Yaaaaawn. Tired Abbi was tired. A long night at the feast was to blame for that. At home she would have been long ago forced to climb into bed. Hopefully she'd get some more sleep tomorrow though, then she could have adventurous dreams about being a fairy. Those were her favorite!

With her size three feet, the strawberry blonde began walking up the stairs. She didn't exactly know the way too well but she had heard she needed to walk to the seventh floor and look for a portrait of a fat lady. Wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the stairs.

Seven floors later, Abbi stood with her hands on her knees and just panted to try and catch her breathe back. Talk about exercise. See if she had wings she could really fly with that wouldn't have been half as bad. At least it was done and she could finally see a portrait of the fat looking lady.

Giggle. She couldn't help herself. Her face went from giggles to a major stare as she got asked for a password. "Its...it's.." She scratched her head trying to remember what she had been told. "Its..flobbygob?" She curiously looked at the portrait rejecting her guess of a password.

Ummmmmm....should she wait for someone who knew then? The little firstie just blinked up at the portrait and began wondering if maybe RAWRing or putting her fairy act was a good idea for now.

After taking a nice long trip around the grounds to see where everything was at and getting fresh air and the such Tag wanted to head back to the common room. The boy needed some rest, and he was so thankful there were no more stupid payments. He would probably be sleeping outside right now if this were last term.

Anyway, soon making his way up the seventh floor he spotted a mat of red hair staring at the entrance of the Gryffindor common room. She seemed confused. Abbi, the little fairy girl.

Running up to her Tag stopped a few feet from Abbi the fairy and looked down. "Hi Abbi the fairy! Remember me? Tag." In case she had forgotten. "What's up?"

Okay. She was gonna roar. SURELY that would have showed this Miss Fat Lady that she WAS indeed a newly sorted Gryffindor. And if that didn't work then Abbi would think of something else, her mind as little as it was was always full of ideas.

"RAAAAAWWWWWRRR!" Abbi roared as loud as she could. Except all it really did was nothing. The Fat Lady still refused to let her inside. Tsssssskkkkkkkk. Tsssssssssk. Brain cap back on.

BADA BING BADA BING! There was her answer!

With a wide grin on her face the eleven year old watched as another, older lion approached. Her hero of the day! "Course I do, I'm not so silly. Fairies have big brains." She smiled up at him."The roo--" Whooopsy daisy he meant how she was." Well I'm doing great and all, just a little sadsies cause my best friendie isn't in Gryffindor like me." BIG frown, then beam cause why dwell on that when she could still see Donny. "Whats up with you?" Gangster pose. "...and do you know the password?" He ought to, right?

Was she roaring at the Fat Lady? Would that even work? Probably not. But it just may scare some wits out of the portrait. Tag shrugged at Abbi's sense of logic.

"I didn't know fairies had big brains. Excuse me. An do fairies carry large amounts of fairy dust on them to sprinkle over people and make them look nice and pretty?" He didn't mind playing along with her likes of fairies. It kinda reminded him about himself and some of the things he always talked about. When Abbi went to mention that her best friend was not in Gryffindor Tag slightly grimaced. "It doesn't matter though. My best friend is in Hufflepuff and we always hang out. It'd just be cooler if we could visit each other in the common rooms. But, as long as I see him, I'm cool with that." That should bring up her spirits, some, yes? "My up is been doing good." Tag said jokingly.

And then she was making a slightly odd stance. The little blonde stared at the girl, a slightly amused look on his face. He liked her. "The passwords... they're always hard to remember. Its Flibbertigibbet. Sounds like cat food."

Well now you learned something new Taggy cause fairies DID have big brains. Or at least small ones that could hold tons and tons of information. "How else are we supposed to remember all the magic we perform?" Hmmm? Hmmm? HOW?

FAIRY DUST! He got a huge beam for mentioning that. "Not in their brains, silly." How could they even keep that in their brains? Some of them have it all over and can just sprinkle it whenever, but most like TINKERBELL they have to get fairy dust that is made by special fairy dust talents like Terrence who TOTALLY wants to give Tinkerbell cooties. But anyways! They make the dust in a Pixie dust mil and then give it to all the other fairies." Now THIS! This was very important fairy knowledge that any fairy should know about. Did Tag understand? Or did he want her to tell him some more. Cause she could tell him LOTS AND LOTS.

