270 to 110!?!

WOOOOOO!!

"Yeah, my Da-" Hang on. No. Bad move, Louis.

The ginger boy was obviously a Quidditch fan who knew creepy gnome facts about his Dad. STALKER. He didn't want to share too many personal details with the stalker. In fact, maybe he shouldn't even be talking to him now.

Louis shuffled his feet nervously before nodding down at the other Slytherin.

"Yeah, I'm a Falcons fan." He decided that was the best answer for now. "Who do you support?"

Looking up at the kid, Richard titled his head to the side. Something was weird here. The boy looked familiar, which was normal since Richard was pretty sure that he had seen him around Hogwarts last year. Since they were both Slytherins, it made it practically impossible for him not to know the boy's face.

But it was something more. The boy just reminded him of someone.

"Caerphilly Catapults." Richard said, face falling as he remembered his team's latest defeat against the Holyhead Harpies. "We're having a rotten season so far. You guys have a brilliant team, though. All your chasers are amazing!" YES! Let's not dwell on the Catapults' bad result, let's focus on really good Quidditch players. "I wouldn't be surprised if you take the title this year. I'll be honest, I thought you were going to take a hit when Bluebell retired, but you kept it together." BREAAAATHE.

Richard didn't much care for playing Quidditch, but when it came to discussing it, he could do it all day long.

Poor kid.

Ginger seemed like quite the Quidditch fanatic which made Louis slightly more nervous. Was he imagining it or was the other boy looking at him funny? Gulp

"The Catapults," Louis nodded approvingly. They were a decent team. "I'm sure your run of bad luck will end soon." As long as the Falcons whipped their butts. That's all that mattered!

Ginger was talking so fast it was like he had forgotten to breathe and the corners of Louis' lips twitched into a little smile. He might be a creepy stalker but he was kind of funny too.

"Oh yeah, Ellie's wicked awesome," Louis agreed with a firm nod. Hang on, would Ginger know her as Ellie? Ahhh, he was messing up here! "Bluebell, I mean. We've been lucky, I guess."

"I hope you're right, mate." Richard told the kid with a thankful smile. It would've been terrible if the kid had made fun of his team. This bonding over Quidditch would have to end, clearly. HMPF. "We can't keep on losing, I suppose." With a half smile on his lips, the fourteen year old folded the copy of the daily newspaper up and slipped it into the pocket of his robe before standing up, Bertie Bott's beans' box in hand.

He was looking down at the place he had been sitting in, but still listening to the kid when he had to do a double take. Did he just call Bluebell 'Ellie'? That was ... a bit weird and Richard frowned at the kid. He had had a few moments like this in this conversation alone.

Well, Richard supposed Bluebell was called Ellie.

Shrugging it off, he simply nodded at the boy's words after that. The Falcons had held onto their core team for years, but the years were passing by. "It'd be a pity if Carden truly did retire after this season, though. And I say this as a guy who watched that man obliterate the Catapults' keeper last season!" That match was the reason Richard was a Carden fanboy, he supposed. You couldn't really deny the quality of his game. ... He truly needed to focus so he didn't come across too fanboy-ish, though. Ahem.

"That would definitely be a big loss for you guys."

Connor nodded. "Yeah..So hopefully everything is okay and everyone is safe.." He hated the idea of anything bad happening to anyone. He also hated the idea of being at a dangerous school. He was going to have to write his mother and tell her about herself for tricking him into coming here.

He shrugged "Well, being clever and being smart are different things. Maybe the hat saw a different kind of smartness in you?" He asked, and maybe it saw a new kind of bravery in him..or at least he hoped..he wanted to be brave, and maybe one day he would be. But for now he was happy just being him.

Connor laughed a little bit and sighed. "I miss Tv...Video Games, i also miss America.." He just missed a lot of things, this wasn't a bad place, he just wasn't used to it yet and he knew that would take some time. He nodded, she made her mother sound like a very nice person, she probably was since Charlie seemed nice. "Okay. That's not too bad, i just don't want a lot of snow..i get cold kinda easy, i'm from the south.." People down south were babies about the cold and Connor wasn't gonna lie about it...he knew that come winter he would hate going outside and avoid it at all costs.

It was so nice out. Perfect temperature for exploring, mind you. Perfect in general, really. Autumn was her favorite season and anyone who had been in Astronomy would know that. Unless they forgot. That was acceptable. She didn't expect anyone to remember her. Except maybe a cute boy or two. One should know. And maybe talk to her. And tell her how pretty she looked today. That'd be nice. "I realize." Nod nod nod. "Are they not charmed to protect people from falling?" she grabbed the banister and leaned over it a bit, taking in the proper height they were at.

