With Valentine's Day past them and the weather starting to look up Hady was going to make good on her agreement to Sammie. She still very much intended on speaking with Draper about adopting him but today was all about giving the little guy some true exercise. Not to mention she enjoyed being outside anyhow and with the entire day clear of all activities there was no better way to spend her free time. Well okay maybe there was, which was why she had sent Frankie an owl a little earlier telling him to join her if he was free to.

Picking Sammie up in the barn first Hady then made her way into the play area allowing him to run off ahead of herself. She set down a basket beneath one of the trees of some food and snacks she had asked the elfies to prepare for her being she wanted to remain outdoors for most of the day. Sitting down in the grass she pulled out a small rubber ball, whistling to get Sammie's attention before throwing it across the field. The cruppie bounded off after the ball his feet slipping out from under him and sending him sprawling down in the grass making her laugh out loud. "Silly crup," she shook her head at him.

Frankie had been napping when the owl flew up to his window and started pecking at it and hooting. Initially, all the boy did was roll over and groan. If it wasn't lunch time yet then he didn't want to get up. In the end, though, the persistent bird won. It took the prefect a few tries to read the letter as he stretched and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

Once the letter was finally read, he was glad that he did open that window to let the owl in. He threw on some casual clothes and made his way down the stairs and onto the grounds with the creature play area as his destination.

The blond arrived just in time to see the crappie slip and awkwardly fall to the ground. The sight made him wish his family still had the three-legged crup he snuck home one summer when he was younger; unfortunately, his parents got annoyed very quickly when Lucky started peeing everywhere in the house. With that fleeting thought, he approached the laughing brunette. "That one there is definitely a keeper. What's his name?"

Even with her attention fixed on the cruppie that was dashing back her way now Hady did hear the light footsteps coming up behind her. Before she could look over her shoulder and see who it was the voice did that for her. An instant smile appeared on her face as she glanced upwards at the blonde. "He is. I just have to speak with Draper about it." Sammie was going to be hers. This was so since the day she met him. "His names Sammie, that's the name he had when I took care of him during CoMC at the beginning of term." Her attention was drawn back onto the crup when the ball was dropped near her feet. Picking it up she once more threw it across the field.

"I wasn't sure where you'd be coming from or if you had eaten yet so I asked the house elves for some food," Hady explained nodding at the basket a few feet away and patting the grass beside her. No need to stand and make her appear even smaller now Frankie. She had been thoughtful and had gotten food directly from the kitchens so no worries about it being tainted at all.

An eyebrow rose when she said that she needed to speak to Draper. Was she planning on adopting the little fur ball? He nodded his head at her. If anyone should be adopting a cruppie or any other creature, it should be Hady. As for himself, well, he had enough trouble keeping certain Gryffindors in line. No cruppies for him, at least not at this point in his life.

Blue eyes followed the ball after Hady threw it, Sammie following right behind it. He was waiting for another fetch fail, but his companion caught his attention with a single word: food.

His head jerked the moment it was uttered, and he instantaneously gazed over the basket. How could someone be so amazing? For a split second he questioned whether or not it was safe, but the thought went away just about as quickly as it had came. He could trust Hady when it came to food. Just as long as there weren't any brownies in that basket -- those sweets had been ruined for him for a while. "Actually was napping when I got your owl, so I've not had anything to eat yet," he said with a grin, quickly sitting down and reaching for the basket for the nom noms.

Taking note of the look she got Hady laughed softly. "Draper said during that lesson that anyone over fifteen could speak with him about adopting one of the cruppies at the end of the term and well I plan to." Easy explanation right there. Not that she needed anymore pets but she couldn't help it. If allowed she would adopt every stray creature that came her way minus spiders cause just nope. Anything else, yes. "I bet he'd let you adopt one too, if you wanted."

Sammie had missed the ball like almost every other time they had played fetch but he did get it. Only the crup wasn't bringing it right back this time. Hady's eyes strayed back towards the little guy and shook her head laughing again. "I doubt he'll be bringing that over anytime soon again. Silly little thing."

