Taking a glass off from the table, Lux poured herself a tall glass of pumpkin juice before downing almost all of it in one large gulp. It was so refreshing! Placing her remaining juice down, she wiped her lip with her sleeve. Giggling, she answered his question. "Bay doesn't like cucumbers and the sandwiches make him gag." Which was why he lost the bet with her and had that Chocolate Frog debt.

Oh, merpeople! That was awesome, because she was Ariel and so in a way it was as if she was a mermaid herself! "Heliopaths are cool, and I like dragons because they can shoot fire too!" When he asked her about her family again, she bit her lip. "Well, my parents went and so did my brother and sister." It was time for her to think of another question, "What do you want to do after you leave Hogwarts?"

Bart watched as Brynny worked on the words and tried to hold in a chuckle. Then he looked at her unchanged wood. "Yep I see it right there." He pointed to a corner. "It changed slightly there, but next time maybe be more confident in how you say it. Alexa told me to visualize it and concentrate." Shrugging "It seem to work for her at least she got a pretty good boat in class." From what he saw, but that was when he thought the prefect was cool. That was before she yelled at him. He was still sore about that. Chomping on another carrot.

He could visualize all he wanted it was the concentration that everyone knew Bart struggled at. He looked back down at his flat wood and tried to visualize the boat. Okay he could do this. A boat he did it in class. That object that has sides and floats in water. He could do it. Yes let's do it, but then his mind wen to being thirsty. Yes a drink was needed, "I'm getting some pumpkin juice want some? " He headed near the fridge to grab some.

Coming back it was time to focus again. Focus Bart, focus. Closing his eyes a few seconds he thought about the boat again. Yes he could see a boat. Could he see a boat form from wood? That was harder, but he tried his best to do it. Pulling up his wand and tapping the wood again, "Lingnum Navicula" He tried to stay focused and watch the wood form into a small boat. Was this one lop sided? He looked around it and picked it up, "Does it look right?" He showed it to his friend. The question was would it float? That was part of the process to make sure it did, right?

He saw it too? Brynn smiled a little bit as Bart pointed to the corner of her word. It wasn't much, but she did something! That was encouraging, right? She looked back up at him as he offered his advice and she nodded, thinking she understood. "So I need to say it real confident and picture it real hard in my head?" That was about what he said she figured, and she thought she could do that.

Brynn took a deep breath and closed her eyes trying really hard to picture a boat in her head.. her block of wood forming into a wooden boat. She opened her eyes and raised her wand, then her eyes snapped over to Bart as she heard his question. "Oh.. yeah, sure." She supposed she could use a drink if they were having snacks. She grabbed the glass and took a quick swig of it, wiping her mouth with her sleeve, then turned her focus on the task at hand again.

She glanced at her piece of wood again and picked up her wand, but then Bart was going to do his. That would be good for her to watch him again first, she thought. Watching her friend perform the spell, her eyes widened. "You did it!" she squealed excitedly and beamed at him. Oh if he could do it.. "Maybe I could too.." She closed her eyes and did the picturing thing again. Opening her eyes she pointed her wand, tapping it on the wood, and forcefully said, "Lingnum Navicula!" Her eyes got wide again as she watched it start to take shape. It wasn't quite a boat but the sides were definitely rounded. "Almost!" she said, still kind of excited. "Now you should see if yours floats and I'll try it again."

Lucas just grinned a little as Lux inhaled the pumpkin juice. Lifting the pitcher, he hesitated over her glass, cocking his head. "Thirsty, huh?" He poured some for himself and took a deeeeeep sip. Mmmmm. He was left with a little orange moustache. And then she replied to his question about the sandwich-hater with BAY. UH. BAY. "Oh, okay." Yeah. Cool. Except so not cool. How could you NOT like cucumber sandwiches? What a weirdo.

Lucas was chuffed at how delighted Lux seemed to be with his answer. UH HUH. He was cool. He BEAMED. That was really cool. "My brother goes he too.. uh, cos we're twins and stuff, so." Yeah. That was such a weird way to introduce that lil' tidbit but whatever. He'd been preoccupied with herstuff.
But Lux was pulling out the BIG GUNS. What did he wanna BE!? MAN. That was a tough one. He wanted to do something useful and helpful and smart and with purpose because he hated feeling like he had nothing to do. So. Well. "My parents were both Aurors," he told her quietly. "And they kind of expect me and James, uh, my brother, to do something big with ourselves but I don't want to work in Law Enforcement.. I don't like that stuff." He wanted to help people.. but not like that. "Maybe.. well.. I think I want to try and be a Healer." Lucas was practically whispering at this point and he was the colour of a ripe beetroot. It was so embarrassing! Especially because it wasn't like being a Healer was a piece of cake either.