Not so scary.

CB nodded. "They won't leave my hands. Promise." she offered up her pinky. "What's it for, anyway?" she tucked some more hair behind her ear and peered around the bridge. Did they have benches on this bridge?

"I could still shove you over. That doesn't count as 'falling'." She wouldn't though. Prefect duties and actually needing to be a good human if she wanted to go into the profession that she did. Really though, the travelling was the best option right now. Anything to avoid making decisions about her future. The future was scary. You were supposed to choose one thing that you wanted to do, one person you wanted to be with and then go ahead and make money or whatever it was.

Nope. She was not doing that. None of the future things. None of them. She'd take Mucklow and Meatball and run away before she dared to any of that.

Elodie shook her own pinky with the rugrats and handed over some of the things in her arms. "It's for boyf.... My boyfriend.. Yeah. It's for him." About important university things and things she needed him to investigate for her. Like talk to other students who had maybe done the course she wanted to do. He was her insider. "And for my dog." Her lil' baby.

Louis took a step back when the other boy finally got to his feet. Honestly, fancy sitting on the floor. He was still upset that it had cost him his chocolate muffin, hmph.

The ginger boy was still raving on about Quidditch and Louis nodded at his words.

"I know, I know. I told him he shouldn't retire but he said old men with grey hair shouldn't play Quidditch. He doesn't even have grey hair yet!"

Oh poop. He'd spoken without thinking first and had probably just said waaay too much.

"Ahem, d'you mind if I do have one of those Bertie Botts beans actually?" Maybe that would change the subject.

"He said that?! He definitely does not have grey hair! He's still yo-." Richard had been so excited about the current topic of discussion that he simply bounced on the balls of his feet and replied to the kid's words straight away, without actually considering them. Until he actually understand what he said, of course.

His mouth was still slight open, but his verbal diarrhea had stopped. This kid, who had stupidly ran into him and then been rude, had spoke to Clifford Carden. What were the odds someone like that would trip over his feet and talk to him. WOW! "So you met him? Wow, what was it like?"

Also, where was it, so he could do a stake out there. Ahem.

At the kid's question, Richard nodded enthusiastically. OF COURSE HE COULD. Giving him his candy would keep him happy and then maybe the kid could teach him his 'meeting famous Quidditch players' ways. The plan was foolproof, really. He extended one arm, offering him the box of Bartie Botts beans. "Go right ahead, mate. Wish for a good one."

And if in the boy's case, a good one was bogey-flavour, Richard simply wouldn't judge.

More nods were happening, and Charlie almost felt like her head was going to fall off because of it. Nods for no one getting hurt. Nods for being safe. Nods for all of the okaying. If nodding could have stopped it all, Charlie would have saved the whole school.

She was just enthusiastic about peoples safety. That wasn't a bad thing, not really.

"What do you mean?" She knew she was a nerd, but not book smart, so what other kinds of smart did that leave? Fashion wasn't smart, it was just... well, having a good eye? Charlie guessed Tam was smart in her field, but it just seemed like a weird adjective to use in such a context. Talented seemed more appropriate - were talents, smarts? Gosh, she felt like the scarecrow out of that Wizard film. Ozzy, or something? She wasn't sure. But he asked for a brain, so could she ask for a replacement one?

TV she could understand. Video games... not so much, her sister had never been big into them, so Charlie had never been introduced. Maybe it would have been different if she had, or if she'd had a brother. Although she wasn't sure, anyway - most of the games she'd seen advertised were about shooting people or playing football, neither of which she was interested in. "I miss Paris." They were naming places now, right? Because leaving Paris had left a big hole in Charlies heart.

SIGH. "Get some thermals." They were a godsend in winter, and then Charlie could make Connor have a snowball fight. That would be cool? Cool.

Hmm.. Donnacha wasn't sure if he should let Grayson think that his name was Donn'cha.. it sounded kind of amusing, actually. But he was used to his real name. Donnacha with a K. It had taken him quite a while to finally learn how to write it, so he'd better use it. ...but Grayson seemed to think he had a really cool name... he didn't want to crush his dreams. He looked around for a moment, trying to decide what was best.... Donny did like his name.. and he wasn't exactly sassy, whatever that was. "Well..... atually... it's Donnacha. With a K. Donnahhhhhka." He beamed at Grrrrayson. Sorry man. Sorry.

