There was that strange habit that others displayed again. It'd been a while since she had to disregard it but it'd popped up again. How did one tell someone they were happy to know them...before actually knowing them? It was the oddest thing in the world to the Gryffindor. For all Jasmine knew she could have been perfectly rude and horrid--not that she was, depending on who you asked but that was the prinicple of the matter. Likewise, Lex didn't know much about this girl except that she always hung out with that weird Chris dude so she wasn't going to agree on it being nice to know her, not until she knew. In stead, Lex gave a small nod and ripped at the turkey slice to feed her kneazle again.

"He's super friendly once there's some affection in it for him. Only time he gets otherwise is with people who's company I don't particularly fancy." Felix understood when she didn't like people and he was far from accepting of those. Generally though, he'd rub against anyone for an ear scratch.

While Felix finished off the strip of trukey slice she'd offered him, Lex reached for another sandwich--this one with beef and melted cheese by the look of it and took a bite. This was heavenly. For that one second she forgot they were all trapped inside and her anxieties melted--but then she caught that look. "Why don't you get one? They'd be brilliant for Hogwarts. My best friend had one, Mags, she and Felix were almost friends." Almost because the kneazle couldn't accept that she wasn't his next meal. It was a bit hard to differentiate sometimes for her baby.

In the moment of silence, Lex took another bite, relishing in the taste and the warmth that still radiated from the sandwich. The silence continued when her pause was added to the earlier one before she spoke. "By technicality I'm from Scotland but I grew up my whole life just outside London." With the occasional family trip back there to visit her grandparents. Fun. "And you? Anywhere fancy?"

Jasmine reached for a glass of pumpkin juice to wash down her turkey sandwich. Thinking of what she wanted to eat next, she looked at Lex. The Prefect was a hard one to get a read on. Jasmine wasn't quite sure what to make of her. She seemed friendly enough, but Jasmine had a feeling that she didn't let just anyone get to know her, really know her.

Reaching over to Felix, Jasmine scratched his head and gently stroked his fur. Maybe there was something to having a pet at school. "Maybe I will get a pygmy puff. I've always wanted a pink one." It would be nice to have some company around here, especially now. "Wait, why were they almost friends?", Jasmine asked as she continued to rub Felix's head.

So Lex was from Scotland/London. When she asked Jasmine if she was from a fancy place, Jasmine almost laughed.....almost. "Fancy? I am most definitely not from anywhere fancy.". Taking a breath, Jasmine began to recite the saga that was her life. She decided to give Lex the short version because most people usually lost interest by the time she listed all of the places she had lived. "I was born in California and I lived there until I was ten. I had a few stops in between, but now I live in France." .......More or less since most of her time was spent at Hogwarts.

Lex took another bite of her sandwich while she watched the kneazle finish up his strip and purr contentedly to Jasmine's scratching. Very typical of her kneazle. It wasn't that he'd forsaken the food but affection was high up on his list of needs apparently and she just rolled her eyes at him before turning her already half divided (by the sandwich in her hand) attention back to Jasmine. "Pink. I've never really been a fan of the colour." Understatement right there but they didn't need to get into that. "But Mags was pink and I didn't mind her at all." In fact she loved that Pygmy Puff, honestly. "You should definitely get one. They make great pets."

Ah and wasn't that the question right there. The Gryffindor shrugged a little and took another bite of her sandwich. "He spends most of his time in predator mode once he's decided not to be lazy. Mags was easy pickings--except not really because Lottie would have transfigured him into something painful if he tried." But the kneazle wasn't big on understanding threats when it came to what he was and was not allowed to eat. Go figure. He'd gotten better at it though...sorta....

Jasmine was amused, she got that much as she finished off the half of the sandwich she'd be working on. Surely there would be some form of explanation so in the mean time she ripped another piece away from the turkey and offered it to Felix. Wait. Hold the snitch? "California? Sweet. My best friend and I are planning to visit there this summer. It's gonna be epic now that we'll both be of age." Lottie was already of age, Lex just needed June to get here and her problem would be fixed and they could enjoy the new freedom. "Why not Beauxbaton if you moved to France?" Just a curious question. The Gryffindor was usually full of those. Curiosity was her kryptonite--chocolate frogs being the main weakness of course.