Now she knew of course that any mention of food around this guy at her side would instantly catch his attention which was one of the reasons she had made the stop for food anyhow. Not that she needed the food to get her friends attention anymore. "Sleeping huh? Tired or just being lazy?" she teased watching him reach for the basket adding as an afterthought, "And don't worry there's no brownies in there. I checked." Checked. Made sure of. Whatever. Frankie might have had to deal with the effects of it and she knew it hadn't been his fault but that was a day she didn't need to remember right now. The brunette had had more then enough heartache for awhile.

The blond thought about telling Hady that she didn't need to explain her future cruppie plans. He remembered what Draper had said. He did show up to that class because Magical Creatures, even if it was an elective he didn't necessarily need to become an Auror. Crups were cool, and he sure did want one. Just not right now, though. "Might take one when I graduate. When I don't have classes or clueless underclassmen keeping me busy."

Plus he needed time to pick the best of the cruppies, which would require some watching and testing. See which one could run the fastest, sniff the best, and not flail about when playing fetch... "Doesn't seem like he will," he agreed with a chuckle. His eyes then rolled. "What a goofball."

"Just being lazy," Frankie said without any hesitation as he opened the lid of the basket. He peered over and looked down at its contents: fruit cups, yogurt, sandwiches, some bottled drinks, and (thank Merlin) no brownies. He pulled out the fruit cups first, handing one over to Hady. "Thanks for bringing this down here. You truly are a life-saver!"

It wasn't that she hadn't known that Frankie was in her class or that he had attended that lesson. No, it was that she just got excited and it had slipped her mind. Excitement did that to her at times. "When you graduate? What about Uni, won't you be even busier then?" Lessons were sure to be even more tough then the ones they were taking now.

"What's wrong with having a goofball around?" Hady asked glancing from the Gryffindor to Sammie. "At least he won't fail in making me laugh." Laughter was good.

Nothing wrong with being lazy. "So coming down here and hanging with me was better then your nap?" She winked playfully at him. Her tone was all teasing but it was nice to knew that he liked spending this much time with her. "Thanks," She took the fruit cup from him. "Of course I am! Can't have you starving now can I?"

The thought of not having classes to go to or having to deal with first years was both exciting and scary. It was exciting that he was on the cusp of being an adult who could do adult things, but it was scary for that same exact reason. Life beyond Hogwarts was a mystery. All he could do was hope that his plans would turn out in the end. "Won't be going to uni," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Well, I won't have to if they let me into the Auror training programme."

He turned his head from Hady back to Sammie, mostly to avoid any potential awkward eye contact that might be arising from their previous conversation for just a moment. Moving on... "Nothing wrong with having a goofball around. Though I'm a cuter goofball," he teased, making a weird face at her.

It didn't go unnoticed, that wink. Typically Frankie would have winked back, but at the moment he was a bit preoccupied with opening his fruit cup. He could feel his stomach beginning to churn. "Might not've shown up had that owl not been so relentless. Could've slept for hours," the prefect stated as he reaching in the cup for a bit of strawberry and popped it into his mouth. As for her second question, it went unanswered. It was time to eat, and he wasn't about to start talking again with his mouth full.

Okay wait, what? He didn't plan on going to uni? Why didn't she know this. This was something she should've known or at least she figured she would've known this information. Unless it was something he had decided recently when they hadn't been speaking. Hady was momentarily silent not sure what she thought about. It wasn't her choice though and either way she'd back him up with whatever he did. "Well in that case you'll need someone to keep you company." So yes he should get himself a crup. "You'll get in," Hady answered firmly. There was no doubt in her mind that he would.

She noticed how fast he was to look away after what had been said. That was fine by her if a subject change was needed. Hady laughed turning her hazel eyes onto the blonde at her side. "That you are," She admitted softly. And that was saying something what with her huge love of creatures and all that. So yes Frankie you were still special.

Was that so? He would've regretted not showing up and having food had he chosen to sleep instead. "Good thing I sent my owl then." Definite smirk right then. She had know that Riddick would be a major pain until the note was delivered to whom it was meant for. Her owl was the greatest. As for her second question it didn't need an answer since he was already eating, it had been confirmed.

