It was definitely nippy outside today, but it didn't hinder the old professor Botros from taking a walk out in the green stunning scenery. He was feeling pretty good today! He put on some sporty jumper, dumped his cane in the cane basket up in his office and went down all the way from the fifth floor to the grounds - he was panting and feeling slight ache in his knees and back but apart from that he was flushed with glee. When he made it to the pathways, he stopped by the nearest tree to catch his breath. hi ho hi ho hi ho hi ho whew! Someone was out of shape.

Dora was looking for a place to write. For once she didn't have a specific place in mind, just somewhere with space since she was starting to feel the strain of living in a crowded castle and not being able to leave as she pleased. The pathways was always the best place to find somewhere on the grounds that was unoccupied.

And also to find professors, apparently.

"Professor, Botros." She walked over to him, tapping her journal against her leg as she considered the much older man. "Exercising?"

Hohohohohahaha. Botros laughed and wheezed for a moment before giving the Ravenclaw a wave of the hand, "Why yes, I am! I want to be able to shake Mr. Kirby's hand without spraining my wrist." Hohohihihahaha. Okay, he was done panting now. He moved away from the tree, tucked his hands in his pockets, "Would you like to join me?" It also would be pretty beneficial for him if there was someone around to report his heart attack... if it happened.

"I don't know sir, I think you could give him a run for his galleons with handshaking." She smiled amused, patiently waiting for the man to gather himself and stand straight again. With a small nod she joined him at his side. "I would. What is it you're really doing out here?" She didn't initially want company, but some people's company she would always enjoy.

Botros laughed lightly at her humor. Ravenclaws had very witty minds, he enjoyed their conversations. Once she was by his side, he started walking as fast as he could moving his arms at his side in rhythmical way with his legs. "I was doing quite this." He raised his eyebrows at her and nodded her way, "You should follow suit. I might not be able to jog or run, but speed-walking is a good start." hihohihohihohiho. "What were you going to do here? I see... a notebook... with you." He gazed up ahead, "Come... we'll race when we're done with this round." hihohihohihohiho.

She wasn't late, OKAY????

No...no actually Lex was running all kinds of late at the moment and it all started with her not being able to find her broom. When they said messy dorms ate things they weren't kidding. She had to get half the place straightened before she could successfully find her broom in all the clutter, her candy bag and bolt back through the castle.

Forgive her for having to descend 7 flights of stairs and not being able to fly inside for fear of ending up in the dungeons instead of the pathways. The Gryffindor had a race to watch and didn't intend to be late!er than she already was Ahem.

"I'm here! I'm here!" Lex yelled, zooming toward the two as fast as she could given several of the lower hanging branches.

"Very much here up and ready to watch and declare Lottie the winner." BEAM. Were they getting started or what?

"Oh, yeah, for sure!" Tobias nodded, still as enthusiastic and gung-ho as ever. See? Tag understood. "I guess it all depends on what Kaiden decides." Kaiden. Captain Kaiden. Tobias was super excited to see how different Kaiden would be to Ella with being a captain, especially since Ella was the only captain he'd had before. It was interesting and new and exciting. But hmmmm... maybe Tag was right. Tobias had gotten pretty hurt that one time in his third year, when a bludger had crunched his knee (thanks Derry). Or last year, when he was hit squarely in the back. Sure, it had hurt, but he'd been fixed straight away. Hmmmmm.

Toby was thinking on that, and sort of had a glazed over look as he stared vaguely off into the trees, but he was still listening and looked back at Tag when he spoke.

"Yeah," he grinned, shifting a little so he was facing Tag a bit better. "Professor Tyner told me that it's best to sort of pick a position to focus on, ideally by fifth year. I'm gonna be trying out for some Under 17s teams next summer, hopefully." Tobias was excited, was it obvious? Thinking about those tryouts was enough to lift his mood for days, sometimes.

He was doubtful, about the part where Tag said Quidditch would make him strong. Tobias had been playing for two years now, and his upper body strength wasn't brilliant. But instead of saying that, or even looking disbelieving, he nodded again. "I do a lot of working out and stuff on top of Quidditch, so I guess soon enough all of it will give me some proper strength."

