"Why thank you Esme, I love your name too."Esme was the second person in the past ten minutes to like her name. She was feeling exceptionally proud of it right now. Even her middle name (DuGray) had started to sound cooler once Julia gave it a backstory.

Kitty was taken aback when she heard that the Hag had threatened Esme's sister. Did this mean that she really was dangerous? "That's terrible! Why did she do that?" Kitty began to have second thoughts about visiting Professor Black.

She probably should have felt a little bad for startling the boy so, and she might have had he ended up ruining his drawing with the flinch he did. The fact was that he didn't, and if one wasn't going to be aware of their surroundings at Hogwarts then one was going to be in a lot of trouble someday. As Amur saw it, she was doing the boy a favor: encouraging him to expect and be wary of the unexpected.

That, and he didn't seem too phased by it, so it was easy enough to let it go. What she did appreciate was his choice of words. Anyone who invited company by the words 'pop a squat' instantly got Brownie points in her books.

She grinned and pointed briefly at herself. "Amur."

Clambering down from the tree, and dropping the last few feet, Amur brushed herself off before taking up the space next to Colt where he had patted. She could see the drawing better here and proceeded to examine it closely. "So....what's it supposed to represent exactly?"

She wasn't so interested in learning the trade herself as she was interested in understanding his work.

Colt beamed and said, "Nice to meet ya Amur.." He tilted his head and began to observe her. Man she looked so familiar for some reason. He shook his head and went to his drawing. "Sorry about that you look like someone I used to know.." She looked like this girl back in Durmstrang he used to be friends with or maybe back when he used to live in the city. Ah well it is not that important. He felt her staring down his back and he didn't mind it. He was used to it with his cousins and all.

"It is not really supposed to represent anything. It is just like free drawing. I like to do doodles and make like my own theme. Like I am using my love of music to make a speaker like drawing." He hoped he was explaining it correctly. "I hope I am not confusing you too much. I mean explaining my thought process isn't my strong suit." Or maybe you are getting flustered by this cute girl. That could be it too.

Amur blinked at the boy. "Well you don't look like anyone I know."

You know, just in case he was worried she was pulling a fast one on him or something. Also, did he know it was slightly disappointing to hear that she looked like someone else? There was a personal amount of pride in looking unique and individual, and it seemed that at least for the moment, she couldn't have that.

There were were things than looking like someone else though, and so long as it wasn't a bad look-alike then she could deal.

Turning her attention back to the 'free' drawing, as he so called it, Amur tilted her head slightly in consideration. "So, it's just visual expression then." No scenery, no models, no particular meaning except one that was apparent to this kid. Amur straightened with a smile, waving off his apology. "Are you muggle born then?"

Because what wizard took to drawing an expression in speakers.

Colt heard her comment and he chuckled, "Well that's good to know. Then at least I am one of a kind." Come on winchester stop being so full of yourself in front of this girl. Try to be nice and not so sarcastic? Nahh not in his nature. He seemed to have said the wrong thing because he was reading her facial expression and body language. Ah well sometimes girls were sensitive. He heard her question and nodded. "Yeah in a manner of speaking." He kept shading in and sketching some more.

Woah her question came out of left field. He dropped his pen and turned to face her. He couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. He would give her props though, it was a good assumption. "Well yeah and no. I'm a half blood. My mother's side has a bit of magic in their blood. My dad is purely muggle. He doesn't even know what magic is." He is a military commander, so everything has to be by the book with him. If he ever knew he went to a magical school, he would take him out of here and send him to his military academy where he would get a real job.

Now it is time for him to ask some questions, "How about you? Are you muggle born, half blood or pure blood?" See he covered the basics. He noticed on her robes she was in gryffindor so he wasn't gonna ask that.

Kitty and Esme
 

Garreth knew the Hag was bad news, but he wasn't aware she'd actually threatened a student. Isn't that completely against the rules? Was she even really a professor, or had she just bewitched the rest of the faculty into allowing her to perform her wicked magic on-campus, and eat children, and cast curses on people, and all manner of other wicked, wicked things.

Or maybe she was just misunderstood?

Nah, she HAD to be up to no good! "Why would she curse your sister, Esme?" the boy asked, shocked and confused. Was she truly evil, then? Was Hogwarts no longer the safe haven he'd been lead to believe?

Talking about this was upsetting.

Esme was trying to keep calm, but she was angry and scared. The only other person she had talked to this about was her sister, obviously. There was no way that Juno was going to Hogsmeade and if the hag came near her she was going to be blasted with hexes. How could they tell their parents what had happened?

She sighed. "I don't know. I didn't think she even knew I HAD a twin sister." Thinking back on the train meeting, Esme was sure that she hadn't let anything about Juno slip, so how did the old woman find out? "All I know is she said that someone would curse her, and that someone has to be HER."