Nod nod. To show she was listening and being totally understanding of course. "So you see your best friendie lots and lots?" And common rooms would be so boring without Donny. Aww man. "Is the common room cool?" Cause maybe it was ugly then she didn't want to go inside it anyways. But good good, that Tag's up was good of course. "Keep it good then!" More beams for him.

MAGIC PANTS. That word was a tongue twister beyond. "It's so odd. Why cant it just be like RAWR!" Cause lions did that you know.

"Well, you can take notes and make books? To remember all that magic?"

BLINK BLINK BLINK. Slow down, Abbi. She was talking a million miles too fast. Tag was wondering, throughout her entire speech, if she would start tripping over her words, or if she would suddenly forget what to say. So much talking it took Tag ages to let it all sink into his mind. He liked her. Really. But this fairy stuff was giving him a headache, so the boy shook his head like a dog. "Who's Terrence? And those sound like very hard working fairies."

"I see him all the time. I'm sure you'll see yours all the time, as well." It wasn't like she could never hang out with her best friend. They'd just have to adjust their friendship slightly. "I think its nice. Really relaxing and stuff. There's red couches and a fireplace." He always took a nap on the couch.

" Maybe RAWR will be the next password." He said with a nod. Passwords changed from time to time. Suddenly Tag found himself having to say the password for an Abbi that stood right outside the portrait.

You wanna know something? Alexa was over tonight. She watched everyone pile out of the Common Room in their onesies and PJs but made no move to do the same. It just...didn't seem that fun? Something like that. She waited until the last of them had piled out before sneaking out in her own PJs--NOT for the event but because she would be going to BED soon and a hoodie she'd pulled on incase it was cold out.

Just a quick trip to the kitchen for her. A sandwich, a few cookies, a small snack would do then she'd curl up with her book of hexes and try to be productive. An odd thought but what else was there to do? Lex didn't want to go to the event.

The portrait slammed shut and she looked down the corridor. Long night ahead. Yup.

EVERYONE was at the pajama thing, everyone except one single lioness. And that didn't make it everyone. Cassia searched for the fourth year everywhere there. Not bouncing nor sliding. Not even laughing at firstie who were toppling over. And of course not making a stuffed toy. SO NOPE! She wasn't there.

Upon getting to that realization, Cassia left the tent and RAN to the castle. A long rung, yeah? Well, it got longer since she was going to the towers! She was panting by the time she got there. Duh. And it actually came to her that she couldn't get in. ehehehe. Booo.

Hold that thought!

HERE SHE WAS!

Cassia took a second to suck in air and refill her lungs then LUNGED towards Lex. "Where have you been?" She said frowning. Though the answer was kinda obvious yeah? She just got out of the common room.


Not giving her a chance to answer, Cassia hooked an arm with Lex's and pulled her a biiit forcefully because she knew the fourth-year would resist. "We're going come on." She said before pulling her again.

....

WHY was she hearing footsteps in the distance? Hadn't she waited until everyone was gone before coming out? Someone could have turned back, forgotten something maybe. For a split second she found herself wondering what she would do if it was him running this way. Lex quickly shook her head dismissing that thought. He wouldn't be headed this way, not when the Ravenclaw Common Room was on the other side and even if it was him, no need to panic, the portrait hole was right there, she'd simply go back inside, save herself the trouble.

Just as her logic as told her, it wasn't a certain Ravenclaw but Cassia? All the way up here--YANKING her becaaauuse????

Lex immediately pulled out of her grip, realizing where she'd been trying to take her than gave her friend a serious look. "Cut that out, I'm not going." She added a scowl to show how serious she was being. "I don't much feel like it and was actually on my way to the kitchen so if you'll excuse me...or you can come." Either way, Lex was NOT leaving this castle.

We clear on that? If so, Lex began walking again.

She had expected this reaction. Pfffft. Get a new habit other than disagreeing and resisting, bestie.

When Lex gave her a serious look and somehow got out of Cassia's grip, Cassia mirrored the look with a darker one. Both weren't in the mood to be around people, both had stuff annoying them haunting them that they wished they could just go back in time and undo it or un-think it. Or just fix it somehow because they currently couldn't bring themselves to think of them, their HUGE ego hurt. So the snake didn't take the rejection personally, she never did, in fact if those two were acting nice and mushy then there's something VERY wrong with it.

