Azura smiled at Jace and she nodded. "You really did Jace." She said with a warm smile over at her fellow Ravenclaw. He had helped her sort out her head, now she knew what was wrong with her. And she could take care of it! "It's not a bother at all, she loves to bake and she makes it all the time, it's my Dad's favorite." She said with a warm nod, before Jace started to mumble and Azura couldn't help it..

I'm so sorry Jace." She thought in her head as she turned and hugged the boy! This could go several ways, terror like Jasper, annoyance like Colt, or a hug back like Torie? Either way.. It didn't last for too long! She was too afraid of his response to let it linger..

"Sorry." She mumbled.. She was a spontaneous hugger, what could she say?

Anyways.. What were they doing before..

Oh yeah! The Doll!!

"I think it might have had something to do with the Hag." She said as she looked out on the grounds again."I was thinking that she was controlling it, but now that she's gone. we haven't seen the doll much." Was that a good theory? She wasn't even sure..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callie

Haddie jumped, startled by the unexpected hand on her shoulder. She smiled up at the Hufflepuff partially out of embarrassment, partially out of contentment and nodded. What was the girl's name? "It's snowing." Her smile widened. Haddie turned back to watch the snow fall.

After a moment she turned back to the Hufflepuff. "Are you okay?" It seemed as logical to Haddie to ask the other girl as it seemed for the girl to ask her. Try as she might, Haddie couldn't place the girl's name. They hadn't officially met, sure, but it'd been half a year sharing classes, you'd think she'd know her first name by now. "I don't think we've met... I'm Haddie."

Snowing? Erm...yeah, she could see that. But apparently the girl was ok, just watching it snow. That was good, Scarlett had been a bit nervous for a minute that she'd frozen to death or something. She'd heard the horror stories of students DYING here in the past from things like curses and giant spiders and she did NOT want to have anything to do with any of that.

"Oh, hi, I'm Scarlett," she added with a polite smile. She knew she was in her year, and it was nice to finally be able to put a name to her face. Haddie. "So...just watching it snow?" she asked. She knew she could do that from INSIDE right? In her warm common room?

Haddie nodded in that goofy sort of way of hers that kinda made her look like a bobble head. She knew it did, which is half the reason she nodded that way as often as she did. Those who knew her well enough could tell her moods instantly by the way she did simple things, like nodding. "Probably not for much longer..." There was only so much of the cold the Californian girl could endure. "I'm from L.A.," she explained. "It doesn't snow there. This is... well, this is like 11 years of Christmas wishes come true, so," she shrugged. Besides the hot cocoa she'll have once she's back in the Tower will be all that more heavenly. "You're a first year too, right? What brings you out here?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callie

Haddie nodded in that goofy sort of way of hers that kinda made her look like a bobble head. She knew it did, which is half the reason she nodded that way as often as she did. Those who knew her well enough could tell her moods instantly by the way she did simple things, like nodding. "Probably not for much longer..." There was only so much of the cold the Californian girl could endure. "I'm from L.A.," she explained. "It doesn't snow there. This is... well, this is like 11 years of Christmas wishes come true, so," she shrugged. Besides the hot cocoa she'll have once she's back in the Tower will be all that more heavenly. "You're a first year too, right? What brings you out here?"

"OOOH you are!?" Scarlett explained, eyes growing wide. Well, that explained the accent. Scarlett was SO JEALOUS. It was supposedly very sunny and carefree in California, and that was right up Scarlett's alley. "That's cool! Why are you going to school here, then? I mean, if you don't mind me asking," she added. She knew America had it's own school and seemed odd to her the girl was going HERE, but you never knew people's stories.

"I was just passing by and...well honestly, I was afraid you were frozen," she admitted with a chuckle. Being a Hufflepuff, she was always one to jump to help someone in need!

If Haddie were completely honest, she'd have to admit she loves the envious reactions she gets when it is revealed she's from Southern California. It wasn't as magical as people always thought it was... air quality alone hasn't improved that much in the last hundred years or so. But it was her home, and she had a lot of love for the area. And a lot of memories.