EVIL WOMAN.

EVIL.

She sighed sadly. "I just don't want her to try anything else. Why do you want to see her anyway?" If something happened to them, she would be very upset!

So he was out exploring, well Julien could take that as a good reason, though he would be a little suspicious still. "There is many thing to explore, but one must be careful walking around the grounds at certain hours. It might seem that you are up to no good." He wasn't accusing the child, just making a point to keep his nose clean.

He wanted to jog with Julien. Julien had never had a student go jogging with him before. This was an interesting turn of events, but one that Julien really didn't mind. "If you would like to come, you are welcome." He started up his pace again and motioned for the boy to come along if he liked.

Carl grinned up at Professor Primeaux, but the smile faded a bit when he heard the suspicious note at the end. Still, he was watching out for him and the Hufflepuff was grateful for that. "Yes, Professor." He replied, making a mental note to avoid wandering around Hogwarts in the early hours.

Yes! The Professor was okay with him tagging along! Carl stepped back into the pathways and began jogging, his speed slightly slower than the man but not too much as to lag behind. "Do you exercise every morning?" He questioned. It must be hard to prepare for lessons and keep fit at the same time.

Katie <3
 

So he was implying that she didn't look unique. The look she gave him flatlined even more. Not cool, totally not cool. But, at least it was honest. She supposed that accounted for something.

A grunt of acknowledgement was all that he got in regards to that topic. The art was better, safer and less confusing to talk about. Except, of course, that it seemed she had said something terribly wrong. That, or an invisible wasp had just bitten his hand.

Amur blinked at the kid. No, he was laughing. Terribly right then? Why was it social cues were sometimes so hard to read? But instead of explaining his reasoning for dropping his pencil and laughing, the kid simply answered her question. Helpful, and totally unhelpful at the same time.

Problem was, the answer was slightly more confusing than the question had intended. Her brow knitted into tight knots. "How exactly, do you keep it all hidden from your dad? Does he not live with you?"

Surely it was downright impossible. There was no way that his dad couldn't know. It just didn't make sense. Didn't add up. What. Even?

Her face stayed in that thoroughly confused state even as she provided her own answer. "Halfblood. My dad had me as an experiment of what it would be like to raise a child in a muggle home. Think he was hoping I would be a muggle child."

Of course there were other paths back up to the castle from the lake, yet it wasn’t Brooklyn’s fault he’d decided to take the same one. She had her reasons, after all. Namely, this was about as far away from the hag’s tent as possible, which would have normally meant it smelled a lot better. When there weren’t sweaty Gryffindors choosing to pause right then and there and just being all irritating and disheveled. She’d been doing him a service, letting him know exactly how disgusting he was before he inflicted it on the rest of the castle. He was the one who was choosing to misinterpret her. He was the one who was wrong.

She wasn’t backing down, either. One thing Brooklyn Andrews wasn’t was afraid. She certainly wasn’t afraid of him. That meant showing him she wasn’t. He could try his worst, but she wasn’t going to falter. It didn’t hurt that she’d sensed a moment of confusion in him, and irritation that she hadn’t just turned and left. She had just as much right to be on that pathway as he had.

She hadn’t exactly expected him to fall for her feigned concern, either. The eye roll had been entirely unnecessary, though. Very non-prefect-like, really, and she prepared to tell him just that as she heard his muttered comment. Nobody treated her like that and got away with it. Especially when the one concession in his favor seemed to be completely ignored. That was just rude.

She still hadn’t moved, though. Even as he’d actually taken the final step and wrapped his arms around her in possibly the most awkward and unwanted hug ever. It was worse than she imagined a hug from an unliked relative might have been, or so she imagined. She still wasn’t about to move, aside from wrinkling her nose at the smell, now that it was infinitely closer to her. In fact, it was practically right under her nose. But her earlier concession still was true. He smelled better than the hag did, but still disgusting.

She gave him a slightly incredulous look as he’d spoken again, once he’d backed away. Incredulous yet still a glare. “I could say the exact same thing,” she commented, “Except I’d rather not repeat myself.” Yes, that was right. She’d already beaten him to his little comment, and now he could deal with that. “You might want to clean yourself up before anyone else has to deal with the smell.”

The cold morning air was a great way to wake up and the more he was out the more awake Julien was getting. He could know now that he would start his day on the right foot. "I do, it awakens the body and mind. Your mind feeds on the energy you receive from exercising. It helps you think better and be smarter." It was something he had placed in his day many years ago.

Slowing a bit so the kid could keep up he turned to look at him, "So are you enjoy Hogwarts so far?" Being a first year Julien knew it could be rough, but his nephew seemed to be dealing with it well. Thinking of he wasn't sure when the last time he had seen all of them. Maybe he should take a trip the Gryffindor Common room to find Kaleb. Probably hiding under a chair again.