But it was a good question, nonetheless, so he decided to return it. "What about you? Do you have some sort of idea?"

Turning slightly red at that question, Lux laughed a little. "Yeah, I really like pumpkin juice." It was so refreshing, and she had needed something after that race. Pouring another glass for herself, she nodded. "I had a bet with him that if he can eat a cucumber sandwich and hold it down, I would owe him 10 Chocolate Frogs. And since he figures he can't do that... he now owes me them." What an amazing debt to be owed, really; Chocolate Frogs were amazing!

"Oh, you have a twin that is really neat." She wondered if they were identical and if she would ever have trouble telling them apart... but Lucas seemed different from his brother from what she had heard, so that probably would not be an issue. Nope, she would not be fooled. As she listened to him explain about his parents wishes and what he really wanted to do, she smiled encouragingly at him. "There is no need to be embarrassed. I am sure there are loads of male Healers. And I think it's great that you want to help people who are sick or injured." Lucas was really kind and thoughtful, and she admired it.

The next question he asked was so easy, she answered it in a second. "I want to be a professional Quidditch player." It was her dreaaaam. New question time. "Are you and your brother identical?" Because she really wanted to know.

Bart nodded as Brynny repeated what he said. She was smart, smarter than him he’d even admit that so he knew she’d get the spells in no time. Looking at his own boat as she was going to practice her spell he noticed that one side wasn’t exactly even with the other. “Oh no this isn’t going to float.” He put it in the sink and he was right down to the bottom it went. “Abandon ship!!” He grinned and splashed the water a bit at his friend. Pulling the boat out of the sink he pointed his wand, “Reverto” So his second attempt was a fail.. nice.

Brown eyes moved to Brynny as she did the spell. He couldn’t help but notice she seemed to take his advice. No one ever took his advice. This kind of felt cool that someone listened to him about something that involved school. The boat still didn’t seem to form, but he saw the wood twitch or something. “You are getting it. The wood will listen soon enough. Just keep practicing on it.” He had no doubts his best friend would do this.


But as for himself he was starting to really doubt it. Biting into another carrot the second year turned the wood over in his hands. Thinking about it being a boat. A boat that would float. A boat that would float in a moat or sink. Alright time to try again. He raised his wand and tapped the wood, “Lingnum Navicula” Watching it move into the boat again he grinned a bit before picking it up. Now did it work enough to float. He could feel himself holding his breath putting it down in the sink. Letting go he watched the object bob a bit in the water, but not sink. “It worked. Do you see this it worked.” He grinned towards Brynny excited he finally got it to float.

Now time for the mess. The boy started making waves in the sink and splashing more than he should seeing if the boat would stay floating through a storm. It seemed to work and if he got Brynny soaked in the process it wasn’t that big of a deal.

It was too early for dinner, and well past lunch. A time that usually had Dora in the kitchens as she preferred skipping large group gatherings when she could, and was homesick for a traditional meal. Not to mention it was relatively void of students at the moment.

Perfect time for the prefect.

Sleeves rolled back and ingredients spread out in front of her, Dora worked on preparing her meal, lost in deep thought.

When a man-boy is hungry a man-boy is hungry. It didn't matter what time of day it was. And it wasn't any different for this seventh year. Lucky for him his common room wasn't that far from the kitchen. So he could just run up to the kitchens when ever he wanted to really.

This time when he walked in it wasn't too crowded. Lately the kitchen had been so packed. He seen a girl prepping up something. The Italian was curious and let his curiosity get the best of him.

He walked over the Ravenclaw perfect, and looked over here shoulder. "What's cha making?" He rocked on the balls of his feet.

Dora had somehow managed to sit on her stool with one leg folded under her, and a bowl in her lap, mixer in her hand as she whisked the basics together. She wasn't so lost in thought or her cooking that she didn't notice when someone entered the kitchens. In fact she was even less lost in thought than before because of who it was.