Deciding that her next undertaking would be apple pie, Jasmine reached for a slice. Taking a bite, she couldn't help but comment on it. "This is really good. You should try some.". Trust.......Jasmine knew her apple pie.

So Felix liked to do what kneazles were meant to do. Rubbing his head, she said, "You wouldn't eat Jasmine's pygmy puff if she had one, would you Felix!" Just in case, Jasmine made a mental note to keep an eye on him if she ever actually had a pygmy puff of her own. Lex was really giving her positive feedback about the animal and that made her want one more than ever. "You've convinced me. If I'm lucky, maybe I can have one by next term.". At least Jasmine hoped that she would be able to get one.

Then Lex said that she was going to California this summer. "That sounds like a lot of fun. What city will you be visiting. I usually go visit family there during the summer. I'm hoping I'll get to go this year.". Jasmine sure wished she was in California right now, where at least it would be snowless and warmer.

And then, the question she had been expecting came. Beauxbatons. "I was at Beauxbatons for two long years. Hated it. Couldn't wait to get out of there. My mother is from France so she thought that it would be a great idea for me to go there. She was mistaken. Anyway now I'm at Hogwarts and very glad of it." Beauxbatons had pretty much been a nightmare for Jasmine. She never felt like she fit in there and basically wanted to leave the moment she got there. She was at Hogwarts and loved it. In fact, until recently everything had been perfect.

Lex had only just finished the second half of her sandwich when Jasmine suggested the apple pie. Funny enough she'd hadn't even noticed it was there thanks to the chocolate muffins just a little further down. The Gryffindor reached over and plopped a slice onto her plate then reached for one of those muffins. "Their pies are usually brilliant stuff. You've had the lemon meringue too, yeah?" That was another brilliant one.

She stuck the fork into one end of the pie and brought it back to her mouth, mildly amused by the girl's hope when it came to her kneazle. Felix didn't typically care who the other pet belonged to, it wasn't in his nature to care but she very much cared. As it stood, the lion couldn't be bothered with whiny people moaning about the pet they'd lost to her feline's digestive system so she kept a close eye on him, if only for her own sanity. Oh and she'd convinced her to get a puff! "You're in my year, right? Making next year your last? You'll definitely need one before then. It has to happen. If you're in Diagon Alley over the summer we can go get you one." If she wanted to, that is. Lex wasn't one to impose herself on anyone's summer. It just wasn't her thing.

The city? Mmmm....Lex finished chewing the piece of apple pie and washed it down with some of the pumpkin juice before attempting to explain an answer. "We don't actually know yet? See we just figured we had to go somewhere together this summer and it seemed like a grand idea. We just need to flesh it out after she works out some dates with her boyfriend." Lex had long since stopped caring about the fact that Tag needed to be included in decision processes. He was somewhat of a fixture now.

And that right there explained her being here. Lex wrinkled her nose at the thought of two whole years at Beauxbaton. "Can't say I blame you. I'm not at all impressed by the things I've heard about that school. Some of the people there are cool but in general it's....eh." There was a small shrug to compensate for her lack of descriptive words here. "They have dreadfully boring school terms too." She added as an after thought. No danger = LAME.

Jasmine was enjoying her pie and watched as Lex took a slice of her own. "Yes the pies are excellent. I have had the lemon meringue and it is awesome, second only to the apple pie for me." It was so good, in fact, that Jasmine had to convince herself not o take a second slice.

"Yes, I'm a sixth year. Next year will be my second and last year at Hogwarts.". Saying it out loud, Jasmine found it hard to imagine. It seemed like she had just gotten to school and her first year would be over before she knew it. Her face brightened a bit when Lex suggested shopping for a pygmy puff this summer. "That would be great. I would like that very much, if you have some free time after your trip." Jasmine could already imagine having a puff at school with her next year. Someone to come home to, that would be nice.

