Blush.
That's all Noelle could do.
"Well! What do you expect! OWLs are this year! I need TOP scores!" Daisy knew how important it was to Noelle to become an auror. She hadn't cared about scores or tests in her first and second term. But after her..... incident (aka being kidnapped and imprisoned until the MLE found her and a classmate) she knew what she wanted to do in life and wasn't about to let anything get in the way of her achieving her goal. She was strong headed about that. "Im just doing some light reading anyways. Refreshing myself just in case."

Daisy Middlename Carden!
"Is that really true..../" Noelle asked, a little amused expression on her face. "What if it was on the ground? Would you have eaten it?" Though.... Noelle can remember when she was a kid on the farm and eating .... all sorts of things that she shouldn't have put in her mouth... and ..... the dark days when she ate what she could find. Luckily, she was back up to her normal weight.... almost.

Oh, Daisy had noticed that badge. Noelle proudly pushed out her chest. "Nope. First year having it. Looks good on me though, doesn't it?" She said with a little giggle. "Complete surprise on me getting it though. I never thought of myself as a leader." It would look good on her applications to uni though.

Skylar found herself wandering outside yet again because classes were barely in full swing and she just had time. It wasn't a major exam year for her; the only thing third year meant was the electives were more mandatory now, though she'd been taking them for two years already so it wasn't much new.

Glancing around for a familiar face or two, it was then that the brunette spotted Noelle and Daisy and well seeing the two fifth years made her think of Noah. Why wasn't he back from Mungos yet and why hasn't she heard any status updates?!

"Hey Noelle. hey Daisy," Sky said approaching the girls figuring maybe Noah had contacted Noelle before his own sister. "Uh Noelle... have you heard from Noah? Is he back yet?" she wondered if Noelle also knew the details of what happened and prayed she didn't because well ... reasons.

Daisy just shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. Honestly, this girl. Studying in the first week back in school, light reading or not, should be forbidden. She threw the rest of the pear away and raised one eyebrow at the Gryffindor. "You know, I think my brother would like you." Maxton would probably prefer to have Noelle as a sister.

What a depressing thought.

Nearly are depressing as the thought that yes, she would have eaten the pear if it had been on the ground. Probably. "I suppose it would depend on the state of the ground." Daisy replied, head tilting as she pondered over this. She was not going to lie to herself, she had eaten stuff from the ground before, but usually it was at home. "I wouldn't eat it if it had been lying in a puddle of mud, don't worry about that."

Well, she would eat it if it was edible, but then she would definitely wash it first.

The Gryffindor had decided to show off her badge so Daisy leaned forwards with a smile and even squinting her eyes, pretending to inspect the badge very closely. "It's very red." She finally offered moving to stand straight once more. Of course it was red, Noelle was a Gryffindor! "But I suppose that's the whole purpose, so congratulations!" Daisy told the girl with a smile, looking at the approaching Slytherin.

Yes! They had the majority!

She waved at the younger girl and watched as she spoke to the Gryffindor Prefect. Wait, what had she missed. "Where did Noah go? Did the boy decide to run away?

Where was Ethan?

Well, where else but amongst his own thoughts? Swirling, and swirling away. This was nothing out of the ordinary for the Ravenclaw. His mind was a 24-hour machine that thought about practically everything. He analysed mythology, science, numbers but favourite of all he delved deep into the psychology of people.

Today in particular, though, Ethan had his mind on the psychology of himself. This tended to happen each year when school began. he'd try and understand himself a bit better in order to assess what methods who could use to push himself further out the box of social awkwardness. He'd improved, considering this was his fourth year..but still it was a moving progress. As for this year, he wanted to work on being calm around older people-particularly girls- and Boom! Smack! Opportunity hit him faster than he could blink.

Looking towards the sound of the commotion, Ethan gazed for a moment or two. The girl was beautiful-and blonde-much alike Georgie at home. Still, he felt nothing as to what he thought he should be feeling. Anyways, he took a deep breath and by the time he got up to force himself towards the girl on the floor, he was already beaten to it.

He awkwardly nodded towards the boy that looked about his age and then turned his gaze back at the girl. Basically he was trying to gesture that he meant to say what the boy had said, but of course even his gesturing skills were lacking.