"Bitochki." She responded without stopping what she was doing, only slowing to glance back over her shoulder at him. Nothing much. "Here to do some cooking yourself?" Did he cook? Dora was curious.

Lucas laughed. "SAME." And gulped down another glass. YUMMMY. ...Chocolate frogs for wagers? "That's really smart. I would've eaten practically ANYTHING for that many chocolate frogs." Chocolate, especially in funny shapes like a cute ickle frog, made Lucas really happy. That and ice-cream was a winner for mood enhancer.

NEAT. "Uh huh, you can never get bored. There's always someone to do fun stuff with." And Lucas had missed that a little at Hogwarts except now he'd met Lux and Abbi and Adi and Robyn and lots of fun people. "No, yeah, I don't know.. it's really hard." But he was determined and he'd wanted to be a Healer ever since he'd broken his arm climbing up to his room and had to go to Hospital. Doctors were COOL. "Yeah. And I really like people." People were interesting to Lucas and he liked making them feel a little bit better.

ACTUALLY!? Lucas clapped in delight. "Okay, okay, yes. That is SO awesome. You need to get yourself on that team!" Uh HUH. He could imagine Lux in the robes too, her hair all flowy. Um. Having a professional quidditch playing friend would be pretty cool, he thought.
"Uh, yes we are." Like EERILY identical. Except then one of them open their mouths and the illusion ended there. "But that's kind of where the similarities end. Oh, but we both like Quidditch." OH YEAH THEY DID. It was like RELIGION in their household.

Even though it was technically a failed attempt, Brynn was still pleased with the small amount of progress that she had made on the wood. The edges were nicely rounded, it just needed more of a boat shape too it, and it was much better than her last attempt or even what she had managed throughout the entire class. The redhead looked up from her curved block as Bart tried his transfigured boat out in the sink, giggling a bit at his words and splashing. "I bet you'll get it on the next try." Oh.. Reverto.. right? A quick glance in her notes reminded her that was how she changed things back.

She lightly tapped her piece of wood, commanding, "Reverto!" And was pleased that it reverted to its original state, at least she could do that spell correctly. Now for another attempt. "Ok, I'll try again," she smiled up at Bart, his confidence in her making her feel better about it. He could do it so she could do it too, right? She decided to take his advice again while he started on another carrot. Closing her eyes, the first year pictured her wood taking the shape of a boat, a boat that looked just like Bart's.. though she wanted it to float. Of course she'd take just the shape first. Boat boat boat boat.. Opening her eyes, Brynn pointed then tapped her wand onto the wood. "Lingnum Navicula!" she practically shouted. Her eyes grew wide as it molded into a shallow boat. Not perfect, but it was sort of a boat, right? "Look! Look, it's a boat!" And she could see if it would float, right? But first she would wait till Bart tried it.

She now turned her attention to Bart as he tried the spell, grinning widely as the block transformed into a boat. "You're getting better at that," she nodded fervently. Now.. would this one float? She watched with eager eyes as he placed his boat in the large sink, then clapped her hands excitedly as it bobbed around in the water, floating. "You did it!" She giggled more as he splashed around in the water making waves and getting water on her and the floor in the process. "My turn again.. we need to play battleship!"

Bart was having fun splashing the water at his successful boat. This was fun and now that it was floating even better. He glanced over at Brynny as she was trying again. His smile widened as his best friend got the boat to form. “Awesome now you just have to see if it will float.” Because that was the key if it floated it was good. “[/b] He waited for her to put it in the water but she seemed to just be watching his so he splashed her with water again.

Oh and now she was complimenting her he grinned, “Thanks I knew I could do it.” Nudging her shoulder he never really acted that full of himself around his best friend. Plus she had just seen him struggle of course she knew he wasn’t a master at it. No need to act like he was. “So you going to put your boat in the water or what?” Come on Brynny let’s play.. As she said it was her turn again he figured she wanted to try to master the spell again before putting in the water, alright fair enough, but did he have to do it again? It was in the water and working fine, but maybe he should try and do it one last time. If the wood worked than he was good to go with this spell or so he thought he would be at least.