Jasmine thought that Lex's "girls' trip" to California sounded like a great idea.. She could imagine how much fun it would be to have a road trip with your bestie. "I'm sure you guys will have a great time, whatever you decide. You could visit one or more of the big three, L.A., San Francisco or San Diego. They're all very different so it depends on what kinds of things you like or want to do." All of this California talk gave Jasmine a sudden moment of homesickness.

So Lex understood about the Beauxbatons thing. "You know I'm not a stranger to being the new girl, but things were different there. That school was just not for me. I left and never looked back." That was definitely the truth. Now it was Jasmine's turn to ask the question. "So what's it like being Prefect?" She was just curious. A lot of responsibility was wrapped up in that title and a lot of power.

This girl had TASTE. Lex found herself nodding despite not having a preference between the two. "I'm big on desserts in general. Anything with sugar and I'm set for life." And this wasn't even an exaggeration. It was a well known fact the girl was a sugar-addict, one the Healer couldn't cure despite having tried sometime back in her first year.

Op. See. Lex may have been one of the most oblivious but she still picked up on things. This one was new--well not so new anymore but you got the idea. Were the girl in a different house she might have noticed sooner. There was simply just a wariness to be had about Ravenclaws. They'd proven nothing but trouble fo her and her bestfriend. We also notice the face brightening, yes, this basically meant this plan was set in stone now. "I'll have a lot of free time, period. The summer'll be two and a half months and the trip is only for a week. We could probably meet for ice-cream then get it done." Ice-cream was a summer must and it felt good not seeing someone cringe at the word, though she didn't blame the others...that had been a traumatic term....

Of all the cities Jasmine named, Lex was taken by the sound of L.A, mostly because she felt like she'd heard it before. Perhaps one of those places her father had gone for business and taken her back something nice from. "I'll suggest those names to Lottie, it'll help with the planning. Which do you suggest?" Lex asked curiously, ignoring the kneazle that crawled his way into her lap and swiped the slice of turkey she'd been feeding him. The girl used to live there, her opinion was greatly appreciated.

Lex nodded, taking another bite of her pie. "I can understand that." Not the being the new kid part, because back then her whole year had been new and she hadn't transfered since, but just Beauxbaton not being right. At the mention of being Prefect her eyes lowered and she spent what might have been a long time just stroking her kneazle's fur before offering a response. "It's great, you know, at first. Calling all the shots, being in charge...until you realize how much you fail at it and suddenly it's just a heavy load on your chest that you can't shake even after locking your badge in your trunk." But that was just her. Surely the others would offer up a more...er...hopeful outlook!

Jasmine was ashamed to admit it but she was a bit of a sugarholic too. She had kind of learned to pace herself, but the temptation was always there. Then Jasmine had a sudden thought. "When you go to California, you have to try See's candy. It is soooo good. You'll love it."

When Lex said she'd have free time for pygmy puff shopping this summer, Jasmine was pleased. When she mentioned ice cream, well that just took it to another level. "Ice cream sounds wonderful. We'll have to make it a date then." The prospect of hanging out with a new friend? this summer was appealing to Jasmine. It was friend with a question mark because Jasmine had the feeling that Lex didn't take friendship lightly. You probably had to earn her friendship, not that it was a bad thing. Anyway, she was glad that Lex and Felix had crawled over to the Ravenclaw table after all.

Hmmm. Which California city would Jasmine suggest they visit? "They're all great, but in a different way so it depends on what you like. San Diego, that's where I'm from, is very laid back. It has great beaches and it's good if you like to do outdoorsy things. Plus it has a world famous zoo. Now L.A. has great beaches too. It's more glitzy, you know, where all the fabulous and famous hang out. San Francisco is just a cool city. Lots of hills, cable cars, great food." You can't go wrong with any of them."

When Jasmine asked about being a Prefect, Lex's reaction surprised her. The delayed response said a lot. It seemed to have become a burden for her. Jasmine could not imagine having all that responsibility. She could see how it could be both a blessing and a curse. "I'm sure that you're doing a great job", Jasmine said, attempting to be helpful. "I bet there are a lot of the younger kids who look up to you."