But this was a lot of talk about Tobias, and he liked hearing about other people. "What year're you in?"

On what Kaiden decides. Tag agreed on that part. The blonde had suspected that the blonde previous Captain would've kept her spot, but each captain received the honor because they held special qualities for the position. Kaiden would prove just up to that. "Its all up to him, isn't it? But I'm sure if you tell him if you wanna start playing more for a particular spot, he'll put it into your consideration." Injuries in quidditch, though, those were not pretty. Literally.

Ideally by fifth year. That didn't mean that Toby couldn't give it another go his sixth year. But ideally was the word to look out for here. "Is there a particular thing you're good at that you think might help you in figuring it out? I mean, like, if you're a really still person, but notices everything, does that make sense? you might want to look into keeper? Or if you're always on the move maybe chaser? You get the idea a bit?" It may not be much help, but it could be easier for Toby to pick something out. Try outs for the Under 17 teams. "That's really ambitious. So you're definitely into the whole quidditch as a career, route, then, yeah?" To know what he was already going to under go next summer.

"Good. Keep in shape, during and not during quidditch season. And you'll get muscle mass in no time. But its not gonna happen overnight too. I'm sure you'll be getting more strength in a few months." Tag said in small words of encouragement.

Tag was slightly surprised when Toby had randomly asked Tag's year. Well, it wasn't too much of a surprise was it? People asked things like that. "Sixth year. Nearly out of here." Again. Scary thoughts.

Caterina had two arms again and a hot chocolate in each hand. One was technically for Mo, but she'd been drinking out of both of them anyway. It wasn't like he minded though, right? Kissing was more spit-swapping than this. By the way, she was sooooooooooooooooo happy. Still. Still happy. She blew out a puff of air to move her hair out of her face and bounced towards the boy. Hi boy. Hiiiii.

Grin. "I love snow."

Hmmm...did it matter really? Did it matter what he called the Students? he'd probably just refer to her as Kid or whatever. "Very well, Lotus If you win I will call you Miss Wisteria"

HE KNEW IT!

He knew these two were the inseparable type. "Well aren't you biased." Orsino joked at her. He grinned almost as if he had something "Maybe I should also get a few seconds head start. Lotus here looks like she's half cheetah." He felt like he was forgetting something. "Oh! Fly low to the Ground, will you. Almost like you're feet are touching th ground."

Text Cut: Lex+Kirby!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

She wasn't late, OKAY????

No...no actually Lex was running all kinds of late at the moment and it all started with her not being able to find her broom. When they said messy dorms ate things they weren't kidding. She had to get half the place straightened before she could successfully find her broom in all the clutter, her candy bag and bolt back through the castle.

Forgive her for having to descend 7 flights of stairs and not being able to fly inside for fear of ending up in the dungeons instead of the pathways. The Gryffindor had a race to watch and didn't intend to be late!er than she already was Ahem.

"I'm here! I'm here!" Lex yelled, zooming toward the two as fast as she could given several of the lower hanging branches.

"Very much here up and ready to watch and declare Lottie the winner." BEAM. Were they getting started or what?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ ExpelliarMOOSE

Hmmm...did it matter really? Did it matter what he called the Students? he'd probably just refer to her as Kid or whatever. "Very well, Lotus If you win I will call you Miss Wisteria"

HE KNEW IT!

He knew these two were the inseparable type. "Well aren't you biased." Orsino joked at her. He grinned almost as if he had something "Maybe I should also get a few seconds head start. Lotus here looks like she's half cheetah." He felt like he was forgetting something. "Oh! Fly low to the Ground, will you. Almost like you're feet are touching th ground."

Well, thank you for being late, bestie! She was here, though, and that's all that mattered. Also, Lex said the right words, because Lottie will totally win this. "That's the spirit!"

There is a chance she won't, though. That's why the bet didn't include the forest. Then she'd actually have to stick to that and, heh, we all know she's bound to step into the forest at any time during the term. You just don't know when.

"Deal." Now that this was made slightly more interesting for Lottie, she was more than ready, until... Oi! "That's not fair! I can only give you one second," cue mini-glare, tsk!, only one. But it still wasn't fair, was he scared of possibly winning? She might just let him so as not to hurt his ego or something. Men.

