"Atticus?" Oh hey, that was actually a really good idea. Why hadn't she thought of asking him before? He was an adult and all that, had graduated from Hogwarts and gotten himself jobs and a career and what not. He probably knew loads about this stuff, yeah? "Yeah...yeah, good idea. I'll owl him about it soon." Next chance she got to write a letter, she was sending it to him.

And that was definitely true about Quidditch. Though that was surprisingly one she wasn't sure she wanted it as a career. She LOVED it, of course, and she wasn't really OPPOSED to playing professional Quidditch as a career, but at the same time...she wasn't sure. Still, Penelope nodded again. "Yeah. I'll keep them in mind too." Just in case.

She wasn't sure why Anya stumbled over that next question, but she wasn't gonna comment on it. She nodded. "I plan on it, yeah. Long as it's still okay with him and everyone else." She did genuinely enjoy staying there, mostly because it allowed her to see Ascanius every day still, but also partly because she did like the other kids there too. They were all pretty nice, even the kid that liked to pull on Spot's tail. So yeah, she hoped she'd get to stay there during the summer again. "D'you have anything planned for the summer yet?"

Congrats? "I have been for like.. two years." Where had this girl been? "Um.. tedious? Not really. It's fun. I get to blow a whistle. And yell at people. And play Quidditch." So win-win-win situation, really. Apart from the responsibility people expected her to have, which.. she didn't.

"'Sup, Jo." Alice perked up eagerly when she unearthed the pretzels. "I do, yep, thanks." She grabbed for the bag eagerly and ripped them open, tugging a couple of pretzels out in tossing them in her mouth. Jo would have been offered some but no talking with the mouth full, see? Manners. She had them.

Finally, she swallowed. "Want some?" Of her own pretzels. Yeah.

Tobias kept quiet as Forrest appeared to struggle with the words. He figured one of the worst things he could do was try and finish the sentences for Forrest. So he just listened patiently.

That animal. Frogs? Forrest couldn't bear to even hear the word 'frogs'. Maybe he had one of those phobia things, but a super strong one. He remained quiet for a minute, and then gave what he hoped was his friendliest smile (because Tobias had a whole lot of smiles to choose from).

"Okay," he said simply. "I'll try my super hardest not to mention them." Tobias also made a mental note that if he was ever going to offer Forrest some of his sweets or if he was getting him like a birthday or christmas gift, to avoid chocolate frogs... and basically any frog related things. "I'm sorry for saying it before." Obviously not that he'd done it on purpose. Toby was mainly apologetic that he'd caused the scratching thing, even if it had been unintentional. But he'd been taught to apologise if he was in the wrong, even if it had been an accident.

After that, Tobias decided not to press the issue and went back to the topic of muggle-borns (or mudbloods, as per the original phrasing) and magic. "So, like... anyway. Yeah... do you know about the cards? Or have you ever heard of Harry Potter?" Tobias had, but it was through the famous witches and wizard cards, and if Forrest avoided frogs like the proverbial plague, then he might not. Had they covered it in History of Magic?

Forrest appreciated the smile, really, and busiest his hands by re-wearing the glove as he apologised and all. He nodded and even lifted his head to offer him a smile, though he wasn't sure of the success of it. "It's fine." Move on? Yes.

Forcing himself to look Tobias in the eye, he firmly placed his hands on the ball he'd just made and nodded. "I know both the cards and Harry Potter." Reading. That was how he refrained from thinking about home all the time.

Josephine raised her eyebrows. Two years? Well, this was sort of awkward, thought the Slytherin. "Two years? Wow. I really didn't pay attention to the Quidditch last year and before that I was at Beauxbatons," explained the blonde, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. Jo nodded her head slowly as Alice explained that being Quidditch captain was fun. "Sounds like you have a blast," added Jo with a smirk.

Once again, the blonde raised her eyebrows at the girl who was eating her pretzel. The girl lowered her eyebrows as Alice offered her some of her own pretzels. Jo couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Um.. Sure," said the Slytherin as she took a small handful of pretzels. "So have you been at this school since your first year?"

"Well," Tobias went on, looking at the progress of the snowman so far. "Harry Potter and Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger all did that amazing stuff together and were so good they ended up on cards."

As he spoke, Tobias started making a tiny bowl!dent in the top of the snowball that was already situated, so that the next one was less likely to fall off or something. It was quite fun, scooping out a little bit of snow with his arm.

That done, he took a tiny step back and brushed the snow from the front of his coat.