Excited? Was Elodie deliberately asking for an understatement?

Charlie grinned and nodded, swallowing before agreeing. "More than." Best place ever, with possibly her favourite person ever? Of course she was excited. "Ecstatic." Thrilled. Exhilarated.

There were more words, of course. But Charlie wouldn't bore her friend with them. She'd become enlivened at the thought of her boyfriend, and was glad that Elodie had brought her up. Glad enough that she wasn't paying much mind to the fact that her friend... Well, that there was a rough patch there. But, she thought, wasn't it better to not be reminded? To not have to think about it twenty four seven?

"We're also thinking of going to New York, you know. To look at unis....." They could see her, right?

See's Candy? Truthfully she'd never heard of that place and didn't know what to expect there but it had the word candy in there and that was all the Gryffindor needed. "Definitely. We'll make that one of the stops we make? Is it all over California or will it be the deciding factor in where we go." Believe it or not Lex WOULD choose a spot solely based on the potential for candy and Lottie wouldn't mind at all...so....

And wasn't this grand? More official summer plans. Lex grinned at Jasmine. "Sure thing, a pygmy puff date." Or maybe an ice-cream date sounded like the better term to use. It was certainly more appetizing. "I just can't wait for the summer. I've had enough of this cold. Haven't you?" She couldn't think of many people who were happy with the weather around this place...except Dora. She liked it enough, just not the way it restricted them from going outside. Something Lex could understand. Being inside was so confining that it hurt.

Alexa popped another piece of pie in her mouth and offered Felix another strip of turkey while she listened to her options. This was really valuable stuff right here. She had no idea and could now make an informed choice. Though she supposed Lottie would have done her research. They wouldn't have gone in blind regardless. "Outdoorsy stuff makes me think we'll be going to San Diego. She's into that sort of thing and we'll be looking for someplace chill with nice beaches anyway." But it still wasn't confirmed, just...Lex liked the sound of this.

As reassuring as Jasmine was trying to be, it didn't help. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate what she was saying but she'd gotten enough proof to know for herself. Still for the sake of not ruining a perfectly good lunch conversation Lex gave a small nod and forced a smile. "You're right, I'm probably just overthinking things." She'd learned a long time ago that you could end things by telling people what they wanted to hear. Usually it worked.

Reaching for an apple and a fork, Elodie nodded at Charlie's evident enthusiasm about Paris and gave the other girl a smile as she dove the fork into the apple before sucking the little bit of juice from the fork created holes. "Sounds fun. His brother got my sister pregnant, you know?" Did she know? Had Tristan communicated that with her at any point? Had Nolan told his brothers before he'd told Elodie herself? There were going to be problems if so.

"You are? For you or T?" Because... T had never wanted university. Had he changed his mind and not ran it by her? She thought all choices he made went through a grilling session over the dinner table. "When? I can try stay with Braison if he isn't being an idiot and trying to keep me out of mums house." And then there was the whole going travelling thing.

And Milan.

She'd just...make time to third wheel with T and Choo.

Now that Jasmine had brought up See's candy, she couldn't stop thinking about it. How could she explain that chocolatey goodness to Lex? Best to let her experience it herself. Words could not do it justice anyway. "Oh yes, See's is everywhere in California so you can't go wrong with whatever city you choose. There will be candy to be had." Listening to some of the things that Lex and her friend were looking for, San Diego sounded perfect. "From what you mentioned, I think you would like San Diego. It has every kind of outdoor activity you could imagine, the beaches are great and you can't get any more mellow than that city. Of course, I'm a little biased. Any of those cities will be great to visit."

Jasmine nodded when Lex agreed to to a summer pygmy puff date. "I'm looking forward to it already." She continued nodding in response to the "Have you had enough of winter?" question. "Oh I am so ready for summer. I am not a cold weather girl. I tolerate it, but I don't love it." In fact, Jasmine was feeling like she might never be warm again. She had never experienced a winter like this one and hoped that she would never have to endure another one. "This isn't normal, this winter? It's not usually like this around here, is it?"

