Lucas nodded with no small amount of enthusiasm. "You better have a ready supply of chocolate frogs, Ariel. It's on. What's the wager?" He didn't even CARE who was asking, there was CHOCOLATE to be had. Food. Food was an excellent incentive for the young Lion. It didn't actually matter what food it was.

Oh. That sucked. And Lucas mirrored his thoughts with an empathetic grimace. "That sucks. They should come visit more often!" And he felt seriously grateful that he had a twin brother. An AWESOME twin that was ALWAYS home and around and could generally be coaxed into playing Quidditch when their Dad was in a good mood to play keeper. He nodded brightly. Hogwarts was definitely a funner place when you had actual friends and Lucas was mighty glad he had made a few this term. "That's.. thanks Lux," the boy said sincerely. It was sweet. Very, very sweet.

The 'getting over the flying thing' was really the obstacle. And then hopefully being really adamant about getting good at Quidditch. No biggie. At his age, it seemed like a walk in the park. "Sure. Tessa will get you flying circles around everyone in no time."
He nodded brightly as she spoke about being more confidant but felt a little unsettled by that. James was more outgoing and charismatic, but while Lucas was always a little more nervous at first, he didn't think there was anything wrong with that. His shell was fine. Or at least he'd thought so. Was he being WEIRD? Oh. Frowny.
Quidditch, however, was always a good distraction. "Yes! Definitely. Next time they're playing at home, I'll see if we can get some tickets."

Heights and ghosts. Well at least one of them wouldn't have an impact on her intended career. He shuddered. "Apparently when they walk through you, it feels really cold." Except, Lucas had actually seen the Fat Friar floating in the corridor on his way up to Astronomy and he wasn't sure that he was scared of the weird man in period costume. Hm. "Have you spoken to any of the Hogwarts ghosts?"

Oh man. OF COURSE she would ask that. Lucas squirmed a little, circling the rim of his glass. "Um, uh, I don't know really, I guess.. I worry sometimes about embarrassing myself." That was weird, but the creeping sensation of a burning blush really irritated Lucas. He HATED feeling humiliated.

She looked only a tad smug. See? She kept up with her quidditch players. The ones that played at Hogwarts at least.

"No, I prefer watching to playing." More enjoyment in her opinion. Dora finished preparing the second batch, and then was moving beside him to roll them into balls. "Virtually all of my friends play though. So I might as well play for all the time I spend out there watching them." She side eyed him curiously. "I haven't seen you around much recently though."

Bart chuckled as Brynn said about different teams, “Yeah.. yeah it will be weird playing against you.” He never thought about that until now. They would play against each other, “What position did you tryout for?” He thought about being a beater. If he got that position he might have to hit her with a bludger. He squirmed uncomfortably at the thought of harming his best friend. It was just all in the game though she’d understand, right?

He was still splashing water with his rope when he saw Brynny place her boat down in. “Awesome it works. Now we can play!” He was ready to sink her battleship and started rocking his boa more with the rope, but stopped when he saw her go for something. Oh she had her vine as well. He grabbed a few more carrots and sipped pumpkin juice as he waited.

In no time it seemed she was ready with her rope too. “That’s really good, but you are really smart Brynny so no reason you couldn’t do it quick.” Nope he knew his friend was smart and had no worries she’d be great here, him on the other hand. Wait had she started he started to move his rope more trying to run into her boat. It was going slower than he wanted it to. He tossed a carrot right at her boat missing it he watched the water splash. This was way too much fun.

“So how are we going to determine when the battleships are hit?”

Yes, they were going to make bets on chocolate. "I have lots where that comes from. Do you want to bet me to do something first? If I can do it, you can give me 10 Chocolate Frogs, and if I can't, I will give you 10." That was a good number, she figured. It was the same one that she had made in her bet with Bay at the start of the Term.

Nod. That was true. "I want to see them loads over the summer as well as my friends." She would be so sad if she didn't see her friends for a long time. Lux did not like being alone, she always wanted to be with people and have fun! She lived to be active. She smiled when he thanked her. "I'm just telling you the truth, I would help you if I could." Her friends were so helpful with her, and she wanted to return the favour to them.