"And anyway, one of them, Hermione Granger, she was considered like one of the best witches of that era and at school and stuff. Super smart, super good at magic. And she was a muggle born," Toby finished, looking at Forrest again. He'd finally got to his point. Might have been easier to just SAY it but... feh, they still got there. "'Your potential isn't limited by your lineage', that's what my grandfather said. And he said that there are probably some purebloods here, or the closest thing to them, who are awful at magic. I guess it depends on the person."

Tobias looked at Forrest's snowball. Now... how were they going to get it on top of the first one?

Forrest didn't forget about scratching and f-animals, but he looked more at ease and could listen to Tobias without fidgeting much. He wondered whether he should be doing anything too, but Tobias seemed like he realy knew what he was doing, so... listening, and trying to deliver a point out of it.

...

A grin started to appear on his face. "Really? Are you sure this Granger was muggle born? I mean--" With the excitement, he removed his hands off the snowball and took a step towards Tobias. This was GREAT news! Forrest had his doubts, of course, but the girl who accompanied Potter--"but how are we magical if we don't have any magic in our blood?" The grin GONE, and a frown IN.

Dora had come up here to seek out a bit of space to do some studying, and made the horrible horrible mistake of bringing Biter with her. Who knew that his first time coming to the treehouse would have him jumping away from her and running away? She.... should have. She really should have known he wasn't gonna stay with her when there was a new place to explore.

With her bag slung over her shoulder, she carefully wondered around the treehouse, hazel eyes intensely searching for her juvenile jarvey. "Biter..... Biter..." She went up to the next level.

Where WAS he?

Hmmmm reading. Derry wanted to be reading, as usual, but she'd decided she was bored of reading in the common room and had taken her book into the grounds instead. It had to be more interesting to be outside and reading rather than inside right? Meh, maybe. Derry just fancied a change of scenery. She climbed up to the treehouse, book tucked under one arm, and peeked inside.

"Who's Biter?" she asked, climbing into the treehouse properly. "Or... what is Biter?" Cause it didn't exactly sound like a human name did it?

"A Biter..." Dora was hunched over when this new person had come into the treehouse, and had to stop her searching briefly to look and see that it was that Derry girl on Theo's team. "There's two of them, but I'm looking for one." She returned back to where she'd been looking vigilantly. "He's a jarvey. And he's hiding." Or lost. It was one of the two.

Even if it didn't show, losing him made her worry. Especially in new places where she didn't know where he would be off to, and especially outside. "You haven't seen him have you? Or heard insults be called at you?" That was always a good sign he was near.

Every once in a while, Renesmee needed a break from studying for her NEWTs and today was one of those break days. Her plan was to completely chill and re-energize before tomorrow came and she'd hit the books again.

But the question was, what to do to chill?

That's when she remembered it. Badger buddies. She hadn't spend much time with hers due to studying as well as other matters and a day like this was the perfect opportunity to do fix that up. So after organizing something, the red head was ready for the day ahead.

As Nessie walked along the grounds she made sure to carry snacks that like always included her absolute favorite, chocolate frogs. It didn't take her long to reach the Tree House, which was where she wanted to meet up at. It was the perfect chill corner and considering the weather was getting warmer, outdoors were perfect at the moment. Holding her snack bag on her shoulder and using her hands to hold on, Ness climbed up a few levels then plonked the bag as well as herself down.

No books. No Subjects. Just quiet. This was the life.

Buddies with the Head Girl.

BUDDIES WITH THE HEAD GIRL.

Elodie was sorry, but this was quite potentially the worst pairing in the universe of pairings because SHE had her opinions about someone and their ruling methods. RULING.

She had put those thoughts and feelings to the back of her mind though, when she was sought out for company from the exact Miss Dixon. Els supposed she would have to keep biting her tongue, but still..she supposed it was nice to have someone in power for a while being your BUDDY. (Not that she cared about power or anything, she was just interested in HOW this girl had even been chosen.)

Banshee Dixon was awful in her mind.

But still, Els brought along a backpack of all sorts to the tree house, as that was where they were going to meet and spend time. Maybe Els could even teach her to STOP screeching. You know, it was a possibility.

Climbing up, Els surveyed the levels she passed and saw nothing of her allocated company, until two or three up. "Banshee!" Heh. That was her name, right?

..........Banshee?

REALLY?

It took Nessie a few more seconds than it usually would have to respond to that. Was it really necessary to call her that? Yes maybe she did screech, but you know everyone had their way in dealing with things and it wasn't like she was hitting anyone or hurting anyone physically...that was maybe if you excluded their ear drums. But nobody was perfect, and this badger was SICK of people expecting her to be.

