Cassie made her way to the great hall, kitty purse on her shoulder and a cup of hot chocolate. It was so cold and with the snow inside now, something had to keep the students warm. Thankfully the blonde had asked super nicely to keep the hot chocolate plentiful and the house elves were doing just that. Mmm how she enjoyed the little marshmallows that floated around. So yummy!

Now it was time to watch Gobstones, not that it really made that much sense to her. She wasn't the sports type of person, but Hufflepuff was playing and it had been years since she got to route them on. Now that she was a professor, she knew she couldn't just route for one house, so she'd make sure to cheer on the others too. Oh like Mr. Grayson who seemed to be doing well. "Go Mr. Grayson!" Yes see she could cheer for both sides now couldn't she?

With a winter coat on, Simon made his way over to watch the latest Gobstones match. He didn't really know what Gobstones was as he had never played or seen the game before; however, he had come to support his house, especially Grayson.

The snow landed lightly on his dark hair like a dusting of fondant sugar. As he made his way further into the Great Hall, he noticed several cups of hot chocolate. Where those still warm? he wondered, picked up a cup, and took a brief sip. He winced at how hot the drink was. He grabbed a couple of marshmallows and placed them in his cup. Ahh. Much better. A little bit of sugar with a sugary drink. It was the perfect way to keep warm in THIS weather. Then Simon went off to find a seat.

The benches weren't too full so it was easy to find a place to sit. Blue eyes glanced around the benches looking for a place to sit when he found one next to his Divination Professor. "Hello Professor Morgan! Mind if I join you?" he called out giving her a friendly wave as he made his way over to her. "How are you?"

Sipping on her hot chocolate she tried to understand the game. Her brother had tried to get her into it as a child, but the gene that made her enjoy sports must have been left out, because she just lost interest quickly. Though she was there today to cheer on her students. Oh look the Hufflepuff was doing well. "Good Job everyone!!" She really couldn't just yell for her puffs. No she had to cheer them all on.

Hearing a voice she turned her green eyes on a Slytherin boy, "Oh hello Mr. Simon. How are you? Of course I don't mind at all." She patted the seat next to her. "So nice they could bring the game indoors with the weather we have outside, isn't it? Do you play?" Was she asking too many questions? Looking back towards the game she clapped as it looked like Grayson had done well again.

Simon beamed and took the seat next to her. "I'm wonderful. How are you? Yes, they decided to give us a much milder version of the winter outside" he asked with a kind smile. He took another sip of his delicious hot chocolate and began to feel warm once again. Ah.. Hot chocolate was just a brilliant invention. Sometimes the boy wished that he could go back in time and shake whoever's hand that came up with this idea. Anyway back to Professor Morgan. He shook his head at her question. He had never played Gobstones before. He only knew a little bit about the game but didn't quite exactly understand it at all. It was perplexing but not as mind-boggling as girls his own age.

"No, I've never played before. I don't really know what's going on but I heard that Slytherin was playing Hufflepuff so I stopped by to support them. Have you played?" he asked with wide eyes. Simon glanced over to the game briefly. "Come on Grayson and Ethan and Sophie! Go Hufflepuff too," he said as he didn't really know anyone on the Hufflepuff Gobstones team. Some of them looked familiar but he didn't know their names. Oh well. Maybe he'd find out their names later?

She beamed, he was wonderful well that was just fantastic. “Oh Simon I’m just fabulous really. “ She looked around and chuckled happily, “Yes I think it is trying to give us some outside, but it’s not too horrible though. Kind of pretty falling.” She knew it was overly cold and her tower was almost unbearable, but there was no point in just being super negative about it either. Feeling a chill come over her the blonde squeaky sneezed three times. “Oh goodness, I’m sorry.” She looked back out at the match. Now if she only knew what was really going on.