"You might know my nephew. He's a first year Hufflepuff this year."

The slytherin was busy shading his picture, he heard Amur's question and he chuckled. "Well my father notices but he doesn't acknowledge it. Like he will see my mom using the magic to help cook but he makes comments saying, Can't you just do cooking the normal way? He just likes old fashioned ways is all. So we keep it on the down low. I mean when we are at my aunt's house, all the magic lets loose. They use magic for everything which I admire. Plus my dad is at his base camp for mostly half the year so when he comes home, we try to make things old fashioned." That's the compromise anyways. He hoped he eased her confusion.

He nodded learning she was a half blood. "Aahh that is cool. You are like me." He snorted when he heard what she had to say next. "Yeah because that worked soo well.." he raised an eyebrow in amusement. "So your mother is the witch then huh?" That was cool they both had another thing in common. "So tell me what did your mom do when you were little? Did she use magic a lot? My mom used to make the starry nights on my wall real. She told me the starry nights would help you to sleep which they did.." He used to have night terrors for some reason. "I just want to learn about other families like mine is all." He added in.

The cold breeze on his face was not unpleasant. On the contrary, it was refreshing. Carl could understand what Professor Primeaux meant when he said jogging awakens the body and mind. "That must be why you are smart, Professor!" He said. Maybe he should add exercising to his daily schedule too.

Smiling up at the Professor, Carl replied "Yes, I am!" Hogwarts was undeniably awesome. "It was a bit difficult adjusting to the new environment in the first few weeks, but now I am okay. Actually, I am more than okay because people here are nice and I have made friends!" That was important. He did not think he would have been able to deal with his lessons, homework and other activities if he did not have any friends by his side. "Did you go to Hogwarts as a student?"

His nephew? Ohhh, Carl knew who that was. "Yep, he is my dorm mate." He wondered if the two had any family-time stuff at school, but did not ask because it would be awkward. Yeah.

Amur's brow quirked at Colt's explanation of his family dynamics. She tried to picture her own family opperating in such a way, but it just made her face screw up in all sorts of confused expressions. "Sounds like an easy going guy."

Not like her mother, who absolutely freaked the first time she witnessed magic. Not that she could blame her mother. It had been pretty wild. Or so her father had told her. Then again, how much she could trust of her father's stories was always up for debate.

Her head tilted slightly. "Noooo. My mother is the muggle. My dad's the wizard." Not that she could blame the kid for the mix-up. Her family was a confusing mess. "Never was quite sure what my mother did for a living. Don't really have memories of that. My dad on the other hand is a....well....journalist, reporter and investigator." Her gaze tracked over Colt's artwork. "His words."

The short and long of his words anyways.

"Never had starry nights on my walls. It sounds nice though. How'd your mom pull it off?"

Julien couldn't help a smirk type grin that played on his face with the kids comment, "I'm smart because I worked hard, found a love in learning, and never gave up on goals I set. Exercising to help keep the mind sharp and healthy is just an add in the greater picture of things." It was still very important, but so were the other pieces.

Well he was glad the boy was getting along well. He kept his pace trying to go in between his normal speed and making sure the boy was keeping up. "I did. I was in Ravenclaw when I was a student. Most of my family have been Ravenclaws, but it seems that really changed this year." Two nephews in Gryffindor and one to Hufflepuff, it was a shame there were no eagles.

"Oh good, Benton is a very good kid. He is smart too." He had always been the polite one out of the three that were at school right now, he hoped that had not changed.

Carl grinned as Professor Primeaux spoke. "I want to be like you, Professor! I believe that if I work hard towards the goals I set, I can be successful in the future." Being smart was not an ultimate goal of his, but a loyal and hardworking person was what he wished to become.

He continued breathing deeply while jogging, though he felt that he would need a break soon. "What was Hogwarts like when you were a student? Was it the same, or have some things changed?" Carl asked. None of his text books have told him how the school had developed over the years, which was something he was curious about. "Really? Do you have any family members in the school, other than Benton?"

The Hufflepuff nodded at the Professor's description of his nephew. "Yeah ... Do you like having your nephew at school with you?" He would have loved having a family member at school!

Colt snorted, "He could be easy going if he wants to, on the other hand he could be a real hard head from being in the Navy. I think he just accepted the fact I have magic in my blood because his sister was a witch. He probably hoped that I would be normal but deep down he knew I would inherit the magical trait. I am pretty sure he will use my magic to my advantage or make me do many muggle things as possible." He will see when he goes home for Christmas. "Your parents aren't that easy going I assume?"

