face.

"I'm really good thanks, you?" she questioned, cocking her head to the side. "It's a lot different to how everyone described it here though isn't it? I kinda hope that it goes back to what everyone always said it was... a lot of the older students seem quite upset about how it is now so I do believe that it was... once, amazing" she finished her rambling with a shrug figuring he'd understand what she was talking about.

After all, all the older students were quick to defend Hogwarts, despite what it was at the moment.

For Danielle. ^_^
 

Ronnie walked along the grounds, admiring the beautiful nature around her. It was a gorgeous day out and she was feeling very happy! She beamed as she walked and then she began to skip. 'Cause skipping was way funner and better than walking.

She paused for a minute, and twirled around, giggling as her dress twirled with her and her bright orange hair flew all around her. Weeeee! She felt so...giddy! Happy! She just couldn't help but spin and spin until...

She bumped into a bench. The world began to tilt as she stood there. She was DIZZZYYYY. She blinked and shook her head, then looked around herself. Oh! She was at the duck pond. D'aww, duckies! Ronnie LOVED duckies!

She ran as fast as she could over to the cute little ducks and waved at them. "HI DUCKIES!" she said, giggling.

Taylor was walking around the grounds of Hogwarts when she heard a familiar voice. Tay looked around and beamed when she saw Ronnie, "RONNIE!!" She waved and raced over to her, laughing. "Long time no see, girly" Tay started to dance and twirl in delight. She always loved the sunlight. She then noticed the ducks. "Oh my gosh! Ducks!" Taylor beamed and stared at the cute little things while started to do a dance that looked like she was a freak, imitating a duck. Tay didnt care what she looked like, she was having fun and it showed in her laugh and smile. Her curls were bouncing and shone in the sunlight. They gleamed and seemed to be dancing as well when she went back to dancing normally. Taylor stopped and looked at Ronnie, "How have you been? How was your summer?" Tay was now bouncing in excitement. She felt like she was about to scream and run around. Taylor had so much energy at the moment that she seemed to be about to explode.

Ronnie spun around when she heard her name and grinned at the sight of Taylor. "HI TAYLOR!" she practically yelled, jumping up and down as the girl approached her. Ronnie was HYPER HYPER HYPER!

She giggled as Taylor danced and twirled. She clapped when the girl finished, giggling. "That was beautiful!" she said when she finished applauding. She glanced back at the ducks when Taylor mentioned them. "Yup! Aren't they cuuuute!" she giggled again, tossing the cute wittle duckies some bread. "Too bad they can't come home with me and be my pets." she said with a frown. "I've been gooood! My summer was boring though." she answered. "What about you?" She then plopped on the ground and patted the spot next for her for Taylor to sit.

Taylor beamed as Ronnie screamed her name and started jumping up and down. Tay waved, hyperly and started to jump with her. She bowed and grinned at Ronnie, "Thanks so much!" Taylor twirled a few more times then nodded. They are super duper cutieputtie!" Tay giggled and grinned again. Taylor nodded yet again. "I wish we could because I would take them ALL home with me." She laughed then smiled, "Glad that you have been good and sorry to hear that your summer was boring." Tay started to do a handstand but tumbled as soon as she got asked about her summer. Taylor let out a groan then pulled herself over to where Ronnie patted. "It has been horrible! I dont really want to talk about what all happened though..." She sighed and closed her eyes.

Forrest couldn't help but wonder how she could be really good under these conditions, but he wasn't going to upset her by asking that. Instead, shrugged as an answer to her question. "Fine, I guess," he muttered and looked for a place to sit. That bench over there, good? Good. Indicating there with his head, he walked towards it and sat.

"I didn't have many people to listen how it was here, so my expectations were based on my imagination." Honestly? He'd imagined MANY things quite differently, and he was VERY disappointed to discover the wizard reality. "I guess it was fine, though. It's just our luck." He offered her a bitter smile and picked a dying daisy, only to throw it back. Even that looked cheap.

"Have you performed any magic yet?"

