That was a good question. What WOULD she be doing with a stolen pan?

Yoongi scratched his chin, thinking but when he couldn’t find an answer he just sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll check if you did” he said. He watched the young girl as she began to bang on the pan again, wanting to tell her not to break the thing but then figured that if it did happen somehow he could always repair it with a simple spell.

Wait….she wanted HIS suggestion? Eeeeh…she did know that he was the Head Boy right? He should be telling her to move away and safe the other kids life. But then he remembered his talk with Professor Jerkface. That he shouldn’t take his job too seriously… was this one of those moments? Merlin’s Beard he didn’t know. “Well…uh, first of all” he began, hesitated for a split second before he continued “The squid’s name is Bartholomew Henry…at least that’s what I heard” No harm in telling her that right? As if the squid would pop up LOL! No way.

“And you didn’t answer my previous question”

Genny nodded happily, "Okay. I haven't met many Gryffindor girl friends. I'd like to meet one." And be best buddies with her if that was possible.

It seemed that Sam didn't know as many cool things about Hogwarts as Genny which made the latter feel obliged to tell her all the stories her parents supplied since she was six. "Yeah! It appears out of nowhere, and for those who seek something earnestly only." With a small smirk, she folded her hands behind her back and added, "Our school's amazing like that."

Uhm. ???. That was the first time someone asks her for payment? Genny found it odd. "I don't want anything from you. I mean, I'm sure you have things to teach me, but I don't want it to be like, payment back or anything. We're friends. Friends do things like that..." Awkward... and somewhat sad...

It was freezing, the chill bite of Hogwarts' winter air driving the sanest batch of students to take refuge in the warm indoors at all times.

Of course, that meant Dima was outside. Of course.

He'd set up camp at his favorite spot on the grounds, the docks, with some paints and a small canvas in hand. The plan for the rest of the afternoon was to waste his hours away doing virtually nothing productive. Not like he didn't have homework to do....

... but. Well. Who didn't procrastinate on that stuff, anyway?

Not him! Ravenclaw at its finest, folks.

It was too warm in the castle tonight and too loud, much too loud, so loud that she hadn't been able to focus on her writing her letters or grading papers, even her meditation had felt disrupted and turbulent.

Naturally, this had lead to the logical conclusion that a walk would ease her mind and cool her down. So far, it was only making her crave a hot chocolate. Gazing around, Nana was unsurprised to see the lakefront so blissfully quiet and devoid of people...

Except it wasn't, devoid of people that is. Curiosity propelling her forward, Nana quietly approached Mister Toussaint. "I was not expecting to see anyone else out here." She remarked, catching sight of the paints and canvas. Interesting. "Capturing the day, Mister Toussaint?"

Hope gave Jessie a smile and sat down beside her sighing as she took in the beautiful view before her.

"I'm Hope. It's nice to meet you Jessie. Are you a first year too?"

That whole solitary thing was going to be put on hold, because it looked like someone was joining him. The very professor whose homework he'd been avoiding, actually. Dima would just need to keep from mentioning that, and he'd be golden.

"Neither was I." He'd almost tacked a ma'am onto the end of that sentence, but Professor Ichihara didn't look nearly old enough to be one of those. Why was she outdoors anyway? "I was thinking about it, but I can try capturing something else if you're keen on becoming a human ice cube."

He flashed her a cheeky grin and gestured to the space on the docks before him. She could sit?

"Sure did, nearly got a hand shake from Barty after all the rocking." It definitely didn't seem that long ago with each day Justin spends on the grounds.

Justin didn't hesitate for a moment before taking the pictures to look at, grinning. "Awww, he's a right chip off ol' block. He's getting your curls for a start." Giving Leo a little head pat. He knew of those insecurities, "Yeah, you want to give them the best in everything." Turning towards him again, "I think you have nothing to worry about with him. He's definitely going to love you for being there and at least trying." He had some experience with that. "Here's my little princess, Lucilla." He took out his mirror, before passing it over to Leo. He could see little Lucy still snoozing away. "It's hard being away from her at times, least I can always keep an eye on her while my mate and siblings are looking after her." Leo definitely could relate to that, he bet.

