Ok.

It was official.

Jasper had found his favourite part of this school.

The pathways were so... different. It was natural. There was no one else here. As a part of that, Jasper couldn't help but feel more comfortable. Naturally shy, so far he hadn't found it easy to talk to other people. To make friends. To even spend time in really busy areas.

He'd often walked into a room, and just walked straight back out. It was quite embarrassing really.

Too caught up in his own thoughts, he hadn't realised that he hadn't actually followed the path and instead walked straight into a tree. "Sorry," he said, looking at the plant in question. He almost face palmed at that. He was apologising to a tree. Not the first time and definitely wasn't the last. Leaning against the tree for a stop, he just took in his surroundings.

"It's quite nice here isn't it? You must be pretty happy to be here instead of in a courtyard!" he told the tree. "I wish I could also stay here... not that you could wish to be somewhere else... can you?"

Were trees in the wizarding world sentient?

Probably not.

If the lack of response was anything to go by definitely not.

Ohhhhh
This was nice!

She liked this place, it was all quiet and on ground level! She had decided to wander around the grounds for a bit instead of hiking back up to the common room!

That was quite some hike and her poor legs were still super tired!!

She rounded a corner and stopped mid stride as she saw Jazzy.. And a tree?

She bit her lip a little.. Unsure of whether to call out to him or not? She knew he liked his space and they had been spending a lot of time together..

The Fwoopers and the panick butterflies were back and she bit her lip more and her purple eyes looked worried..

She looked towards a tree and wondered if she could dive behind it.. In case he wanted to be alone?

"Anyway I'll leave you in peace," Jasper had told the tree, patting it before turning to move on. He paused though, almost certain that he wasn't alone. Looking around he eventually caught sight of a person.

Not just any person.

Azura! Jasper grinned, waving at her. She was still a bit away. "Hey Azura," he called, before he jogged forwards.

"Nice isn't it?"

Azura's purple eyes were busy looking at tree next to her, contemplating how much it would hurt if she hurriedly dove behind it to avoid Jazz if he wanted to be alone! She pursed her lips a little.. Figuring it would leave a few bruises and was about to attempt it when she heard someone call her name!

Ohhh boy.

"Hey Jazzy." The first year took a hesitant step towards her friend with a a smile. "I swear I'm not stalking you." She said with a smile..

"And yes, it's really nice here. It's really peaceful." she replied with a warm smile.

The grin didn't fade from Jasper's face even at the comment of stalking, instead it took on a more amused look. "I didn't think you were... I figured I'd probably run into you while exploring anyway. Speaking of which, I found a piano!"

He was proud of that!

Definitely very proud of that!

"I agree... it's why I've stayed so long," he moved away from her again, motioning for her to follow him as he walked towards a bench to take a seat.

Azura and her writer let out a sigh of relief as Jasper spoke and she bit her lip a little at his amused grin. "I guess the school isn't that big." She said softly, eventually they would have to run into each other..

Right?

Though personally.. she already felt like it was too big and she missed him already! But she wasn't going to say that! Nope! He wanted to explore and meet new friends.. and so she would be content to see him when she could.

Though his next words broke through her spiraling thoughts and her purple eyes went wide.

"You.Found.A.Piano??!!!!" A look of intense joy crossed her face as she launched herself at her friend! "Jasper Quinn I love you!" She said as she hugged him tightly before.. flushing a bit as she realized what she was doing and what she had just said and done!

She pulled back from him and bit her lip looking up at him sheepishly.. "I mean.. you are all right and stuff.. uhh.."

Those dang Fwoopers!! She tugged on her hair a bit as she looked up at Jazz nervously.. Was he going to run away from her now?

"I'm sorry Jazz! I was just excited.. She hurriedly apologized..

Echo felt like having a nice walk and she was so glad to find out that her friend was free, it was good just to hang out with Marsha. Finding a nice bench she waited for her friend to show she pulled out a book and started to read. Echo didn't really get much time to read lately so it was nice to get a quick read in.

Crossing her legs on the bench she got more comfortable.

"Well... it's massive compared to what I'm used to," he said, thinking about his muggle school for a moment before shrugging. "But there's still only so many places you can go!"

Jasper had laughed at her excitement when he had told her. That laughter was cut short about a second later when she was suddenly hugging him, and when she proclaimed her love for him. He probably would've hugged her back until the 'I love you' thing.

