The Pathways
 

http://i62.tinypic.com/167pnyo.jpg

The pathways can take you to several places on the ground unless you aren't looking to go anywhere, in which case the pathways are the perfect place to take a walk and clear your head. There are all sorts of trees lining the way, some you can climb if you feel so inclined. Others may wish to take a little rest at the base of one as they offer excellent shade.

A few of the trees bear fruit when in season, which you're more than welcome to once you have the means of collecting said fruit yourself.

This is a typically quiet area where you can hear the leaves rustling in the wind and the crunch of fallen ones when someone passes by. With the trees being thicker in some areas than others it can also provide the perfect spot for a rousing game of hide and seek or a paintball war--though Mr. Maclaren won't like it very much if you leave the place a complete mess afterwards so it might not be advised for the less diligent.

Take a walk, you never know where you might end up.

for Sazzy/ Abby! <3
 

Adi was not sure where he wanted to go. With so many places to choose from, he could not make up his mind. So he figured he would simply walk along the Pathways and let his feet take him where ever they chose.

Surprisingly, his feet stopped as his eyes caught sight of a few younger looking plants. "Herbivicus!'' Naturally Adi was working on bettering himself at non verbal spells. So far he had been met with utter disappointment. Anywayyy, he pointed and flicked his wand as he concentrated, waiting for something to happen.

Abby skipped down to the pathways and saw Adi and smiled and said "Hey Adi you trying to practice non-verbal spells it seems hard"

Dang it!

HelllOOOoooOOO, again epic failure!

The frustration of not being able to get his spells going soon was forever there with Adi. Ever since he was a first year it had stuck with him and here it was manifesting itself surely not for the last time.

He was about to have another go when there was the familiar voice of Abby Valentine. Adi turned and smiled brightly. Having company around was a quick way for him to dispel his frustration. And any other negative emotions for that matter.

"Hello, Abby! Yeah, it is and it sucks. You got any tips to help me?'' He would welcome any help at this moment.

Abby smiled and said "Aww that is not good and i don't have any tips to help you just now Adi sorry"

"I suppose I just have to keep working on it, huh?" Adi re-focused back on the little tree he had targeted earlier. "Herbivicus!'' he thought yet again, pointing and flicking his wand. Nope, nothing. The Puffer sighed in disappointment then turned back to his friend.

"So, Abby. How are you? Have you brought a book with you?'' Adi couldn't help teasing her about the Ravenclaw in her.

Abby smiled at Adi and said "Yeah keep working on it and i am good just glad to be back at school and i do have a book hidden in my bag" Abby knew Adi was teasing her but she honestly did have a book on her

Aw, wasn't that super nice? Abby was giving him encouragement. "I sure will!'' Indeed he would. The boy could be quite stubborn sometimes and spell work was definitely one of those times it paid to be the determined type. "I guess that makes two of us,'' he continued and wondered if either of AJ's sisters knew about the whole issue about him and his mom and their disagreement. Of course Adi held nothing against the woman. It was that she drove him nuts sometimes with her nagging. He got his stubbornness from her.

Seeee? Adi just KNEW it! "Is it a boring text book?'' He had had enough of those last year, thank you very much.

It was a lovely day outside, so Lux had decided to head out for a walk. Maybe she could find a spot to sit and read, but for the moment it was nice just to look at the scenery.

These kinds of walks were a nice distraction, and she loved that. Maybe she would make a habit of going on a walk outside every day until the weather got bad. There was no way she would trek down here constantly when there was ice and snow to deal with. That was the time of year when you were supposed to have snowball fights and build snowmen. Tobogganing, skating, and skiing were nice too!

Hearing someone whistling, she was happy to hear that it was Professor Culloden!! It was so nice to see him and he seemed to be in a really good mood. But then of course he would be when there was a baby!! "Hello, Professor! I just wanted to say congratulations!" Because wow, he was a dad and that was so amazing.

Abby smiled at Adi and said "Actually it is not a boring textbook Adi, it is one of my favourite muggle books that i was hoping to find a quiet spot to finish reading it" Abby liked her textbooks but sometimes they were just too heavy to carry around all the time

for Ye jin and Leah!
 

Cosgrach stopped his whistling when he heard a voice, and turned with a biiiiiiiiig smile towards Lux.

"Thank you!" he exclaimed and stopped to converse with her. How nice of Lux that she congratulated him! He knew that she'd met her, but he had been out of the house then to receive her congratulations.

"Isn't she lovely?" he asked, eyes twinkling. He didn't know if Helena had been bad to Lux (eg. baby puke!) but it didn't matter. He bet Helena had just conquered back her heart.

Mmmm outside. Rowan loved the outside. Especially when it was raining, but it wasn't doing that right now... maybe it would later.

She made her way down one of the pathways in the school grounds, barefoot, scanning the ground for something. It was obvious that she was on a bit of a search, but she wouldn't really mind if she didn't find what she was looking for. She'd just wanted to send some things back to Robin, cause they'd sent loads of stuff that had helped her with homesickness, so what if they had Rusty-sickness? She didn't want anyone to be sad because they missed her, so making a little charm would be good, wouldn't it? Yep.

HE HAD A GUITAR!!! Chris headed outside bouncing a little as his mum sent him his guitar that he left behind. He couldn't have been happier really. Looking for a good place to sit down and practice without being bothered he spotted a Rowan and raised an eyebrow. Did she lose something?

Walking up behind her he grinned and started looking on the ground, "Lose something? Maybe I can help?"

Rowan was keeping her eyes fixed on the ground, but when she heard a voice she finally looked up. "Oh! Hi Chris." She sent him a smile. "No, I'm just looking for feathers, I thought the owls might have dropped some." And then she could use them to make a little charm.