Oh he had never played, well good they were sitting together for a reason. “We can learn together! My brother tried to teach me when I was young, but I just couldn’t focus on it. He used to say my head too far in the clouds.” Chuckling she shrugged and sipped her hot chocolate again. “Oh very good Mr. Grayson” She thought at least “Miss Leah, wonderful!” Not really having a clue if they were doing well or not, but no at least no goo had shown up yet. Her smile grew as she heard Mr. Simon cheer on both teams. “Your house is playing for the championship and you are still cheering on Hufflepuff? Well Mr. Simon I find that very noble and a show of great school spirit not just house. Five points for you.” This was super exciting, she had never just randomly given points yet, but wasn’t her lesson all about showing love and this right there was proving her lesson’s meaning!

Sadly Josephina had missed the first match her badgers had played against Gryffindors, but was pleased to hear they had done STELLAR. Pity though that she had to watch them play in such frigid conditions. She just hoped the gob wouldn't freeze or they could feel their hands enough to pull through... except right now, it just didn't look promising. The match was still young though.

"C'mon Hufflepuff! I know you've got better aim than that!" Hadley cheered out to her students, before glancing around at her fellow viewers. Oh, Cassie and Simon! "Hello Cassie! Simon! Enjoying the match?"

Simon nodded. The snow falling a little inside the Great Hall was pretty. It was gentle too. "Yes, it is pretty. It reminds me how nice winter can be in small doses. I prefer the summer. It's summer back home. My parents are enjoying the warm weather," he explained before taking another sip of hot chocolate. "Do you have a favourite season?" He turned his gaze back to the match to see a young Hufflepuff girl doing well. Then a loud noise occurred THREE times. What was that?! he wondered. Oh. It was just her sneezing. Simon blue eyes widened as she sneezed a couple of times. Oh no! Was she getting sick or was it allergies? He had no clue. "Are you alright? I hope that you're not getting sick," he said. He wouldn't want to get sick either. Not with whatever was causing the horrific weather outside.

He beamed at her suggestion. "Awesome," he said but then realized his comment could be taken the wrong way. Simon then rather awkwardly added. "I mean... awesome that we can learn together. Not awesome about what you're brother said." Whoops. Yes, they COULD learn together. Learning together usually worked out better than learning alone. That was one thing he learned this year at Hogwarts. Before coming to the school, he preferred to work by himself.

Simon took another sip of his hot chocolate and refocused on the match at hand. He was distracted once more when Professor Morgan wondered why he was cheering on Hufflepuff when they were playing his own house for the championship? Despite enjoying the feeling of winning, he wouldn't mind losing either. He had learned that from having a younger sister. When Allison was really little, he'd let her win but would never tell her. He figured that was something that he ought to do as an older brother. It felt like a responsibility. He blinked. He just got FIVE POINTS from Professor Morgan for school pride? Sweet! "Uh.. Thank you Professor," he said with a kind smile. He cheered them all on because he couldn't do what any of them were doing. Seriously. Some of these guys were really good at gobstones. He'd just remain on the sidelines with posters in hand. He took another sip.

Before he could say anything, a cheering Professor Hadley appeared on the scene. Oh hello! He waved over to her. "Hello Professor Hadley! How are you? Yes, though I don't really know what's going on too well as I've never played Gobstones. Do you know how to play?" he asked with a grin. Perhaps she'd know how to play Gobstones and could teach both Professor Morgan and him about how to play. That'd be good.

Summer back home? Hmm Cassie was under the impression that everywhere at least in the country was experiencing the same weather they were, but Simon didn’t sound like he was from around here now did he. “Where is home?” She was curious. She heard at least two other students sound like they had similar accents, but wasn’t fully sure on where they were from. “Spring is my favorite. I love the flowers blooming and just the smell of spring.” Though it was April and they certainly weren’t even close to spring yet. Maybe the Divination professor would transfigure some flowers around the castle make it more spring like if that was even possible. She felt the freezing temp in her tower was harming even her magical flowers. Pulling a tissue out of her purse and grabbing a runaway sweater wearing Aries, she chuckled as she put the kitten back in her kitty purse. “Oh fine, I just sneeze when I get a chill. Maybe it’s time for a heating charm.” Though her hot chocolate seemed to be doing the trick as well.