It was a good thing that he looked away when he did. As far as he could recall, they hadn't talked about what he wanted to do post-Hogwarts. In all honesty, Frankie didn't know what direction he was going until he got his OWL scores back. Thankfully those confirmed that he needed to go down the Auror route. And Hady's silence confirmed that she didn't know. His head did perk up when she carried on, mentioning that he'd need someone to keep him company. He knew that she was speaking about a cruppie, but his mind had gone elsewhere...

And back to the fruit cup he went, mostly to keep himself from saying what he originally wanted to say to her. He nodded his head when she gave him the encouragement that he'd get it to the training programme. So far his grades were good, he was doing well keeping in touch with Hirsch, and he was fairly active in the school. He was already dreading those NEWTs however, and he knew that making cute faces wasn't going to work like they did with Hady.

His fruit cup was already empty by the time she mentioned that it was good she had sent her owl. Yes, the flying puffball had been a major pain in his backside not too long ago, but he was glad for it. This was nice. One of his hands reached back into the basket, this time for the sandwiches. The first one he plopped on his lap, the second he was hovering over the basket. "Do you want it now or...?" He'd put it back down if she wasn't done with her fruit. Sometimes he forgot that not everyone ate at the rapid speed he did.

See Hady knew what she was doing career wise. She had always known and she had no trouble in making sure everyone else knew. That went for the Frankie as well. It was a known fact that she was going to Uni, which one was still undecided but she was going. Had she have known what he was thinking she most certainly would have agreed to the fullest of her ability. Even if they had meant flooing to wherever he was all the time or choosing a uni that was closer. His silence confused her and she said nothing turning her attention onto the fruit cup in her hand. Silently picking out a few pieces to eat.

The conversation seemed to suck all the life out of the easy setting they had moments earlier. It stunk but it was good in the sense that she now knew what the other was doing. The silence wasn't that bad and was broken soon enough by Frankie's question. Hady's eyes darted from the sandwich in his hand to his face. "I'll take it now," She reached out for it taking it from him and setting it on her own lap. Food was a good silence filler.

Before anyone knew it, a soft rumbling could be heard. GNOMIES! Or you could call them GNUPIDS this month. They were in a hurry, YES YES! So many studensies to find and deliver these special grams before March!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

See Hady knew what she was doing career wise. She had always known and she had no trouble in making sure everyone else knew. That went for the Frankie as well. It was a known fact that she was going to Uni, which one was still undecided but she was going. Had she have known what he was thinking she most certainly would have agreed to the fullest of her ability. Even if they had meant flooing to wherever he was all the time or choosing a uni that was closer. His silence confused her and she said nothing turning her attention onto the fruit cup in her hand. Silently picking out a few pieces to eat.

The conversation seemed to suck all the life out of the easy setting they had moments earlier. It stunk but it was good in the sense that she now knew what the other was doing. The silence wasn't that bad and was broken soon enough by Frankie's question. Hady's eyes darted from the sandwich in his hand to his face. "I'll take it now," She reached out for it taking it from him and setting it on her own lap. Food was a good silence filler.

YES! This studensie was ONE of them. Quickly before any could escape, the chorus of gnupids circled around the green girl. Then one of the gnupids threw a small box of chocolates and a flower bouquet at her.

tuuuuuuune

I know you aren't supposed to have chocolates,
but how can one celebrate this holiday without some?
Don't let Ichihara catch you with these.

HAPPY-HAPPY-HAPPY-HAPPY Valentine's Daaaaaay, Hads!

Froooom Anonymous

Nooope. No need for thank yous. The gnupids left with a trail of confetti for their next receiver.

Giggle, giggle

Silence. Frankie wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing. Things had been going so well until the conversation rapidly changed to what he was going to be doing after he graduated. He did not know why it had been such a buzzkill. The two of them simply wanted different things, they both always knew that. Perhaps the issue was that graduation would be upon them next year, which meant that they would have to go their own...

Nope. He wasn't going to think about that. Instead, he was just going to focus on eating his sandwich. He ate it significantly slower than he did with the fruit in his cup. The blond kept on glancing around the play area, hoping something interesting would happen so that the sudden awkwardness could vanish. Sammie, dude, this was the time to do something cute.