Pulling the boat out of the water he pointed his wand “Reverto” Seeing the wood back he tried to think of the boat again. Now time to get this thing into a floating boat one last time. “Lingnum Navicula” He tapped at the block of wood and saw it change again. Setting it down in the water he grinned, “Score” It was working again he had done the spell twice now with a floating boat. Yep he got this!
“Battleship you are on.. Let’s go.” She got a few more hurry up splashes.

The seventh year continued to watch the perfect, looking over her shoulder still. He was so hungry and whatever she was making looked delicious. Oh, that's what she was making, "Russian cuisine?"Yes, he knew his food culture and history. The only history he enjoyed.

He nodded although he couldn't see him doing so. "Yeah, I was thinking about it." He ruffled his hair. Summers was rubbing off in him. He didn't really know what he wanted yet. All he knew was that he needed food and Now.

She wasn't going to complain, no. If he wanted to stay over her shoulder, then he could. Her eye brows did go up in slight surprise. "You know Russian dishes?" Interesting. For reasons. "I was craving foods from home, figured why wait until Christmas?" She shrugged and kept on preparing.

"If you like, since you seem to know Russian cuisines, you can join me." She said casually, not glancing back at him since she close presence was enough.

Happily, Lux sipped away at her full glass of juice. She was happy that he liked it too, and she was not being a slob by drinking too fast while he was doing that too. "Oh, do you want to make bets Lucas?" Obviously she wouldn't be really mean and make him eat things that would make him sick, but maybe they could have some fun if he wanted to.

It must be really awesome to have a twin. Sometimes she wished she had one, but she really did love her siblings a lot. "You are lucky, my siblings are a lot older than me. I love them a lot, but sometimes it's hard." Since they were both in their 20s, they did not always want to play games with her when she wanted to. But she loved Willa and Lennon a lot. When he seemed unsure about whether he would make a good Healer, she patted him on the back gently. "You are smart enough, and you are good with people. It makes for a perfect Healer!" She had no doubts in her mind that he would be able to do what he wanted and be very successful at it.

His applause made her giggle. She was really happy that he approved of her ambition and also supported it. "Do you think I would be good at it, Lucas? When I get over my fear? Her eyes widened in excitement as she imagines what it would be like to play in a professional Quidditch game. She would want Lucas to be there, and all of her other friends! "Oh, so if I saw your brother I might think he is you until he opens his mouth? Are you guys really different?" She had never met James, so she had no idea what his personality was like, only knowing that he was a Ravenclaw. "Do you both like the same teams and players?" It was cool that they liked Quidditch!

Asher moved over from behind her before he spoke. Standing over someone was rude, Romalotti. He hopped up on the empty counter space beside of where she was working. He nodded. "I know a lot about food." Foods from home. He knew those foods too. Italy. Food heaven. Or it was for him. "I know, right. I'd kill for some of my nonna's fettuccine alfredo." The best.

"Sure. That sounds good." He grinned. I loved eating food all kind as of food from anywhere was good enough for him.

Actually. Sitting on the counter space that was near food being prepared for cooking was rude, but that was better than him sitting in her space she supposed. "Are you one of those cooking snakes?" Like the male version of Cat, except he didn't go around cooking for the entire team. "My grandmother didn't do too much cooking, I suppose that's what has me missing it even more."

At his answer she got up from her seat and set him up with a platter of raw ground beef that had been seasoned. "Roll these into balls, and then coat them with breadcrumbs." She glanced back at him, getting proper looks while sitting. "I'm Dora. You should know my name if we're going to cook together."

Cooking Snakes? What did that mean? He give the girl a puzzled look. "I cook when I'm hungry?" Yeah, he wasn't much of a cook for fun. He was more of a yeah, I'm hungry, I should make something to eat type.

Well no beating around the bush there. She handed him the platter of ground beef straight off the bat. He took it. Now that he had to stand, he couldn't roll beef into setting down now could he? Where would be put the platter? In his lap? That was a terrible idea.

Getting to his feet, so he could start rolling up meat. He rolled one up about medium sized, "How's that?" Good size? Yes. No. Maybe. Can he coat the breadcrumbs? "I'm Asher." He grinned slightly and gave her a nod.

"You're a Slytherin who enjoys cooking." Dora shook her head looking amused. "Never mind." His cooking style was more like her own. She had no interest in cooking unless she herself was hungry.