"Lex, I know what this is about," She squinted at her bestie jabbing her forefinger at her. YUP. "You cut it out," She told her her voice lightening a bit. They both had anger berried but they didn't have to let it on each other, yeah? "We said we're not gonna care anymore and we'll just focus on BVM and my OWLs," Ummm. yes, they were BOTH focusing on Cassia's OWLs.

She walked around and stood behind Lex then placed her hands on the 4th-year's shoulder. "Now let's go," She said before pushing the Gryffindor forward. "There's a bouncing house, I don't wanna look stupid alone, come be stupid with me." She told her.

No way they were going to the kitchen. Cassia was taking a break from that place. Besides, thanks to Cat and Blue, the snake found that being around people is the best distraction.

Walking was the hardest thing in the world when there was a Cassia Somerlad cutting you off and pointing fingers at you? Was she planning to move any time soon? Lex didn't want to waste too much time out here. Every second wasted was another she could have come closer to that new hex...or maybe a better shield, she'd resolved to be better at those.

Alexa's eyes fell to the ground while she spoke. She did remember saying all that--'cept the OWLs, yeah, no memory of that but she wouldn't decline. If Cassia needed help she'd offer it. No way she'd let her bestie fail ANYTHING.

"I am trying that not caring thing but it's been over a month, what if he really doesn't want to be friends with me anymore?" A week, yeah, two weeks, cool everybody calms down but a MONTH!?! She bet he didn't even miss her which made her feel even more like an idiot for missing him.

Lex cracked a small smile. "When you ask like that...it kinda makes it hard for me to say no." Being stupid with your best friend beat sulking alone in a kitchen. Definitely.

She sighed, not wanting to make it look like she'd given in too quickly. "Alright alright. Fine."

Cassia wondered if she was going to need her wand. Maybe STUNNING Lex would work? Yeah? Funny how the snake only thinks that way when dealing with Lex, She doesn't usually go and stun people around, even in such days like those where she wasn't the chatty nice Cassia.

But Lex was listening and that was a good sign. Sighing, Cassia shook her head, "Do not think about it, you don't know what he's thinking." She kinda spit out the word 'he'. Yeah sorry... not really. "Just leave it to time," She told her. She's been giving this advice to herself as well. Time supposedly fixes everything.

The snake kept her hands on Lex's shoulders, peered at her and winked then lightly nudged her forward. She knew she'd make her agree with the 'being stupid' comment.

Psshhhht. TIME WAISTER. "That would take SO much lomger than keeping it all in your mind. You have to be clever about time. It's a precious thing, you know." and it went by like ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM.

Oh. My. Word. Did this guy know anything? ANYTHING? Terrence was like only one of the most popular Tinkerbell characters. He was even a boy therefore boys should have known who he was. This Tag seemed a little bit silly when it came to fairies it seemed, but that was okay Abbi could teach him. Yep. Yep. "He's a character in all the Tinkerbell stories. He totally likes her and wants to marry her one day so that they can be mommy and daddies to baby fairies." She KNEW that would happen when they got older. Like it was so obvious Terrence liked Tink and other way around. Tiiiink and Terrence sitting in a tree...

Nod. Nod. "I'll make sure I do, because a day without Donny is a bad day." He was THAT cool. Okay? Bestest friend in the whole wide world. No one like Donny, no. "Should we goooo have a looky?" SHE WANTED TO SEE. Her new home, this was going to be just awesome. She could feel it.

Now this was the kind of agreeing, Abbi liked. She gave him a wide smile and then let out a little giggle. "I think it would be JUST perfect. Then we could all rawr our way home." Like lions were meant to roar.

Sarah exited the portrait hole with a jug in one hand, her wand in her right hand and her satchel as usual slung over her shoulder. She paused momentariliy, looking around to see if anyone was present so she could make their day by smiling.

No, no one was around. Oh, well. She would just have to get on with things. She manipilated her wand into her fingers, so she was able to open her jar. She held the lid between her knees and positioned the wand again, this time over the now open jar.

"Arguamenti" she casted allowing the water to flow from her wand into the jar. She watched as the water level rose.

When it was about three quarters fill, Sarah said "finite" and the water ceased. She placed her wand back in her holster and retrieved the lid. She afixed the lid back on. She then began to walk in the direction of the astronomy tower

Schuyler waited outside the common room, by the Fat Lady portrait. Aidan's note had instructed her to dress up, and so the Gryffindor gladly obliged. In fact, as he was probably aware by now, she loved any excuse to dress up. Valentine's dates were certainly a good occasion for it, too.