"I really hope you are right about that. And you can maybe see me fly when I am better at it." She wanted to show Lucas and her other friends what she could do on a broom once she stopped being scared. And as soon as she could fly on one properly, she wanted to start practicing for Quidditch. Hopefully she would get good at it, or she would not be able to play and her dream would be over. "I am so excited to watch Quidditch with you!" They were going to have so much fun and she was sure that James would come to, and she could get to know him properly too. She wanted to know Lucas' brother well.

Errr, yeah. She was not going to let a ghost walk through her any time soon. Shudder. "Sir. Nick spoke to me at the feast, and I was scared so I hid into Bay and Tessa and Bay protected me." She still did not like ghosts at all even though they had told her that they were harmless and actually here to help. The concept of dead people walking around gave her the heebie jeebies.

Lux could definitely see how that would be his fear, as he did seem to have issues with nervousness and awkwardness. "You say a lot of smart things though! I don't think you have said anything to me that would be embarrassing." He really underestimated himself! She waited to see if he had another question to ask her, and if not that was okay because she still was having a lot of fun talking to him.

Pressure was on, that was for sure.

Lucas thought long and harrrrrrrd. Well. "I bet you can't do a handstand." He eyed her. She wasn't a gymnast was she? HMMMMMM? Hopefully not. He'd have to go to Hogsmeade and buy chocolate frogs if he lost.

"Is your sister older or your brother?" Fascinating. PEOPLE were fascinating. Lucas wanted to knowwwwww stuff. What were they like? What did they do? Man. His face went a bit soft when she said she was only being honest. "I know, I know, uh, well.. it's just. Nice. It's nice. Thanks. And the same.. obviously, I , uh.. would do the same. For you. Duh." BLUSH.

This summer was kind of going to be awesome. AWESOME. SERIOUSLY AWESOME. "Why do you want to be a professional quidditch player, though?" What if she HATED flying? What if she HATED Quidditch. I mean, that would suck but there would be plenty she'd be good at.
"UH HUH. You better show up in green and gold, or ELSE. Unless you support.. like the Arrows or the Harpies." But even so, that meant chocolate wagers on the games outcome and well, Lucas thought that was a delicious idea.

"Aw, but he's COOL!" Nick was weird, sure and he liked to play with his head wound a little much but he was funny. "What about the Friar? He's your house ghost!" Surely he'd been nice to an lil' Puff! "I think it's sad though that they have to stick around. It must be annoying that you're alive but not reaaaally alive."

He DID? Lucas kind of BEAMED at that. "Ya huh, but it takes a while for me to be like not stuttery and silly. Like.. you know I'm better with people I know. People that I feel comfortable around." But before that level of amicability came awkward blushing and stilted conversation.

A handstand, huh?

Lux had never done one of those before, so she was sure that Lucas was correct in his assumption. Eyeing the ground, she considered if she wanted to do it here in the kitchens or do it somewhere else like the entrance hall or one of the corridors. Maybe it would be okay to do it here, because she was not likely to hurt herself. "Okay, it's a deal. I will try to do it as soon as I am done my juice."

Picking up her glass, she took another sip before answering his question. "My brother is older. He is 25, and my sister is 21." So yeah, quite the age gap between her and Willa. She laughed as he spoke a little awkwardly. He was so cute. "Maybe you can help me with practicing in the future." She was sure that he would be a great help to her, as she would be to him.

That was... a good question. Shrugging slightly, she considered it for a moment before replying. "Well, I love watching it and reading about it, so I assumed I would love playing it too." It was the same with some of the other sports, like soccer. It was a Muggle game, but Lux loved to both watch it and play it. Maybe it would be the same for Quidditch? She started giggling again when he talked about who she would be supporting. "Don't worry, I will be matching you, Lucas!" They would be cheering for the same side.