Haddie gave Scarlett and knowing grin. "It is cool. There are like 50 amusement parks all over the place. There's the beach," her voice was particularly dream when she said beach. "I miss the beach, so much. Mom works as a chef," she said, answering the Badger's question finally. "She used to work at a very popular, fancy restaurant in Hollywood. Met some really famous people. I never got to meet them, though, sadly. Anyway, just over a year ago, she got a job offer to be the Head Chef at new restaurant in London that was opening up. And well," she shrugged, and then shivered. "Here I am."

Haddie pulled the blankets in tighter around her, only half chuckling at the fact Scarlett thought she might be frozen. "So where are you from?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callie

If Haddie were completely honest, she'd have to admit she loves the envious reactions she gets when it is revealed she's from Southern California. It wasn't as magical as people always thought it was... air quality alone hasn't improved that much in the last hundred years or so. But it was her home, and she had a lot of love for the area. And a lot of memories.

Haddie gave Scarlett and knowing grin. "It is cool. There are like 50 amusement parks all over the place. There's the beach," her voice was particularly dream when she said beach. "I miss the beach, so much. Mom works as a chef," she said, answering the Badger's question finally. "She used to work at a very popular, fancy restaurant in Hollywood. Met some really famous people. I never got to meet them, though, sadly. Anyway, just over a year ago, she got a job offer to be the Head Chef at new restaurant in London that was opening up. And well," she shrugged, and then shivered. "Here I am."

Haddie pulled the blankets in tighter around her, only half chuckling at the fact Scarlett thought she might be frozen. "So where are you from?"

"OOOOH that's awesome! And here I thought I was the lucky one, living in the dorms near the kitchens," Scarlett chuckled. If she had a mum who was a chef - well, she'd probably be hundreds of pounds heavier, that was for sure. "That's awesome, though. I hope you're liking it here," she added with a soft smile. Granted she had no other homes to compare it to, but the UK seemed like a pretty great place to her.

"I'm from London. My dad used to own a shop off the edge of Diagon Alley...but we recently just moved to a more suburban town. He sold the shop and now he's a writer," she told her. She was still getting used to the new house, but it was also AMAZING having her own room for a change. No young kids running around at odd hours, waking her up to play or crying from nightmares...

Austin leaned over the balcony and looked at the floors below. The Ravenclaw was nervous, mainly because he was meeting Azura. They were friends, and had been through a lot this year together. So why he was nervous was hard to pinpoint. To anyone else, at least. To Austin Moore, he was nervous because he had missed her birthday. His own birthday had passed before he was able to get her a present.

What made matters worse is that he even tried to avoid her during classes and in the common room. It wasn't like he wanted to avoid her, but he was afraid she would be mad at him for not saying happy birthday. Sighing, he hoped the candy in his messenger bag would make up for his absence.

Ahh the fourth floor Balcony.. This place held so many memories for Azura. Jasper had said it was his favorite view and then the conversation she had held with Jace here right before it started to get cold. He had helped her figure out so much about her heart that day.. Only to worm his way into it without her even knowing it..

*sigh*

At least they were back to being friends again! Now if she could only get rid of these pesky feelings.. everything would be okay!

She smiled as she walked onto the Balcony and saw Austin standing there waiting for her! "Hey Austin! She said with a warm smile as she moved next to him. "It's gotten warm again hasn't it?" She asked as she looked out onto the view. She pushed her black hair behind her ear and then turned her purple eyes to look up at the older boy..

"So, how are you? It's been awhile." She asked the fifth year.. "Did you get yourself a girlfriend?" Because that would take up his time right?

He thought seeing Azura would help his nerves, but seeing her happy and cheerful made everything ten times worse. He'd now have to confess that he was actually ignoring her on purpose. Which came across meaner than he wanted. But he was going to have to do it either way.

"Hey Azura." He glanced over at her, noticing her purple eyes. It was always so striking to see them. Purple was not a usual color for eyes, and he didn't even think it was possible to have them. But she did, and it made it harder to fess up to his childish ways.

"I've been good. Just trying to work on studying for my O.W.L.S." He flashed a smile at her, hoping to hide his nerves. Resting his arms on the balcony, he kept his eyes on the scene below. Stairs were rotating, and students were talking, their voices filling the air around them. "No, I wish." He let out a shaky chuckle. "I've actually been studying... just trying to keep to myself for a while." She wasn't going to make him say it, was she?