Calm though. Yep. She would remain calm about the nickname and hopefully then it would eventually go away. "Hey, Ki--."She paused deciding rather not to have an annoyed Elodie. "I brought us some snacks." She placed her bag on her lap and opened it then placed it on the floor before her. If Elodie wanted she could take, that's why she brought them.

Talk about awkward.

"Um..you want to do anything?" The red head looked up at her new buddy with a small smile. See she didn't pout all the time.

Ki..?

Oh, Elodie KNEW where Banshee was headed with that one. 'Kiddo'. One of her darn trademarks. But here was the thing: Elodie wasn't one of her little lap dog Hufflepuff's that flew to her feet at her every beck and call. No. Elodie was an individual person, and Hufflepuff as she may be..she didn't care about this whole 'lets all band together'. This was not the army.

She was very happy with her toad, her cat, her owl, and her Coulson.

Thank you, very MUCH.

Nessie was smart enough to not finish the word, which only made Elodie smile as she sat down next to her. "I got snacks too..." Admittedly, it was just leftover Halloween candy, because she ate the rest of her stuff already. Banshee wouldn't mind, right? Maybe leftover candy was her THING. Els didn't know. (She didn't care either, but whatever.)

Ugh, sigh. Why couldn't she have been paired with someone cooler?

She'd have rathered the Head Boy over Banshee Dixon.

And he was darn weird.

"You're not pouting," Elodie informed the Head Girl. She supposed she was the reason for it, and all. People ENJOYED her company. Not that she could say much for the company she was keeping right now, ugh. "Right now..I want to throw eggs on unsuspecting first years heads, but I don't think you're allowed to do that."

Being all contracted into responsibility and all that jazz.

What a life of boredom Banshee lived. No wonder she was so annoying.

Trying to keep her smile right were it was, Ness didn't pout as she watched Elodie take the seat beside her. Her mind was still working though and thinking away it did, even without her thoughtful pout. She was kind wishing she'd get one of her actual kiddos with this whole thing, but heh. Nope. Apparently not and maybe that was a good thing maybe this would be a learning experience? Or just a really horrible one.

...A learning one sounded better, yet less possible. She was going to try though. It was the least she could do.

Nods at the snacks. Candy always made things better, so good thing they had some, especially chocolate frogs which was exactly what Nessie reached for inside her bag. She took one out and as she opened the wrapper spoke some. "Good. Should we just throw everything in the middle?" Or not because it would probably make a mess, whatever Elodie wanted though.

So she did notice. Good. Because people needed to stop thinking she pouted twenty four seven. Yes she pouted often but NOT every second of her life.People and their assumptions. She knew she wasn't perfect and she was totally okay with that. All she wanted was for people to stop being so judgmental. "I don't pout all the time, you'd know that if you really knew me." She'd also know a lot of other things too, like there was a lot more to her than just the screeching. She was NOT a Banshee, okay?

That suggestion. Mellow. Yeah. Elodie got a few head shakes there because that was the exact kinda thing student leaders were meant to stop, not to mention the ickles. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO DO THAT TO THEM? They were so cute, just no. Rather cheek pinching or something. "How about we....do something else?" NO. No pouting. It took her great force not to pout as she tried to think of what they could do. "Like we can play twenty one questions, or something like that?" Good way to get to know each other? yeah? Or was that too baby-ish?

Could she shout awkward turtle now?

Els was drastically having to not scowl, roll her eyes or speak her rude thoughts about this whole thing. Generally, she just wanted to curl up back in bed and pretend this whole thing had never came about. This whole pairing thing and stuff.

Could she trade partners now?

Maybe if she paid someone.

Elodie was considering it, for definite.

The amount of smiling that Nessie was doing, was most definitely unsettling Elodie. This wasn't how it was SUPPOSED to be. Els had bet with Gemini that Nessie would have pouted within thirty seconds of their acquaintance, but right now..nothing. This was boring. Her eyebrow rose when the other girl suggested putting everything into a pile, and she shook her head. "Dirty." One word. One word was all that was required for that. Had Nessie no sense of cleanliness. Ugh. Maybe she should have focused more on the whole clean thing instead of pouting or screeching or treating young children like her pets.

Now THAT was something that needed questioning. WHY hadn't Banshee Dixon's rally of infants turned up today? Were they lurking somewhere to steal Elodie away if she said anything mean? Maybe. Was she going to at least test this out? More than likely. Els helped herself to one of Nessie's food bringings, with a grin. This was what this was for, huh? Buddies who shared food, and advice and stuff? Of course it was.