He understood she probably didn't mean it but...

His eyes widened, face flushing and his hands searched for the back of his neck, scratching it awkwardly. He nodded as she backtracked and then tried to explain her actions. His mouth opened for a moment, though nothing came out. Closing his mouth again he paused before trying again. Mentally slapping himself and telling himself to actually speak.

"Um..." he was fairly certain that was an octave too high and his voice had cracked in the middle of that attempt. It made him flush an even darker red. Clearing his throat he tried again. Third time lucky... right? "Yup, yup I totally get it. It's fine."

That time it just bubble out really quickly, the boy still looking like a deer caught in headlights as he looked at his friend. But hey, she hadn't said she loved Austin!

Uh oh!!

No No No no nooooooo!!!

NO! She was almost in full on panic mode as she watched her friend flush 50 shades of red! His had was scratching at his neck and she bit her lip a little as she bounced a little anxiously on her toes..

And then.. he opened his mouth.. and closed it.. and did it again..

Finally a word came out! Um?? And it was much to high!!

Azura's bright purple eyes looked towards the tree again.. Yeah, it probably would be dumb to dive behind it now.. but it was better than running away and falling and breaking something!

Jazz would probably just leave her to die after what she just put him through!

Finally words!! Words that came out to quickly, but still it was a plus? "I'm really sorry Jazzy." Part of her wanted to grab his hands again, but THAT wouldn't lead anywhere good right now!

And that look on his face!!

She was never going to tell him that ever again! "I was really excited and it just came out! I mean I like you and all.. but.."

Blazing Basilisks.. this wasn't helping!

Her eyes dropped to the ground.. and she bit her lip as she slowly started to back up from him.. perhaps she could make a run for it? She wondered how far she would be able to get before she bit it?

Despite his own situation, and partially wishing the ground would come alive and swallow him up to just end all of this, he did realise the effect that he was having on her!

Both of then were panicking now.

Jasper had to do something.

The only problem with that was the Australian currently didn't seem to have any control over his own body.

So he stood there, green eyes still focussed on his friend.

She liked him? Now there was something that made his mind race. Which version of like? How much did she like him? Was he overthinking things?

Yes.

Yes he was overthinking things.

Before his first and most important friend decided to run away because of his lack of response, he actually had to do something!

"It's fine... um... we can pretend this never happened?" he offered, still standing there awkwardly.

Did he want that? Probably. Then she 'wouldn't remember' how awkwardly he had acted in response. And it would save their friendship. That was the main thing that he wanted to do. He didn't want to lose her.

All right..

Welp.. That was all there was too it.. She had just ruined her friendship with the most important person in her life.

Great.

All because she "proclaimed" her love for him! It had been a mistake, the words had just flown out of her mouth and now.. suddenly she was staring into the face of her best friend and the look that she saw there..

Ouch.

The Fwoopers in her mind were making her want to cry a bit.. Was this what it was like to get rejected? She barely knew what she felt and now it was all over before it started. Not like it had been anything.. Ugh..

"I'm really sorry Jazzy." She whispered as she started to back up.. Don't cry.. Don't trip.. Don't cry.. Don't trip.. Don't cry.. Don't Trip!!

She paused her slow backwards movement as Jazzy spoke again.. and she looked at him for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, we can pretend like this never happened." Please dear merlin please..

She gave him a small smile.. trying to get a hold of herself.. and her whirling thoughts.. "So what were were talking about?"

He almost moved to grab her as she backed away from him. That wasn't going to help not now. Instead, he took a step forward to stop her from succeeding at getting away from him.

As Azura spoke Jasper nodded, clearing his thoughts. It never happened. She agreed that it had never happened.

With that in mind, he forced a grin to cross over his face. "There's a piano up in the Astronomy tower... as well as a mini library!"

At that memory his smile was a lot more real. It was, so far, aside from maybe the pathways, the most awesome thing that he'd found in his exploration!

Breathe.

Keep breathing.

Topic was changed.

It's all back to normal.

And all good!

Azura watched as Jasper took a step forward towards her.. and she swallowed a bit as she looked at him. Her purple eyes were wary, she was waiting for just another neck scratch or anything that might make it seem like she should run..

But they had agreed to make it so that it never happened.. And so she tried to push the sadness and thoughts from her mind as she looked at him and at his forced smile..

