Lambrini had just put the quill back to her parchment to write more when she heard a familiar voice. The sound startled her, causing her quill to go astray, leaving a long, dark mark down her parchment. DANG IT.

She looked up with a frown on her face. "What, Jak?" she asked, the slightest bit of annoyance in her tone. He was looking for his cat? "No, I haven't seen him..." And thank god for that because she wasn't a fan of her best friend's pesky cat AT ALL.

She went back to writing her letter, sighing a little because she knew this situation meant she was going to have to wrap it up.

She capped her ink and shoved her supplies into her bag, mentally making a note to take her letter to the owlery later. "I'm guessing you're wanting me to help you find Lucifer -- I mean Edgar."

It had been a couple of weeks since his birthday, but Benjy hadn't yet had time to properly go through all the photos Garrick had sent him. He wanted to look at ALL the details, and get a proper idea of life at Durmstrang. He'd waited two whole years for these, after all.

Two piles of photos sat on his lap - ones of those he'd looked at, and one of those he hadn't. His skateboard sat at his feet, rolling lazily back and forth as he swung his left foot. And as he moved on to the next photo, he couldn't help but stare. "Garrick, what the...?" he muttered, flipping it over to see if his cousin had written any explanation on the back. Weird.

Her name was pretty? She'd never really thought about it, it was just sort of her name.. Actually, sometimes she thought it was a tad too feminine or maybe uppity sounding, but hearing Zander say he liked it, well, that kind of pleased the young girl. "Zank you, but I'd much rather 'ave an interesting name like yours, vhat does Zander mean?" Justine asked.

Hmm.. Where did Justine like it better? Well, considering she'd never actually been to Beauxbatons that was a pretty easy answer, though she probably should make it look like she was really considering it. "Hmm... zat's a tricky question... Zhere are so many zings I like about 'ogwarts, like zee classes are always so unpredictable and I'ave so many friends 'ere... I vould say 'ogwarts, I zink it just suits me better," Justine said, lying effortlessly, albeit, somewhat guiltily to the younger boy.

Why was she still keeping up this act? Justine really didn't know.

"It is very different, much less.... 'ow you say.... It is more.. Strict, the teachers follow a stricter system, zeir classes are not as fun," Justine said, smiling slightly as she spoke. That part was true, her last school had been much less fun and far less whimsical than Hogwarts was. "Ogwarts really is zee, best school," Justine added, smiling far more brightly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermygirl

It had been a couple of weeks since his birthday, but Benjy hadn't yet had time to properly go through all the photos Garrick had sent him. He wanted to look at ALL the details, and get a proper idea of life at Durmstrang. He'd waited two whole years for these, after all.

Two piles of photos sat on his lap - ones of those he'd looked at, and one of those he hadn't. His skateboard sat at his feet, rolling lazily back and forth as he swung his left foot. And as he moved on to the next photo, he couldn't help but stare. "Garrick, what the...?" he muttered, flipping it over to see if his cousin had written any explanation on the back. Weird.

Weird, wasn't it? How she's never truly talked to that one guy two of her friends have kissed. It wasn't a requirement, anyway, and she had no reasons to talk to him, at all.

Until today...

...and it was thanks to a person who wasn't even at Hogwarts anymore, yet somehow still managed to be in her life. Nicely done, Garrick. Nicely done. Also, it was exactly after she heard that name (and those words) coming out of his lips that Lotus decided to join this Ravenclaw (yes, shocking!) and sat next to him, opposite side of those pictures.

Her eyes focusing on the surroundings instead of Benjy, though, "That's probably the reaction he was after," she nodded, eyeing him momentarily, not the picture, just Benjy, "My reaction was similar when I got a gift from him this week." Definitely similar.

"Alright, don't cry," Mo felt sort of awful for upsetting the girl, and worse so because he'd done it so carelessly. Why had he been so... abrupt in telling her to ditch a friend? "Y'know, someone once tried to get me to give up people that I was friends with, and I actually tried to do it for a while. And then it made me really mad."

He rocked back on his heels and fished out a clean handkerchief, which he offered to Marigold. "You be friends with whoever you want. Be careful, but be friends. Don't listen to me... what do I know? I never successfully was able to stop being friends with anyone."