Well, on Lex's count, then.

Alexa grinned at being called out on her best friend bias. Why YES she was a bit bias, was that a problem? Did he not have a bestfriend he could be bias with? She'd offer to loan him hers but see, that would involve sharing which, as you can guess, would have to be a big 'NO' on her part. Sorry. He'd have to get his own. Of course Lottie got a grin for encouraging her bias behaviour.

Wait what was this talk of headstarts? Did he not own a few mirrors? He looked like a frickin' machine next to her bestfriend. She wouldn't be surprized if he pummelled in the ground while he ran. No headstarts. That wouldn't be fair which Lottie just mentioned so she wouldn't have to.

Lex gave a nod at his suggestion to fly lower and lowered her broom some even as she hovered .

"Alright, I think if we've got all the details sorted on this then we can get this started, yeah? On your marks..." Giving them some time to actually get into formation here. "Get set!.....GOOO!!!"

Mo wasn't nearly bundled enough for the extreme cold, but he felt perfectly warm as he watched Caterina make her way across the grounds to join him. Yeah, it was a bit cold, but they were going to warm up again in no time. Besides, her arm was healed, she had cocoa for him, and there was whipped cream on her nose.

Best day ever.

"Love snow toooooo," Mo grinned in response and kissed the whipped cream off her nose. "Hey. Is one of those for me?"

After Mo kissed her nose, Cat bounced for a quick kiss on his lips before turning her attention to the cocoa, "Oh, yes. One is for you." She weighed them both for a moment before handing him the one that was more full. "This one has the most marshmallows." After she handed over the cup, she reached up and pinched his cheek. "You should be wearing warmer clothes, boyfriend. I don't want you to BE the snowman."

Carefully, she unwrapped the scarf from her neck and draped it around his. It was his scarf, after all. "I found this in my trunk." GRIN. "You can borrow it." Cause she wanted it back later but for now, she'd come prepared with TWO scarves.

She was just all sorts of prepared.

Go!~Go! That meant now right? YES IT DID! Orsino Pushed off from his starting position, You'd have been correct in thinking that a Large Muscle-Man wouldn't be able to run fast with all that bulk weighing him down. The Groundskeeper was obviously going to loose this race
...
...
but you didn't know the Groundskeeper very well.
...

...
He was holding back.

He was ACTUALLY doing this. Dora was under the impression (or wishfully thinking) that he'd been doing anything else. The sixth year would still join him though, favorite professor and all. It was rare she got to spend time with him aside from the classes she so rarely frequented. "I prefer a slower pace, to stop and smell the roses you know." She grinned jokingly. "Exercise is good though. I watch my friends do it all the time." Quidditch practices where always a good way to feel like you've done some exercise.

"I was just in search of a place to write." She didn't bother hiding her journal since it wasn't the type that held any secrets of sorts. Dora was not one foolish enough to put her thoughts down on paper for others to find and use against her. "Just working on post graduation plans."

Race?

Now it was her turn to laugh.

Text Cut: Racing folk!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Alexa grinned at being called out on her best friend bias. Why YES she was a bit bias, was that a problem? Did he not have a bestfriend he could be bias with? She'd offer to loan him hers but see, that would involve sharing which, as you can guess, would have to be a big 'NO' on her part. Sorry. He'd have to get his own. Of course Lottie got a grin for encouraging her bias behaviour.

Wait what was this talk of headstarts? Did he not own a few mirrors? He looked like a frickin' machine next to her bestfriend. She wouldn't be surprized if he pummelled in the ground while he ran. No headstarts. That wouldn't be fair which Lottie just mentioned so she wouldn't have to.

Lex gave a nod at his suggestion to fly lower and lowered her broom some even as she hovered .

"Alright, I think if we've got all the details sorted on this then we can get this started, yeah? On your marks..." Giving them some time to actually get into formation here. "Get set!.....GOOO!!!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ ExpelliarMOOSE

Go!~Go! That meant now right? YES IT DID! Orsino Pushed off from his starting position, You'd have been correct in thinking that a Large Muscle-Man wouldn't be able to run fast with all that bulk weighing him down. The Groundskeeper was obviously going to loose this race
...
...
but you didn't know the Groundskeeper very well.
...