When Lex responded to her Prefect comments, Jasmine could tell that there was more to it than she was letting on. She could have fooled most people, but not Jasmine. The facial expression, the tone of voice........clearly this was a topic hat Lex really did not want to get into. Jasmine decided that it was best just to let it go, for now. "Well I'm sure that everything will work out for you, just hang in there."

The air outside has certainly made its frosty presence known, seeping through minute cracks in the castle that were previously undiscovered by wind, rain, or creature. The enchanted ceiling has lately reflected this turn of events via constantly dim, gray cloud cover. But there seems to be a difference this evening as the dinner rush begins and a strange, cold dust accumulates on tables, benches, floor, and even heads. Could those be..? Surely not... Are those really SNOWFLAKES?!

It is officially snowing inside Hogwarts.

There was candy to be had no matter where they went? That was all the Gryffindor needed to know. This would not be a wasted trip during the summer at all--not that it could have been, what with her staying with her bestie and all but you got the idea. "Every kind? Yeah?" And now she wondered how much convincing it would take to get Lottie to do something like sky diving or bungee jumping with her. The Hogwartian was by no means a coward but she wasn't nearly as much a thrill seeker as Lex. "I think I'll pitch that city to her, but I'm sure we'll end up with that one." Beaches and plenty to do in one week? Yes please. "What did you use to do when you lived there?" Maybe she could get some ideas from her while they were on this.

Ah, yet another person that couldn't stand this winter that was dragging well into months that it shouldn't have been. This was completely understandable. "I'm the same. There's nothing like a good summer to make me happy. Beaches, ice-cream, freedom." None of which this being locked inside a castle offered incase it didn't realize this. It was okay at first, you know, when she thought it wouldn't go more than a week at most but now things were all kinds of ridiculous. Lex shook her head. "Nah, it usually starts warming up before this point. Only time I remember it ever being so cold--and even then it wasn't this bad--was the term the dementors attacked." Of course even then they were allowed outside. This storm needed to get itself together.

They were dropping the Prefect conversation, right? Right. She figured they were so there was no point in really giving a response. Instead she looked forward to what could possibly be discussed while they were enjoying their lunch. "So how come I hardly see you outside of classes and meals?" Lex asked, reaching for the other half of her sandwich. "I mean, before this whole lock in." Basically how she spent her time really. It wasn't every day that Lex saw the Ravenclaw and she went most everywhere.

Jasmine watched Lex's reaction to the possibility of candy. Oh yeah, she was a hardcore candy junkie. No doubt about it. It looked like she was pretty much sold on San Diego too. "What did I do when I lived there?" Jasmine thought about it for a moment. "Well I was younger, so I went to Muggle school.........but I guess you mean what did I do for fun. I hung out with my friends mostly. I went to the beach, swam, rode bikes and went camping every now and then. I've always liked animals so it was fun to go to places like the zoo and Sea World.". Jasmine thought back to those days..........good times.

So as Jasmine assumed, this winter was far beyond the norm around here. Wait, what? Did Lex just say it wasn't this bad when the dementors attacked? Seriously? What was with this place? Obviously Hogwarts wasn't a stranger to high drama. "Um, I'm almost afraid to ask but, there was a dementor attack?" First the zombies in Peru, then this freakishly cold winter and now a dementor attack. Jasmine was starting to wonder what kind of madness she had gotten herself into.

Then Lex asked a question that Jasmine wasn't quite sure how to answer. Now it was her turn to dance around an answer. "Oh they let me out of the tower from time to time", Jasmine said jokingly. "I like to walk or run around the grounds and I spend a lot of time in the Room of Requirement. I like to dance and asked the room for a dance studio. When things get crazy which is often, I go there and practice my dancing." Truthfully, Jasmine hadn't been able to bring herself to go there since Cris left. The memories were just too painful right now. She realized that Lex probably hadn't seen her much because she was always hanging out with Cris.......and now that wasn't an option so Jasmine spent most of her free time in the Common Room or the dorm. Realizing that she had blanked out of the conversation for a moment, Jasmine turned her attention back to Lex. "I like to feed the animals in the playpens too, but I guess I just haven't really been out and about much lately. A girl's gotta eat though so here I am."