Instead they were ambushed ... by gnomes, ones that could sing. As soon as the group of them started singing, Frankie knew exactly why they were there, granted they were a bit late in their delivery. His eyes widened, more out of surprise that they were doing this right now with him here. At least she wouldn't suspect that Anonymous was him now, right? Yeah. Maybe.

"Err ... looks like you've got yourself a secret admirer."

Setting aside the empty fruit cup Hady worked silently at opening up the wrapper to the sandwich on her lap. Picking up one half of the sandwich she took a bite chewing quietly as her eyes moved around the field to find Sammie. Upon spotting him laying beneath a tree she wasn't at all surprised to see he was still attempting to chew at the rubber ball. Laughing softly she turned to look at Frankie. Even if neither of them were currently talking she still very much enjoyed his company. Any time with him was time well spent. No matter where time might take then she intended on living in this moment right here right now.

Lifting her turkey and cheese sandwich to her mouth she stopped midway, mouth half open, eyes widening in surprise. What in the heck was this?! Singing gnomes? Hady nearly wanted to laugh but the surprise of it had left her unable to and the half of her sandwich was set down on her lap in the wrapper just in time too. Catching something one of them tossed at her she realized it was a small heart shaped box of candies which she had to drop in her lap to catch... flowers? Not just any flowers though a boutique of roses and tiger lilies.

Holding the flowers closer she inhaled the scent, eyes following the dancing gnomes. Happy Valentine's Day? But that was over. Oh well, they might be late in the deliver but the intent was very very sweet. As was the message. Who was it from? Hady could only guess, her hazel eyes shifting to meet a pair of blue ones. "Do I? I'd much rather have the admirer come and tell me so, so that I could thank them properly for the beautiful flowers and candies." She gave him a smile her eyes showing that she had a feeling they were from him.

Watching the gnomes leave the Slytherin set the flowers down in front of her and picked up the box of candy opening. "I wonder if my admirer would mind if I shared these with a friend who has to be weary of a professor finding out too."

With a trail of confetti, the gnomes were gone and the prefect remembered that he was in the middle of eating his salami cream cheese sandwich. Frankie took a rather large bite this time to keep himself from having to talk right away. He was just going to watch Sammie and pretend that his Valentine to Hady hadn't been delivered right in front of him from here on out.

Out of the corner of his eye, however, he watched her examine the box of chocolates and then moved onto the flowers. Roses and tiger lilies were her favourites, and Frankie knew that when he himself picked those out. But that smile on her face, how she was looking at him, and how she responded to his comment gave him a gut feeling that he had been busted. It was those specific flowers that gave it all away, wasn't it? Or maybe the Ichihara mention? Surely he wasn't the only one at Hogwarts that knew that information... Play it cool, Paton. Play. It. Cool.

Swallowing, he shrugged his shoulders at her. "I think that was the senders point, to remain mysterious and all that. Can't say I would know. I don't send them; I just get them." He flashed his teeth at her, trying to be all pompous to cover up the lies he was telling to, hopefully, throw her off.

After she opened the box and wondered how her admirer would feel if she shared her chocolates, the blond again shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno. Your admirer could be the jealous type, watching from afar. Might hex me if he sees you sharing the Valentine goods he gave you with me. Are you willing to take that risk?"

Oh really now? Hady tilted her head in silent question. "Is that so? And just how many Valentine's have you received?" Just a question that's all. Noway was she jealous that anyone was sending him Valentine's. He wasn't hers anymore, they were only friends. "Well if it wasn't you..." Which is was, she was sure of it. "Then I'm pretty sure I could figure out who it was." She had been giving quite the few compliments lately from a couple of guys. Her eyes strayed away from the blonde to the flowers to Sammie and then back again.

Frankie's reply to sharing her candy with her hadn't at all been expected but it did make her grin. "Mm well I guess not then. I wouldn't want to be the cause of a prefect being harmed, however my admirer should know that my heart is already taken." Has been for a long time now. She plucked one of the white pieces of chocolate from the box bringing it to her mouth and taking a bite. Mmm strawberry creme, one of her favorites. Setting the box between them in case he changed his mind and wanted one, Hady turned her attention back to her unfinished sandwich. Picking up the half eaten half she took a bite, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear with her free hand.

