He didn't like that the tree didn't do anything, but he had been distracted by the blasted cat. This was why he didn't approve a pets. They got in the way of concentration. He looked toward the feline who was now staring at him most like to attack. His wand was ready if it did.

No pet issues at all Ahem.


Turning he when hearing a student's voice he looked to the young girl. "I'm very sorry for disturbing you. I just didn't know what would happen if that charm would hit a person." Hence why experimental charms was done when not around minors. "I like to experiment with new charms, this one was suppose to help remove bugs out of the tree without needing to harm the tree or the bugs."

Dante was making an effort to be outside more this term. Especially since he did not have to be cooped up in the library studying his eyeballs out for test scores. Which hew did fine on. But this year he did not have to make such an effort. Only normal exams at the end of the year.

Dante walked over to an empty tree and sat down.

He was going to enjoy his time look through his notebook and people watching.

Yep nothing weird about that.

Well, it was regal. Paul didn't argue with that. "While it may be, it's also the name of one of the most famous wizards of all time. Might as well name your next one Dumbledore." He smirked. "Zelda is a good old fashioned muggle name I heard once. Apparently it's very popular in America." Or was it another country? He couldn't remember.

Plus, what kind of name was Ponchette, James? Not a real name, that's what.

"They..seem to liiiiiiike each other. We should schedule some play dates!" he smiled and unhooked Zelda from her collar.

Which was...a bad idea.

Because now she was running around Merlin in circles, pawing at him to play, her tail hitting James' shins every now and again.

The second year followed the older girl outside to the lake. Katerina really liked spending time with the older kids, not that she would admit it because that would make her look weird. "I think so. Let's stay here."

She laid out the blanket and sits down. It was good thing that Echo had also bought a blanket because it was starting to get chilly out. She sat crossed legged on the blanket, with her mug of butterbeer in her lap.

Picking up another rock, Esme sent it after the first one. She could probably do this for a good while until she got bored and wanted to return to the castle. For the moment, however, she was quite happy.

"Oh, hello," she said with a smile as she heard Mel. It seemed that she wasn't the only one who had desired to head over to the lake; everyone should be outside when the weather was beautiful. [b]"I really am! It's a shame that it's going to be too cold soon. Esme didn't mind the cold so much, but she wasn't a fan of extreme temperatures. Too much hot OR cold didn't agree with her. Spring and autumn were her favourite seasons because of this.

WAS THAT GRILLED CHEESE?

Yum. There was no way that Esme could turn that down. Ever. She loved grilled cheese sandwiches. "Yes, please! Toddles is my favourite house elf," she added. He was just too precious.

Mhm. That was correct assessing, Ms. Newman...because Olivia was, IN FACT, out by the lake, enjoying macaroons and tea by herself...because she was a fierce, independent woman.

*giggles*

Well, NOT wholly by herself. Slightly less smol blonde was actually having tea and snacks with Gus...her ermine. It'd been a while since they'd done friendsie time; considering how stacked Liv's social schedule was these days. She simply had too many friends to spend time with. And it was important to her to spend time with all of them. What if someone felt left out? Unacceptable!

"Gus, I just don't know about Dueling Club this year. I'm getting so nervous." She sipped delicately from her cup, regarding Gus....who was sitting on the other side of their small spread, just lazily eying her. He was clearly not impressed, but Liv chose to ignore that. "I wonder if the competition will be stiffer."

....Sip, sip, sip....

awesome, she didnt want to move any more. "perfect" she said while getting comfortable on the blanket as well.

"so....how are your classes going so far?" hoping that no one had been mean to her or rude, because Echo will have to go all snakette on them and make them apologize to Kat.

"just stay in 2nd year, man studying for OWLS is hard! this is the only free time i have all this week" she threw her hands up in the air.