Jakoby immediately frowned when he heard the annoyance in her voice. He knew very well that she did not like his furry friend -- but hey! It was not his fault that his cat had always felt threatened by her when they were itty bitty toddlers.... who kind of enjoyed terrorizing the cat when they were little. "Oh..." Disappointing, really. He had been somewhat hopeful that she had seen Edgar.

Silently, he glanced down at his converses for a brief moment as he thought of where else his cat could be at. It was only when Lambrini spoke that he looked back up at her once more. Uh.... "No, it's fine. Really, it is." He nodded. "I can go look by myself. Besides, it looked like you were busy writing something anyways." He had lost his cat, so it was his own responsibility to find him.

Lambrini made a "really?" face at Jakoby. "As if you would be fine with me letting you look for that little fleabag by yourself." He would be upset with her if she didn't help, and she knew it. That's why she'd gotten ready to help him. She stood up now, pulling the strap of her bag onto her shoulder. "I was writing a letter to my parents, but I'm done now." She could take it to the owlery later. "Where was the last place you saw him?" Too bad it wasn't back home, in America, where the cat should have stayed. Meh.

Jakoby opened his mouth to talk, but he was quick to close it. Would he be upset if she did not help him? Yes and no. He understood that she did not like Edgar at all, but he did want some help finding the cat. There was too much ground to cover for just one Hufflepuff that was trying to find a little cat. "Even if I was not fine with you helping me, it is not like I could be mad at you for long." His hazel eyes locked with her dark eyes for a moment before he was quick to look away.

"Oh. What did you tell them?" .... was he mentioned? At her question, he was quick to respond, "My dormitory. I was unpacking, and he was right there." So much emphasis on 'right'. "I went to take his medicine, which the muggle vet gave me back home, from my bag, and when I turned around he was -- EDGAR!" He exclaimed when he saw his cat prancing down the corridor. "EDGAR!" He dropped his shoulder back he was holding that had his cat's medicine in it, and he took off after the cat.

"'scuse me," he muttered as he pushed past people to get to his cat.

Jakoby's words... made Lambrini feel butterflies. It was a relief to have one friend she knew would never be mad at her for too long. But why had he quickly looked away? Was he... nervous or something?

"I told them that I surprised you, that we were both sorted into Hufflepuff and that we were settling in, blah blah blah." She'd basically summarized everything that had happened once she left NYC... which wasn't much. She listened as he went on about the last place he'd seen Satan!Cat when suddenly he was calling out for the little beast and running towards him.

Lambrini rolled her eyes, unimpressed by the creature's sudden appearance. She could only hope that next time he stayed gone for longer. Picking up Jakoby's bag, she walked over to him, glaring at the fleabag in his arms. "Yay, you found him," she grumbled sarcastically.

Angel smiled at Kace. "That is amazing." Angel loved it, she couldn't believe what he was drawing. "You are really good at drawing." Angel was hoping that he might show her how to do it one day. "Hi Kace, I'm Angel." Angel beamed she sat down next to him. "So you do many doodlings?"

Kace was smiling when he was meeting Angel. She seemed nice and plus she commented on his drawings. She got brownie points for that. "Nice to meet you Angel.." he said nodding. "Oh you can sit down on the blanket.." he said patting down the place for her to join. He smirked at the word doodlings. "Yeah i do...i actually have more in my book..." he said flipping through the doodles. "I like this one the best too.." he said showing her and pointing. "Do you have any secret talents?" he asked her.

Oh, Bump. He grinned at his toad, all fancied out with his top hat. He should get him a monocle, but he wasn't sure how a toad would wear a monocle. Donny laughed, Tag really did do a good imaginary top hat. He should take notes. Bump was the most fashionable toad in town, maybe even on earth. There should be toad pageants. "I'll make sure he wears it nesst time!" But that time would be somewhere far away from that Stella beast. You never knew with cats. "What does she eat? For.... dietary purp'ses. Gots to keep Stella in shape!"

Hmm.. apple. An unusual one. He nodded, he would accept the answer. "Interesting choice." Now.. if he were to choose a sweet apple would be the last choice, but he wouldn't turn it down if it was the last sweet in existence, you know?