Rocking? Oh? Grinning Leo asked "So Barty showed an interest in the new first years? Does he do that often? You managed to stay dry I hope?" Justin had almost gotten a hand shake whereas Leo hadn't had much luck of encountering Barty the squid at all. Merlin knew he had tried though several times unsuccessfully.

Glancing over at Jackson's picture with love in his eyes he nodded. "Yes Jackson is getting my curls but he'll be blond and blue- eyed like his mother. It'll be interesting to see who he takes after most." But it'd be some time yet before Jackson showed that.

It felt reassuring to hear Justin's next words. He understood exactly how Leo felt. It made everything a little better and less scary somehow. "Yes with love you will get a long way. Parenting is a lot of trial and error and forgiving isn't it?" Felt good to talk to another man about this and not just Cassie. Justin provided a welcomed second perspective.

Accepting the mirror from Justin, he looked at little girl snoozing away happily and said raising his gaze to his friends eyes and reaching out to give his arm a pat as he handed the mirror back. "I can definitely relate. It's hard to be away from them. I sometimes feel like I miss a lot of Jackson's firsts while I'm here working but it can't be helped. What we do here is important too." At least that was what Cassie reminded him when he was unhappy.

Hope.

Jessie likes her name. She guessed that her parents gave the name for very good reason.

the young lioness heard hope question and realized that they're in the same year.

" Lovely name ." Jessie smiled to the girl "Yes I am. First year Gryffindor."

Jessie said proudly. She moving her gaze to the lake.

"Beautiful, isn't it? I always wonder what creatures live inside the lake... "

Sam tilted her head. "Yeh don't all share a dorm?" How...interesting. She'd met all the other first year girls on the first night, and it'd been a bit like an endless sleepover since. "Well, we shoul' defo work on dat," she said with a nod. "Dora's awesome. I'll introduce yeh at dinneh, yeah?"

She finally took the last bite of sandwich, and licked her fingers carefully to get all the crumbs before rubbing her hands against her trousers. "So it gives yeh what yeh want, bu' only if y'av good intentions?" It was a pretty clever concept really, and one she approved of. It had a code. "Dat really is amazin'." It made her want to go find it already, for curiosity, not greed. "What else d'ya know 'bout the castle?" Genny seemed to know a LOT.

Sam could sense Genny had been a bit taken aback by her suggestion, and she glanced down at her feet momentarily. It was hard to get a sense of what people wanted here. Or, as in this case, what they didn't want. It was a social concept that was foreign to her. "Friends," she repeated, lifting her gaze with a wide smile to confirm. "I dunno about teachin' yeh much, bu' I'm a dab 'and at findin' me way roun' Landan." In case the Gryffindor ever needed a guide.

Haddie's shoulders dropped in exasperation at the Prefect's threat of checking up on her. Was he for real? Common, she already said she was going to return it, what more did he want? Giving up on thinking he might actually give her a suggestion, she just kept banging the branch against the pan, calling "Here squid!"

And then the Prefect surprised her. Haddie turned and regarded Yoongi curiously for a moment, unsure what to make of him. He seemed to be walking the line between Prefect and Gryffindor, but rather than just finding the middle ground and doing that, he just kept swinging from one end to the other and back. "Thanks!" she said cheerfully and turned back to the Great Lake. "Bartholomew! Here, Bartholomew!"

She banged the pan a few times more, then turned back to the Prefect. He was watching her expectantly, waiting for her to answer the question. "Noticed that did you?" She shrugged. "I'll tell, if," she stressed, "and only if you promise not to warn him. Or any professors. Or his friends. Or..." She paused a moment, thinking it over. "Actually, let's just go with you promising not to tell anyone at all. Like swear on the River Styx promise. Or whatever the magical equivalent of that would be." She let that linger, watching him with raised eyebrows, waiting to see how he would respond. "What is the magical equivalent to swearing an oath on the River Styx?" she asked after a moment, curious now.