Was it just him or did Grayson seem really confused? Did he not hear awesome stories like this almost every day? If not; Donny had a whole lot of those stories. Or.. at least one or two more. He could tell Grayson all about them if he wanted. Yeah, he'd do that. Just not now. Back to the CRABHANDS!

Ah! He liked the story! Donny grinned proudly and nodded, TRUE STORY. Battle scars! He hadn't thought of it that way.. He thought maybe he could have the Spiderman powers or something. No powers yet, though. Donny was patient. "I've got lots of battle wounds." He pointed to a scar on his forehead. Epicest hero of all. "Gots any cool scarred stories yourself?" Preferably as painful as possible, those were always the most interesting ones.

Wow, Grayson really knew his stuff. He must've been to loads of interesting places. Book people who knew lotsa stuff always travelled everywhere. Well-Travelled Grayson..! "Oh, yeah! I bets. But.. the first person to be named could have been all 'whaaaat?!' too, you know. Who decided on NAMES?!" Some ancient peep somewhere must've come up with the whole name-thing.

Just a year! Perfect friend-age, then. He could do with some friends that weren't girls, even if he liked all of his friends. Some more than others. He nodded, this was a very true fact. "I do, yeah!" ......unexpected. It wasn't grey. Grayson must get that question all the time. But green was a very good choice. He gave him the thumbs up. "Green is nice, 's like.. 's like NATURE, you know? I like nature. But blue is my favourite!" Such a shame that Hufflepuff wasn't blue, but he supposed that yellow was nice enough too.

Connor nodded as well, there was an awful lot of nodding. But that just meant they were in agreement..hmm. "Well, i mean there are lots of ways to be smart. There's booksmarts and streetsmarts, there's Common sense and stuff like that. Some people are smart in different ways than others, that doesn't make anyone else less smart..It's like how you said maybe there was something that put me in Gryffindor.." He shrugged, It had to be true if she believed he belonged in Gryffindor than she had to belong in Ravenclaw for something. "Besides isn't it for the wise as well? Wisdom is also different than being smart.."

"What was Paris like? I've never been. I'm from Louisiana, there was a lot of french stuff there. But i don't actually know anything about France." He was a curious person, Connor liked to learn everything he could about everything available to him. He would need a lot of warmer clothes, he knew this.. "I'll have to get Mom to send me some..I don't think i'll survive the snow like this."

Connors nodding meant he agreed. Which meant that Charlie could stop. Which was great, because now her head was going to hurt. That, and her hair might get messed up. That would probably be more embarrassing that her face currently was, which was hard to beat. "Well, I definitely don't have streetsmarts." Nope. That was not something she possessed. It was probably good that she lived in very rural areas, and could now use magic to protect herself.

If she wanted to continue in fashion, though, she'd have to learn some. Aw, crap.

"Maybe. I guess I've never thought about being anything other than strong academically." She tried bloody hard and good good grades, so if that counted, then she was definitely a Ravenclaw. Tried at everything. Even the stuff she didn't like and really sucked at, which was silly but who she was. "Paris is... Amazing. It's beautiful and precious, and romantic and a complete contradiction. Plus the shopping is awesome." Yes. "Not to mention the food." Parisian cuisine was exquisite. Just like the city.

Connor shrugged, He knew there were lots of different kinds of smarts. SO he wasn't worried, she didn't seem like a dumb girl so she had to have something. He was thinking maybe wisdom? He didn't really know her though so how was he supposed to know.

"That's like thinking all Slytherin's have to be bad...i don't know...you could be smart in a different way and not even know it yet." He said and smiled, she was nice and he hoped they could be friends.. he needed more friends, he needed this place to feel like home and people that he cared about was the only way that would happen for him. "Really? it sounds wonderful...Maybe i can go during the summer and see what it's like there. I'd like to see a little bit of Europe during the break, maybe i'll have to make friends and visit them." he said and grinned at the idea of seeing little bits of the world.

Charlotte was still endlessly bored and even though she had met Kace the last time she gone venturing off on the grounds, she still found herself walking alone on the bridge. It was kind of chilly out but she figured she'd be okay since the bridge was covered and she had a coat on. There was no way that much wind could get to her from here, right??

Walking veeeeery slowly and looking down at the bridge as she walked, just to make sure she didn't fall and die or anything, she realized that she hadn't seen her best friend in what felt like ages already. She had seen Vinnie and Lux and Connor and Kace on her travels around the school but somehow never ran into her Giant? How was that even possible? Charlotte sighed to herself, realizing that she missed Jun a lot and started to consider turning around and going back to the castle to find him. Maybe he'd just be in the library studying? She could go and try reading that book Connor had been talking about...that one about the hobbits and the dragons?

