Hope smiled up at him. "I think we will be together a long time. As long as I don't run you off. I'm a little crazy like that." She laughs loving that they can talk about anything together.

"We will most certainly be the next Thomas and Arista. Speaking of them, I'm going to send out a search warrant for them. I haven't seen them all year." Ponders where they could've run off to. Knowing Arista, she was probably setting off dung bombs every where or getting into trouble, and dragging Thomas with her. They were such a cute and amazing couple. She knew her and Spencer would be like them when they got older.

Spencer smilednback at her. " I think we're going to be together a long time as well, and don't worry I'm not going anywhere, just as long as you do the same. " said Spencer laughing. Spencer loved that he could talkabout anything with her and they'll laugh and joke around about it


"I think we will, I'm starting to think that we will, we love each other almost as much as they love each other. " said Spencer chuckling. " That's good that you did, I was starting to get worried about them, I haven't seen then all year but at the Gryffindor meeting at the start of the term. "said Spencer honestly. "Crazy how this year went by so fast, just seems like we just got here. " said Spencer. " I'm sure that they're ok and together where ever they are, I just miss them. " said Spencer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Oh! There seemed to have been a slight misunderstanding between the girls. "That's quite alright,'' Rachel responded. Anyone could have made a mistake. "How old are they? I myself have no siblings.'' She giggled suddenly at the thought that had just occurred to her. "Do they trouble you a lot? I've heard that even though it's nice to have siblings, they can sometimes be a little difficult to deal with.''

The Eagle knew she was definitely not the only one who would agree about the hag's 'teaching' methods. What had went through the person or persons mind who hired her, she wondered yet again. Since the old woman still scared her a little, Rachel decided to leave that part of the topic behind. She felt rather sorry that the subject of Divination had been ruined for Scarlett. "Don't let this bad experience discourage you. Just think of your dad and how good he was at Divination. Have you ever done readings with him?''

Scarlett wasn't sure that Rachel wanted to hear about ALL her siblings but...she HAD asked. She chuckled and started counting them off on her fingers. "Well there's Clay, he's almost ten...and then Evie, she's like six now, and Zoey is almost four, then there's baby Benji...there's a lot of us," she told her with a grin. "You can have one if you like!" she added as a joke when Rachel told her she didn't have siblings. Even though there were days when Scarlett wished she didn't have any siblings either, she knew they were some of her closest friends. Like, Clay wasn't THAT bad...most of the time. "They're pretty cool I guess. It's nice to be away from them right now and do my own thing - but I do miss them," she admitted. Especially Benji because he was still in the adorable, not annoying baby phase.

"Well, he taught me a bit about Tarot Cards - those are his favorite, along with crystal orb gazing - but mostly he just let me poke around with it myself," she explained. "He's a Seer too, but he hasn't really had any, like...IMPORTANT readings, I guess," she explained with a shrug. The whole Seer thing was complicated with her dad - and something she sort of hoped she didn't inherit. She didn't WANT the Gift if she was being totally honest...it seemed like a pain sometimes, wondering if it was really THERE or not...

"Enough about me, what about YOU?" she asked with a chuckle. "How are you liking Ravenclaw?" she asked. She had never really seen herself as an Eagle and was always interested to know how other people liked their houses.

SPOILER!!: Scarlett! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissy Longbottom

Scarlett wasn't sure that Rachel wanted to hear about ALL her siblings but...she HAD asked. She chuckled and started counting them off on her fingers. "Well there's Clay, he's almost ten...and then Evie, she's like six now, and Zoey is almost four, then there's baby Benji...there's a lot of us," she told her with a grin. "You can have one if you like!" she added as a joke when Rachel told her she didn't have siblings. Even though there were days when Scarlett wished she didn't have any siblings either, she knew they were some of her closest friends. Like, Clay wasn't THAT bad...most of the time. "They're pretty cool I guess. It's nice to be away from them right now and do my own thing - but I do miss them," she admitted. Especially Benji because he was still in the adorable, not annoying baby phase.