No. No. Just no. Shaking her head violently, Lux was not going to change her opinion of ghosts being creepy. Even if they were nice, she was still scared of them, and did not want to interact with one. "They scare me." She would hide if she encountered in the corridors or rooms of the castle. "And I can really tell that! You are a lot more comfortable with me than you were when we first met." Honestly she had worried he would have a serious panic attack earlier.

Lux sounded confidant. A lot more confidant than Lucas would've expected. He grinned. "Awesome." And talking of drinks.. he poured himself another glass. Pumpkin juice was like.. THE BEST.
Woah. The Gryffindor grimaced at the age difference. "What were your parents up to for like a decade?" Did one of them move to Africa? That was kind of cool though. "It would be nice, they'd tell you all about the secret passageways at Hogwarts cos they've already done it."
He nodded at the offer. Uh DUH. Flying was the best. And he kind of missed flying with James A LOT.

Lucas laughed. "Makes sense!" And quidditch was so fun, it was impossible not to like. He grinned as talk moved to their summer match meet up. "You better! Dad's really loyal.. even when they've been losing for a whole season." But it kind of made it more fun when they didn't expect to win.

The blonde boy shrugged. "Maybe one day the Fat Friar will become your friend." Wouldn't that be COOL? Having a ghost friend. Nick was always preoccupied with his head flap that it got kind of annoying. Speaking of annoying, his shyness wasn't really going anywhere, was it? "Uh, yeah, it was a bad day but now.. it's.." Well.. he'd met Lux.. so it wasn't too bad at all? "Now it's better. Much better."

Right, it was handstand time.

Lux downed the last of her juice before getting up from her seat, she headed over to what she hoped was a clear enough space so that she could do her little bit of acrobatics. Carefully, she bent forwards so that her hands were on the floor, then tried to get her legs up in the air so that she could be in the proper position.

Lux's arms went all wobbly, and she couldn't get her legs up where they were supposed to go.... then BOOM She came crashing down onto the hard floor.

Surprise! Coul wasn't hungry.

He was almost sick of having the same thing to eat all the time, as it seemed like he and Elodie had a sort of repeated menu or about four things. If she was going to make him eat anything though, it'd have to be a salad or something super healthy because it would be light and he could get away with not eating much.

Maggie hadn't written him back yet. But that was no surprise. She wasn't much for writing. Or communicating with her son. Or any of that sort of thing. He wasn't even sure if he was going to get her a gift this year. Well other than the obvious chocolate that he'd gotten her every Christmas and holiday previous.

But that all didn't matter because he knew what he was getting Elodie and that's all that really needed a lot of thought. But this years present didn't need as much as the previous years. She'd already told him what she wanted like a hundred times. He just had to specify on what exactly it was. Which he did already. Now he ought to write Candice. Not Braison though. Braison would probably kill him just cause. He was scary, that brother of hers.

Coul hopped on the counter, tugging Els to him and put on his charming grin for her. "Hi girlfriend."

She slowly opened the doors to hear the sound of clanking pots & scurrying feet. Her blue eyes settled on the sight of...ELVES? There were House Elves working the kitchens? Josette had read about them back at home & even her father told her that they used to have one before she was born. But she had never actually been this close to them before, & her curiosity was getting the better of her. Thankfully for her, she was too afraid to actually go up to them, seeing as to how busy at work they were cooking.

She adjusted her hat making sure none of her hair was showing before walking towards an empty table. On the way, she'd noticed other students in the kitchens as well, one of them looked familiar to her, but she couldn't quite remember where she'd seen her before.

Josette paused as she stood at the empty table unsure of what she should bake. She did promise herself that she'd bake something special for her father, just to let him know that she was thinking about him. Although...he'd never actually taught her how to bake exactly. But how hard could that could be right? Now, to find the baking stuff! The little first year began searching around the kitchens, going through each cabinets as she tried to find: a bowl, a spoon, eggs, milk, flour...and sugar?