While he began working on that, she started on working on preparing another batch since they were cooking for two now. Glancing back up at him, she nodded. "Perfect." Not too big or small. She half smiled. "I know. You played quidditch, right?" She kept up with all the players.

Oh a splashing war, was it? Brynn laughed again as she was hit with more water, then dipped her hand in the sink, pushing some water back at Bart. She elbowed him back at his nudge. "I knew you could too," she grinned. Brynn was sure he could, now it would be nice if she could get hers done as well as he had. It was just exciting to see it transform.

Yeah.. she could test hers out in the water, even if it wasn't the greatest looking boat. She glanced over at Bart as he pulled his out of the water.. oh, to try it again? Okay, maybe he liked the practice, she thought, then gingerly placed her boat in the filled sink. "It's working.. it's.. oh," she said glumly as the shallow boat sat on the top of the water for just a moment before water seeped into the shallow sides and it began to sink. She fished it out of the water to try again just as she noticed Bart bringing back his boat again, successfully transformed.

Alright.. while she was happy for Bart that he was getting the spell done, she was starting to feel a small annoyance at the back of her head for not getting it right herself. But she had progressed, she knew that, so maybe it would be even better this time. Deep breath. "Awesome," she grinned at him when Bart's boat floated again, shoving her hand in the water one last time to divert some splashes towards him before she got back to work on her boat.

It was going to work this time, she told herself as she placed the piece of wood on the table. "Reverto." Confidence was key, right? Brynn closed her eyes picturing the boat in her head again, then the block of wood transforming into that boat. Opening her eyes, she tapped the wood with her wand. "Lingnum Navicula." The block slowly transformed, this time into a shapelier boat. "Look I did it!" she exclaimed excitedly, super proud of herself, not to mention relieved that it finally worked. Now.. would it float? She hastily grabbed the wooden boat and rushed it to the sink, gently placing it on top of the water.

The Slytherin nodded and got back to work. He coated the ball of beef with the breadcrumbs. As he was told. He made another one. Quidditch? He looked up and grinned. "Yeah, I do." Another nod. Did she already know his name?

He rolled the beef into another ball."What about you, Miss perfect? Do you play?" He didn't think so. He didn't think he had seen her play. Then again he hadn't been here in a year.

He laughed and jumped as the water splashed towards him. He acted like her elbow hurt as he bent over holding his stomach. “Brynny.. You trying to make sure I don’t play Quidditch this year or what?” Standing up straight again he laughed more. Grabbing some more carrots and chomped on a few and waited to see if Brynn’s boat would work. He thought it was going to, but then frowned as it went to the bottom. “Do it again you’ll get it. It’s a nice looking boat. Just needs to float if you are going to beat me at battle ship.”

As he watched his boat in the water and laughed at Brynn as water came at him yet again and thought crossed his mind. “I know how to make this more fun.” Yes this would be great, because fun was important. He went searching in his bookbag as he kept an eye on Brynny doing the spell again. “Great” He said encouragingly as she made the boat, now he crossed his fingers a bit hoping it would float.

Pulling out the vine he set it on the table, “I want to try something.” He grinned looking at her, did she trust him? Tapping it with his wand, “vinea funiculus” he watched as the Vine did nothing. “Come on.” He had done this one a few times in class and it worked great after Alexa helped him. This shouldn’t be so hard. Really trying to see the vine in his head, which of course made him see monkey’s swinging from vines, which made him want to swing with monkey’s on vines. No.. no he needed to focus on the vine in front of him. Tapping again, “vinea funiculus” He held his breath a bit as the Vine transformed into the rope. Awesome….

Standing near the boats in the sink he smiled, “Now to play we have to use the ropes to try and move the boats.” He tossed an end in near his own boat and started moving it to make waves in the water. The boat moved a bit then he swung it pushing it further towards Brynny’s. “What do you think?” Did she like the idea?

A bet? Lucas put down his glass and grinned. "That depends what I'm betting on." However, if the incentive was chocolate frogs, he was pretty keen.

Lucas frowned.. well that sucked. The only reason you'd want siblings was because they were really entertaining like ready made fun factories. "Not even borrrrrred games?" Huh. "Anyway, you've got ME for that now."
Hey, Lux was pretty good at this pep talk business too. He smiled softly and nodded. "Uh huh. Thanks Lux! Who knows, maybe. Maybe I'll change my mind." Except it'd kind of been on his brain for a while now.