Elodie Rae Robertser had some definite advice for Head Girl Banshee Dixon.

STOP BEING SUCH AN ATTENTION SEEKER AND MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE YOU.

She laughed then, and shrugged. "I'm good with not 'knowing' you." And yes, she used the whole air quotes thing then. "I don't feel particularly open to being initiated into your crew. I have my own life." Of course, there was that whole time where Els had ended up camping in the common room with Bliss, and of course Nessie was there. BUT SEPARATE LIVES.

Elodie wasn't a FOLLOWER.

She had opinions on those kinds of people.

Elodie giggled a little at the head shaking she was getting, and offered the older Hufflepuff a shrug of her shoulders. "You have to admit that there are people you'd like to drop eggs on and watch." Everyone had THAT list of people. Absolutely everyone. And if they didn't, well they automatically made it onto Els' LONG list. Starting with Bliss Ryans and her unfortunate, awful boyfriend. No comment. Ugh.

"What are you....five?" She enquired, with a roll of her eyes.

ALSO; DIDN'T PEOPLE PLAY THIS ON FIRST DATES?!

NO THANKS.

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

As the mist and ice trickled along out of the forest, it quickly crept along the edge of the trees in the wake of a few dementors who strayed from their group, looking for any of the easier pickings in the tree house they'd swooped by a couple times during the last months. The air had been full of happiness the last they'd passed by. Swarming around the bottom of the wooden structure, the ladder turned sleek as ice took it over, snaking along the tree trunks and up onto the floors and walls of the house itself the higher the dementors lurked.

The chocolate frog that Ness began nomming on made her feel slightly happier. Chocolate always did that for her, it was her pick me up food, the food she had whenever she was down. Right now, she wasn’t down though she was kinda in a good mood, but it was fading more and more with the way Elodie was behaving. She came here hoping they could put their previous thoughts aside and try and bond with this whole buddy thing. Apparently not though, oh well.

Studying even sounded better than Elodie’s attitude right now. But Positive thoughts, she had to remain positive.

Nod. The younger puff had a point, one Ness only really thought about. The candy was wrapped though, so technically the candy it’s self wouldn’t have gotten dirty. Clean freak. Not that this Dixon could say much as she was a clean freak her own, sometimes. “Maybe I could transfigure a piece of cloth?” Surely she could try that and then dirty problem solved. Yeah? She waited for a response using every bit of strength NOT to pout.
Maybe if Blissy was here things would have been better. The youngest Elleciss kiddo surely would have broken the ice of awkwardness here. Next maybe, if there was a next time that was.

Seriously though, did anything nice ever come out of this girls mouth?

A small, laugh later Ness just looked at Elodie. “I..well..you don’t have to know me.” Shrug. “Just don’t assume things about me.” She HATED when people assumed. Why was society so messed up when it came to being judgmental? WHY? “And crew?” She raised her brow at that. Since when did she have a crew? Unless she was referring to her kiddos but they weren’t a crew…just close friends, that were younger.*People and their opinions, Ness seriously didn’t care anymore.

That Ness had to agree with she could even name a few people she wanted to throw eggs at such as Dylan, or even Elodie right now. And if an egg fixed her attitude up even better, but no she couldn’t agree to ever doing that here.**She had to be well mannered and responsible. “Yeah there are, but that doesn’t give me the right to do that.” Just because you hated someone, it didn’t give you the right to actually be mean to them.

NO SHE WAS NOT FIVE!

“No—“ she was about to mumble about things when she felt a cold breeze.Was..was that ice?

The red head stared as everything started getting colder and frozen.One thing popped in her mind. “Dementors.” She murmured quietly as she took her wand out. It was the only thing she could associate with the ice. It wasn’t meant to be this cold and lately there had been dementor attacks all over the school.

Squirrel patronuses were hopefully ferocious enough because if it WAS actually dementors there was not a chance Ness wanted to be kissed. She got more than enough kisses from her boyfriend, thank you scary creatures.

The food item that Elodie had taken from Nessie sat in her lap as she watched the other girl. She wasn't watching her eat, she was watching the fact that she was just being all weird and not anything normal, but still annoying. Els was still considering asking if she could pay someone to switch up buddies, although it was highly unlikely to happen..because it just was. That, and no one would WILLINGLY switch to be Banshee's partner, would they? Darn.