Uh...well. At least he wasn't shaking-yet?

Fifth year. Henry knew that meant OWLs this year and that he should be studying hard, but it was far too nice of a day for any of that. He could leave the studying for his weekly study group where it was difficult enough for him to focus anyway.

He brought his broom out to the courtyard with the intent on flying. It was a nice day for that, though he'd probably be as willing to fly in inclement weather as well. But first it would do his broom well to perform a little maintenance. Taking out his broom service kit, he began to clip some of the stray twigs at the end before he’d start polishing.

Olivia took a seat in the courtyard with her notebook. Finding a sunny spot to sit in, she opened her notebook and glanced at the page in front of her. She had been trying to finish a song that she had been working on since she had visited the music shop in Diagon Alley over the summer. With her pencil between her index finger and thumb, she tapped the eraser against her chin lightly as she tried to think of the next thing she should do. Add a rest? Change the key? She sighed and then hummed her melody.

Tim slowly sat up and rubbed her left arm. Okay, she didn't expect it to hurt that much but wow, it really did today. Maybe she was just getting old and her muscles and bones were just getting more fragile with each passing second. Uh oh. That meant she wouldn't be able to do anymore crazy stunts! Not like she did them anymore anyway; he body wasn't as flexible anymore. Hearing a boy's voice, her blue eyes looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm used to this kind of stuff," Grinning, she pointed to the large scar on the left side of her face. The mark ran from her ear up to her nose. Even though they had been back at school for a few weeks, Tim was happily getting used to having this permanent mark on her face. It's like her dad had told her, 'Magizoologists usually all have a scar of their own from doing something they love.' Except Tim was testing out gillyweed when she was attacked.

Slowly getting to her feet, she smiled at the other boy too. You know, the one sitting down. "I'm Tim, Gryffindor," she gave them a small wave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FwooperOnYourLeft

Leon was idly sketching in his pad, randomly drawing anything that had come into his head.. So far he had a tree, a sketch of his cat, Cole and the back of a head of hair.. But his idle drawing wasn't helping his busy mind and he was about to put down his sketch pad when he looked up and saw The History of Magic teacher.

He gave her a warm smile and was about to turn back to his paper when he heard her exclaim and almost instantly the dark haired boy was on his feet and next to Ms. Newton in a flash. His hands out in case she needed to hang onto them.

"Are you okay Professor?" He asked, his grey eyes scanning for what she could have tripped over. "Did you trip? " His search hadnt come up with anything.. so either she was clumsy.. or something else had happened.

The boy was at her side in an instant, ready to catch her if she fell. There was no danger of that, though she did hold on to him as she righted herself. "Thank you, Leon. I think I am okay. It seems that my heel is the only casualty here." Things could have been worse - smacking her face on the ground or spraining her ankle worse - but fortunately no harm had been done to her. Too bad about her shoe, but it wasn't as if that couldn't be repaired.

With a sigh, she removed it before accessing the damage. "I'm not really sure what happened." Oh well. Rosalyn grabbed her wand and used it to repair the damage that had been done. "I didn't know that you drew," she added with a smile after putting her shoe back on. Artistic creativity was always something that she liked seeing in a person.

The boy held steady as the Professor used his arm to right herself. Which was fine. As that was what the proffered arm was doing there. "You are welcome Professor Newton, I'm just glad to see that you are okay. " Her what? Ohh.. her heel had been a casualty.. Ahh, so that's what had made her trip seemingly out of nowhere.

He watched her as she removed the offending shoe and repair it, his grey eyes a bit amused. He would never understand why women wore those things.. his mom would complain endlessly about wearing them.

Personally they seemed more trouble then they were worth.. but what did he know?

"Well I am glad it wasn't worse. " Last thing he wanted to do was escort a Professor to the Hospital Wing, not because he didn't want to.. but because he didn't want anyone to get hurt.

"Ahh yeah, it's sort of a hobby, it's soothing I guess. " The nearly eighteen year old said with a half smile. "When I get in my head, I draw the things that are bothering me.." He explained.