"Not all of us. Just five per dorm." And as far as she knew, there was no Dora among her dormmates. Wait, did she just reveal a House secret to a Ravenclaw? Would she lose points for that? Genny swallowed hoping to Godric it didn't because her nonexistent academic achievements were... well, nonexistent. "Okay. I'd like that." Meeting people over food helped the ice-breaking process go smoother.

Nodding along and feeling rather happy that Sam found this piece of information interesting to extend this conversation and ask Genny for more. "I know loads, my father was headmaster for years and he pretty much knew all of its secrets." He didn't reveal more than what the average student would know but Genny wasn't going to tell anyone that, of course, pft. "Like, the older kids hold secret parties in the Shrieking Shack." Mhmmmmm.

"Oh great, that'll do! We don't spend much time in London. We live in Scotland and we have relatives in Wales." So. See? Not very needed business in the muggle capital. "Do you have relatives anywhere else?"

"Yeh 'lright?" she asked, tilting her head at Genny. She'd looked a little concerned for brief moment there, but it seemed to disappear as quickly at it'd come. "I'll come find yeh boff at the Gryffie table den," she confirmed with a nod.

Because really, there were more interesting things to talk about now. Like, OMG Genny's father was HEADMASTER here? Well then! "Did yeh grow up in de castle at all?" Gosh, what an epic place to be able to play hide and seek as a kid. "Where's the Shriekin' Shack?" She hadn't found that yet either! She definitely needed to spend time exploring with Genny, yes she did.

Sam couldn't help but smile at the realisation that she DID have something useful to offer in return. "Yeh 'av to let me know when yeh do visit though, right? I can show yeh all the best places. Muggle and mag'cal." She went between the two as she pleased. As for family? "Nah, s'only me and me Pa." She'd never known her Mam, and if she had grandparents, she didn't know where she might find them. "D'ya 'av any siblings? Or s'just you?"

older, she certainly was, but not old. Perhaps that was why she didn't mind the young man's request. Nana offered mister Toussainta small, but amused grin. "Thankfully I have magic to keep me warm." She said as she pulled her wand out from the pocket of her jacket. Conjuring a jar or two was easy enough, and easier still was creating two large flames to reside in the jars.

"There." She said, offering the larger jar to the Ravenclaw. "Now neither of have to become an icicle." Turning her head, she looked back at the doc and scrunched her nose a bit. "Is there another place you would consider?" Sitting for a painting wouldn't be the worst thing she had done this year.

Ah, the perks of your painting subject being the Transfiguration professor. He took the jar gratefully, noting Ichihara had been gracious enough to give him the larger of the two. "Thanks. I like the color blue, just not when it's the shade of my fingers." Much appreciated.

A different spot? "If you'd prefer one, sure. I'm quite fond of the docks, though. Water's good for creativity." And clear thinking. Kept stuff flowing, y'know, and Dima found it peaceful. But he didn't mind moving at the woman's request, either.

Unless she felt like conjuring herself a cushion or something instead. Whatever floated her boat, really.

Nana chuckled softly. "I admit, I don't think it's your color, mister toussaint," At least, not when it had to do with frostbite.

It was less about having somewhere to sit and more about the chill created by the wind skating across the inky water, as warming as the little jar could be, Nana wasn't sure it would be enough to keep her from freezing entirely. Then again, she had endured much colder nights. "Hm." She clucked her tongue, considering the options. "The docks will be fine... Just don't let me freeze." Nana coolly said, pursing her lips before stepping to the docks and taking up a pose.

She felt a bit like Washington crossing the Delaware, all she needed was a flag.

With his hands in his pockets, Damien walked alongside Daisy towards the lake. Back at the bridge he hadn't really had any idea of where he wanted to go. He just knew he wanted to walk. And he knew he wanted to walk with someone. Not that he was labeling his Gryffindor counterpart just any-old-someone. She really did have a knack for keeping him around when, in most other social situations, he didn't want to stay at all.

He pushed down the black sleeves of his shirt before returning his hands to their original spot.

"Sorry again about the spider joke," he said as their feet shuffled the earth. Daisy wasn't even in the slightest upset with him about it, though for some reason he felt the need to apologize.

It was a favorite hue when unassociated with frigid phalanges, really. Which was ideal for today.