Cassie couldn’t help but chuckle as Simon spoke and then corrected his speaking, “I knew what you meant don’t worry.” She wondered if she was that nervous at times with professors during her youth, something told her she probably had been. “Though my brother is right, I’ve always had my head a bit further up than most people. It helps keep the negative away.” She was easily distracted and always thinking of the next possible thing that could help people have a better time. So she didn’t see anything wrong with that. Aww he was thanking her for giving him points. She so loved this school and the students. They were so mannered. He got snaps as her eyes went back to the game. “Good job Miss Hayden. Very good!” She was so enjoying herself. “Mr. Grayson very good!” Couldn’t forget about him. He was such a hard worker.

Green eyes lifted as she heard her name. “Josephina, Hello! Welcome to our little Gobstone gathering.” She beamed, there weren’t many out watching, but everyone was probably just trying to stay warm. “Plenty of hot chocolate from the house elves if you need some.” She’d have to get a refill soon enough. “Both teams seem to be doing a wonderful job, though Mr. Simon and I here aren’t really familiar with the game to really know.” She had to admit and gave the boy a little smile.

"Home's in Australia. I'm from Melbourne," he said with a wide grin. The grin faltered slightly which was on the complete other side of the world. The boy hadn't really thought about home in a while and he felt a pang in his heart arise when he made that realisation. He missed home desperately yet he was having fun at school. His friends had become more like family over the past couple of weeks, especially Ethan, Cutty, and Zander. He wondered how they were all doing. His parents probably would have been worried sick that he wasn't sending letters to them. Simon bit his lip and then smiled again at the Professor. "Where's home for you?" He nodded as he listened to Professor Morgan's favourite season. Yeah, spring was nice. That had always been his mother's favourite time of year because she could finally start gardening again. "Spring's nice. I like how its not too hot and how much it rains." His favourite would have had to be autumn. Simon loved watching the many colours that the leaves would change before they fell off of the trees. It was just completely magical.

Simon's blue eyes widened when a kitten literally popped out of the Professor's bag. WHAT? HOW? HUH? thought Simon as he stared at the little adorable thing. Thank Merlin, he wasn't allergic to cats cause then he would have been the one who was sneezing. "Oh good, good. What's your cat's name?" he asked becoming more curious in the sweater wearing cat.

He grinned at her, more relieved to hear that she knew what he meant. Oh good, good. Simon had been in too many situations where he had said something silly and everything just got super awkward and uncomfortable. "Staying positive is good. I have an older brother who used to make fun of me for having magic," he explained. Well, his brother still DID kind of made fun of him for being "weird" or "special"; however, Simon wasn't really keen to share that yet with anyone. He hadn't even told Ethan. He clapped when Grayson and Hayden went off. "Come on Grayson and Hayden!" he said after learning the young girl's name from Professor Morgan's exclamations.

Simon nodded in agreement to what Professor Morgan was informing Professor Hadley and then gave her a thumb's up. Yep, both teams did seem to be doing well but did the two of them know any specifics?

Nooooope.

But still it was fun. Simon supposed that they could always make up their own rules for the game.

Australia, what an interesting place to be from. She smiled at him brightly, “That is amazing. You came all this way for school.” She noticed a bit of his smile falter and she realized he probably was thinking of home. Moving her hot chocolate into her other hand she put an arm around him and gave him a little squeeze. “It’s hard to be away from home, but we must remember that are family is never too far away. They are always in our heart and in her thoughts.” Giving him an encouraging smile she knew it had to be rough especially with all the owls gone. Why did they have to leave, she couldn’t figure out. Whatever was causing all of this, she just hoped it stayed outside. “My home is actually not far from here. I have a house in Hogsmeade, but I’m originally from Tinworth.” So not far really at all if you compared it to Simon’s.