It was probably the blonde's optimism that kept her looking on the good side, even if she didn't currently see that much in the place, she did have the hope that it would quickly revert back to how older students described it. If they passionately defended it she had no doubts that it, at least at one point was a truly magical place. Her reading of 'Hogwarts, a History' only seemed to increase how she thought that way.

She followed him, sitting herself on the bench next to him and gave a small smile as he mentioned that it was their luck. The Slytherin could definitely understand where this boy was coming from.

Shrugging she answered his question, "only once, a simple charm that my brother taught me" that was probably the thing that bugged her, she hadn't really done much yet. "Have you?" she asked curiously, wondering if he'd learnt any spells, or taught himself any yet.

"Well... at least the people are still nice" she offered, a larger smile forming on her face, without the sad tinge the last smile she had as she looked at Forrest. He was definitely included in her statement that people were nice, she loved his company already.

For Saz_Hale!
 

Christmas wandered down to the duck pond and saw an older girl who was a ravenclaw reading but she looked pretty new and said "Hey there what are you reading?"

Ughh, now she lost her place..

Now she couldn't remember where she was. Now she'd have to look for it again. Until then, time to look at who was speaking to her. She slowly lifted her head, flipping her hair again of course, and then met eyes with a girl who was asking about what she was reading. She looked at her, then back at the cover of her book, then back at the girl.

Nicola paused a moment before she said calmly,"Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul.."

Christmas nodded and said "Sounds interesting and sorry if i made you lose your place, I am Christmas Goldman"

She sighed a little bit as she tucked the book under her arm. Nicola then began to play with her hair a little bit as she nodded to what the girl said. "Mhmm, it's a very interesting book.." she nodded. Hm..Christmas? A girl being named after a holiday? Interesting. Nicola looked at the girl again as she said in a calm-ish tone,"Nicola..Nicola Kusakindla.."

Christmas smiled at Nicola and said "Nice to meet you Nicola, are you new at Hogwarts?" Christmas hadn't seen Nicola about before

Nicola looked at the girl again and then nodded a bit,"Mhmm, if you want to say that.." She sighed a bit as she added on,"Just transferred from Durmstrang.."

Christmas smiled at Nicola and said "Well i suppose Hogwarts is a bit different to Drumstrang then" Christmas kind of knew what it felt like to be at a different school from what she was used to

So she did learn a spell. And she wasn't... how do you say... afraid to perform it or anything. Which meant that she could touch her wand too. Judging by the way she phrased it, she was also successful at it.

But of course. She was a pureblood. Of course she would be successful at anything related to magic. Her parents, in contrast with his, were magical themselves.

He shook his head. He'd keep all these thoughts to himself, of course. Instead, he said "It's not even a week yet, we'll sure learn something." She certainly would, but he wasn't so sure about him. He had issues to sort out like touching his wand at last.

...

"Yeah, they are pretty helpful." He smiled a little. It was so, so different than how it had been back in his old school.

"Will you try out for Quidditch." The newest vocabulary he learnt from Alexa. Heh.

Completely ignorant from the thoughts that Forrest was having, the smile stayed firmly on her face as she nodded at the statement he made. "Yeah, so far everyone I've seen in older years has learnt heaps of things so we're bound to!" she told him with a grin, sort of wondering what what he was thinking about all this magical stuff. If she was being completely honest some of it was confusing her, though she probably wouldn't say that aloud.

"So what's it like for you?" Kahlan asked, trying not to outright say 'what's it like being a muggleborn', just in case he took offense, and also because she was curious as to what his thoughts about Hogwarts so far were. Truthfully, she was beyond curious. She herself was rather sick of the entire pureblood thing when it came to her more obsessed family members.

Though now after asking she felt as though she should offer any help if he needed it... maybe after she found out how he felt about it?

"Definitely, I love Quidditch, I've been playing since I was little... both my parents and my brother went to Luxembourg Quidditch Academy" she explained with a smile, sort of hoping that he understood that she probably knew as little as he did about Hogwarts itself. "Are you going to?" she continued, not really sure if he'd learnt how to fly yet or not considering he was't from a magical family.