OH but he had a guitar! "Oh can you play?" She pointed at it. "Will you play something for me?"

Chris watched her and smiled, "Hey Rusty." An owl feather? "Why don't you just go to the owlery? I have an owl up there might can get you a feather that way." Much easier too it would seem to him.

He looked at the guitar and then back at her. "Umm..yeah I can...but not here maybe down by the lake?" He looked at her and grinned.

Move them to the lake if you want? Tweet/VM me a link <3
 

"Well it's more special if you find them where they've just fallen. It's like the bird has left a thought for you." And then you could wear it or turn it into a charm and the bird's knowledge would stay with you.

Rowan wasn't entirely sure which way the lake was yet, but she assumed it was in this general direction. She'd been there before, but she was still getting used to the whole layout of the castle and the grounds so sometimes things rearranged themselves in her head, but it didn't matter, because she was with a friend and HE could help. "Sure, lead the way!"

The pathways. Ophelia had missed these most of all during the summer. The one place at Hogwarts where it was almost like home, with trees everywhere and space to walk and explore! The little blonde was getting excited just thinking about it.

Her feet touched the pathways for the third time and the small girl immediately lit up. What? The grounds of Hogwarts were always one of her favorite parts. So much space to walk around and hang out. There was even a lake with a giant squid! You didn't see that everyday! Even though, she did see pathways and woods every single day of her life, it was different from the squid. She felt connected to her home here. Less homesick.

Secretly, in her first year, the then eleven year old kind of wanted to go home. Yeah, it was exciting and amazing and fun, but there was also the face flushing terror of going to school alone. And there was the idea of being in the same place her elder sisters and brothers dominated in, while she herself pretty much just stayed and the same level. It was all completely new and kind of scary, to be honest. But the path kind of made it better.

The path, and a friend she met. Couldn't forget about that loser. Or not loser. He was honestly one of the coolest guys she met, she just couldn't help but call him a loser jokingly. It was in Ophelia's blood to make fun of the ones she was closest to.

Taking in a deep breath of the Hogwarts air, the third year started down the path, looking around for anything cool. Okay, there were a lot of cool things, it was the grounds of Hogwarts. But the short girl was looking for anything in particular that stood out. Interesting people to sketch, interesting trees to draw.

Deciding upon something to draw FINALLY when she was further down the path, Ophelia placed herself on the roots of a tree trunk, resting her sketchbook in her lap and her quill in her left hand.

And scribble away she did, going as fast and as far as her mind and quill would take her. The grey eyed girl was trying to draw something for Austin again, as he said at the Feast that he enjoyed her happy drawings along with her scary ones. And even though Ophelia liked scary, happy was good too. Happy put a smile on both of their faces and happy meant that everyone felt good inside.

Looking up at the trees for inspiration, the teen decided to make the tree branches interconnect, almost like a natural archway. The clean branches roped around each other gently, the thick leaves everywhere. And the rest was going to be a surprise. If she could keep her stupid mouth shut before showing it to him.

Finding a place where she could stop, Ophelia closed her book, got up, and stretched before cleaning up all of her stuff and continuing on her way. This was why she loved the pathway. Inspiration.

Awwww, look at the proud papa.

It was the most endearing thing ever to see new parents. "She is so beautiful! Bart let me hold her!" Lux loved babies and had been so very careful not to drop her or let anything else happen to her. Bart was so lucky to have little siblings because Lux didn't have any. She was the youngest and her brother and sister were quite a bit older than her.

Speaking of her sister, Lux had really exciting news and couldn't believe it. "My sister just got married and she is having a baby!" Yep, Lux was going to be an aunt and she was THRILLED.

Ah. Not a text book. Adi could stand those. He did used to read quite a bit in his earlier years at Hogwarts but that interest just... died. "Which book is it?" he asked with curiosity.

"Annnd I'm holding you back by babbling on,'' the Puff said, feeling a bit bad about that. "Under a tree would make quite a good place to read.'' Yep, there was shelter from the sun and everything.

Abby pulled the book out of her bag to show Adi and said "It's called the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins it is one of my favourite stories but it is pretty old now and it is cool Adi i can sit and read anytime when im in my dorm i much rather chat to my good friends"

Ahhhhhhhh Cosgrach BEAMED at Lux. "Here's to hope she'll be a lady like you!" he said - and meant it. Lux was kind, friendly and hardworking; pretty much the daughter anyone would want.

Oh! If she told this to him only 2 years ago, he'd be too awkward to know what to say. But now, he was only happy for the couple, and extra happy for Lux. It was funny how his views changed so drastically. Needless to say, he had all these students to thank to and the twins of Vic.

"Congratulations!" he said, "I bet you're excited to become an aunt, huh?"

Lady like her? Professor Culloden thought she was a lady??? Goooooosh! That was so flattering coming from a Potions Master like himself. "I'm sure she will be MUCH more of a lady than me." Because really she was nothing spectacular.

Oh YES. She was excited to be an aunt. "Thank you! Oh, yes. I have never been an aunt before, so this is going to be amazing." But of course she was way more excited for Willa and Jaxson.

It was autumn. Autumn is a beautiful season. Autumn at Hogwarts? Simply magical.

Leah walked out to the pathways, not particularly going anywhere, but hoping to end up someplace where she could just take a rest. Actually, this was a perfect place itself. There were not many people around, and the trees lining the sides provided shady spots every now and then. With a smile on her face, she took a slow walk, listening to the leaves crunching under her feet and - a familiar voice singing.

She tiptoed forwards as silently as she could until she saw the back of her new friend Jackson. It WAS him, yeah? She knew he was into music and stuff, but never guessed that he was this good a singer. Leah quickened her steps to keep pace with him and soon she was right beside him. "Nice song," then she smiiiled up at the tall boy. "Hello."