"Will they?!" How cool was that??? He could buy them whenever he wanted then. ..if he liked them. But it'd be special if he got them while he was at his gran's place. "Um... usually every summer always, I think. Yeah." Donny said after thinking for a moment. "Essept for my dad's mam, she lives WITH us! I see her every day." It was fantastic, she was the worst baby sitter ever. And she used to watch him all the time. "My OTHER gran, the first one, she lives NESST TO ABBI!" Best thing ever. The first time he'd seen Abbi they'd spent most of the time screaming, which they still did most of the time. "And your gran?"
Donny considered the insects for a moment. There had to be some reason why people were sticking them inside lollipops. Vitamins? "Like ven'mous snakes and stuffs, they have pretty colours." That had nothing to do with what Tag said, so Donny held his hand up in front of Tag's mouth before he could reply. "Scratch that! ...so, you're saying we're saving insects for last?"

What does Zander mean...? You know come to think of it he didn't really have a clue. Honestly his parents probably didn't even have a reason for it. They probably just liked the way it rolled off the tongue or that it starts with a Z and then has an A to contrast. "I'm not sure actually... I'd like to think they named me after some great war hero named Zander or something. Maybe even Alexander the Great.... But to be honest they probably just heard the name on a television show and decided it'd be fitting." Honest was the best policy, right? Hopefully that wasn't as lame as he thought it sounded.

Zander almost always forgets that Hogwarts isn't the only school for wizardry. Being from a muggle family the only wizards he knew were at Hogwarts and sometimes it was hard to remember that the world of magic extended far beyond that. "Do you still stay in touch with your friends from there?" He was a little bewildered by the whole idea of things. Knowing witches and wizards that didn't go to Hogwarts. Woah.

And yes. Hogwarts is the best school. More like the only school he knew about. But yes, the best none the less. "Yeah, I love it here! It's great! For the most part, professors are nice, (excluding Professor Culloden potions meanie) the castle is amazing, and most of the students are pretty great too. There are some mean kids, but then there are nice people like you so it's okay!" What.

"Oh," was Jakoby's first response to what Lambrini had told her parents. It seemed like the usual letter-writing thing to do was to summarize big events, which was exactly what she did. "Tell them I said hi." He mentally reminded himself to write his own parents tonight once he settled down because he was sure his mother was wondering how he was doing. She had seemed rather worrisome at King's Cross as he boarded the train, so he wanted to reassure her that he had gotten here safely......

..... and that Lambrini had surprised him. He could not be happier that he had her here with him to enjoy this Hogwarts experience together.

Once Edgar was scooped up into his arms, he turned to face his best friend. "I'm so happy I did." He went to his bag, which Lambrini was now holding, and pulled his cat medicine from the outer pocket. He managed to force the right amount into his cat's mouth, and once it was digested, he patted Edgar's head before putting him back down. His cat disappeared in minutes, and Jakoby replied, "At least I know he's going to be okay." At least until he had to take his medicine again.

"So...." The Hufflepuff trailed off as he looked over at Lambrini. "Are you enjoying Hogwarts?"

Looking up from the photo in question, Benjamin blinked in disbelief. She was quite probably one of the last people he expected to choose to sit next to him, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"Lotus," he greeted, slightly confused. The skateboard now sat still under his feet, and he turned to look at her more fully. "I'm not sure what I find weirder right now...this photo, the fact you're sitting next to me...or Garrick getting you a gift." Hadn't things been bad between the Hufflepuff and his cousin - and that led to the whole Durmstrang thing and Kalla at Hogwarts to spy on Benjy and everything else?

"Humour me. What did he get you?"

"Will do." Lambrini nodded her head, mentally noting to scribble Jak's greeting into the letter later. "You should probably write your parents, too. I'm sure your mom would like to hear from you."

Lambrini continued to glare at the little beast as as Jakoby medicated it. She could only hope that the fleabag would run away... or something. She watched as it scurried off, grateful that, for time being, it was gone. Lamb handed Jak his bag and nodded her head in the direction of the nearest bench so they could sit down. She walked over and took a seat, sitting her bag on the ground to leave room for Jak to sit. "It's... okay so far. Not too bad, but nothing too exciting has happened yet, either." She was sure adventures would come in due time. "What about you? You seem to be handling being here." Which made her proud. She knew he would struggle to make friends and whatnot, but at least he hadn't had any anxiety attacks or anything like that yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermygirl

Looking up from the photo in question, Benjamin blinked in disbelief. She was quite probably one of the last people he expected to choose to sit next to him, and he wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"Lotus," he greeted, slightly confused. The skateboard now sat still under his feet, and he turned to look at her more fully. "I'm not sure what I find weirder right now...this photo, the fact you're sitting next to me...or Garrick getting you a gift." Hadn't things been bad between the Hufflepuff and his cousin - and that led to the whole Durmstrang thing and Kalla at Hogwarts to spy on Benjy and everything else?