If Frankie wanted to pretend the items weren't from him she'd let him. For now.

The Gryffindor smirked when she asked him how many Valentine's he did not receive. Was someone jealous that he had nonexistent admirers? With some quick thinking, Frankie pulled a random, but reasonable, number out of his head. "Six so far. I suspect there will be more coming in late, though. You know how the ladies like my hair." She certainly liked it, that he knew. He remembered the many times she ran her fingers through it back when they were an item.

His eyebrow then rose when Hady said that she was pretty sure she could figure out who had sent her the Valentine. "Oh really?" he asked curiously. Was she going to give names of the boys he needed to hex her potential admirers?

And her heart was already taken? What? Frankie secretly hoped she was talking about Sammie and not some other guy.

Ugh! He instantly resisted playing it so cool that he locked himself out of the opportunity to eat a few of the chocolates he had gotten for her. That white piece he was watching her eat looked delicious. It was tempting to reach out and snatch a couple from the box the moment she set it between them. But, nope, he resisted and returned to his sandwich until it was finished. He was going to ride this one out as long as he possibly could.

Did she even want to know just how many girls had sent him Valentines. No. YES. Yes she did. If there was competition out there she needed to know. Not that she was worried or anything about them but, a girl needed to know these things.

Six.

He had just said six. Hady turned her eyes towards him with a small calculating look. It was plausible. She wasn't about to deny that he was good looking. Trust her, she knew. Everyone knew. The comment about the hair though was more then she needed right then and she nodded quickly turning her attention away from him for a moment to at Sammie to keep herself from reaching out and running her fingers through it just like she used to.

Sammie came trotting over and laid himself down near her feet, head resting on her shoe. Perfect timing! Thank you Sammie! With a small smile she reached over and lightly rubbed between the cruppie's ears. "Mhmm," she hummed softly casting a quick sideways glance at Frankie. "Which is really why this admirer should've just come and told me up front." You know, before she was taken by someone else so she could kindly turn him down.

Now her heart already being taken was 100% true. Everyone knew it except for maybe Frankie which he really should. She was talking about him. The whole entirety of Hogwarts knew where her heart still belonged so why didn't he? Boys.

Hadleigh popped the last bite of the chocolate into her mouth rather surprised that the blonde hadn't taken any yet. Either he was really trying to stick to his training, was seriously still trying to play this whole 'I didn't send you anything' game, or it was something else entirely. "Well if you're sure you don't want any I'll put them away, so Sammie doesn't get them or anything like that," she answered looking at the now napping crup.

Did she not believe him? Was six too unbelievable? It couldn't have been that drastic of a number. He had plenty of friends that were girls. Getting six Valentine's wouldn't have been that difficult. It wasn't as if every girl at Hogwarts was like Nicky Iver. If they were, he'd be doomed.

That look Hady was giving him made him wonder if he was doomed too. She was sorting through everything, determining if what he was saying was actually factual or not. And then she nodded and looked away. Hmm. What was that all about?

Sammie then came over and relieved the tension or whatever was going on. The blond watched Hady pet the cruppie ... and then he noticed that side-ways glance. When she spoke, he knew that she knew. For a split second he thought about telling her, but he didn't say a single word. He was holding his ground. Why, he didn't quite get it himself; maybe it was his gut telling him that it was too soon to jump back into things or that he was scared of repeating those dark times all over again. He finally shrugged his shoulders at her and said, "I'm sure they will ... eventually. But for now, I guess, it'll remain a mystery."

Hady was good. Almost too good. Frankie glanced at her and then the box of chocolates and then back at her again. He moved his hand, reaching out ... to get the yogurt cups from the basket. After handing one over to Hady, he then swiped a chocolate for himself and placed it in his mouth. "If I wake up tomorrow with tentacles for arms or something because your admirer saw you share your Valentine chocolates with me, then it's your fault."

Hady smoothed her hand over Sammie's head watching as he wriggled beneath her touch. Such a cute little guy he was. He was going to be hers, no doubt about that. "Whatever they're reason for not just being straight forward if probably a very good one." Before they had become a thing they had taken their time in getting to know each other and now...now there was heartache and pain to get over. Even if she had given up lessons to have more time it didn't mean things would return instantly to how they were. Hopefully he knew she was at least trying.