He took a deep breath. "I actually felt bad for missing your birthday, even though you told me when it was."

Azura smiled warmly up at Austin as he started to speak.. Owl.. Ouch.. "I've heard those are terribly hard, but I'm sure you will do well on them Austin." She said with a nod as she looked up at him, before looking out at the view.. Those tests must be super hard.. It's probably why most of the 5th years had disappeared it seemed from the school. Yup..

She grinned up at the older boy, he was certainly handsome enough, he would totally be able to get a girlfriend! "Well, just make sure she likes you before you say anything.. Otherwise.. It doesn't feel good when people reject you." Yes.. Though she was happy to have Jace back as her friend.. She still liked him.. It was a problem. A BIG problem..

She could understand the studying and keeping to himself.. after all Jace and Garreth did that and she hadn't seen Jazzy in forever.. so..

But her purple gaze instantly swung up to his as he spoke.. and her eyes went wide.. "Oh Austin! You felt bad for missing my birthday?" Oh goodness that was so sweet!! "Don't feel bad! Everyone except my parents missed it really.. it's right near the break so it sort of gets lost in the shuffle." She explained.. "But thank you! Honestly.. It's totally all right! She said with a nod.. before.. she hugged him..

Yup.. the little Ravvie was so overwhelmed.. he got a hug!

He let out a sigh. "Yea, I've heard that too. But I've been studying really hard this year, so I'm hoping to do well. If nothing else, I'll pass Potions." That was the truth. He was wishy washy in DADA, and Ancient Runes was a nightmare. But he could expect the best in Potions, that was for sure.

Austin glanced down at his purple eyed friend, a look of confusion on his face. "You sound like you speak from experience?" It wouldn't surprise him. She was only a first year, but she was a very pretty person. Plus, she was a wonderful friend. She was always there for him, even when he wasn't there for himself. It was sad to think that she had been rejected, and had already experience such heartbreak at a young age. "Yea, I haven't had much experience with girls. There was someone once," He gazed out at the stairs below. "But she moved away after her friend died." And now Austin was left on his own. It wasn't so bad. This year he made more friends than he ever had before, and was really proud of that fact. But yea, no girlfriend.

Before Austin could get out a response, he was enveloped in a hug. At first he wasn't sure what to do, but he ended up responding by wrapping his arms around her. It wasn't awkward for him at all, mainly because he liked it. He hadn't been hugged like this in a long while, not since Christmas. His younger sister had given him a hug at the train station.

Once they had parted from their hug, Austin spoke. "Speaking of birthdays..." He reached into his bag, and pulled out two clear bags tied with blue and bronze ribbon. One was filled with dark chocolate, while the other with watermelon sugar quills. "Happy Birthday Azura." Hopefully the candy would make up for forgetting it in the first place.

Azura smiled warmly up at Austin.. "I'm sure you'll pass more than potions! You were super great at helping me in charms! Not to mention helping me duel.." The first year let out a squeal.. "I won my duel Austin! Even after falling and breaking my nose! HA! And she had finally proven herself to Professor Hirsch.. THAT was what was most important.

Though her smile died down at his next words and she nodded slowly.."Yes, I told a friend of mine that I liked him, and well he doesn't like me back." She paused for a moment as she bit her lip. "We are friends again, though it took us awhile to get there. Thankfully we did get there.. It still hurts a bit.. cause I still like him, but.. I don't care.. As long as he stays my friend." She sighed a little as she looked out onto the view and sighed. She hoped she would be able to get over Jace soon. And laugh about it when they were older.. But so far..

"Ohh Austin I'm so sorry." That would have been awful. At least Jace was still around! "Well, I'm sure someone will come along!" He was pretty cute! If she were a few years older.. Who knows? And he was so super nice and he helped her out with so much.. And she loved hanging out with him! So.. He would totally be a great catch for someone!

Also...YAY!! She didn't have to add him to the do not hug list! She smiled as he hugged her back and she let go of him after awhile.. And then her purple eyes went wide as he pulled out two clear bags and she nearly shrieked!

"Austin!! She said with a happy smile on her face as she took the bags happily.. "Thank you so so much!!"