"Humour me. What did he get you?"

Why, thank you for using her full name. She appreciated that, honest.

Hmmm? Well, this was a once in a lifetime sort of thing, because she could very much agree with his words right now. Minus the photo, she had no idea what he was referring to with that, and she didn't want to know either. Hence why she didn't ask. No need. "I couldn't agree more." Might as well speak her mind.

Not that it wasn't something she did, but still.

Her eyes landed on Benjy, finally, and she gave him a small smile. 'Humour me', she found that amusing. Did it matter what it is he got Lotus? Yes, but no. Two nods were given to the Ravenclaw boy, "A camera. A very fancy one." One more nod. "But of course it would be fancy." It was Garrick.

She agreed, and yet here she was. Strange indeed.

...and he hadn't even made the link to her close friends and kissing yet.

Regardless, he put his photos aside, carefully putting the non-Durmstrang ones face down, and watched her, definitely intrigued. "A camera?" Benjy tilted his head at the Hufflepuff, almost jealous. As much as he liked the photos G sent for his birthday, they weren't quite an actual camera. Especially when his was one he'd had for years. "...always the show off," he said with a nod, sneaking a glance at the face down photos. They suddenly made far more sense. "Did he send a note?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermygirl

She agreed, and yet here she was. Strange indeed.

...and he hadn't even made the link to her close friends and kissing yet.

Regardless, he put his photos aside, carefully putting the non-Durmstrang ones face down, and watched her, definitely intrigued. "A camera?" Benjy tilted his head at the Hufflepuff, almost jealous. As much as he liked the photos G sent for his birthday, they weren't quite an actual camera. Especially when his was one he'd had for years. "...always the show off," he said with a nod, sneaking a glance at the face down photos. They suddenly made far more sense. "Did he send a note?"

Well, she was here for a reason, a very selfish reason. That's the only way this would make sense for the unsuspecting eye.

Thank you! Exactly! Did he sound as surprised as Lottie had been? Quite possibly. She looked at him and nodded momentarily, "A camera." It made perfect sense, too, since that's the part of the YB she belonged to. Or the part she liked the most, kind of. But Garrick couldn't have know that, so it was very puzzling. "Well, he has a knack for extraordinary quality." Who could blame him? It was probably all he saw growing up.

The note, however, she smiled at Benjy's question and shook her head ever-so-lightly, "He did. It read 'Have a good day'." But the gift was a birthday one, she knew because she had written back.

"Is everything alright with him?" This wasn't a random question, she was still surprised by the gift.

Jakoby nodded his head a little at her words. "I'm going to write her tonight," he told her. "You know if I don't write her soon, she's going to worry." Even if his mother wanted him to get out and experience the world, she still worried so much. Her worrying began a couple years ago when Jak had his first (big) panic attack that led him straight to the hospital where he had many tests run on him. Fortunately, he has not had one that bad since, but he has come close though.

He took his bag back from his friend when she offered it to him, and he safely put his cat's medicine back in the outer pocket before following her over to the bench. After placing his bag aside, he took a seat beside her and looked around at all the people in the courtyard. He absentmindedly patted his hand against his thigh as he did so. "I've read up on some crazy things that have happened here," said he. Exciting things she might enjoy hearing but that he would not want to be apart of if history repeated itself. Never.

"Uh.... yeah, I am. There's a lot of people here, but I've spent most of my time in the library." He nodded a little. "People are nice." Which he was grateful for. Bullying was not something he necessarily wanted to deal with..... again. He had one person in his lifetime that bullied him -- his neighbor, Grant, that once lived across the street from him -- but those days were long gone once the boy moved to another state. Life was better with nicer people in it.

Extraordinary quality. Yep, that was certainly one way of putting it. Benjy still called it showing off...especially when it came to out of the blue presents.