After a morning walk, Rooney had misplaced his trusty notebook with absolutely everything in. His schedule, his notes, his thoughts and tasks for the day. As he retraced his steps, he came back to the courtyard and was just heading back to where he had been sitting when he saw someone else sat there. With a notebook. Was it his? It was sat on her lap so he couldn't see the cover or any tell tale signs. But it could still be his and so he marched on over there, trying not to look like a revenge seeking madman. But he needed to find his notebook!!!

"Excuse me??"

While it was still fairly warm out (or at least not yet freezing cold and raining) Cameron had decided to take a walk outside. Even after a couple of weeks in this place, he STILL hadn't seen every part of the castle and its grounds yet. Not even close. Somehow the grounds were almost as confusing as all the corridors and staircases inside.

He'd find his way around eventually day. Surely.

With his hands in his pockets he wandered out into the courtyard (a place he COULD in fact find) and almost immediately somebody caught his attention. Somebody taking care of a broom. Okay, mostly the BROOM had caught his attention but you know, also the person. Quickly he walked over to the boy and stopped next to him without invading his personal space.

"Is that yours?" Also hi. He was here now.

YES. She should change the key here. That would be a natural progression. She nodded, continuing to hum the melody to her. Perhaps add a harmony now? No. No. She should wait a little more to add that. She bit her lip and was about to try humming her song again when she heard a voice.

Huh?

Excuse me?? came a voice. Olivia's head shot up from her music to find a boy looking at her. Offering him a smile, she placed her pencil in her book to save her place. "Hi! Can I help you?" she asked, tilting her head to the side and raising her right eyebrow.

Well this was actually fun just bouncing a fruit around like this. She didn't know if the other in courtyard were enjoying it as much as she was, especially when she knocked a first year in the head with the pear. Oppps

Yeah, she decided that it would be safer to bounce the pear over closer to where she was. Ah but someone else had seen her too and seem to be enjoying it too. She smiled at Cassie. "Actually I am. What brings you out on a nice day like this?" She zoomed the pear toward her and caught it midair. Taking a bite of the pear while the other girl answered her question.

Noelle would never say sorry for studying. Never ever.
She was almost amused at the words that came out of Daisy's mouth. Her brother liking her. Of course, Noelle wasn't thinking of it as him wanting her as a sister, but more of, him liking her. Noelle giggled. "You know I have a boyfriend right?" She said with a little playful nudge.

Noelle was about to thank Daisy for the congratulations on becoming a Prefect when Skylar came up. She welcomed her with a smile because it was good seeing a Diggory. Noah wasn't here because of being in the hospital but he sent owls to keep Noelle updated. The start of term without him had been crucial for her this year. But she was managing.

"Hey Sky. He's still at St. Mungos." Noelle knew that Sky would know Noah was in the hospital because Noah had told her that it had happened while they were playing Quidditch. "He said they were going to send him home and he should be back within a couple of days after being sent home." Which was such a relief.

"How are you doing?" Noelle asked Sky though, studying her. Her brother not being here probably worried her but Noah was strong. He could handle anything. Noelle figured her answering Sky's question also answered Daisy's. That was everyone was caught up.

Skylar almost had the impression she was interrupting something for a fleeting moment. But that impression was fleeting and then Daisy was asking where Noah went and Sky had realized that not everyone knew about the incident. Oops?

Thankfully Noelle spoke up first in response to Daisy's question, because Sky probably would have said something too much again.

"I figured he was, but I just, I'd thought he'd be back by now." He was young. An athlete. A quick healer. She bit her lower lip, exhaling. "I'm managing, I just ..." Regrets. Definitely regrets. Noelle probably understood about that, so no need to rub salt into the wound, but still. "How about you? What's it like, wearing that?" She inclined her head toward her red badge. Sure she had her parent's perspectives of wearing a prefect badge, but it was different hearing it from someone closer in age to you.

The tail twigs seemed to all be neat and in place now, and Henry ran his hand over the back of the broom, testing it out for himself. It was satisfactory. Time to move onto polishing. Returning the clippers to his kit, the fifth year pulled out the wood polish next and started working it into the broomstick. It was important to keep his broom in great shape and looking nice. Even if he was aching for a new broom, the one he currently owned was top of the line. Or at least it was a couple years ago. But it would do him well for now, especially as long as he continued to take good care of it.