So, she waited with her hands laced leisurely in front of her, cardigan slung over one of her arms. She figured she would probably need it at some point.

Meanwhile the Fat Lady was humming quite enthusiastically to herself. Someone was in a good mood..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cedric

Schuyler waited outside the common room, by the Fat Lady portrait. Aidan's note had instructed her to dress up, and so the Gryffindor gladly obliged. In fact, as he was probably aware by now, she loved any excuse to dress up. Valentine's dates were certainly a good occasion for it, too.

So, she waited with her hands laced leisurely in front of her, cardigan slung over one of her arms. She figured she would probably need it at some point.

Meanwhile the Fat Lady was humming quite enthusiastically to herself. Someone was in a good mood..

Of COURSE Aidan was nervous. Merlin, was he nervous. He thought asking Schuyler out would be the hardest part, but that was actually easy for him. He hadn't let himself think about the what-if-she-says-no bit and just went for it and it worked out in his favor. Since then, however, he's had plenty of time to think about this date. And he realized: he had to make sure she had a good time. He had to be entertaining or she'd...have a bad time. And think poorly of him. And all he's worked for will have just been for NOTHING.

He's learned a bit, though, how to hold himself in front of people... How to not act like a moron... How to talk in front of pretty girls... So, he had a game plan to not act nervous. At all.

But it would have helped a little if he'd gotten to her portrait before she had. Regardless, in dress pants, a white button down, and jacket, Aidan walked up to the Gryffindor already waiting. "I have gifts for you," he announced, "the obligatory flowers and chocolates," he winked, presenting his 'gifts'.

Schuyler listened to the Fat Lady's humming while she waited. The previous song she hummed was who knows what, but now the Gryffindor was certain that the lady was humming a Christmas tune, even though it was well past Christmas now. Because it was Valentine's Day. Shouldn't she be humming gushy love songs and such?

The brunette didn't bother to ask.

Besides, her waiting came to an end just then, as she spotted one Aidan Stone approaching in - yes, that's right - a button-down and a jacket. Her lips parted in a smile. All dressed up. And quite spiffy, might she add. "Well, don't you look dapper." But the first words out of his mouth were about gifts, not looks. And with these words came the flowers and a box of chocolates. Immediately, her smile widened at the sight of the flower bouquet. She brought it to her nose and closed her eyes momentarily while she took in the floral scent. When she brought the flowers back down and looked to him again, her smile was still present. "They're lovely, thank you." And the arrangement had quite the assortment of colors, too. She shifted her attention now to the chocolates, and when she saw the brand her eyebrows lifted slightly. Expensive. "Godiva chocolates have no comparison." Especially the raspberry. "Thank you very much, Aidan. You really didn't have to." The gesture was very sweet, though.

"I have my music, by the way. Like you requested." And Schuyler was quite curious as to where they were going and why she needed some of her favorite songs. Surprises were good, though. She was all for surprises.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cedric

Schuyler listened to the Fat Lady's humming while she waited. The previous song she hummed was who knows what, but now the Gryffindor was certain that the lady was humming a Christmas tune, even though it was well past Christmas now. Because it was Valentine's Day. Shouldn't she be humming gushy love songs and such?

The brunette didn't bother to ask.

Besides, her waiting came to an end just then, as she spotted one Aidan Stone approaching in - yes, that's right - a button-down and a jacket. Her lips parted in a smile. All dressed up. And quite spiffy, might she add. "Well, don't you look dapper." But the first words out of his mouth were about gifts, not looks. And with these words came the flowers and a box of chocolates. Immediately, her smile widened at the sight of the flower bouquet. She brought it to her nose and closed her eyes momentarily while she took in the floral scent. When she brought the flowers back down and looked to him again, her smile was still present. "They're lovely, thank you." And the arrangement had quite the assortment of colors, too. She shifted her attention now to the chocolates, and when she saw the brand her eyebrows lifted slightly. Expensive. "Godiva chocolates have no comparison." Especially the raspberry. "Thank you very much, Aidan. You really didn't have to." The gesture was very sweet, though.

"I have my music, by the way. Like you requested." And Schuyler was quite curious as to where they were going and why she needed some of her favorite songs. Surprises were good, though. She was all for surprises.

Dapper, eh? "Thanks," he smirked, tugging at his lapels. "Might take the jacket off once we get to where we're going, though." He felt a bit overdressed as he passed people in the corridors, and the jacket was sort of restraining his arm movement.