Transfigure a piece of cloth? Els shrugged once, nodded her head and then remembered...she had a hanky in her bag. Pulling that out, she handed it to the Head Girl, and left her to do what she wanted to to it. Make it bigger to fit all the STUFF on. That would be the best choice, and the one that Elodie would go for if she had the choice, or the bother to do it. She generally right now, could not be bothered, and therefore, she was picking at the candy to see what looked remotely decent to salvage. Some candy had eat by dates. EAT BY DATES. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! Poor candy that never got eaten. "Making it bigger would work.." She offered, her own smile appearing properly. Whether it was because she felt pretty darned smart, or because..well because she KNEW she had just saved both their backsides; she didn't know. But smiley smiley, was smiley.

Nessie was saying how Elodie didn't have to know her, and Els agreed. She didn't have to. And she didn't want to. She had her friends, and her acquaintances, and that was that. You could say Elodie was a picky person with the people she took company with, but that was how she preferred it. Why have a million friends that you didn't care all too much about, when you could have a slim number who were darn awesome and you'd do a lot for? Priorities, Hogwarts. Priorities. "I don't want to." She stated, almost bitterly, before rolling her eyes at the Head Girls next choice of question. "Your little posse. The group of little'uns you always gots with you." If she had to name them, she'd try.

Bah, there she went on her whole valiant responsible blah. "Oh give over. You'd do it in a heartbeat." Anyone would. If there was one thing that Els understood...it was how people acted with people they didn't like. As a person, Els clearly had many people she didn't like, and unfortunately for most of the Hogwarts student body...it involved them. Sorry Nessie, you too. The fourth year WAS contemplating how she could egg the Head Girl right now, even.

.....It...well, it was cold.

Elodie didn't pick up on anything until Nessie spoke quietly and took her wand out. And that was when Els realised what in the name of Norma was going on. This wasn't HAPPENING. THIS WASN'T HAPPENING AND THIS WAS A DREAM, RIGHT?! It could be considered a nightmare, you know. Hanging out with Nessie AND whatever the hell was happening now. NIGHT-TO-THE-MARE.

Was Els scared? Well..duh. And that showed, when she squealed once, kicked her bag away in a scurry to get up, and cowered behind the Head Girl. "So...Miss....Miss..." If she got any sense of pneumonia from this COLD AND THE ICE...SHE COULD SEE THE ICE WHICH MEANT THINGS WERE CLOSER OR IT WAS WINTER AGAIN AND THIS WASN'T FAIR.... "Miss...Res..Nessie...NessieIdon'twanttodieoranyth ing.."

So get your butt into gear and do something.

THAT WAS HER JOB, WAS IT NOT?!

The fear was evident in the fourteen year old, as her own hand reached for her wand, whilst the other gripped tight onto the robes of the seventh year. She was a big girl, yes.. but she felt immediately down in the dumps. The urge to cry was in the back of her head, but she couldn't form the tears, she couldn't form the logical response to cry.

And this wasn't her teenage hormones................................

They appeared like shadows, swooping around the edge of the sides of the tree house entrances as if studying what was inside. They could feel the presence of the students inside, making them approach ever closer. Suddenly, a dementor glided in through a window, flying around the edge of the walls as it's grim hands appeared from under it's cloak, eager to grab one of the two students. Another swooped in through a side entrance, not taking any time to examine the situation and went right for the red head (Talikins).

Rattle rattle.

Such tasty souls to be fed on...

The second dementor swooped in for the grab, reaching it's long and thin fingers out towards the younger of the two girls (Shanners). Rattled breathing intensified as it lingered closer to the girl.

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

Now, Nessie really would have enlarged the cloth Elodie gave her, but considering there could have been dementors approaching them it was really the last, last thing on her mind. Could you BLAME her for something like that?

These could have been her last few moments...NO NO. She was going to be strong, or at least try. She was an adult now and adults did not just act all scared and shocked to the point where they could barely move. When things like these happened to them they DID something. So sorry for you Elodie, but whatever you were saying before, that wasn't a focus right now. SURELY Elodie would understand that, especially considering she was now clinging to her for dear life.

"Youwon'tdie." she mumbled quickly keeping her eyes scanning the tree house as they waited for a cloak to appear. Expecto Patronum. She repeated again and again in her head as she readied herself.

But then....BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM GRAB!

Out of nowhere a dementor came and held her.