Henry looked up, hearing the voice. “The broom? Yep, it’s mine. It’s a Moonbrusher,” he grinned proudly. “Do you have your own broom?” Maybe not here as the boy seemed young, probably a first year. But maybe at home since he did seem to have an interest.

Music... If he hadn't been drawn over here by the notebook issue at hand, then for sure he would have heard the humming and worked his way over to offer his ideas. Ideas that she probably wouldn't want, but just didn't know that she needed. Trying not to look too invasive, Rooney glanced at the notebook and swore loudly as he recognised the handwriting to not be his own. "Nevermind." He just wanted his notebook back so he could properly write up his class notes and sell them around school if anyone had forgotten to take notes themselves.

"What were you humming? I didn't recognise it." And he was usually the first to call anything music.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FwooperOnYourLeft

The boy held steady as the Professor used his arm to right herself. Which was fine. As that was what the proffered arm was doing there. "You are welcome Professor Newton, I'm just glad to see that you are okay. " Her what? Ohh.. her heel had been a casualty.. Ahh, so that's what had made her trip seemingly out of nowhere.

He watched her as she removed the offending shoe and repair it, his grey eyes a bit amused. He would never understand why women wore those things.. his mom would complain endlessly about wearing them.

Personally they seemed more trouble then they were worth.. but what did he know?

"Well I am glad it wasn't worse. " Last thing he wanted to do was escort a Professor to the Hospital Wing, not because he didn't want to.. but because he didn't want anyone to get hurt.

"Ahh yeah, it's sort of a hobby, it's soothing I guess. " The nearly eighteen year old said with a half smile. "When I get in my head, I draw the things that are bothering me.." He explained.

Now that her shoe was okay and everything was back to normal, Rosalyn smiled. No lasting harm had been done and it was like nothing had even happened in the first place. "Well, I was very lucky that you were out here to help me. Five points to Ravenclaw for coming to a lady's aid." She knew that he hadn't done it for a reward, but Rosalyn wanted to give him something in thanks for his help.

Aah, hobbies. That was something she understood as she had picked up a few of them over the years. "Oh, that's very interesting. Do you just draw? Or do you paint as well?" Sometimes people did both. It was all artistic. Unfortunately she wasn't talented when it came to either things, but then she DID have her gifts in other areas. For one thing she was blessed with a good memory.

Of course the broom. OF. COURSE.

It was so pretty.

"I know." He could TELL that it was a Moonbrusher. Grinning too, Cameron took another step closer, eyes still mostly on the broomstick near the boy. It looked really cool. And clean. And well taken care of. Well done, you. The boy had already gotten Cameron Tamesis' stamp of approval just for how well he looked after his broom. One could always tell somebody's real personality by looking at how they looked after their broom.

Or was it pet?

Well, ANYWAY.

"No." His face fell a little, lips forming a small pout. "I had one for children when I was younger but...I don't have a real one. They say I'm too young still." Which was SO not true. He was basically an adult. He was here, by himself. Talk about being mature and grown-up.

What?!

Boyfriend?!

"Noelle, my brother is a first year." Daisy told the Gryffindor student, one eyebrow raising as she crossed her arms over her chest. Yes, she was judging the Gryffindor. Honestly, she had not meant that at all. Maxton was eleven years old, he was far too young to date a fifteen year old.

Especially a fifteen year old with a Prefect badge. But, nevermind that.

Noah was in hospital!

She quietly listened to the girls discussing Noah's health and whereabouts. She was still curious as to what had happened exactly but felt it would probably be too rude to ask. Too nosey, definitely. "I can ask my Mum to check on him! She's a Healer." Sure, she worked at the Spell Damage floor but she could sneak around if necessary! "Was he hit by some stray spell or something? She asked excitedly, bouncing on the balls of her feet. It wasn't that she was happy Noah was hurt, she just ... well, she liked stories, ok?

That probably did seem too rude, though.

"I'm sorry about your brother." She finally told Sky with a sheepish smile. Oops?

Carlton dropped his bag full of books on the ground next to him and curled up into a ball in one of the arched windows surrounding the open Courtyard. He watched students pass by, sporting the colors of all four houses. He didn't know anyone that passed him. He sighed and placed his chin on his knees. The lessons were fun and all, and he'd met some genuinly nice people. But they were all older than him and all that time between the lessons were just spent in panic, reading up on whatever magical creature he'd meet in his next class.