Hm, that could be a useful spell... especially for those, like Kye, that didn't care for little creatures. She hated when she sat in grass and found ants trying to go home with her, blech. She was intrigued by the idea that the professor was experimenting with charms which he knew not the consequences. Would he let her observe him? Whether at a 'safe distance' or near him? After all, what were the chances of a spell rebounding back towards the caster?? The worst he could say was no, and the chance to ask was to tempting..

"Professor... I feel that Charms is the most enthralling subject available to me and I would love to see the process, the... experimentation of new Charms?"
Did that make sense?
She imagined being able to follow the professor and watch new spells being created, and maybe getting really good at Charms. She loved wandwork.

Was Livvy having a tea party with Gus? Chloe didn't like to think she was judgey (who was she kidding that was her bread and butter?) but think was a little strange. Very Gryffindor-esque behaviour. So perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised and, yet, here she was surprised all the same.

Chloe, cautiously, approached her friend and took a seat on the ground. She anxiously played with the highlighter in her hand, turned it over a few times. "Livvy, what are you doing?"

That was polite, right? She could do polite.

........... James just looked at Paul with hardcore judgement. "Right," he nodded slowly. "I'll consider it." ......... As if James would be taking advice from a man who wore his great grandmother's clothes.

"........Zelda," He deadpanned. It took every single ounce of his self restraint not to burst out into laughter. LOL. James was appalled. It was worse than anything he could have guessed. Zelda isn't a real name.

Right well, James would let the man carry on thinking whatever it was that had him happy. "He doesn't normally get on well with other dogs," he said giving Merlin a suspicious look. And that was his answer to the playdate suggestion as well. Let Paul do the math on that one.

And with that being said, "I have to get back to grading papers," he said, giving Merlin a firm 'LET'S LEAVE' look. Which wasn't working as the dog was thoroughly enjoying sniffing Zelda's bottom. COULD HE NOT?

Paul that was an utter LIE because Merlin was trying SO hard with Zelda right now...the professor rolled his eyes. "Right, James." Pfft. Lying liar face James Draper.

He wondered if grading papers was a lie, TOO, but no matter! Zelda was letting the other dog sniff her butt without too much complaint until Paul pulled on her leash slightly. She let out a few barks and did her best to pull away from Paul, trying to follow after Merlin. "ZELDA come on, girl! We have treats we need to eat, milady!" he said with a firm TUG....

SIGH.

Alright, someone must've tampered with the dog's food or something. Merlin was normally so well-behaved and today he wasn't even giving James the time of day. Everything was just fine before Zelda and Poncho Paul turned up. Should've known. Those two were like the disaster duo, honestly.

"I'll see you around," hopefully NOT.

And with one last GIANT tug, Merlin was sort of following. Sort of.

WHY WAS THIS SO DARN DIFFICULT.

For obvious reasons, clearly. But James wouldn't have any of it.

It was something very careless and not like Julien, but he was to thrilled not to try it out. He should have waited though or went into the forest. He looked at the young student and back to the tree, this one wouldn't hurt that much to show her. "It takes many years of studying and practice to be good an experimental things. No one should just go and start combining spells or new movements without really doing their research." He didn't want any student trying to come up with a new charm unless they were maybe a seventh year and even then he didn't feel they should just go out and start doing it.

"With this charm we have a cutting spell that I could just cut the tree, but I don't want to disturb the tree if I don't need to. Nor do I want to harm the insects if I can help it. Though annoying insects do have purpose just as we do." He looked to see if she understood. "This charm is charming the tree to see as if it is squishing them when really it is not so that they start moving on their own. Then we can add a potion to the tree to keep it healthy and bug free."

He made sure she was standing back and looked back at the tree, "foras cimex" pointing to the tree with his focus this time.

Kye head a slight tilt to her head, and she just looked up at the professor as he spoke. She was imagining combining different spells, what were the possibilities?! She understood his spiel, of course he wouldn't advise a First Year to create her own spells... but wouldn't that be awesome? If she created a spell so young? She imagined being put on a chocolate frog card or getting an Order of Merlin First Class...