Aaah so her family was reversed compared to his. "Your mother never told you what she does?" He was amazed. "I mean in my position I would nag my mom till she told me what she does." She might get annoyed but at least he would know she wasn't living another secret life or something. "Ah so your dad is kind of involved with the news network. So we could see him on the television and stuff?" He began to shade again and finish his artwork.

How did his mother pull off the starry night artwork. He pursed his lips and began to think. How did she pull it off? He shrugged and said, "I guess she was just painting my room when I was a baby and when I was in nursery school. I guess she needed something to do when she was bored and release her stress and energy from having me. I was a real pain in the butt child you know." he teased but was kind of telling the truth. Once he was finished with his artwork and left it open because he was proud of it, he was curious and asked, "Do you have any hobbies or talents? I mean you see I can draw.."

Amur's nose crinkled at Colt's family description. "There's no fun in normallcy." Or at least, there was much less. It seemed a blessing in disguise that her father never expected let alone wanted a normal life or family. The sentiment gave her permission to be a bit of an odd-ball if she so chose. Not that her grandparents were always fond of such a matter.....

"Dunno. My mom didn't stick around for very long. The magic kind of threw her for a loop and .... she didn't take it too well. My dad is off pursuing his latest and greatest..." Interest? "....Story." Was that easy going? She wasn't sure. She hadn't really thought about it before. A grin took over. "My grandparents are cool though."

Cool as in the way that only seventy-plus year old people could be. Strict as a stick, but with some bending capability.

Her head titled to the side, and a shrug followed. "My dad's work was always more interesting I guess. My mom....dunno. Never really elaborated." And Amur couldn't say that she cared much. Her mom did whatever she did, and survived however she did. Wasn't really something the fourteen year old could concern herself with.

Though, her father was a different story. Her mouth twisted up in a half-smile, half-frown. "Unlikely you would see or read anything from my father. He's....a bit of an acquired taste and not a big name or anything."

The starry wall was, in her opinion, more interesting and distracting than her parents careers. "Sooooo....she used muggle means to do it then? Or did she pain it and then do some magic-work over it to get the star effect?" Because she knew exactly what and who she could use such valuable information on. Come come Colt, do share.

Her head tilted the other way. Talents or hobbies? ".......I can make dragons from pretty much anything." That was both a talent and a hobby, right? It was, one of the only spells she felt she had mastered thus far. "And I've been told I'm a pebble in a shoe." Unfortunately it didn't sound quite as nice as a ripple in a pond.

Amur blinked incrediously at him. "Hold the cauldron. Your father has a military business?" She'd never heard of such a thing before. She leaned forward, whispering quietly. "Is he a spy or private detective of some sort?"

Cause, how COOL would that be?! Also, how much would he really be allowed to tell her. Probably nothing. But there were always spit promises to combat tied tongues.

She pulled back at his question, giving him a serious look of consideration before shrugging. "As for you, dunno. Don't know you well enough to answer that question."

As for her grandparents, he got an eyebrow arch for that. "No, they don't. But that doesn't mean I still don't try." That was what, the pebble in the shoe statement meant. Surely he understood what she was getting at by now. She wasn't too exactly which story he was referring to, whether it was her mother finding out about her family being magical or some other story. So, she just shrugged and moved onto the question about my father. "I suppose you could say that. Don't think he's ever actually published an article in the Quibbler though. He's got...an acquired audience."

Like his acquired tastes for articles.

Settling back, Amur gave Colt a grin. "Well, when you find out how your mother did it, let me know, okay?" She had a new mission, but she needed that information to complete it.

As for the dragons, Amur's grin widened and she beamed. "You bet your socks I can." Now, what did she want to show him with? Glancing about, Amur found a twig, a stone and a blade of grass. She'd never tried the grass before, and that just opened up a whole world of possibilities.

Reaching forward, she plucked one, turned it in her fingers and pulled out her wand. Then, it was extreme concentration and determination and of course, the draconifors spell. It took two tries, but soon the grass was a spindly looking green dragon, who was no longer than her pinky finger and almost as thin as Colt's pencil. It curled about her wand, looking around at the world curiously.

"Ta'da!"

He wanted to be like him? Julien looked over towards the boy and then slowed to a stop to face him. "That's a very nice thing to say, but you can do whatever you would like. Hard work will pay off. Just don't let anything keep you from your goals." This one had huge potential and Julien would do what he could to guide int he right direction.

"It was about the same. I mean we had different things, we had Quidditch. Shame it hasn't come back yet." He had followed the stories on why it was gone, but it was still sad. "We had crazy things, but education was always a priority of the staff. That and teaching us to have respect and order." That seemed to have changed over the years, but he was hoping to bring that back. "I have three nephews, Kaleb and Torrance are both Gryffindors." In a few years his youngest daughter would be here.

"Family is very important to me, so having them here makes me feel like I will help mold them into better adults."