She continued walking down though, figuring a few more minutes of walking on the bridge wouldn't hurt.

CB WHIPPED her head around. Had that prefect really just said that? She stared at the girl. Pretty prefect wouldn't. Would she? Either way, Coral pushed herself off of the railing and walked back from it, trying to discreetly keep an eye on the girl who'd just threatened her. "Theoretically... you're correct." Had Hallie met this girl yet? Was she just as scary to her? "But are they charmed at all? I'd think so.. Just for protection purposes.. unless they think we're not that stupid." Though, she could imagine some kids goofing off and maybe daring each other or something..

Coral smiled at the pinky swear and took the things. "You have a boyfriend? Is he cute? Why are you writing to him? Does he go to Durmstrang?" Lots of questions. She had more.

"What kind of dog do you have? I have a dog.. He's little and a total sweetie." Now she wanted her puppy. Puppy cuddles were different from piggy cuddles.

Theoretically....

Elodie hated that word. It drove her slowly insane. A lot of things did that to her, but whatever. Rugrats were rugrats. "Theoretically," that word = ugh "that's for me to know and you to find out." She wasn't in the mood to answer these questions. She wasn't in the mood to deal with QUESTIONS. But they kept coming. Oh, they kept coming. Did rugrats never run out of questions? Was it something in their DNA? Once they hit the age of 16, they just.... stopped with the questions, right?

But questions about things she liked were welcomed.

Like her boyfriend and her baby ♥

"He's better than cute," she grinned, ushering the girl along the bridge a little more as she spoke. "He graduated this summer. He's at university now." And she missed him every day. Yada, yada, yada. It was everything she thought about and everything she shouldn't have been thinking about. Why had she asked about Durmstrang though? Did she only know of that school then?

EEEP. MUCKY MUCKY MUCKLOW. Elodie reached into the pile of things the girl was now carrying and produced the picture she carried around with her all the time. "This is Mucklow."

Fresh air.
Just what he needed right now.

Jun had finally managed to get some sleep done; once his dorm mates stopped being so loud. Heading towards the grounds, Jun figured he'd just wander around. Or go and try to sit by the lake and work on his fear. There was always that. But he was overworking himself lately and decided on taking two weeks off from practice. It was definitely needed after nonstop rehearsals since coming back this term. And his ankle was starting to hurt too. Don't need that to get worse and end up breaking. Though Tillstorm will fix it in no time. But Jun was avoiding the trip to the Hospital Wing anyway. Passing by the courtyard and some students, the boy walked onto the bridge, hoping to maybe run into someone he actually wanted to see.

Recognizing a certain little someone, Jun smiled to himself and bumped hips with Char. "Fancy a walking buddy?"

Maybe Charlie was smart in advice. She gave good advice, or so she thought she did anyway. Maybe she could invent a new kind of smart, depending on the job she ended up with. Fingers crossed that would be something stemming from her internships, because she'd really found everything she'd loved to do within them.

Work for Tam forever? Sounded like a plan.

Nodding some more - just a little now, because she wasn't risking a headache or messed up hair again - Charlie found herself thinking about what Connor was saying. "I suppose, yeah. You're right." Actually, thinking about she didn't know an 'evil' Slytherin. Not one that she'd met, anyway. "Make friends. Do visits." That was the best way. Like her and Els going to Australia, and Els introducing her to Tam. "You could backpack. My sister did that across Europe. 'Parently it was amazing." Charlie, however, was happy sticking with fashion week.

Connor thought about that, Backpacking, it sounded interesting. He could learn all sorts of things about all sorts of places. "Yeah, i think that would be fun. I just need to meet some more people." He rubbed his chin a little and the more he thought about it the more it sounded like an adventure..maybe he was a little brave, but maybe it was only in the pursuit of knowledge? Or to sate his curiosity.

Hmmm.

"Well, i think it could be a fun idea..and i am right, i'm sure you're smart. You seem smart to me and i barely know you, i'm sure a magic hat wouldn't make a mistake..or at least not two of them, we can't Both be in the wrong house." He said and grinned a little to himself.

"I'm sure you'll make friends. Everyone here seems up to it." You know, the meeting new people/becoming friends lark. They had been when Charlie herself had started, but it had been her insecurities that stopped her from making so many. Connor, though, seemed willing and such - therefore, it would probably be a lot easier for him.