"Azura! That's amazing!" He thought back to his own duel, and how not so okay it went. "I didn't win my duel, but it's alright." He let out a chuckle. "I know what you mean. I ended up barefoot during the duel, and burned my feet towards the end there. It was hard to walk for a few days." The bottom of his feet may not be the prettiest in the world anymore, but at least they're not hurting anymore. He knew he had another duel, but he wasn't sure he wanted to do it anymore. It was pretty embarrassing he first time around. He was not only hung upside down, but he burned his feet. His face flushed just thinking about it.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Things will get better." It did for him at least. It was sad, what happened to Gregoire, and it was hardest on Ophelia. They were the best of friends. At least Azura still had her crush as a friend. If nothing else, she had someone to go to when things were hard. "I appreciate the concern, but to be honest, I'm not too worried about it. I'd rather pass my O.W.L.S." Sure, it would be nice to have a girlfriend, but it wasn't something he worried about a lot. Plus, there wasn't really anyone in his grade he liked.

Austin's smile grew when hers did. At least she didn't hate him for missing her birthday. "You're welcome. I remember you telling me last time we talked. I figured it'd at least make up for missing your birthday. Forgive me?" He knew she would. She didn't look like she hated him. But he added a 'puppy dog' face just to prove how sorry he was.

Azura bit her lip as she heard what Austin had been through in his duel.."Barefoot? And you burned your feet?" Ouch! That sounded awful! "Are they are? I can look at them for you.. if you want.. My mom is a healer.." And her was her goal in life to be one as well. She looked up at the older boy.. genuinely concerned for her friend.

She nodded her black head as he spoke.."They are getting better a bit at least.. We are talking and hanging out.. so that's good." She just had to work on getting over him.. That was all! It sounded so easy.. and yet it was probably the hardest thing she had ever done! Curse these feelings!

"I'm sure you will Austin, and to celebrate you passing them.. we will do something.. Bake a cake.. or.. something!" She said with a warm nod.. She didn't care if they had to do it next year! She was confident he would pass them!

Azura giggled at Austin's puppy dog face! It was soooo cute!! "Of course I forgive you!! Always!" She said with a warm smile up at him.

The term was passing by quickly and the Gryffindor was selfishly pleased. Just a little longer then it would be summer break and he wouldn't have to wake up...here. Wouldn't that be lovely? Things would be even better when he showed his mum what he'd learned. It wasn't A LOT but it was enough to impress her--maybe even keep him out of those extra magic lessons his dad threatened.

Blaise walked onto the balcony, his Transfiguration text under his arm. If Charlotte was right, this was his better bet and it served him well enough he supposed given his resentment to Charms that seemed to be going nowhere.

He flopped down by the railing and pried the book open. The current plan was a bit of light reading then IF he felt like it, he might attempt a spell.

Might.

Austin's face flushed at the idea of Azura looking over his feet. It had been a few weeks since his duel, but he wasn't sure if they had healed properly. He should have gone to the Hospital Wing to have them checked out, but he didn't bother. After the duel, he was too tired and too sore to go. After that, he didn't bother. They hurt from time to time, but it wasn't anything to get worked up over. "If you want. It's been a few weeks since the duel, so they're probably healed." The truth was he wasn't sure. But would Azura be able to figure it out?

His face lit up at the thought of baking. "I do have a few recipes that I've been meaning to try." He loved to bake. It's what was brought him closer to his mom. Baking a cake with one of his closest friends sounded awesome. "You'll have to come over during the summer." His younger sister would love to meet her. Plus the purple eyes would be intriguing for her to see. No doubt she'd be a blunt toddler and ask about them. "So long as you don't mind my younger sister. She'd probably want to help out too." She was his number one baker helper.

Azura looked at Austin with some concern on her face.. "Did you go to the Healer to get them checked out?" She asked him curiously.. She wasn't super sure about burns and things like that..But she could at least make sure they were healed and not in pain.. she knew spells to help.. "If you are sure.. but perhaps you might want to go see the Healer, just to make sure.. Or this summer, come see my Mom! She works at St.Mungos!" She said with a warm smile.

She smiled at him as he said he had a few recipes that wanted to try and she nodded.. "I love baking! I'll have to make you my mom's famous chocolate cake!" Because it was amazing.. Her purple eyes lit up as he spoke.. "I would totally love to do that! And I don't mind younger siblings at all! I don't have any.. so it will be totally great!" She bounced a bit happily.. This summer was sure going to be fun!