Truth be told, no matter how cool Hogwarts was, he kind of missed home. He drummed a little melody with his fingers on his knees before finally deciding to leave the Courtyard. Maybe he could go sneak another hot beverage at Professor Greyvson's office or talk about muggle things with Professor Stewart.

Carlton bent down, picked up his bag off the ground and hoisted it up on his shoulder.

THUD.

He froze, frowning. Had he just.... Had he just smacked someone in the head with his bag full of school books? Carlton turned around slowly and looked down at the ground.

Yep.

He had definitely done that. He looked down at a groaning figure on the ground with dark hair spread across her face.

PANIC.

"Oh, oh, oh!" He shifted his weight looking around them. Someone had to have seen that right? It was just an accident! He hadn't attacked another student in the middle of the Courtyard. He hadn't! "I didn't see you! He started, hugging his bag close to his chest.

...

Oops?

Natalie had decided to take a walk above ground. She liked her house so far, but the Slytherin common room was just a little too dark for her at times. She longed for the sunlight or, err... cloud light. The sun hid behind the clouds an awful lot. But it was still better than a dark and damp common room.

The fresh air was nice, too. Natalie took in a big, deep breath of the cold air as she walked down the open corridor by the courtyard. Her eyes were looking through the open arches and the grounds. They were so pretty, especially in the Fall. She hoped they would get lots of snow when winter cam--


SMACK.

She wasn't sure what had happened, but the young brunette was suddenly on her rear end on the cold concrete, her face stinging and her eye throbbing and watering. She held the one blurry eye and looked up to see a curly headed boy clutching his bookback. THAT was what hit her? And all he said was "I didn't see you"?

Natalie let out a little whimper and pushed herself off the ground, her bum hurting now, too. She was FINE. And she didn't want to cry, but her one eye was already throbbing from the impact of a buckle on his bag. "Wait," she said with a little sniffle. "You're in Slytherin, too." He was a first year too! Well... now they couldn't be friends because he accidentally beat her up.

Poor Sky.

Noah was in the hospital and Noelle could tell that Sky wasn't doing okay with it. Noelle had spent enough time around Sky at the house that she knew how she acted. Opening her arms, Noelle offered her a silent hug if she wanted. If she needed it rather.

Noelle was a little embarrassed at Daisy's brother thing but she would come back around to that. "Noah had been playing Quidditch and had an accident, he hit his head. He's doing good though." As far as Noah's letters said. But Noah usually tried to shield Noelle from anything bad. That included any bad news.

"Have you heard from him?" She asked looking to Aky. Noelle wanted to see if Noah had told her anything that she didn't know already. Sky was his sister after all.

In all the commotion, Brent happened to notice another guy had also come to the rescue. "Thanks for the help, man," he said. The guy hadn't said much...well, he hadn't said anything at all, but Brent got the point that he was trying to help. He grinned when the girl said she was used to that kind of stuff. "Cool," he said, "because it's good to be tough when you're riding a board." Surfboard...skateboard...all those things. Brent came from a place where there was a lot of surfing, and although he didn't surf, he had a lot of friends who did. No way could you get out there and not be used to it getting tough.

He eyed the scar she pointed out. "I'm kind of impressed," he admitted. "I'm Brent, Slytherin," he said, although that was probably obvious seeing as he was still dressed from class. Instinctively, he turned toward the Ravenclaw boy, because as far as conversations and taking turns went, he should introduce himself next.

Leon smiled and he actually felt his cheeks warm a little as the Professor spoke and then gave him points! "Thank you so very much Professor Newton, I'm only glad I was out here to help you. " He said with a warm smile as he rubbed his neck a bit and looked at her. He was just glad he could help.. but he felt like he had helped his house as well..

The seventeen year old smiled warmly at her next question. "I've tried painting a few times and I don't like it as much as drawing. I feel I have more control over a pencil than I do a paint brush and paint. " He explained as he shifted his weight a little onto his back leg.

"And all the time it takes to set up and prep an easel is not for me, I like to draw in the moment when inspiration comes. " He nodded.

"I do admire people who can paint though. It takes some skill. "