Chuckling as he looked at Aries, she pat the cat on his hooded head. “This one is Aries and that one is Gemini.” Just as she introduced Aries another sweatered cat popped his head up to look around. “I don’t go anywhere without them and now that the tower is so cold they much rather be down here where it’s at least a bit warmer.” She might be taking them to see if Nessa would catsit for awhile. Looking back at that match she couldn’t believe how exciting it seemed to be. She just wished she understood it better. “Way to go Slytherin! Great Job Hufflepuff!”

She focused her eyes back on Simon and his words, “I’m sorry to hear that. People that do not understand find it easier to judge and tease then really try to put some effort into learning more. Learning is power in any shape. You should always know everything before you judge someone else. Never know what they are going through unless you ask and learn.” She beamed positively at him. Hearing him cheer she looked up just as the match ended and Slytherin one, oh and Gryson got player of the game. She stood clapping and cheering. “Bravo Mr. Grayson, Bravo”

Turnign towards Simon she picked up her kitty purse. “I had a fabulous time Simone, thank you for sitting with me and dealing with me not having a clue.” Not that he knew much more, but he could have sat alone or with friends, but he was sweet enough to pick the seat near her.

Simon nodded in agreement. Yes, home was far, far, far away. He wondered how they were all doing back there in the warm sun. He was pretty jealous of the weather that they were probably having over there. Uh. What would he give to have the Australian summer heat right now in Hogwarts? That would be amazing. He took a sip of his hot chocolate and felt an arm come around his shoulder and give him a squeeze. Simon smiled up at her a little. He nodded at her advice. Home was always in his heart and in his thoughts. He'd keep that in mind and in heart too- especially with the whole population of Hogwarts being snowed in. He raised his eyebrows when she informed him that she had a house in Hogsmeade (which must have been lovely) and that she was from Tinworth. "Is Tinworth located in the southwest of England?" he asked, trying to remember the map of the world that he had on his ceiling at home. He thought so.

He smiled and was about to greet Aries when another cat popped out of nowhere! Woah. Hello cat number 2- Gemini. "Nice to meet you both, Aries and Gemini," he said grinning particularly at Gemini as that was his astrological star sign. He nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. I don't know how the Gryffindor and Ravenclaws are surviving up there in the cold." It was much better to be a Slytherin or a Hufflepuff these days. Warmer common rooms. However, his common room was beginning to get colder by the day too. Speaking of both houses, someone was scoring again. He finished up his hot chocolate and continued to clap and cheer on his fellow students. "Come on Slytherin! Let's go Hufflepuff!" he said but had a feeling that his house would seize the championship.

Professor Morgan turned back to him and shared a pearl of wisdom with him. People did find it easier to judge things that they didn't understand. He nodded in agreement and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really mind now. I've sort of gotten used to it," he said about his brother's endless teasing. Well the teasing had gotten worse this past year but he didn't care. He and his brother would see to eye one day- or so he hoped. If not, it wasn't his loss as he hadn't done anything wrong. His smile brightened even more when he replayed her sentence about learning being power."I agree. It's like that muggle saying, 'Don’t judge a man or woman until you have walked a mile or something in his shoes'." He wasn't sure if he nailed the quote; however, he was fairly certain that he'd captured the essence of it. It made sense to him. Before he could say anything else, the match had ended. He too stood up to cheer! "Yay Grayson! Awesome job, mate. And good job, Hayden! You put up a good fight," he said. But not as good of a fight as Grayson. But Hayden was young and Simon was sure that she'd have more time to practice.

Oh she was leaving? He gave her a grin. The woman who liked the colour pink was very nice. He liked the Professor even more after having spent some one on one time with her. "It was nice spending time with you too, Professor! You're welcome. And thanks for putting up with me too about not having a clue about Gobstones. Perhaps another time we can learn more about the game?" he offered with a bright smile. Perhaps one day, he would even try to play the game? Who knew?