And the fact that he thought doing something like backpacking sounded fun... Well, Charlie voiced her opinion. "See, embarking on something like that is a form of bravery. As is wanting to meet new people." So he totally fitted into Gryffindor. At least a good side more than she ever would have. Heck, when he left here, he'd probably be at saving-peoples-lives level of bravery and courage and what not.

She was sure that Gryffindor would turn him into one of their own without him even noticing it. "Yeah. Doubt it could be wrong twice." She grinned at that, laughing at his joke. Cute.

Connor reached out and wrapped his arms around the bridge in front of him. "Yeah, you're right. I've already made a few. Like i said people seem to be nicer here than in America..it's a different kind place though." Different places had different cultures and America was more of a selfish one he felt.

"Hmm maybe you're right, it does sound exciting. I just wanna know what's out there and say i've seen it." He longed to be interesting, like a character in one of his books, explorers and adventurers.. he wanted to be just like that. "Nope, so i'm sure we're fine. I wouldn't worry about it." He laughed, looking out at the ground far below and then back up.

Watching the younger boy cling to the railings of the bridge, Charlie looked out at the view and chewed on the pencil she was still twirling between her fingers. "The fact that this is all new to you probably factors in, too." Although she got what Connor was saying, she was sure that if she ever visited America the people there would be the nicest people in the world. "You're like a novelty here, people'll go out of there way to be nice to you." Seeing as he had that whole, American, good-looking, new kid role down.

"Then you should definitely visit Paris. The art, the Eiffel Tower, the culture... It's definitely a must see." And the only place other than London that she'd visited that was worth cultural recognition. "If you're ever fancy Poland, too, try Krakow. My mama says it's beautiful." Her sister loved flying from there, too, so if the Air Hostess enjoyed it, then it must have been an alright place.

"Okay, then. This is us, not worrying." About houses. Charlie was still going to worry about other things.

Connor looked back at her and the pencil in her hand. "You think so? I mean..maybe..I guess i kinda stand out." Speaking differently and all, he had a different accent then everyone else, he also used different words for things, but whatever.

Okay, so Paris he needed to see..he had always wanted to see Rome, lots of Gladiator books and things like that. A few video games he'd played had taken place in a historical version of Italy, so he'd always wanted to see it. "I'll keep that in mind. It sounds like a fantastic place, the way you speak of it..and Krakow too, if i'm ever headed that way."

Right, not worrying. He was just worried about OWLs but he didn't feel like worrying about it right now. Nope. He just felt like enjoying his free time.

OMG. WHAT?!

No. Just no.

Was he trying to tell the boy that he had been pronouncing his name wrong all along? Sure, they only just met and it wasn't as if he had been stringing him along for years but this wasn't good. Not even in the slightest. His eyes were wide as he STARED at the boy before asking, "So it's not Donn-ah-CHA?!" No cha cha? Oh man. Oh JEEZ. Now he looked dumb. Thank YOU, Mr No Cha Cha. "Donn-ah-khaaaaaaaa.........." That could still sound sassy, if they tried. Not as sassy as Donn'cha but whatever. He'd deal.

No. He needed time to deal with this. Time to think over this on his own.

At least the story had been a good one. There was that. His blue eyes flickered over towards where Donny's forehead scar was and he looked at it closely. Uh huh. He needed to know about this one sooooo, "How'd you get that scar up there?" Oh jeez. Did he have stories? Er, YEAH. This was HIM. "See, me and my brother were sitting on top of our treehouse back in France and I was trying to teach him how to successfully prank our neighbour," This was a good way to see whether Donny liked pranks or not. "We were trying to use slingshots to send him fake love messages. When it was my brother's go, he leant too far, ended up pushing me out the treehouse and..........." His voice trailed off as he lifted up his arm to show a faint scar near his elbow. "I have never seen my mum so mad at him. It was glorious." The boy had been grounded! Brilliant.

The first person to be named really would have been confused. Grayson nodded in agreement before saying, "'Xactly. And how'd we decide on which letters to go where for these names?" This was almost like having an existential crisis soooo he was going to continue. "Those first people to come up with words were lucky, man. They had so much power."

Perfect. This boy was PERFECT. In the sense that he'd tell him anything, of course. Not in the way that he was probably the son of a Norse God. "Sooooo, anything I should know about the castle?" Any secrets? The Slytherin wanted to know them all. "Er, yeah, like nature. And it reminds me of a few reptiles." Plus, nature included some epic-ly dangerous things so he could deal. "Yeah? Pity you're not in Ravenclaw, then."