Katherine Moss felt lost.

Not physically, obviously, but emotionally. She had come here to be the best at every class, but so far she'd failed at TWO duels and she hated charms; not to mention she was barely the best at the rest. She couldn't make many friends either - not that she'd really wanted to, friends were a distraction, but... but... she secretly wanted to make friends, because she'd always been so lonely - the nerd girl, the know-it-all - back in the muggle primary schools and she'd always told herself that Hogwarts would be different, that she'd find herself a few close friends and they'd help each other with everything... but half of the girls at Ravenclaw didn't know her, and the other half probably hated her. If her own house treated her like this... she came here to have the moment of her life, but so far it'd just been frustration. And she didn't even know where she made wrong.

So she made her way to the balcony to hopefully be alone - it wasn't like the whole school was after her anyway, she bet she'd be alone anywhere she went - but Blaise was already there, who was just another 'friend' she thought she had but probably didn't. And for the first time in her life, she didn't even know what to do: she might sit with him, but he looked like he was busy. Besides, she wasn't a good friend so she would probably just bother him. But on the other hand, what if he heard her? If he did hear her and see her leaving, she would be guilty of having walked away without saying something and she certainly did not want that. So she decided to count to five - if he noticed her by then, she was staying, but if not, she was leaving.

Five... four...

The thing about studying a subject you had little to no interest in was that you tended to be distracted...easily...super easily. Like the way his quill occasionally scribbled something causing him to look up only to find it might only have been a mouse scurrying by or simply someone passing along the corridor. Talk about a slow day for news. It didn't matter, anything was better than this and deep down--perhaps not even so deep down--he knew it.

How he got to the third page of his reading was beyond him and the temptation kept rising to peer over at his floating notebook, just to see how it might have twisted the castle happenings. It DID have a way with words.

Blaise forced his eyes back to his text, trying to convince himself it couldn't be all that interesting anyway but then his quill picked up its pace, like it'd finally gotten a familiar subject to embellish. Curious, and even less interested in Transfiguration knowledge, the boy glanced up. What he'd expected to see was maybe TWO mice in a squabble but it was Katherine which worked out just...as well...was she okay?

The young Gryffindor lowered his book, noticing the less than chipper look on his friend's face that caused his brows to furrow with concern.

"Everything alright...?"

Austin leaned on the ledge for a moment. "I didn't go to the healer, but I didn't think it was necessary. My feet don't really hurt anymore. They just feel weird. Probably from the burns healing." There were spells that helped with burns, but to be honest, he wasn't sure how well he could get them to work. Sure he was a fifth year. But somehow his mind filed those spells under 'DADA Defense' spells, and it was just difficult to get to work.

He turned to her and smiled. "If they're still bothering me, I'll be sure to visit your mother." But surely his feet would be fine by then?

Ah. So she was an only child? "You'd love Lucy, then. She'll be two towards the end of the year." Austin watched the scenery below, loving the green that had grown after the snow. Were the grounds enchanted to look this green? He was sure grass at his own house didn't look like this. The lake looked bluer too. Even Azura's eyes, he found as he looked back to her, were brighter than usual. It was good to see she was doing better. "I bet your mom makes a great chocolate cake."

Reaching into his messenger bag he pulled out a small notepad and a pen. (Something his dad had shown him, and he found very useful for situations such as this) He ripped off a piece of paper, wrote something down, folded it up, and handed it to his first year friend. "This is my address. I'll send you an owl over the summer and let you know when you can come over."

Azura frowned a little bit as Austin spoke, so he hadn't gone to the Healer? She bit her lip a bit as she looked up at the older boy.. Well.. as long as he felt okay.. Still.. she almost felt like insisting on seeing his feet.. But.. if he said they were okay.. "Okay, just promise me that.. I don't like to hear that you are hurt Austin." She said with a warm, if not concerned smile up at the older boy..

She wanted to make sure all her friends were happy and safe.. and having burned feet did NOT fall into those two categories.

Azura nearly let out a squeal as he spoke of his little sister. "She sounds adorable! I can't wait to meet her!" She had always wanted to have a sibling, but.. of course with her mother.. there was just no way.. Not unless she had a secret twin out there or something. She was lost in thought as she looked out over the grounds.. Reflecting on the last time she had stood here.. with Jace.. Ohh that had seemed so long ago.. So much had happened! And now.. she liked Jace..