Once doing so, her slow-moving body was once again back at her claimed table. She put her stuff down before taking a moment to breathe, kind of feeling out of breath. That was something that she still found very random; how slow she was moving, her grey hair, let alone the wrinkles that she was trying her best to hide. This didn't make any sense to her, she was only eleven years old, why was she suddenly turning into an OLD person!? It didn't make any sense to her! Maybe she should go see the healer or something? Or maybe her Quidditch Captain Mo could tell her what was wrong with her, he seemed to be pretty wise. Probably she could do this after she baked her cake?!

She then struggled for a few moments to open the new bag of flour, until it finally ripped open. Josette wasn't sure how much flour she should put in it, so she just gripped onto the bag with both of her hands and used all of her strength to try to pour some flour into the empty bowl. But just then-'OH NO!' The flour not only went into the bowl, but onto the table, & even the floor. She gasped pulling the bag back & suddenly a flour cloud flew into her face making her cough immediately unable to breathe for a few moments. Alright now that that was done...eggs. How many eggs? Hmm...well she did want to make a pretty cool cake for her father, so lets do four! And then add the milk & sugar. Within a few moments the first year was using her spoon mixing away at her creation, until it soon became very difficult for her to stir anymore. Her mixture had suddenly become really think & she was having a hard time turning her spoon in the bowl. She soon put the bowl down feeling out of breath again for a moment before she suddenly got frustrated grabbing the spoon again trying to stir, but it seemed her creation was winning this battle and she couldn't get it to budge.

Christmas? Was it that time yet? Was she able to go home and decorate a tree and put bows in her nieces hair too? How about matching pyjamas? No. No, still wasn't that time yet. It'd be almost time when Mama Tam popped, for suuuuuure. Which probably should have happened already. She had been huge over summer even. People had obviously got their dates messed up and she was just brewing a hostile.

Falling against her boyfriend, she giggled and tilted her head. "Hi sweetie." He had a pretty face. Such a pretty face. Elodie grinned back at him, and put her arms around his middle, contemplating for a moment whether it would be entirely smart to lift herself up and sit on his lap......on the counter. Only for a moment, because she didn't see it ending very well, or at least ending with something broken. Kitchen appliance or human. Probably human, knowing her luck. Broken boyfriend one year, broken bestie for part of the next, broken Elodie to continue the trend?

"I'm not sure how I feel about the kitchen becoming some sort of place for us..." She'd just get fat.

Coul titled his head at the girl, just looking at her, enjoying that cause soon he wouldn't be able to just show up and see her everyday and that's all the really seemed to be occupying his mind lately other than Christmas and things that went with that. But still, that all took over his head more than NEWTs or graduating or job opportunities. It kept him up at night.

Which he supposed was a good thing. Mainly cause that meant less odds for nightmares, not that he'd been having a lot of those. Just every once in a while. A little more than normal people he supposed.

But lately nightmares involved bad happenings at Hogwarts and him not being there to help and protect Elodie. It was silly. He knew that. Hogwarts was supposed to be a safe place. He worried too much.

He leaned in closer to her and pecked her forehead. "Why's that? You don't like the kitchen?" It did smell in here sometimes. But it was never dirty. Coul guessed that this wasn't only their spot either. Plenty of other couples or friends must have had the same idea. "The swing could become our new place..."

The forehead kiss was most welcome, and she smiled, leaning a little more so the standing effort wasn't so much. There was something much nicer about leaning against someone than just standing by them. Something even nicer when it was her boyfriend and she was close enough to smell his shampoo. The shampoo she stole frequently enough to be able to identify it so easily. "I like it in here, I just don't think we're kitchen people." And kitchens weren't too much of a 'place' if you wanted to do much else than cook and eat. Or..be cute with. Because they weren't cooking or eating right now, so..

Not that she minded at all. It was nice being all cosy here. Despite the fact food was made here and someone could probably walk in soon enough for things. "I like private." Like when they were tucked on her hammock at home. Unless the twins made an appearance and made them relocate to the floor.

The swing... Elodie nodded, smiled and kissed his cheek. "I like the swing. It's a good swing..." And it could definitely be their place.

What in Merlin's beard was that adorable child doing?