"Well, he taught me a bit about Tarot Cards - those are his favorite, along with crystal orb gazing - but mostly he just let me poke around with it myself," she explained. "He's a Seer too, but he hasn't really had any, like...IMPORTANT readings, I guess," she explained with a shrug. The whole Seer thing was complicated with her dad - and something she sort of hoped she didn't inherit. She didn't WANT the Gift if she was being totally honest...it seemed like a pain sometimes, wondering if it was really THERE or not...

"Enough about me, what about YOU?" she asked with a chuckle. "How are you liking Ravenclaw?" she asked. She had never really seen herself as an Eagle and was always interested to know how other people liked their houses.

Wow! Scarlett had lots of siblings. They were all so small and Rachel knew they made a precious bunch. She giggled. "I would love that. I'll have one that likes princesses and likes to have tea parties.'' She was returning the favour of joking along. She then nodded understandingly. "I get that. It's nice to interact with other of your own age group for a change.''

Important readings or not, Rachel still though that Scarlett's father was impressive. "He may have one someday.'' She smiled. "It sounds as though you have a head start at Divination. Perhaps you could show me how to do a reading using Tarot cards. Those sound very fun.''

"I love it! Everyone one there is nice, especially Mr Kitridge.'' Rachel was very fond of her Head of House as anyone could tell. "I have great dorm mates and I reason that it is because of them that I've felt less homesick as the months went by. I've missed my parents and home terribly,'' she admitted.

Advanced Transfiguration was not most people's favorite reading material, but Nana was not most people. With a copy of the latest issue of her favorite magazine tucked under her harm and a thermos of green tea, she took up a seat on a deserted and clean bench and got down to reading.

She just lived for spring and all it's quiet warmth, the scent of flowers on the air... So calming.

Ansley had a little free time in his day after grading papers and finishing up lesson plans so he thought he might venture outside. Now that it was spring, it was rather warm outside on this particular day and he'd rather not spend it cooped up in his office as he had been much of the winter.

With his sketchbook and a piece if charcoal in hand, the professor found a spot in the courtyard where he could stretch out his legs and observe his surroundings without being right in the middle of activity. It had been a while since he had done any sketching from life and it was time he had gotten back in the process. Plus it was a good excuse to keep a watch on things.. or chaperone those that needed it.

Leo steered his steps towards the courtyard of the grounds intending to get some much missed reading done in some peace and quiet. He wanted a golden hour where he could read, eat some bertie bott beans and not be interrupted by any student or colleague.

Pulling his hand through his messy dark hair Leo soon came out into the quiet and spring warm courtyard and spotted Nana sitting on one of the benches alone with her nose in a magazine of some sort. Going over, Leo stopped a few meters away from her asking "Hi Nana, are you reading up on the latest spring clothing trends?"

Azura hadn't been outside in awhile really. While she liked looking at the Snow, she didn't like playing in it really.. It was super cold! And she felt lonely when it was cold.. she wasn't sure why. It was just a weird thing she had..

She finally wandered out into the courtyard, blank music sheets, rolls of parchment and her sapphire blue quill was all loaded into her arms and she moved towards the fountain and sat down in front of it..

The small purple eyed girl was humming softly to herself and occasionally words could be heard coming from her mouth as she got herself situated..

"All, I know at the end of the day,
is you want what you want and you say what you say..
And you'll follow your heart, even though it'll break..

Sometime ei ei eiemmssssssss..."

She was softly bobbing her head as she got a piece of parchment and put it on her knees.. She kept singing as she started to write with her quill.

The fountain in the center of Hogwarts' ancient, dilapidated courtyard had always been a great source of fascination for Garreth. In particular, the way the surface of the water retreated further down as one tried to reach for it. The fountain was probably one of the best examples of exactly why the first year so adored learning about magic. To Garreth, It was perhaps one of life's greatest pleasures to ask questions and discover their answers. To find mysteries great and small, and through intellect and hard work, uncover their secrets. Why did the water retreat? Who had built it? What would happen if you jumped in? Would the water still retreat and would you just fall forever, never reaching the surface? It was fun to ask questions.