The professor started describing the spell, and Kye became a bit more alert. Hmm, a spell to get rid of bugs would always be good. She couldn't say she wanted them to live, but whatever... She definitely liked the sound of getting a hold of this potion that kept the bugs away.

She watched as the professor started concentrating and said his incantation. Foras Cimex huh? She watched on and tried to memorize the incantation. It seemed the professor had better luck this time. At least, no one was at risk of getting hurt. She watched the tree in anticipation... It definitely seemed to have a new aura pulsating from it, and it felt more abuzz.

"What's happening? Is it working?" she asked in a whisper. It was hard to tell from this distance especially with bugs so small, but she had a feeling that this was going well.

Foras Cimex... Foras Cimex... Foras Cimex... Kye repeated in her head.

Well, maybe that part actually was pretty obvious. Snakes were a Slytherin thing anyway. It didn't affect the taste of the gummies though, didn't it? Like... it didn't taste weird and stuff? Wizard sweets were insane sometimes. "I don't think you mentioned your house though... or maybe you did but... I must've forgotten?" LOL. That would have been weird. Vivian said as she accidentally bit on the sugar quill. OWWW. "Ouch. I'm okay, I'm okay." All was good! Just... poor Vivi!tooth.

But, apparently not ALL was good with Azura. Vivian noticed all the small panicking and whatnot. Those things that the other girl tried to conceal, but Vivi knew them too well. "Are... are you okay?" Vivi had to ask. She most especially noticed the girl wincing a bit on the biting part. "Do you... have a fear of dogs?" There were some dogs that were mean, she won't deny. She was just lucky her dog at her Aunt's home, Prancer, was a total angel. "Any bad doggy experience?"

Because teeth were not meant for biting anything but food! "I... I don't have any plans of biting you." Vivi didn't look like a dog. If she was, she would be a GOOD puppy. Sweet, angelic Vivi!puppy.

Azura Luna! Wow, she did have a pretty name. She did get the Luna part as moon though... but not the Azura meaning "blue". Eh... but either way, still a nice name. "I approve! Two thumbs up!" Vivi said, grinning and giving her two thumbs up to Azura. "My name's Vivian Iona... and I don't really know if that has a meaning behind it? Iona sounds like it came from an ion... which is like... science and stuff. At least that's what my mummy told me. " Muggle science. A big question mark for an eleven year old's brain, obviously. Besides, her mum was a Ravenclaw and hella smart, without a doubt.

But... still no sign of Mr. Barty. Vivi tiptoed on her toes to raise the gummy worm higher. "Barty! Come get it if you want?" What a choosy giant squid. Apparently it didn't really like gummy worms? However, Vivi wasn't going to offer her sugar quill though! No, thanks.

She was considering if she should throw the gummy to the lake and see if a tentacle grab was bound to happen. Hmmm...

Azura blinked a little as Vivian mentioned her own house! "Oh! Did I never say? I thought I might of.. but perhaps I forgot as well? I'm a Ravenclaw, second year." She added in case she had forgotten to add that in as well! Where was her mind at lately? Azura looked at the other girl as she exclaimed in pain and she blinked her eyes.. Ohh.. she had bitten into the Sugar Quill.. "It'll feel better in a second." Azura soothed as she gently rubbed the girls arm.

Azura's purple eyes flew to Vivian as she asked her if she was okay. She was just not good at hiding this stuff. The young Ravenclaw wore her emotions out there on her sleeve for everyone to see and having something so big happen in her life.. Well.. She wasn't use to all these emotions she had to deal with. What did she know about grief and crying and dealing with loss.. Yeah she had been told it would get better? But When? Everything seem so dark lately!

"Oh.. I'm.. uhh well." She started before shaking her head as the other girl mentioned dogs.. "No! I'm perfectly fine with them.. Dogs that is! I just am afraid of Vampires.. It's a fairly recent fear.. so that's why I'm a bit twitchy." There.. Truth.. that felt a bit better!