Ella had been over by the cabinets in search of some chocolate chips. A task that was made all the more difficult because the blonde was short and the elves had for some reason decided to place the bag of chocolaty morsels up higher than the Head Girl could reach. So there she was, standing up quite slowly on her tippy toes before letting out a gasp because OW, PAIN! She immediately lowered down again and leaned against the counter, hand grasping her side. That's when she noticed the little one. O___O

She knew flour was meant to go in the bowl, yes?

"Hey there," She greeted cheerfully as she hobbled over, a friendly smile playing on her lips. "What are you making?" Because whatever it was, half of it was on the floor, it seemed.

Why wasn't this spoon moving anymore?! It literally reminded her of cement or something! She was becoming very, very frustrated! Josette hadn't even noticed that anyone else had been watching her, let alone see her, but it was when she heard someone speak to her was when she froze immediately. Her hand still on the spoon, her blue eyes slowly traveled towards a blonde girl who looked older than her approaching her in a pretty odd manner. It kind of made Josette think that she had to go to the bathroom or something.

She stared at the girl with a slight bit of fear in her eyes. Josette didn't respond right away when she spoke to her. Her mouth just opened slightly to speak, but instead of words, a light squeak came out. She quickly covered her mouth with her flour-covered hand. A moment went by before her hand slowly went down & she nervously answered in a hushed tone, "...A....A...cake.."

Oh no, she'd scared the poor girl. Ella's expression softened even more so and she stopped just shy of her, leaning on the counter a bit for support. It was funny considering the kid looked like a flour monster and really, the blonde had more cause for concern than she did. "Looks...a bit stiff." The batter. Cement-like actually. Poor girl. The blonde observed it curiously before her eyes rested back on the blue-eyed girl, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I'm Ella, by the way. I was just going to make cookies but if you think I'll be in your way, I can come back."

Josette nervously bit at her lip taking notice that the girl had stopped a little bit away from her. She only looked at her for a few moments to notice her leaning on the counter. Then the older girl had spoken & Josette took notice of what she said. Apparently she'd taken notice that Josette was having difficulty stirring her cement cake anymore. She heard the blonde girl give her a name..Ella. She didn't respond right away still feeling a bit fearful. But she softly muttered once a few more moments had gone by, "My name's.....Josette.." Josette then added, "My father calls me...Josie.."

Ella was going to bake cookies? Josette couldn't help but feel her curiosity spark her mind. Looking down again, she fidgeted with her thumbs nervously before lifting her head to ask Ella, "What...kind...of..cookies?"

As she leaned closer, Coul took a large breath in and exhaled, putting an arm around her shoulder as well. He liked her closer and didn't really think there was such a thing as too close for them. The boy shrugged and took a glance around the kitchen. It was empty now. But give it a half hour, closer to dinner time and the elves would probably be everywhere, swarming and working endlessly.

So maybe it wasn't a good place to call theirs.

"I get it. We like food. But not that much." 'Cause they didn't always like cooking. And that was okay. But it was a little weird that they were changing his spot now, he thought. A little too late, almost. Sigh.

He nodded. "Private's nice and so is the swing.." HIS swing. The one he BUILT.

Progress.

This was good and Ella was just happy the girl hadn't burst into tears because she didn't know what she'd do if that happened. Something told her that this kid wouldn't accept hugs from some random older girl.

"That's a pretty name, Josette." Really, it was. "Which do you prefer?" Josette or Josie. Ella didn't want to call her a nickname only reserved for her father, y'know?

Josette's interest in the cookies only made the Head Girl's smile broaden. Ells was hoping she'd ask. "Chocolate chip. My Gran's recipe. I was thinking I might be able to use some help...if you're interested."

Els stretched her fingers up and laced them with his, the ones from the arm around her shoulder, before closing her eyes and tilting her head enough to rest on their hands for just a moment. "I feel like I'm in a cocoon," she whispered, eyes opening and lingering on his. They were softer than usual, something which she didn't know if it was big headed of her to assume was down to herself. But, they were definitely softer than usual. She could look in them and not worry right now. Previously, she'd always been on eggshells for crying or shouting or nothing, but...no. Not today.