This, he sat and pondered, when he thought he heard a familiar voice singing on the other side of the fountain. "Azura?" He asked aloud, turning his attention in her direction. He knew it was her, he had recognized the beautiful singing. The question was merely a formality to catch her attention so she wouldn't be caught completely off guard when he started yipping and yapping.

Azura was still singing softly as her quill scratched over the parchment, her Raven head was still moving in time to the song she was singing..

"All, I know at the end of the day,
Is you love who you love, there ain't no other way..
If there's something I've learnt from a million mistakes..
You're the one that I want... at the end of the..."

Her singing stopped as she heard a voice and she slowly turned around, her purple eyes peeking over the fountain, pink starting to invade her face as she saw Garreth standing there.. looking at her..

Ohh.. Holy Fwoopers from the Ancient Beyond..

Had he heard her singing?

Singing Muggle Pop from a long time ago?

EEEK!!

"Uh.. Hi Garreth." She said in a voice two octaves to high. She cleared her voice and started again. "Hey Garreth.. How's it going?" Her voice was at least in a normal pitch, but she was still blushing..

At least she wasn't dancing..

That didn't come to the bridge.. Or singing into her wand.. Also.. the Bridge..

It hadn't been very long since their last meeting at the post office in Hogsmeade, but even so, it felt like he hadn't seen her in forever. "There you are, Azura!" he smirked "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me." he joked, moving to sit over beside her. "I'm doing better. Less stress since we last spoke, y'know? What was that you were singing? I've never heard it before." his questions seemed innocent enough to him, and it didn't even occur to him that Azura was embarrassed about it. If Garreth could sing as well as Azura, he certainly wouldn't be embarrassed about it. "It was very pretty." he was quick to add, lest she think he didn't appreciate her singing. "You have such a lovely voice, Azura!" he continued.

But what was up with him? Just waltzing up and attacking the poor girl with weird questions and comments that were probably unwanted in the first place. Goodness, he hadn't even let her get a word in!

The first year gave the girl an apologetic look and shut his mouth.

She hadn't realized it but she had started to reread the same sentence over and over again, she hadn't realized it but she had started to reread the same sentence over and over again. She hadn't realized it, but she'd started to reread-

Nana shook her head in an effort to wake herself up. The warm weather, the relative quiet and the repetitive nature of her magazine had lulled the dark-haired witch into a very light half-doze, it seemed. Not at all professional, but thankfully there was no one around to notice.

Except it seemed she had some company in the form of Mister Kitteridge. She blinked, sitting up properly on the bench as she greeted him with a nod. "Mister Kitteridge, hello." She said, offering him a polite smile. "No, not quite." Nana held up her copy of Transfiguration Today. "it's an old copy I meant to re-read before my next class." a rather dull one at that.

Azura looked a little sheepish as Garreth spoke.. "I have not been avoiding you! I don't avoid anyone really." She said with a warm smile up at her friend as he came to sit down next to her. She moved her parchment and quill to the side and turned towards him a bit so he could have her full attention.

"Oh good! I'm so glad to hear that Garreth! Have you heard back from any of the colleges you applied for?" She asked curiously, before flushing ever so slightly at the mention of her singing..

"Oh.. well you know. It was just a.. uh..." She was stuttering now.. FULL on stuttering.. "It's called End of the Day.. by One Direction.. It's sort of a mugglepopboyband." She said very quickly.. So she liked boy bands! So sue her!

She blushed a bit more as he spoke.. "Thank you Garreth.. I appreciate that." She said with a warm if not bashful smile.

It appeared that Leo had caught Nana in a less than professional moment. Half dozing off over a book in the peaceful quiet of the courtyard was not something to be ashamed. On the contrary, it showed to Leo that Nana was just like everyone else. It made her more easy to understand. Possibly.