She nodded.. "Yes, teeth aren't for biting." She said softly as she looked over at the other girl and smiled a bit..

"Oh thanks!! And Azura is sort of like Azure, which is another name for color for the color Blue. So instead of naming me Azure, My mom added an A to the end.. and Azura!" She said with a warm smile as she explained.. She had forgotten to do that earlier..

The older girl looked at the younger one as she explained her name and she smiled. "Iona is pretty.. I like it a lot." She said with a nod..

She grinned as the other girl tried to get the Giant Squid to come out.. Quite honestly.. Azura didn't think it existed.. But that was just her opinion.

Oooohh, so Azura was from the Eagles' Nest! Not that Vivian had anything against the other houses. In fact, she did seem to like some Ravenclaws. "My mum was a Ravenclaw too! When she went to school here a very loooong time ago," Vivi shared. Yep, her mum seemed kinda ancient actually. "And my dad was a Gryffindor. I still think it's strange how they made a Slytherin child." Normally, the people in her family were Ravenclaw. But, there wasn't wrong with being different... right?

The mild tooth ache didn't last long and was gone in a few moments. Guess she'd have to be careful about eating too much hard sweets next time. Ahem, that didn't include marshmallows and gummy snakes.

Vivi kept her eyes on Azura. It did seem as if the second year had so much in mind at the moment. Also... not that it bothered her, but she was... much taller than the older girl apparently. Kinda weird, actually. Vivi wasn't going to mention that though. She didn't want to seem rude, just as her mum would always point out. Ahem... anywaaaaay...

"Vampires?" No wonder! Vivian wasn't entirely fond of vampires either. Not that she had already met one, but the thought of having to be extra careful because a vampire was bound to sink its teeth on your neck wasn't very comfortable either. "You've actually met one? Or encountered one then?" Must've been a bloody experience. Haha, pun intended. "Don't worry. I won't use my teeth for biting people!" The main point was to flash her pearly whites around and show how healthy they were! Yay. No biting intended whatsoever.

Ah, more trivia! Azure... meant blue? Did it really? Vivi nodded and tried to swallow all that information in. Maybe it would be useful one day? "I think it matches well with your second name! Also very coincidental since you got sorted in Ravenclaw," the blonde said. Vivi wondered if the Sorting Hat considered name origins when it sorted new students to their houses. Hmm... must be interesting.

"You like it? Thanks, I guess," Vivi beamed at Azura. She pretty much liked her second name too. All credits went to her mummy Vanya, anyway. Still, she didn't know if Vivian meant anything more than another name that started with the letter V.

Meh... still no Mr. Barty. Out of frustration and exhaustion from all the standing, Vivi flung the gummy snake she was holding to the water. Maybe a tentacle would find its way up the surface if it spotted food floating. The Slytherin would have to stay vigilant then.

The beauty of heating charms was that you could go outside during winter without fear of your limbs freezing off. Thank you, Kyroh.

Maggie wasn't just being outside though, no, she was being on the ground. In the snow. Or at least there was snow AROUND her. Not where she was sitting. She'd made sure there was no snow there for obvious reasons. Basic survival instincts, to be honest. Like, not getting pneumonia.

So no snow where she was sitting AND she was warm all over too. Despite the cold weather. Magic was awesome wasn't it? Of course she could've just done this inside too but somehow she'd felt the need for some fresh air. Clear her thoughts. Figure out her priorities. All that, yes. And being outside helped with that. Or was supposed to, anyway.

Which was why Maggie was now sitting on the ground near a tree with her legs crossed and her eyes closed.

One would think that a castle with seven floors and a dungeon couldn't get cramped, but these past few weeks had proven that theory wrong. The kids here were inside a LOT more and it made Echo uncomfortable to be around them all the time. So he headed outside.