Lucas nodded fervently. "Like, I think if you're really passionate and you can get over how scared you are about flying you'll be awesome!" Ah James. Would talking really do it? Yeah. Lucas thought so. "James is more confidant." He refrained from adding 'cooler' because that just seemed depressing."It's funny, I was just thinking that same thing.. we are really different. But we're not that much like our parents either. They're so.. boring." Maybe that was just a parental thing though. In any case, James nodded about their similarities in Quidditch. "Uh huhhhh. Falmouth Falcons. We used to have jerseys but I don't think we fit them anymore." Sad.

So back to their game! "What's your... what's your biggest fear?"

He wasn't saying no; that was a good thing, right? "Well, it wouldn't be anything bad or dangerous... But it would be for Chocolate Frogs." Lux wanted to have fun with Lucas and make bets with him, but she did not want to ask him to do anything that would make him sick or cause him to get hurt. "We can even take turns with bets, so you can ask me to do things!" It could be more fun that way.

Lux bit her lip. She hoped she hadn't sounded like her siblings were boring or she did not like spending time with them. "Well, sometimes... but my sister is 21 and my brother is 25 and they don't live at home anymore." It wasn't that she never saw them, because she did... it was more that they weren't always there and she missed them. "But yeah, I do have you, and you have me!" They would have so much fun together like they had been so far. "That's very true! And if you don't, I can even help you with stuff if you ever need it... like for becoming a Healer." Because even if he was too young now, she knew that they would be friends for a long time.

Now it was her turn to thank him. "Thanks, Lucas. That makes me feel a little better." If he could see that she would be awesome if she got over her fear, it must be true! Her goal was to be able to fly by the end of the Term so that she could try out for the Quidditch team. "Oh, that's interesting that you are not that similar, but I bet you could be more confident like he is if you come out of your shell a little more at Hogwarts." Lucas had it in him, even if he could seem shy and awkward; he had no trouble talking to her! "Oh, they are a really nice team! Maybe we could go see one of their matches together some time!"

Meh. Of course he had to ask her that. "Heights. Definitely heights. But ghosts scare me too." The thought of Sir. Nick at the feast made her shudder, and she remembered hiding into Bay and Tessa. "What's your biggest fear?" She could have thought of a new question, but she was honestly interested in knowing what his fear was.

Brynn cracked up laughing when Bart acted like he was gravely injured from her elbow. "Well, we are on opposing teams," she teased with another laugh. Though she still wasn't sure how she made her team, being such a novice to the game and all. There must have been just enough people trying out to fill the open spots. But she pushed that thought out of her head, a little nervous about how all the splashing would affect the floating ability of her boat, feeling it was a bit delicate after only just getting the spell mostly right.

The eleven year old peered into the large sink for a few minutes, biting her lip as she waited. When it appeared that her boat was going to stay atop the water, she grinned and clapped her hands. "Look! It floats! Now we can really play Battleship." Brynn ran over to the table to grab a carrot then looked curiously at Bart as he spoke. More fun? Well, that caught her attention. She started crunching on her carrot and watched Bart curiously as he tried the next spell. Right.. they were supposed to transfigure that viney thing too, which she never even got to, being so occupied with the boat. But she had finally gotten that so she could give this a try too.

It only took Bart a couple tries to get the spell right and she clapped excitedly for him when the vine transformed into a rope. "Neat!" she exclaimed and figured she'd need to do hers too, but first she was curious about Bart's idea. Watching with interest, she turned her attention on the ropes as he put them in the water, a slow grin forming on her face. "Oh that's cool! Yeah.. I'll.. I'll go do mine now." But would she be able to?

Brynn went back over to the table and pulled the vine out of her bag. It should work like the other spell, right? Intent and concentration? She glanced at her notes a moment but had the voice of Bart speaking the incantation in her mind anyway. Focus on the image of a rope, she tapped her wand on the vine. "Vinea Funiculus!" The vine changed in thickness but not rally a rope. But it was promising enough to the young girl and she decided to try again. That was more progress than she usually got on spells. "Reverto." And it was changed back.. Brynn focused once more, really concentrating this time. "Vinea Funinculus!" Gradually the vine transformed into a good enough rope for Brynn. "Did you see? I got it on the second try!" Time to play!