She knew the looks she was getting. She also knew he knew that she knew it was from him. Which was why she continued to play along. Taking the yogurt she set it beside her. "If that happens to you I'll fully take the blame" She stated calmly grinning at him as he popped the chocolate into his mouth. "Them hexing you really wouldn't be the best way to get to me though." Not when he meant so much of her still.

He had to admit it: the chocolate he had gotten for her was amazing. It was a shame that he wouldn't be able to verbally take credit for that now. But at least he knew that she liked them, and he knew how good they tasted. Frankie looked down at the yogurt cup in his hand. After eating that piece of chocolate, the plain yogurt was disappointing. He was going to eat it nonetheless, however. In his mind it was a sin to let any sort of food go to waste.

Taking off the cover and grabbing a spoon, the blond dug right in and started eating his yogurt. The sight of the wiggling Sammie made a smile appear on his face. It faded slightly when Hady mentioned that her admirer probably had a good reason for not being straightforward. The Gryffindor shrugged his shoulders and went back to eating, though his mind lingered on the subject for a few moments longer. He had his reasons, and he was sure that they both knew some more time needed to pass.

Hady's next set of words brought back the smile. She'd take the blame if he was hexed? How sweet. The next bit that escaped her lips made him stop and think for a moment, during which he put spoonfuls of yogurt in his mouth. "Maybe," he said, preparing himself another spoonful. "But you never know."

Now if he would just stop being so silly and admit that the candies and flowers were from him she would gladly let him eat more of them. However for whatever reason he was still remaining stubborn. So she picked the box of chocolates up and put them into the basket removing a spoon for her yogurt.

Peeling the cover off the yogurt she dipped her spoon into it. Silently she ate a few spoonfuls dropping the topic of secret admirers. There weren't any. Hady knew this and she liked to think that the Gryffindor knew it too. Licking some yogurt off of the spoon she turned her eyes towards him. "It wouldn't. All that would come of it is them angering me." Anyone hurting him would be doomed to deal with her wrath. And trust her when she says it wouldn't be pretty. Now back to eating her food.

It didn't take long for the prefect to reach the bottom of his yogurt cup. Not a whole lot was being said now that the secret admirer conversation had been dropped. More could have been said on the matter, but it would have been only a matter of time before it was completely obvious that the Valentine had been from him. He had lied, saying that it wasn't from him. Hady could believe what she wanted. She wasn't going to get another peep out of him about it.

The wrappings of his meal were placed back inside the basket. Frankie noted that Hady was still enjoying her yogurt, so he just sat there with his eyes on the cruppy. His face did turn to the girl beside him when she mentioned that anyone hexing him would just upset her. He didn't say anything back to that, but it was good to know. He'd do the same for her.

For a few moments, the blond played around with his fingers to give him something to do while Hady finished up her yogurt. He suddenly looked up at the sky and then over to her. "Think we should head back to the castle?" He didn't know about Hady, but he was ready for more food.

Taking her time with her yogurt Hady glanced back down at her feet. Well okay not her feet exactly but more so the little cruppie that was still currently asleep there with his head on her shoe. A soft smile formed on her lips again but was quickly gone as she ate another spoonful of yogurt. There wasn't any need to rush with the eating, it was a nice day outside.

Seeing out the corner of her eye though that Frankie had already finished and was cleaning up his wrappers she laughed softly to herself. That boy never took his time when it came to food. Swallowing the last mouthful of the yogurt, Hady collected all her wrappers together and placed it all in the basket. Her eyes drifting over to the blonde once more to see him looking at the sky and then at her. His words were simple but welcomed as they broke the silence that had hung over them both the last few minutes.

"Yeah we probably should. I just need to stop by the barn quickly to put Sammie back inside," she reminded him reaching out and gently smoothing the crups fur to wake him. Once she had gotten him to lift his head from her foot the Slytherin rose to her feet brushing some grass off of her jeans. "Okay Sammie time to get you back inside to be with your friends." Then she could head inside as well. Grabbing the basket she smiled at Frankie and headed back towards the barn and then the castle, the whole time Sammie padding along at her side.