All black clothes and hood over his head, he was a stark contrast to the white snow that was crunching underfoot. He was warm too, thanks to magic. Not being cold, and refusing to be inside made it easy for him to aimlessly walk all over the grounds, and somehow find his way to the lake. Where he ran into her.

He didn't bother hiding his presence or being stealth since her eyes were closed. The sixth year just stood on the edge of her snow boundary and studied her entire being.

Hogwarts girls sure did like to sit outside.

The thing about having one's eyes closed was that it automatically heightened one's other senses. Maggie was no different. So while she was mostly focussing on her own deep breaths she also couldn't quite drown out all the other noises around her. The wind...the snow...distant sound of people talking...the sound of someone walking in the snow...walking closer...and closer-

For a few seconds Maggie tried to go back to ignoring everything else and go back to preparing for her daily yoga session. She exhaled deeply through her mouth but couldn't quite shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Which naturally she didn't MIND per se but like she wanted to know who it was at the very least.

Which was why she blinked her eyes open just enough to look around in search for whoever was nearby. "Did your mom never tell you it's rude to stare?" Maggie commented, an unimpressed look on her face once she'd found herself looking at a boy around her age. Seriously, creepy much? What was he doing?

He watched a moment, but truly he wasn't sure. No, he didn't think it was working. He moved closer to the tree to see if anything could be seen. "No I'm afraid..." Wait was that?

It was...


His usual straight face moved to a small grin, "As you can see the bugs are starting to come from the cracks of the tree. So they have been pushed out." He took a step back because he wasn't a fan of having bugs crawl on him at all.

"No, actually. She didn't." She was interrupting his staring with her words and sour expression. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and shifted his head, expression indifferent. "The dead tend to not do much talking." It was an unintentional clap back. She really shouldn't talk. She was much prettier when she wasn't.

All the Hogwarts girls were, actually. Offensively attractive until they opened that big mouth of theirs.

Echo kicked at the snow around him a bit, clearing up a small area for him to sit.

No?

Maggie's facial expression didn't change one bit, not even when he told her his mother was dead. Like, that was sad and all but really not her problem. And the boy didn't seem to be too upset about it either. So she just continued to look at him. Watching. Especially when he sat down near her. Really?

"Well, it is, you know." Staring being rude that is.

Tugging a strand of her hair that had gotten loose from her fishtail braid behind her ear, Maggie eyed the boy for a moment longer. "Were you just admiring me or did you need something?" Or like, at least introducing himself would've been a nice touch, you know.

Like, having a dead mother was no excuse for lack of manners.

Despite the fact that it was a cold day out - unsurprising for winter - Esme wanted to spend some time outdoors and get some fresh air. She had been cooped up in the castle for what felt like forever and was itching to do something, anything, that wasn't staring at stone walls. And that was why she had made her way over to the lake.

Bundled up in a warm jacket and using warming spells, she took a seat in the snow by the frozen water. It really WAS very pretty out here. Serene. No one else was in sight and that was rather lovely though she would never say no to some company. If anyone came they were welcome to some white hot chocolate and grilled cheese sandwiches but she would gladly finish them both off by herself. Smiling, she twisted off the lid from the thermos and poured herself a cup of the hot liquid.

Oliver rushed outside and towards the lake, the only place other than the astronomy tower where he knew he could get proper thinking done. He had been down in his dorm all day but his dorm mates' naptime snoring was too much for him and he had to get out. And figuring the astronomy tower might have people in it at this time, the lake was the next best place.

Sadly, he hadn't thought to bring his wand along with him and just wearing his winter clothes wasn't nearly enough for him. But he was already at the lake by the time he was freezing, there was no way he would turn back. Getting fairly close to the ice, which used to be water, he looked around and saw a blonde girl who looked vaguely familiar. She also looked warm and he figured maybe she'd be able to help him out. Walking up to her, he squinted at her a little and finally remember how he knew her. "Esme??" Normally, he'd never remember a name, but her name was one he'd never heard and so it just stuck in his brain, apparently.