...
He was holding back.

Since when was Lottie up for being offered to people, ALEXA CAMBRIDGE??!

Anyway, yes, bias and all, they were supposed to get ready, set and whatever, which is what she did. And felt terribly small next to this giant wall of muscle next to her. Sure, we don't know the Groundskeeper very well, but the Groundskeeper doesn't know us EITHER. So, they were entirely even.

And no headstarts. Only she left her starting point a second later. Because that was all she was giving him, a second.

Focusing was happening, though, and she pretended all that was left behind her was that almost-yellow room Vinteren had put her in. Well, thanks for that, Vinteren, because she was now running even faster than she usually did. There's good in everything, apparently.

Flowers, yes, great excuse. Botros chuckled, appreciating her humor with this. He figured she was going easy with him without making him feel bad about it. "My wife was so into flowers - magical and non-magical. She was into plants in general." He figured a little light conversation while they jogged in slow pace made the time go faster, right? "We had gardens surrounding the house, all taken care of by her. She wouldn't let the house-elf help her." He panted, laughing at the memory.

Speaking of her mates doing laps, "Why don't you join them? You're not into Quidditch?" He didn't remember seeing her out there on the Pitch.

Botros looked at her notebook and nodded. "A seventh year next term, is that right?" He nodded, understanding her urge to plan her life after Hogwarts. "Do you have any ideas? Do you know whether you want to study more or throw yourself in a profession right away?" He could help with that.

Wow...she was faster than he had imagined. Really fast, like so fast that Lotus could be a yellow Blur, leaving yellow after images on the Pathway. Making this into a Yellow-Brick Road with each step she took. What a fast Hufflepuff so Hufflepuff...okay he was exaggerating a bit on the speed. She was really fast though.

Well he'll let her have this moment. For now, he'll rest his legs but keep her in sight. Has Lotus Wisteria ever have a Freight Train come speeding at her?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ ExpelliarMOOSE

Wow...she was faster than he had imagined. Really fast, like so fast that Lotus could be a yellow Blur, leaving yellow after images on the Pathway. Making this into a Yellow-Brick Road with each step she took. What a fast Hufflepuff so Hufflepuff...okay he was exaggerating a bit on the speed. She was really fast though.

Well he'll let her have this moment. For now, he'll rest his legs but keep her in sight. Has Lotus Wisteria ever have a Freight Train come speeding at her?

Extremely aware that she could go even faster, she settled on keeping her current speed in case Kirby was merely pretending to go slower than he normally ran. Actually, she did increase her speed a liiiittle bit. But kept the same pace. It was a shame she couldn't pay attention to the landscape around her. Though, she was paying attention to it, she just couldn't stop to take in the beautiful sights Hogwarts grounds have to offer. A real shame.

They'd be at the Pitch soon enough and she'll enjoy them on her way back no doubt.

Running. Still running. If this was Kirby's actual speed, then it'd be entirely easy to run away from him if he managed to find her in the forest. This is the primary reason for accepting the race. But shhhhhh.

And they were off which meant Lex was off! The Gryffindor leaned forward on her broom being sure to keep an even pace with them even as she flew a bit closer to the ground. With her watching the races she would hardly be paying attention to the branches and Merlin knew Lex had a way bumping into things!

The girl had one hand firm on the broom and the other now with her wand to cast a quick sonoros.

Ahem. "Gonna be an interesting race today folks," She was obviously aware of the lack of spectators and the like but that didn't have to kill the mood and in fact it didn't. Not for her anyway, "We've got the wall of muscle facing off against the super fast Hogwartian that happens to where yellow robes. All coinsidental of course! Now as we approach the first big tree we see Lottie in front--obviously was there ever a question of this?? Hang in their Kirby, you can do it!" Moral support because he let them call him Kirby, see?

Though honestly, neither looked to be taking the race that seriously. Was she wasting her time flying up here or what??

"What was her favorite, if you don't mind me asking?" Dora liked listening to him talk about his wife so fondly. It was nice since she didn't really know all that much about one of her favorite professors, and distracted from the speed walking they currently were endeavoring. "She sounds very dedicated to her gardens. We had gardens around our home too, but Gran never was one to tend to them herself." Too busy socializing or working to stop and appreciate how lovely they looked.