Oh, she looked like she really liked the flowers. Good job, Stone. Aidan beamed back at her. "You're welcome. I really like the blue ones." They matched her eyes, he thought. In fact, that was why he picked that particular bouquet - it seemed to fit her perfectly, colorful and that brilliant blue. He shrugged at the 'you didn't have to' comment, "Like I said, obligatory Valentine's gifts."

"Excellent, you'll need it," he said, then stuck out his arm to escort her, "Ready to go?"

Once they got to where they were going? Okay, that comment made Schuyler even more curious than she already was. But that probably meant that she wouldn't need her cardigan, which was nice because she was all too used to layers this time of year. "Are we going dancing?" She guessed, trying to figure it out on her own. Music and movement. That made sense.

She liked the blue flowers as well. "Me too. And these red ones.. they look like raspberries." The calla lilies and sweet peas were very nice, too. Okay, they were ALL lovely. Right, right. 'Obligatory Valentine's gifts.' It was still thoughtful.

Tucking her chocolate box under her arm and keeping her flowers in that same hand, she looped her free arm around Aidan's and smiled. "Ready." Off to the secret place.

Zahra Kettleburn PEEKED behind the portrait of the Fat Lady, then closed her frame again. No Mikey yet. She'd been waiting a few minutes and was wondering if he had went down to dinner without her? She'd just wait another minute. Five tops.

No he had not gone to dinner without her, he had been busy trying to find something clean to wear. In the end he had thrown on a t-shirt that thankfully looked clean but a hole on the shoulder from where his pet ferret had chewed it. And his jeans had only been worn twice before, they still had at least another two wears in them.

He stepped through the portrait to see Zahra already waiting for him. He was so used to her dressing differently now that it didn't even raise an eyebrow. Well okay maybe just a little one. "I'm gonna have to remember leave my clothes out so that the elves can wash them. Mum will have a fit if I go home with a trunk full of smelly clothes." Not that it mattered really, he had basically outgrown them anyway.

The past year had seen him grow even more something he liked to tease her about. "Come on shorty lets go get some food."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mell

No he had not gone to dinner without her, he had been busy trying to find something clean to wear. In the end he had thrown on a t-shirt that thankfully looked clean but a hole on the shoulder from where his pet ferret had chewed it. And his jeans had only been worn twice before, they still had at least another two wears in them.

He stepped through the portrait to see Zahra already waiting for him. He was so used to her dressing differently now that it didn't even raise an eyebrow. Well okay maybe just a little one. "I'm gonna have to remember leave my clothes out so that the elves can wash them. Mum will have a fit if I go home with a trunk full of smelly clothes." Not that it mattered really, he had basically outgrown them anyway.

The past year had seen him grow even more something he liked to tease her about. "Come on shorty lets go get some food."

Was he saying he STUNK? Zahra leaned over to sniff him. "Your dad knows like eight hundred cleaning charms. Maybe just ask him to teach you one? Or Cope could teach us one. He's pretty clean, too. Or Plymmy, since he lived with your dad for a while."

Zahra shook her head. No... not down to dinner. Or not yet. FIRST...

....first....

Zahra wanted him to sniff HER. She held up her wrist to him, palm up. She had on perfume, like Crazy Ruby had suggested. She also had pretty fingernails, courtesy of Anya, but since they were talking about how Mikey was STINKY...

Yes, yes he knew how obsessed his dad was with cleanliness but going to him or even Cope and asking them to teach him cleaning spells meant that he would have to do it himself and there were more important things than doing laundry. "Yeah sure I'll do that." He wouldn't of course. It was just easier to agree with her.

And then her arm was in his face and he took a step back so that she wouldn't knock him out. What on earth...?

He caught faint whiff of something sweet and flowery? And he realised what she was doing so he took a step closer to her a took a tentative sniff. "It's...er...nice." Hopefully that's what she wanted to hear.

"Is it supposed to be that strong?" He had no idea about these things.

"You're the one worried about your mom," Zahra pointed out, KNOWING when MIKEY TOUSSAINT was using appeasement. She was just watching out for HIM so he didn't get in MORE trouble. Sheesh. What was with him?

....and....

Sigh. Big sigh. Zahra put her arm down and kind of eyed her nails and her toes and the floor and nothing. He was doing it again.

"Idunno. I ... uhm... I think I forgot something. You go on to dinner without me."