When she finally noticed him, blinking and sitting up straighter on the bench Leo smiled brightly at her. "Professor Ichihara, or do you prefer Nana?" They were after all not among students at the moment. But maybe she preferred professional to casual?

Eyeing the Transfiguration magazine as she showed it to him Leo asked curiously "Oh, really, what will your next class be about?" Hopefully it wasn't animagi.

"No, I'm only kidding." Garreth chuckled with a shake of his head. He noted from her expression as he spoke that Azura seemed somewhat distressed. Embarrassment perhaps? Or maybe she was sick? He couldn't imagine having said or done anything to make her feel uncomfortable. Maybe she just didn't like hi- No, he really had to stop thinking that way. She'd told him time and time again that she wasn't suddenly going to stop wanting to be his friend. Still, old habits die hard.

He quickly broke eye contact the moment she mentioned the college thing. Oh boy, this was going to get her all excited, and he still wasn't ready to look. "Well, I did get one letter back... Yesterday." he swallowed and paused for a moment before looking back up at the girl. "I haven't opened it yet."

A mugglepopboyband? Well, that was certainly one way to describe it. Garreth had never heard that particular song, but he recalled hearing some old muggle music from years ago by a band that sounded vaguely similar. Then again, he'd never been able to tell one boyband from another, so perhaps it was something completely different. "Well, Azura, I can't say it's exactly my cup of tea, but I listen to most types of music, really. As long as it's catchy, I'm into it." he smirked. He'd never understood why people got so riled up over music. Why not just listen and enjoy the melody instead of argue over which band was the best? On the other hand, he'd never been all that big into any specific bands, so maybe there was something to it that he didn't understand.

"Sure wish I could sing! That'd be swell!"

Azura was settling down now that Garreth didn't seem to be phased by the fact that she was belting out One Direction, so she smiled at him warmly and leaned back against the fountain a bit as she looked over at him. "Good, you better be kidding." She said with a grin, before he broke eye contact and she arched an eyebrow at him.. What was going on?

And then!! "YOU GOT A LETTER BACK?" She screeched perhaps a bit too loudly as she looked at him.. "You haven't opened it yet?? What? Garrethhhhhh.. do you have it with you? Can you go get it? We need to open it!" Why hadn't he yet? She was dying of curiosity.. surely he should be as well? Right?

She smiled at him as he spoke and she swallowed a little.. "Well, this has a good beat.. so perhaps you like it.. I feel so bad that I like it, but.. I just can't help it." She said with a warm smile as she looked over at him. "Now you know one of my deepest darkest secrets.. I Azura Kennedy.. like Muggle boy bands.." And she might have had posters that she hid under her bed cause Wes teased her about it..

Might

Yeah, that was pretty much the reaction Garreth had been expecting. He had intended to tell Azura about the letter eventually, but he really wasn't ready to look just yet. How could he explain that? "Azura, I don't know. I'm not sure I can open if just yet. I'll have you with me when I do, it's just.." Oh boy. He was getting more and more self-conscious by the second, and shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. "I know, it's stupid, I just don't think I'm ready to see what they said yet."

What a stupid thing to do, right? Putting off looking at a letter just because he was afraid of what it might say? How pathetic can you get? Surely, Azura would think less of him now...

The boy looked at his friend in silence for a moment. "... So?..." he shrugged in an exaggerated manner. "So you like muggle boybands, why is that a big deal? I like some muggle stuff, and I bet my muggle stuff is way more embarrassing than your muggle stuff." He spoke confidently, rather certain of his convictions on the matter.

Azura was nearly besides herself and bouncing with excitement when Garreth spoke and she frowned at him ever so slightly. "It's not stupid Garreth, and I totally understand where you are coming from.. But also.. It's good sometimes to not let your fear rule you." She said softly as she tried to encourage her friend.