"I'm into watching Quidditch, not participating. I find it more enjoyable, and easier to cheer on all of my friends that way as well." Which was almost all of them, since being quidditch crazy was sort of a thing around here.

Dora nodded her head along with his. "Yes, sir." Finally. She was more than ready to put this place behind her. "Nothing traditionally academic. I've found that structured learning doesn't suit me as well as others. And I'm still not certain of a profession. So I plan on traveling and studying on my own." The young prefect had always learned better when she was out on her own.

Botros was panting but not as much as he thought he would be. "She liked to collect rare plants. Mimbulus Mimbletonia was one I could recall. Water plants too, she designed a lagoon especially for the Mediterranean plants. It attracted all sorts of bugs and creatures, but she never complained." He laughed, his eyes watering just a little - from the fast breathing or the memories, it was not important.

Watching Quidditch? The professor took slow long breaths in and out, and looked sideways at the Ravenclaw. She was so confident in her answer, he accepted it with so much ease. "I used to be a Keeper in my school's team. Three terms keeper, and two as a substitute Chaser. I think." Those details started to leave him a long time ago. He had to find his yearbook to find out for sure. "When you grow older, those details will escape you anyway."

Aaah, one of his Ravenclaws was thinking of going on a long road trip and do individual education. That was one tough decision to be made by a sixteen years old. He wondered if this was one of those rebellious phases? To break out of the tradition's bubble and let loose?

Botros was jogging by now, "I have to admit this is a bold plan. We don't hear many students going for the self-education route - or well, we never hear of successful ones." But he didn't mean to hinder her in any way. "You have to keep yourself motivated, and it sounds like you have to do it alone with no help from anyone. Keeping in contact with your former professors might help!" He gave her a cheeky grin... before a voice reached them from up ahead. "Let's see what's that all about?"

There was Ms. Cambridge on a broom... and a huge person was sitting while a girl ran up ahead. "Oh they're having a race too! What is Mr. Kirby doing?" Botros was talking to his companion, of course. "You think he's giving her a few moments?" Because he'd definitely beat the much-smaller girl.

Dora wasn't panting, but she was beginning to feel the pains of speed walking that one usually did when they did absolutely no working out. But she had to keep up with Botros, and so didn't complain. "Mimbulus Mimbletonia's are cool. All rare things are really, or more the challenge of finding them." Dora always liked a challenge. "She sounds like she was a very caring woman." She responded senceirly, a soft smile on her lips.

"You played?" Dora sounded a little surprised, if only because it was hard to picture the elderly man young and sprightly enough to be out on a a broom playing the sport. "Those are both really good positions to play." Mostly, because certain Slytherins that she was so fond of played them as well.

Jogging.

They were jogging.

...... Okay.

"I'm very bold, sir. And determined. I'll be successful in whatever profession I eventually end up settling down with." Though hopefully, she wouldn't be settling down for a long time. Dora didn't want to settle. "I've always done everything on my own, never stopped me before. But..." She was starting to breath heavy with this jogging nonsense. "Keeping in contact with a professor sure couldn't hurt my chances." Voices? How could he hear voices when they were jogging?? "Sure!" Anything to stop jogging.

What? Racing? "I didn't know we were racing." Did anyone ever tell him how Dora didn't like races? She squinted at the group up ahead. "I think that's only fair. Though that's Lottie... I'm not sure who I'd place my galleons on." Sure the girl was a Hufflepuff and tiny, but she had Slytherin tendencies and couldn't be wholely trusted.

Hell, could any of the 'Puffs?

What was this wind?

Ella had been wearing a hat but upon trying to adjust it, the thing was swept from her hands and carried in the opposite direction. She frowned and resisted the urge to call after it, hurrying along behind it instead.

The eighteen year old kept on following until suddenly, the hat stopped. She stopped too and knelt to pick it up where it rested which was right...on top of someone's foot.

Welp.

The blonde raised her head slowly, hat in hand and smiled sheepishly at the boy whose foot she'd just been touching. "Sorry, erm...runaway hat." She waved the red item at him and everything, just for proof reasons.

"Sorry." She'd said that already though, right?