Ugh.. Could she just turn that part of herself off?

"It's amazing! I'll have to make it for you sometime." She said as he pulled a notebook out of his bag and then scribbled something down on it..

She took the paper from him and smiled as she looked down at it.. "That sounds perfect! I don't think I have many plans this summer." She said with a smile.. just hanging out with her family.. She doubted Jazzy would want to hang out.. like they had promised..

Okay, he noticed her. He also noticed that something wasn't right, because he was frowning and asking her if everything was alright. Katherine's immediate reaction was to plaster a fake smile on her face and nod vigorously - this had become a reflex for her, because she would never admit something was wrong with herself, but then she realised that this was Blaise, whose life wasn't so great either. She didn't have to hide from him. Except... her mum had told her to stay away from him precisely for that: If he's so unsuccessful as to fail at basic wandwork even though he's a pureblood, he'll only pull you down, sweetheart. He shouldn't be your friend. I mean, I'm sure he's not, because he's not the right friend for you. You are there to become the best, not some average girl. His family name might be useful in the future, but sometimes you gotta admit a person's more harmful than useful...

"I don't know," she said slowly while she was having an internal dilemma: she had always listened to her mother, but on Blaise she didn't want to. Blaise was no loser. He just hadn't met the right professor yet. "But, never mind." She even smiled as geniunely as she could, and asked "How are you?" Could she sit, by the way, or..?

She...didn't know?

How did one NOT know when everything wasn't alright? It was plain as day to him. When everything was going south, the young Gryffindor could tell and in fact it usually left him either dejected or resentful--sometimes even looking like Katherine so maybe even if she didn't know if everything was alright, he already had his answer and wasn't ready to buy the smile she put on after.

"I'm okay I guess." He said, slipping his Transfiguration text into his robes so casually one might hardly take notice. He didn't need anyone knowing he tried sometimes. The story was he hated magic and was unwilling to learn and that was how he preferred people to tell it.

Wasn't so far fetched, in truth. He did hate the whole thing but to avoid magic lessons over the summer, he'd had to put in secret effort. If others knew, they'd start expecting him to cast magic in public. They'd force him through all his lessons. They would start holding him to the same standards as everyone else and he knew he wasn't ready for that. Basic spells, that's all he could attempt and only sometimes so he'd rather just say he didn't know anything at all and be left alone about it by those too frustrated to try.

"My quill was in the middle of a story but I'm not sure what it's about. You can sit if you'd like." Meanwhile, Blaise plucked his floating notepad from the midair, resigned to simply going through it. He would study later, much later when he was sure there was no one around.

Katherine had been too preoccupied with her dilemma to notice the book anyway, so she didn't notice what he had just done. So she took his offer and sat down, still looking pretty... lost. But the comment was not lost on her. Blaise had been busy, and she had interrupted him. Why else would he mention his quill, the very quill that documented his life or something? Oh, wait! She knew! He had been thinking out loud, and the quill was there to sort it out for him. Sure, she didn't really hear him speaking, but what else could it be?

"I didn't interrupt, did I?" she asked hesitantly and curiously. She wanted to know what he had been thinking, but it was very rude to ask it like that. Besides, he wouldn't tell her anyway. It was probably a problem only lazy popular kids like him had.

"You didn't sound so sure there, whether you are okay or not." What is bothering you, Blaise?

"Nah, before you, all it had was mice to document. Reckon my quill must be happy for a new muse." The new muse being her of course. The only thing she'd interrupted was his failure of a study session but he could admit it wasn't much of an interruption to begin with. More like welcomed company to distract him from things he wasn't too interested in to begin with.

A glance at his notepad, however, had him scrambling to swat it away. Nowhere in his memory did he recall 'desperately making attempts to conceal his shame embodied in living text'. Seriously quill? What even did that MEAN??

"You didn't sound so sure when I asked you either. Someone bothering you?" She could tell him. He wouldn't go starting any more food fights any time soon.

"But I am fine, since you're asking. Itching for the term to be over but otherwise very accepting of the fact I'm stuck her for another month and then some."