It was just like that. She felt weak, depressed and all she felt like doing was crying...and screeching...screeching more than anything else. So that's what she did at first. She screeched. A LOUD Banshee screech, the ones that almost made you deaf. The screech past after a few seconds and she had the urge to screech again, but she fought against it this time trying to focus on the situation at hand. It wasn't easy, considering her happiness was getting sucked out of her.

Happiness. She closed her eyes for a moment and pictures a circle of happiness and imagined it pass through her brain, slowly taking over the dark depression.

"Expecto Patronum." She murmured ever so quietly, with her wand at hand. The squirrel shape was there, but it was feeble. Feeble to the point that it faded away almost immediately.

She needed to try again it was their only hope.

Elodie's heart was pounding, but it didn't feel like it was pounding to her. Whether this was because she was thinking about everything else, or because she was distracted by the fact that THIS WAS A HORRIBLE SITUATION AND THERE WERE DEMENTORS AND THAT WAS THAT. Her focus was on Nessie, and how Nessie was supposed to be protecting her, and was now..well she was DOOMED. So she didn't notice the second dementor until it was right there before her.

She'd taken a few steps back when the first one went for the Head Girl, and regretted it instantly. She was separated, and the words 'backed against a wall' came into significant play right now, as she really had her back up against something, and she knew not of what it was, nor did she remotely care. The longing for something to happen, and for her to feel safe again was rampant, and yet it didn't come. Nothing came except the...the dementor, that looked...well it looked worse than she ever imagined they could look. Something in her head fluffyfied everything, and it seemed to sugar coat this thing to her before... Until now. Now she was done.

The tears pricked the corners of her eyes, and her hand started to shake as the gap between her and the predator lessened. Elodie was, in a nutshell: terrified. She made a call for the other girl, but it barely made it into a whisper as her everything was overcome with everything she'd ever felt negative-wise, all at once. And...that was all.

She shook, as the tears filled her eyes fully, and fell over her cheeks one by one. "Spec...spec.....Nessie...NessieIdon't..." She couldn't think. No thoughts came to her brain except the evident ones that were shaking her up pretty bad. She couldn't think, for the life of her, of the spell she needed, or anything about it, and even hearing Nessie attempt it jogged nothing in her head. So..this was where this stuff ended, huh? Els thought of her boyfriend best friend quickly, and then looked back at the thing before her, shaking her head. "Take..takecandyplease?"

..............Mummy, please come help?

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

The horrifying noise coming from the hole of it's mouth intensified as it opened wider, leaning towards the red head. Yet it's attempt to suck the happiness were thwarted by a bright light shaped like a squirrel. The dementor let go of the girl as if it were shocked but loomed forward again.

A silly disappearing squirrel wasn't going to stop it.

Meanwhile, the other dementor descended upon it's prey trapped against the wall (Shanners). It's grim scabby hands blocked the path on either side of her as ice crept up the wall and floor near them. Candy? She was the candy. So much life she had. So sweet.

SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.

Rattle rattle.

So the whole candy sacrifice wasn't working, and hadn't worked because.... goodbye.

There was nowhere for her to go, and she was certain an attempt to move would be a waste of time, as she was probably stuck there, given ice situations. Elodie had lost the energy to try move, also, and therefore just pressed further against the wall, the cold keeping her there, and she started to panic inwardly...outwardly and every which way she could. Her breathing, though hard to form, was quick and frequent, the bursts of breath a winter white as they left her, and then it happened.

The dementor was doing its dementor business, and Elodie couldn't do anything except stand there like a nothing and probably give the dementor everything it wanted. So..happy birthday, you cascade of rags. Happy birthday, happy holidays, happy everything for you.

Happy........

Elodie wanted to be happy. She wasn't though. She stood limp in character, but stiff against the wall. She looked dead in personality, but completely alive in awareness. Not to mention the tight hold she still had on her wand. The wand she wasn't using, because she couldn't THINK.

Patronuses... She hadn't ever DONE one of those. AND UGH. NESSIE.

"Do you speak French, then?" Alice spoke, even though she'd never lived in France for a moment of her life. Grandmothers were demanding. "It is. It's really fun. You should play." She'd probably enjoy it, who wouldn't? "And you should always pay attention to Quidditch, even if you aren't the one on the broom."

What? It was an important sport.

Why was she taking some of her pretzels? They were Alice's now. And sure she'd offered, but hadn't the girl ever heard of an empty gesture? She was a Slytherin, the fifth year had guessed she'd be making a lot of them. But she let the girl take some of HER pretzels anyway.

"Since my first year," she nodded, speaking around a mouthful of pretzels.

Mm, good. Food.