Jasmine wondered how she could steer her thoughts in another direction. Thinking about Cris made her sad and since she thought about him most of the time, she stayed sad a lot. Losing her boyfriend and best friend had been harder than Jasmine could ever imagine, but how could she explain that to Lex? Trying to turn the corner on the conversation, Jasmine asked, "What do you like to do around here? What keeps you busy when you're not in class?"

A piece of parchment, folded into a rectangle, came soaring into the Great Hall seemingly unsupported and clearly propelled by magic. On the outside in looping letters was written the name Miss Jasmine Guidry. It came to a stop and hovered in front of its intended reader.

Jasmine was surprised when a piece of wizard air mail flew into the Great Hall and stopped in front of her. Unable to imagine what it could possibly be, she looked questioningly at Lux. Well she would never know what it was if she didn't open it. Reaching out to take the piece of parchment, Jasmine slowly unfolded it. Reading the note actually brought a little smile to her face. Professor Domingo had thanked her for the Valentine card and given her points. "That was very nice of her", she said quietly to herself. Jasmine was surprised and pleased about the points, but more than that, she was glad that the Professor had liked her card.

His... what? Charlie just looked a little dumbstruck as Elodie spoke, and kinda wondered why Tristan hadn't told her himself. She wondered which brother, but kinda thought she wouldn't be able to place the face unless it was Lincoln anyway and... It couldn't be Lincoln. Because Pi. Pretty Pi.

"Wow, so you're going to be an aunt?"

That seemed like the most appropriate response she could come up with. And she'd leave out any, 'so we'd be kinda sorta related' comments, because her and Tristan weren't.. and... she didn't exactly want Elodie telling him that she was creepy or some form of clingy.

That would suck. "For me. I.. Tristan's not really interested. He just wants Quidditch." She nodded a little, before licking some soup off her spoon hoping that the snow would clear up soon. "Probably after Paris. Why... Why would he keep you away?" It was her mums house, too. She should be allowed there.

Ah muggle school, now there was a dark time in the life of the Gryffindor. Dull beyond belief and riddled with nose picking idiots. She'd been all too happy when she hit 11 and heard she'd never have to do it again. Talk about relief. And lookit the Ravenclaw being a Ravenclaw, yup, she meant outside of school. As it stood, Lex hated the word. Why? Because she was trapped inside one. The beaches and the bike riding would have to be placed on the list yes but, "Sea World? With those...um...Merlin, what are they called again...--whales? The one's with the screeching voices?" She might have learned about them at some point but circe how long ago WAS that? She had to see them. Lottie would agree, yes?

Oh riiiiight. New girl. She probably had no idea. Was this a whoops moment? She wasn't really sure. On the one hand it gave the school a bad reputation but on the other the school deserved it for all it put them through. "Yeah, dementors. It was way back in my Third Year. Kinda creepy 'cause someone had slipped someone into the ice-cream here that made everyone happy and addicted and perfect food for passing dementors. Lost our Groundskeeper that year. Shame too. I almost liked him near the end." Almost. Just almost.

Lex had been trying to follow her line of conversation and for the most part she was getting the gist of it until jasmine just stopped and went blank. Umm....was that like a thing...? Did it happen often? She was about to clear her throat to bring her back but the girl needed no prompting before she continued. Now Lex could question it but reckoned it would have been bad form so she let it slide. "Do you dance for audiences?'" With very little to do, Lex could go for watching if she didn't mind. Give herself something to do. "I don't much visit the animals. Felix gets jealous real easy." And he was a hassle when he was trying to take on creatures three times his size and more.

When the cards got fliped back to her she pointed to the kneazle that had made his way back into her lap. "He keeps me. Always wondering off doing Merlin knows what." The kneazle was just TOO hyper sometimes. "When it's not him it's my pursuit of new hexes, jinxes and curses. I've recently began teaching myself silent casting for them. Comes in handy like you wouldn't believe. If not that, then finding something to do with my friends." Outside of that she was doing something reckless enough to keep herself occupied.