"Random," Benjy commented at the note. "I take it he actually signed it, though?" He hadn't had a surprise package arrive from G in ages. It seems the more Lotus said about the matter, the more he felt jealous. SIGHS. He shouldn't need to feel like that about his best mate. And yet he did. Sighs. At least they hadn't argued recently, that was a definite plus.

Benjy looked vaguely curious at her as she asked that question. It was a good question, but he couldn't tell if she actually cared, or just wanted to try and make things difficult. Past differences weren't forgotten, but he did opt to give her the benefit of the doubt. "I think so," he said with a nod. "I haven't heard from him since my birthday though, when he sent me these..." He gestured towards the photos on his lap. "I dunno that he actually likes it at Durmstrang, but at least the end is now in sight."

Text Cut: Benjy ^^

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermygirl

Extraordinary quality. Yep, that was certainly one way of putting it. Benjy still called it showing off...especially when it came to out of the blue presents.

"Random," Benjy commented at the note. "I take it he actually signed it, though?" He hadn't had a surprise package arrive from G in ages. It seems the more Lotus said about the matter, the more he felt jealous. SIGHS. He shouldn't need to feel like that about his best mate. And yet he did. Sighs. At least they hadn't argued recently, that was a definite plus.

Benjy looked vaguely curious at her as she asked that question. It was a good question, but he couldn't tell if she actually cared, or just wanted to try and make things difficult. Past differences weren't forgotten, but he did opt to give her the benefit of the doubt. "I think so," he said with a nod. "I haven't heard from him since my birthday though, when he sent me these..." He gestured towards the photos on his lap. "I dunno that he actually likes it at Durmstrang, but at least the end is now in sight."

Random. Lottie had to laugh, and the smile remained in place. "Pretty much, yes, I agree." It had been so unexpected, that she legit used that word when she wrote back to Garrick. She hadn't seen it coming, at all. Anyway, "Yeah, it was signed." Otherwise she wouldn't have been able to tell who was it from. And probably would've returned it or gift it to the YB or something.

What was that look for, though? She returned it, just in case. Was that question out of line? It was genuine, though. And so she listened. This was the first time she was paying attention to Benjy, actually, it was the first time she was talking with Benjy. Go figure. He seemed kinda nice, too. Nod, nod. "Yeah, I kinda thought so too." Kinda. "I mean, he seemed perfectly fine when we talked over the summer, but I just...," she looked to the courtyard, lost in thought for a second, "...people change, he just didn't seem like the Garrick I'd known." Yet he knew when a comment was rude or not. He still got that.

"I was just wondering. Thank you." For the answer.

Vinnie stepped out into the courtyard. She didnt feel like being inside but she didnt feel like going outside properly, so the courtyard seemed to be the perfect solution. It was chilly outside but it wasnt freezing, yet. Wrapped up in her Slytherin scarf and hat the girl made her way over to a nearby bench and sat down. Thankfully the courtyard wasnt too busy this afternoon.

Putting her bag next to her on the bench the Slytherin took out the book she had just rent and crossed her legs. Relaxing time was much needed right now. The school year had started not too long ago but somehow Vinnie felt stressed. It was her fifth year and that meant OWLs. And OWLs meant high expectations and all that. Sigh.

Lambrini nodded. "Good idea." She'd be willing to bet that his mother would actually show up at Hogwarts if he didn't write her soon, and that would be fun for, oh... NO ONE, because parents are crazy.

She brushed her hair to one side of her shoulder and went about braiding it. "Like what?" She wouldn't lie -- she was curious. But it was just a school. Nothing too crazy could've happened here... right?

"I don't know how you tolerate that library. It's so... stuffy in there." Yeah, she'd walked in, and walked right back out. She preferred being outside, where everything was open and cool. "I haven't talked to too many people yet." She mostly kept to herself, or she was with Jak.

Connor walked out into the courtyard. He was a little cold, but it wasn't too bad, he was getting used to this weather. It was taking some time but this place was very different from where he was from, very wet, very cold. Almost constantly..and it was only October. He saw Vinnie, they hadn't talked much, really for just a second about books, one of his favorite things.

He walked up and waved. "Hey, mind if i sit with you?" He asked and pointed at her bag. "Unless you wanna just hang out alone..I won't be offended." He shrugged, he wasn't in a hurry to do anything specific. He had time to do whatever.