"I'll do my best, professor." He knew excellent ways to keep girls warm, but none of them could be applied to a faculty member. Dima would have to make do with forcing her to take his jar as well or something of the sort of need be. Wasn't as creative as he usually was, but it could work.

Smiling a little at Ichihara's pose, he considered her for a second, then started mixing some colors on his palette. She would go well with blue, too.

And not in the frostbite way.

The two had walked from the Bridge down to the lake in comfortable silence. Well comfortable to the point that Daisy had wanted to ask Damien what he had been up to for the last couple of months. She hadn’t seen him since Diagon Alley and was curious. In fact, she hadn’t seen Noah since Diagon either. She didn’t ask though, because she knew better then to ask Damien personal questions (at least out of the blue like this would be) and she, herself had become a recluse as she tried to work on her school marks; OWLS were coming up after all.

The silence, well comfortable, was starting to reach that point where someone really needed to say something. Daisy was busy staring at her shoes and racking her brain for an appropriate comment that didn’t include the weather or classes (of which she and Damien did not have a single corresponding course together this year), when Damien spoke. Daisy looked up from her shoes to Damien. Was he apologizing? It wasn’t like the action was atypical of him, but really, just unexpected. She hadn’t really been that upset about it, well, once her heart stopped racing.

“It’s fine,” she said giving him a smile. “Isador’s done much worse.” Isador was the younger of her two older brothers and the one she disliked the most. Daisy couldn’t remember if Damien had met Isador or not, but she knew she’d spoken about him in the past. “Just,” she said as an after thought. “Do me a favor and keep real spiders away from me,” pause. “At least for the time being.” She hoped her Arachnophobia would go away with time.

"How long have you painted, Mister Toussaint?" If the answer was unsatisfactory to her ears she might consider making an excuse and slipping away. Nothing was worst than standing for a portrait by someone who did not take the art seriously.

Frostbite was probably worst, but Nana as mentioned previously, had no intentions to test that sort of thing. "Don't suppose you're one of those speed painters that creates landscapes in minutes." She said, face still impassive, but eyes slightly mischievous. The wind was not so unbearable and though her jar was small, the heat it produced was fairly substantial, enough so that she was comfortable.

Her brunette hair tied into two plaits and wearing the blue pleated skirt her mother had just owled her the day before, Ruby headed towards the Lake with a melancholy expression on her face. She was thankful to be in her own clothes rather than the uniform that they had to wear for lessons. It wasn’t that she hated it, it was more that she liked the comfort of wearing things that her parents had bought her, or that she brought from home or that reminded her of things. Ruby had been at the school for a while now this being her second year but there were times where the homesickness hit her like a tonne of bricks and today seemed to be one of those occasions. Perhaps it was reading the letter from her parents or maybe it was just one of those days. Either way she wanted company from the only thing from home she still had here. Tabby.

She had seen her sister earlier in the day briefly after leaving breakfast in the Great Hall. She had been on her way back up to her common room but had arranged to see her later that day after she had finished her homework. Tabitha had never seemed to be as affected by homesickness as Ruby had been. She was a bright, excitable and confident girl unlike the twelve-year-old who preferred to keep herself to herself. Being around her bubbliness actually put Ruby in a better mood. She adored her sister, idolised her and she wished that they had been in the same house so they could see each other more often than they did.

Once she had arrived at the lake the Ravenclaw perched on top of a rock protruding from the shoreline. She wasn’t close enough to get accidentally splashed by another student or one of the magical creatures that swam about under the water’s surface. She had her bag slung over one shoulder but she placed it on the floor by her feet and unzipped it producing a book from within. She began to read whilst she waited for the first sight of the blonde heading her way.

Tabby was getting too old for bunches.. Too old for the plaits she was so fond of wearing on either side of her head. She was getting too old for the pink dress with little white spots her mother had sent her only recently which she had cast aside and never worn. She was getting FAR too old for skipping and humming to herself as she made her way down the corridor..