Curiously enough a parchment zipped over and lex watched her open it. "What's that?"

Jasmine was surprised that Lex had heard of Sea World. She didn't exactly think that it was common knowledge in the Wizarding world. "Yes, that's the place with the whales. They have all kinds of sea animals there. It's pretty cool." That would definitely have to be on her list of places to visit the next time she got to California.

Then Lex went on to explain the dementor situation. It seemed like Hogwarts had a history of.........unusual happenings and they were right in the middle of another one. When she said that they lost the groundskeeper, Jasmine's eyes got big. She was almost afraid to ask, but she did it anyway. "Did the dementors get the groundskeeper?, Jasmine asked. She was deciding whether he should be horrified or not.

Lex didn't question her too deeply about her whereabouts and for that Jasmine was grateful. She was sure that she did not want to jear the details of her love life or lack thereof. Jasmine almost chuckled when Lex asked if she danced for an audience. "I used to. I took classes and we always had recitals and performances. Lately though, I've pretty much been dancing for myself."

Jasmine could imagine that taking care of a pet could be a full time job. She knew that they could be like children sometimes, at least that's how it was with her dog. Then Lex mentioned nonverbal spells. Now that was something that Jasmine was very interested in. "I've been working on nonverbal spells a bit too. I've had a little success, but my results have been very inconsistent. You definitely have a big advantage if you can pull it off." That reminded Jasmine that she should go back to the dueling arena and go a few rounds with the dummies.

After Jasmine received her letter, Lex asked her about it. "It was a note from Professor Domingo. I gave her a Valentine's Day card and she was thanking me. That was nice of her." Then suddenly wondering, Jasmine asked Lex, "Who did you give your card to?"

"Again. Yep. I think Nolan and Candice are going to get married now though.... Having a baby and all...." Not that she assumed a baby had to mean a wedding, but they'd been besties ever since they were younger, so.. It was just fun. She wasn't yet sure if she'd hint at them adopting her too or something so she wasn't the only person in the house with her surname. Probably not though. Candice was only ten years older than Elodie, and Els was going to be travelling the heck out of the world.

"I think they're going to call him one of the names I suggested." Secrets as to which one though. And she'd suggested over a hundred.

Els nodded, and shrugged. "He's good enough for Quidditch.. Maybe one day.." He was working or something now. She didn't know. She didn't talk to him every day unless it was summer or the winter break. "Long story. No need to get into it. I'll see you at some point. I think I'm going to put off serious travelling until the baby is here."

Her new nephew, obviously.

Darcy.

Whales? Was that what they called them? Interesting. "A muggle friend of mine went there before, he went on and on about the creatures, showed me pictures too." For all the good that did. The pictures didn't even move. How did one enjoy pictures that didn't move? Surely the moment wasn't still captured. "I dunno if Lottie's ever been though so I'll have to ask her about that too." The trip sounded more exciting with every new thing added!

There was some reluctance in the question Lex could see but Ravenclaws were a curious bunch so she hadn't expected that to be what made Jasmine change her mind about asking. The Gryffindor gave a small nod as she swallowed the piece of her sandwich she'd just done chewing. "Yeah...nearly got us all actually. We'd been having an ice-cream party of sorts in the Great Hall and a whole hoard of them swooped in sucking. The Profossors got us out but Mr. Firth was a bit too Gryffindor and took dive for Professor Knox." Shame too because she was positive the woman wouldn't have done the same.

"Yeah?" Lex asked, concerning her dancing for herself when she was accustomed to audiences and the like. "You mind me coming to watch sometime? Felix and I could go for a show." And a glance down at the feline for his confirmation on the matter. If he would sit still long enough he'd likely enjoy it too.

And here she found herself nodding...a lot. "It's the best advantage when they can't hear it. I'd been working at them for a while but had to give it up last term because of some aging disease that left me tired and I'd only just started back. So far I like what I see though I'll admit my silent Levicorpus could use some work." Or maybe not. It'd knock Louis out cold when she dropped him on his head so maybe it was fine afterall and it wasn't like the Professors present had any protest. They must have thought it was well cast too...or were too shocked that she'd actually done that to her Co-Prefect. Meh.