She could tell it was forced.. and her stomach sank even lower.. What had she done? Her and her stupid mouth! First she had nearly scared him off because of her panick that he would find another friend.. and now this..

"You.Found.A.Piano!" She said as she repeated what she had said the last time, though this time.. she just smiled at him and clasped her hands in front of her.. Like how she should of last time!

"So it's up in the Astronomy tower? She asked him curiously. She would have to go there sometime to see it! She would have suggested together.. but uhh.. not now!

Jasper grinned, nodding. "I think it's Professor Flamsteed's..." he wasn't too sure about that though.

The sign in the room suggested that it was.

And the fact that it was up in the Astronomy tower.

"Although I also heard there was a music classroom somewhere..." he had yet to find that. That probably had another piano... and a guitar... He beamed as he also remembered the art room that he had found. "And there's an art room! With like... paints and canvases and everything that you need!"

This was why exploring the school was great!

And it seemed as though just like that.. What had happened was forgotten.. at least for Jazzy.. Azura though.. She was going to tuck this information away from quite sometime to come..

However she nodded as he spoke. "I'll have to check it out sometime." She said with a warm smile at her friend, but not suggesting they do it together.. Even if they did have music lessons on their bucket list.

She smiled as he spoke of a music classroom, she had heard about that as well, and she was anxious to find it! "I need to go searching for that as well! I hope I find it! She said, she hoped it had a piano though! That would be terribly sad if it didn't!!

"An art room? Ohh! That's so great! I know that will be so amazing for you." She said with a warm smile. He looked so happy about that!! At least she could see him smile again.. She would do anything to keep that smile on his face..

Azura was still hesitant. Jasper wasn't going to address the elephant in the room. Definitely not. That couldn't happen. Not right now. If they did that, he was going to end up destroying whatever it was they just salvaged.

"There's so much to find!" he was beaming as he looked at his friend. "I'm not sure I'll ever find everything that is here!"

That was very true.

"So what were you up to when you ended up here?" he asked, realising that he actually didn't know what she had done so far. Whether she was exploring, or looking for something particular.

Azura smiled at Jasper as he spoke, she was glad to see him so happy at least, she never wanted to see that deer in the headlights look on his face ever again! At least not by something she said!

She bit her lip a little as he asked her what she had been doing to end up here!

What HAD she been doing? Their previous conversation had pushed it out of her head! She blinked her purple eyes at him before shaking her head..

"Uhh.." she tried to speak but her words sort of died in her throat for a moment before she swallowed and started again.

"Oh! I was just walking around on the flat ground, seeing if I could find somewhere quiet without hiking back up the the common room." She said finally with a smile. She had been trying to see if she could find some place to write music! She was thinking about writing a song for him..

But she wasn't so sure about that now! That was probably a lame idea!

"What were you doing? Looking for somewhere to sketch?" She asked him softly.

"This doesn't feel like the best place if you're looking for flat ground..." that was probably just him though. He'd gotten distracted and had walked into a tree. He was thankful that she probably hadn't seen that.

Had she?

He wasn't even going to ask. He really didn't want to know the answer to that.

"Looking for inspiration for later really... places like these are hard to come by," that and he was looking for a peaceful place where he could start on his sketch of her during the food fight. He was starting to think he'd do a picture of the two of them. Him soaked with potato in his hair and her somehow clean of food and perfect looking smiling at him and the situation they were in.

Wasn't going to admit that though.

That was his surprise for her.

"Most places are also already full of people..."

Azura smiled a little at Jazzy as he spoke. "Well, it's not super flat ground, but it is also not 7 flights of stairs! So I thought I would take my chances here instead of the stairs." She explained as she looked at him and shrugged softy.

Yeah, this was much better than traipsing up those death machines! And forget the moving staircases! She had already gotten stuck on one and dissolved into tears when she had finally gotten off of it!

She raised one of her eyebrows at him."Inspiration for later hmm?? You will have to show me what this inspired." She said with a warm smile as she calmed down a little bit. The more they talked, the more it seemed like things were going to be okay! As long as they didn't bring up her "feelings" for him or mention his reaction!

She sighed and nodded as he spoke. "I know! I was wanting to find somewhere where I could maybe write some music.. But everywhere was too crowded!"

Ohh Fwoopers! She had mentioned writing music! Oh well! He didn't have to know it was for him!!

"That's true..." Jasper said, shrugging his shoulder as he thought of all of the moving staircases. He'd almost fallen off of the stair cases when they suddenly started moving when he was almost at the bottom of them.