"What is the worse that they can say?" She asked him gently. Hoping that perhaps him being ready for that would make opening the letter that much easier for him. She hated to see him like this.. "And look, see! I'll be right here next to you.. So don't worry all right? They can't kick you out of Hogwarts." She said with a warm smile at him.

Azura's mouth was in a bit of a line as Garreth said so.. "It's embarrassing! I'm not supposed to like Muggle boy bands, my cousin teases me about it.. and the posters I have hidden under my bed." She bit her lip at that.. So..some of the guys were cute.. They were like dead now! Wes didn't have to tease her about it![/color]

She totally thought it was stupid, didn't she? She totally did. Oh no, why did he have to be such a loser all the time? The little voice in Garreth's head fussed at him for even having wussed out on opening the letter in the first place. The negative thoughts that suddenly flooded his mind weighed heavily on his shoulders, but that fact would have been difficult to discern from the outside. He'd always been rather good at hiding his true feelings. He was vaguely aware that him being obviously sad all the time made other people rather uncomfortable and had often caused them to avoid him. This, of course, only made him feel worse. "I know, I shouldn't let it have so much control over me." he mumbled with a sigh, disappointed with himself. "I'm sorry."

It was strange how such a small phrase could set him off on such a long, complicated tangent in his head. She had only said it was good to not let ones fear make the decisions, a point which Garreth knew in his logical mind to be true. Now she'd reintroduced the question of what the worst possible scenario could be; a subject that the first-year had hitherto managed to avoid thinking about too much. "Oh boy, I don't know..." he sighed, obviously rather tense about the whole ordeal.

"It doesn't have to be embarrassing." he shook his head, quietly. "Even the posters under your bed don't have to be embarrassing. At least not to me."

Azura looked over at her friend.. he was quiet for a bit.. which probably meant that he was overthinking.. again. "Garreethhhhhh." She said as she turned towards him and took his hands in hers.. "You don't have to apologize to me.. It's you who are suffering because of it." She said as she looked at her friend worriedly.. "How about we just open it.. and get it over with, really quickly.." She said with a warm smile as she squeezed his hands.

"C'mon! They can't kick you out of Hogwarts, the worst they can do is reject you! And then you'll know how to better write them when the times comes for you to actually apply! So really, it's not terrible at all! Whatever those letters say.. It's a learning experience and that's it.. Right?" Her poor friend.. She leaned over and gave him a hug..

"It's going to be just fine, I promise you." She said as she pulled back and gave him her warmest smile. "And have I ever led you wrong?"

Nope! So he could trust her![/color]

How did Azura see through him like that? Was it that obvious when he began worrying about things? Did he make some kind of face when he started over-thinking things? Maybe she just knew him well enough to be able to tell. Did that mean she saw through him all the time? Or only when he over-thought things? Ah, he was doing it again.

The boy's cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she took his hands in his. "I'm s-" he began to apologize again, but caught himself in the act and stopped half way through. Garreth didn't know if she was aware, but Azura could be very soothing on his nerves when she did her best to quell his fears. "Get It over with? Yeah, I guess you're right." he mumbled. "I left the letter in the dorm, though. We can go get it if you like." He then added apologetically. It hadn't taken much convincing, but he figured she was right: best to get it over with.

Summer was very quickly approaching, and Ariadne had basically checked out for the school year. Were there even any classes left? Her brain couldn't form any answer to this at the moment, so she did what she usually did when she didn't feel like thinking about a thing.

She went roaming around the castle.

She actually ended up outside the castle in the courtyard. Oddly enough, she'd been here a whole year and had never really been to the courtyard to relax. Probably because there was very little time to relax when classes where in full gear. She passed by the pear tree and headed straight for the fountain, which looked like a pretty good place to sit and do nothing. She stared deep into the water. If she had a knut, she'd throw it in. She did have a galleon, but this fountain wasn't getting that. She was saving up for candy for the train ride home.

She still didn't see the point of riding the train home, since she could just WALK there, but she guessed it was a good time to eat candy and hang out. Her mind was already drifting off to candy and summer breaks and far away from Hogwarts...