Lex found her nose wrinkling involuntarily at the mention of the valentine cards. "Oh. That." She gave a nonchalant shrug. "Bellaire. She was the first Professor I ran into so I figured why not." Wasn't like she'd taken the homework seriously. It wasn't REAL.

OH A WEDDING!!

Would Charlie be invited? She hoped so - one, because Tristan would invite her, and two, because she'd never actually been to a wedding before! Heck, she hadn't even known about her fathers until months after it had happened. "Yeah? Going to be bridesmaid?" Elodie would look really pretty in a bridesmaids dress, Charlie thought to herself. The girl looked pretty in anything, actually, but still. The point was there.

"Any ones you're hoping for? Do they know the gender already?" If Elodie were anything like Choo, and as excited as she seemed about it, she would have suggested a million billion names, all of which were probably lovely. Charlie did notice the 'he' term, though - not sure how far along Candice was, she posed the question. Maybe it was just because, well.. Darcy boys.

Joining in Elodies nodding, Charlie sighed a little. "He is," she agreed. "And he wants it so much, and he deserves it." She knew he did, because he was amazing and marvellous and she'd made a banner for him. With 'good luck Tristan' emblazoned on it. And she wanted a chance to wave it - she knew she would, one day. Charlie smiled again, almost glad that Elodie was putting off travelling some what. "You'll definitely see me. You won't be able to get rid of me."

Because Charlie would be without Elodie for the whole majority of next year.

And she already knew she was going to hate that.

Jasmine was getting the feeling that Lex was definitely going to make a stop in San Diego on her swing through California. It really was a cool place to visit and it seemed to be the kind of place that Lex would like.

But the dementors.......sucking up Professors and almost students? Yikes! It made Jasmine hope that the outcome of Snowmaggedon wouldn't be as terrible. "Wow", she said. "That whole thing had to be horrifying." She probably would have been scared out of her mind if she had been there then. "Fortunately all of the students were fine."

Then a surprise. Lex wanted to watch her dance. She certainly hadn't seen that one coming. "Sure you can watch me dance if you want to. I don't mind." Given the lock-down situation, Jasmine guessed that the entertainment options were few around here. Only one person at Hogwarts had ever seen her dance, so maybe now it would be two......well two plus Felix. "Just let me know when you want to do it."

"My nonverbal spells really need some work. I've been thinking about going to the Dueling Arena to practice on the dummies. That way if I don't get it right, they can't fire back at me." Jasmine at least wanted to have a few spells under her belt before next term. That was one of her goals for next year.

Jasmine smiled when Lex said she gave her card to Professor Bellaire. Well, she was still there so Bellaire didn't eat her for breakfast. "You were very brave. She doesn't exactly look like the sentimental, Valentiney type to me, but you never know." Jasmine kind of had her pegged as the anti-Professor Cassie, but she could be wrong.

Bridesmaid? "I hope so... It's not like Candice has many friends that are girls. She stole most of their boyfriends." She only had Tam, Lina and the other girls that had modelled for the store. "It depends when the wedding is." That was a joke. Elodie wouldn't miss her older sisters second wedding for anything. Because she knew full well that Nolan wouldn't allow it to take place in Vegas at all so she'd actually be able to attend this time.

"Nolan's a Darcy..... It's obviously a boy. No girls. Ever." And no, she had no idea which name they were settled on, but she didn't mind because...well because she liked them all already. "I suggested Elodie, but they didn't take too kindly to that suggestion. As expected, obviously..." Elodie Darcy would have been a hoot though. Proper good suggestion and that.

Tristan...... Yeah...... Els only nodded because everyyone knew how she felt about T and quidditch, even in spite of her broom fear. "I like the thought of not being able to get rid of you..." She liked the thought of not being able to get rid of her friends when they were apart.

She was more than happy to get rid of the rest of them though.