"Sure thing," he said grinning, he was definitely going to show her that. "I've already drawn a couple of sketches of the courtyard... and there's also a balcony on the fourth floor with a great view..."

Speaking of that, considering he was holding it, he offered the sketchbook to her. Most of it was things from the castle... though he had started a portrait of Azara. The furthest he'd gotten on her portrait was just a sketch of her eyes.

No colour.

Which meant she'd never know it was her.

"You also write music?" he should've expected that. But it still made him smile.

Marsha couldn’t wait to meet Echo again, they had so much to catch up on from over Summer… but she was running early after Lunch so she decided to go to the Creature Housing to fill in the time before they were due to meet. Unfortunately, creatures and Sha and a short time frame don’t mix well and the next thing the Welshgirl knew, it was fifteen minutes after she was supposed to be with Echo.

With a start, she had quickly finished up (just as well she was almost done cleaning out the stable) and put everything away so that she didn’t leave a mess behind her. Then, after she quietly closed the door so she didn’t freak any of them out, she RAN across the grounds. Sprinting across to the pathways where she had arranged to meet the Slytherin. When she got there, she was pink cheeked and grinning like a maniac. Nothing like hard work, creatures and a run to get your blood pumping.

”Echo, hi!” She said, jumping a few times on the spot to cool her muscles down slowly. ”I’m so sorry, I went to see some of the animals and ended up cleaning out some of the stalls and got completely distracted.” Sighing, she gave her friend an apologetic look and hoped that the fourth year wasn’t too mad at her.

Azura smiled happily when he said that he would show her.. "Really? I'll have to go up there to see! You seem to find all the good spots! I might be following you all over the castle." She teased him a bit as he offered her his sketchbook so she could look at it!

"Really?" She asked as she took it and then looked around.. She spotted a bench not far from where they were and she looked at Jazz.."Come on.. I wanna see these properly." She said with a warm smile as she headed to the bench and then sat down and opened his sketchbook!

Her purple eyes went wide.. These were.. Really good!! "Oh Jazzy.. These are amazing!" She said as she looked up at him in awe! She turned her eyes back to the sketchbook and slowly poured over each drawing! She could tell it was the courtyard just by what he had drew.. and the view from the 4th floor balcony made her want to go see it now!!

She wanted to see what had inspired this drawing!

And then she turned the page.. and just saw a sketch of some eyes..

They almost seemed to be looking straight back at her and she lingered on them for a moment, wondering who was high enough in Jazz's book in order to get sketched.. Her fingers gently ran over the drawing before she closed the book.

"These really are amazing Jazzy.. I'll want to see more! And I'll maybe want you to draw me something! Her voice was a little shy at that.. but she would love to have one of his drawings if he allowed her too.

She smiled at his question. "Mmm, I do.. Well, I'm trying at least. I too have to..get inspired! I'm working on something now.. You'll have to let me play it for you sometime." She said with a smile..

That way, she could see if he liked it or not!

Echo was so into her book she didn't hear all the leaves and wind rustle when Sha came running up. Hearing her speak though confirmed that it was her.

"oh heyy!!!" she placed down her book and jumped up to hug her friend but she was doing some sort of jumping jack thing. so she waited for her to stop to hug her. "its okay!! maybe we can head over there later and play with the animals" ohh her relaxing day was just getting better.

"omg okay so come and sit and tell me about your summer?" she wanted all the dirt. about boys and things shes done over the summer. ahhh she just wanted to know everything!!!!

Jasper laughed, shaking his head at Azura's comment. "Nah... they pop up every once in a while.... most of the places I find are regular or look... forgotten."

Forgotten was really the only thing Jasper could think of.

All of the statues that were covered in layers of dust, the rooms that just had sheets over furniture, places where no one else ever seemed to go. Quite sad really.

Nodding he followed her to a bench, slightly nervous about what she'd think of the drawings. A grin crossed his face as she spoke though. "Thanks," he replied to the compliment. The second time so far someone here had said his art was great! This was waaaaay more important though.

"Let me know what you want and I'll do it for you," he said with a shrug, still beaming at the girl. He would. If he was in the middle of exams, with 50 assignments and commissions from important people in the world, he'd probably prioritise her request.

"Definitely!" he responded as she spoke about playing for him. That was something he'd love to hear!