Today she just wanted to nuzzle at his face and tell him all the good things in her head.

"I like bacon and spaghetti most." That, of which, she knew he knew and it was definitely irrelevant to the conversation. But he could obviously buy her packets of spaghetti for Christmas and she wouldn't dare complain. Just helpful hints, boyf.

Leaning in just another touch, she kissed his cheek again. When her lips left, she left her nose against his cheek. "You did good, Bibs." She was infinitely proud of her new reading place.

She thought her name was pretty?

Josette whispered softly, "Thank you."

Which did she prefer to be called? Well, honestly she didn't really know. She actually hadn't met a lot of people who'd called her Josie besides her father.
Josette thought about it for a moment before she nervously looked up at her saying in a questionable tone, "Jo..Josie?"

She was going to make chocolate chip cookies?! But she was going to make any ordinary recipe, she was going to bake her grandmother's recipe? So that must have meant that they were definitely going to be special! She wanted help? Josette's help? Josette looked at her cement bowl before looking back at Ella. A tiny smile was soon seen across her lips before she nodded, "Okay."

"You're welcome." Just telling the truth.

The blonde observed Josette curiously, wondering about the whispering. Shy one, this girl. "Josie it is, then." Y'know, if Ella ever saw her in the halls or classes or wherever. Now she'd know how to greet her.

A smile!

This was progress! The eighteen year old clapped her hands together in excitement and nodded her head. "Brilliant!" Baking alone just wasn't as fun, y'know? "Do you mind if I tidy...that up first?" The cement-like concoction? Ella figured starting with a clean surface would be beneficial. "That way we have more room to work."

It.. was a little bit like watching a train wreck in slow motion. There was some screaming (and he was pretty sure that was him shouting LUX in a really panicked, girly voice) and a lot of attempting to help while trying not to get hit in the face with one of her flying legs.

Oh man.

And the crash was the worst part. The dust bunnies in the carpet surfaced for a moment before floating back down to the carpet. Lucas winced, hard when she hit the floor and experienced a gut wrenching feeling of nausea at the pain she must've felt, for surely her wrists were hurt? But panicking wasn't really his style, and he sort of managed to prioritise himself in the situation. For some reason, a steady calm descended over the boy in the crisis.

He rushed forward, and then took the damage in. Ouch. "Hey, hey, hey, come on.. Lux? Are you okay?" Gently kneeling beside her, he tried to pull her up to face him. "Did you break anything?" Eep.

Josette bit at her bottom lip nervously again when she noticed Ella looking at her curiously. She nodded her head when Ella had decided she would call Josette by her nickname. "Should...Should I call you something...different than Ella..or?" Only because she was going to call Josie by her nickname, would it make it fair to call her something other than that? Did she have a nickname? Or would she just rather be called Ella? Whatever she wanted! She didn't want to upset the bigger girl! Otherwise, Josette would be forced to hide under the table.

Ella suddenly started clapping & Josette immediately jumped not expecting that. Judging by the the blonde's eager reaction, she guessed maybe the big girl was happy Josette was going to bake with her? Josette turned her head looking at her cement bowl again as Ella asked if she could clean up her mess before they started. Before Ella could do anything Josette was immediately interjecting saying nervously, "Oh no no no. I..I um..made the mess..." She began to look around the kitchen a bit frantically for towels, rags or something to clean up this flour she had gotten all over the table & floor.

Hm. That was a good question. The Head Girl considered it for a moment or two before smiling. "You can take your pick? Ella or Ells or Ellaphant." Nodnod. "I've got a lot of nicknames. Just Ella is fine, though." Really, it was.

If Josette had been startled by the clapping, Ella didn't notice. She was too excited about the idea of baking and with company, no less. She smiled softly when the younger girl seemed to feel bad about her offer to clean up and shook her head. "It's no problem, really. Actually, have you got your wand?" Because Ella could show her the Scouring Charm if she wanted.