So today Tabby walked. ..And Tabby had her hair down. Her unkempt curls had been pulled and yanked at in an attempt to straighten out her blonde bush of hair.. although there were kinks at the back which she just had not been able to get rid of for love nor money. She was wearing jeans and a baggy gray t-shirt, a pair of baseball shoes adorned her feet offering the only hint of pink (her favourite colour) in her entire outfit. She also came empty handed. No book to read nor that colouring book for older kids which she adored so much—nope—today she was meeting her best friend in the WORLD so there was no need for anything else to occupy her mind!

Ruby was looking very cute in her new skirt, Tabby noted from a few yards away from her sister.

She clambered up to the rock and sat next to the younger brunette.

“Ruby! You look SO cute in that skirt!” She gave her sister a one armed hug in greeting. HI! HELLO!

Ruby had been too engrossed in her book to notice that her sister had finally arrived. The brunette was often first to arrive and was usually the one waiting around but that was mostly because she made sure she arrived early. She did it in lessons too, she’d be there early enough to get a decent seat and to get her things out and organised and ready before the professor started speaking. She decided that she got that from her father although she knew her mother was never late either. Tabitha meanwhile arrived at her own pace and leisure and she didn’t mind that at all. As long as she arrived.

Sensing someone climbing onto the rock next to her, she folded over the corner of the page she was reading and placed it down onto her lap. She didn’t even need to look as she leaned into the one armed cuddle knowing fully well that they were her sister’s arms around her. She smiled softly glancing down at the skirt and picking up the skirt in her hands. “Thank you. I really love it. Mama knows my style.” She had never got anything wrong when it came to buying clothes. Her father however was a different matter, she loved him dearly but she did not trust him to get anything in the cutesy girly style that Ruby favoured.

She finally looked at her sister. “How come you aren’t wearing the dress they bought you?” She looked a little disappointed. Tabby was growing up faster than she wanted her to. Her sister had changed her style and her personality had mellowed just a little bit. She supposed it came with being a teenager, Ruby herself would turn thirteen in a matter of months.

She placed the book back into her bag so that she could concentrate on the company that she had. Her favourite company.

Tabby looked at the skirt, then up at Ruby's llittle face. The shade brought out her pretty eyes. “It's blue. Eeeh-very-one knows you love blue! I shouldn't have been surprised when the hat decided you're a Ravenclaw.” She smiled sweetly at her sister. The skirt was nice and, strangely, far more grown up looking than the dress she'd been sent herself.

“I just.. I didn't think it was a DRESS day.” She replied in a way which she deemed to be diplomatic, deciding not to voice her thoughts that she thought it looked babyish. “I'll keep it for best.” She added. “For when I'm at home.” And no one could see her.

“I wanted to come over at breakfast but I slept in and had to eat in double quick time! How are you? I'm sad I don't get to see you more..”

Tugging down on her skirt to straighten it out a little and prevent creases, the brunette briefly glanced out across the lake and towards the mountains in the distance. The location of Hogwarts was truly amazing but Ruby couldn’t help but miss the clifftop home she shared with her family back in Cornwall. Tabby started talking and the girl switched her attention from the view to her sister. “I don’t think its my favourite colour, it just suits me the best.” That’s what her parents had told her anyway. Ruby had extremely blue eyes, almost the exact colour of the water back home when the skies were clear and the sun was shining on its surface. She didn’t really have a favourite as such but she did tend to stick to blues and yellows and browns in her outfit choice. It looked quite amusing when compared to her sister’s bright colours and love affair with pink.

Or at least what used to be a love affair. Tabby’s clothing had got noticeably less colourful and baggy and ‘more mature’. “I’m sure Daddy would love to see you in it anyway.” As opposed to knowing she was wearing it but being hundreds of miles away. That was the worst thing about Hogwarts, the distance. They were practically on the opposite side of the Country to their home.

“It’s okay. I went back to the Common Room and did my homework anyway.” Tabitha fitted the Slytherin criteria perfectly, it was either that or Gryffindor but Ruby truly wished she had been sorted into Ravenclaw like she had. Being quite a shy and solitary girl she found it difficult to talk to people spontaneously and that meant she had barely any friends within her own house. Common Room time was rather a lonely affair. “I’m okay” she sighed quietly. “I miss home though.”