You know how Genny made friends? She did stupid things with strangers and bam. They became her friends.This was no exception so far, the stupid idea she threw at the boy found listening ears. She grinned and swung her swing to face him. "I don't think so." Which would make them the first and probably last if they got caught.

A charm? Genny took a quick moment thinking of one. "I could think of at least two.... wanna try it?" She jumped off the swing and her wand was already in her hand.

Kit <3 (soz if it sucks)
 

She knew that Viktor hadn't been serious when he had thrown in the movie thing but it wasn't totally out there. The next thing he said though made Laurel defensive. "We seers make predictions to benefit people in their daily lives, every day. I used to help with the daily seer questions column in the prophet. Many predictions are vague since you usually need to do several readings to get good accuracy in your interpretations, but it doesn't mean they can't be true." And true prophecies were a whole different story.

She guessed that she was an interesting sight sitting in the sand dirtying up her clothes and fingers. It probably puzzled Viktor a whole lot since she was by own accord getting her clothes and herself dirty with sand. Especially when she usually was tidy and mindful of how she looked.

Turning her face up to him Laurel smiled "I bet, if I continue with the towers can you make the body of the castle and add windows and doors?"

Kitty was actually in a much lighter mood than she'd been for the past few days. That was because this was the first time she'd been out all week. Usually right after classes, students stuck to the common rooms or library, main meeting places where it was unlikely the portal would take someone without being noticed.

Today there were enough students who wanted to be outside to justify an excursion away from the castle, and Kitty was the prefect monitoring the ones outside. The fresh air (though quite cold) made her feel like everything was going to be alright and the missing students would be returned.

She moved to sit down on a swing next to Mason. Before sitting, she tied a scarf around her neck (because it was getting cold fast) and put on gloves. Then she began to swing lightly.

"What's up, Mason?" she asked her Slyther-pal lightly.

Kath <3
 

Anyone?
 

That was a really really really good question actually. One that made Abey sort of... squint a little bit as he thought about it.

"Yeah..." he said, tentatively at first, still convincing himself that that was the case. And then, with more confidence, even though he didn't really know, he continued. "Yeah! Exactly like that actually. And Runes are really cool! Our house in Egypt has all sorts of rune spells on it, and rune magic can be mega amazing actually." Buuuuuuuuut... "But..." Sigh. Okay. Well. "Runes are really hard. To read and stuff. They're like actually letters but more difficult and I always keep confusing them or reading them wrong, and actually that could be really really bad if you were curse-breaking or something. And same for carving the runes properly; I always write mine the wrong way and it's reeeeeeally annoying."

So, what he was trying to say was....... same. Kind of.

But now he was nodding. "Oh, yes, definitely." Well, Abey had nothing to really compare it to actually though. The only time he had EVER moved places was when he had come to Hogwarts. But he had been double terrified when it looked as though he might have to go to a different school, so he felt as though he understood. But oooooh, hold on! "Slytherin! That's where my cousins are!" He grinned big. "Botros girls go to Slytherin and Botros boys go to Hufflepuff!"

... Um... usually.

Bentley~
 

As much as she claimed to be amiable and social, Althea was quite the opposite. She didn't like unfamiliar people, unfamiliar situations, and unfamiliar places. As such, she often found herself alone (which, in her opinion, was fine by her) and was constantly lost in thought. Although her brothers chided her for her insistence that she was perfectly capable of defending herself against the mysterious portal, she was feeling very good about her luck as of late.

Plus, she had Amias now so there was no real need to be afraid. Right? Right.

It felt nice to be outdoors and away from the confines of the common room; she preferred having the freedom to come and go as she pleased, and found that the school was way too confining. The playground was a welcomed distraction for her. Picking a swing (on the far, far right), she sat down and sighed contentedly as she pumped her legs back and forth. "Now see, Amias, having a bit of fresh air does wonders for your skin," she said to the scarab. Amias had taken his regular spot on her shoulder and moved around in a circle. He was so weird, but...so was she. Not that she'd ever admit that out loud.

As was customary, especially during this time of the day Bentley wandered out unto the grounds with his camera almost glued to his eye. Luckily for him there was always something new to capture outside.

Today his path led him from the lake to the playground. The movement on the swing drew his attention so he turned his camera that way, then brought it from his eye so he could change his lens to do motion capture.

His new subject was....stunning. He blinked twice...almost stared for a minute, then walked over to introduce himself.

Of course he was careful to stick to the side...away from her swinging legs.

"Hi...I'm Bentley."

Most of the times Althea forgot that she wasn't an adult and was only fourteen. Being outdoors and swinging on the playground had helped take off some of her bravado. It was refreshing. She hadn't noticed anyone around her until a voice appeared at her side.

Startled, Althea pushed her feet onto the ground and halted her movement. Thankfully her routine workouts with her brothers had given her long legs enough strength to not buckle despite how forcefully she'd stopped. Normally, she didn't give boys much of her time. But she was in a good mood. "Althea," she replied, brushing her hair away from her face. "You tryin' to take my picture or somethin'?" A smirk formed on her lips, "I'll let you, if you want."

Bentley offered his hand. Normally he was a little more rough around the edges but he was trying to make a good first impression.

He flashed her his winning green eyed, dimpled grin and nodded.

"I am, I just thought it was more polite to come up and ask before doing a full on photo sesh and running off with the pictures." He paused....."Wow...and saying it out loud makes it sound a lot more creepy than I thought."

She got another smile and he stepped a bit closer.

"Just like that? You'll just let me? I'm a little suspicious."

Althea blinked several times at Bentley's extended hand. Not knowing what came over her, she laughed. "Don't be so formal," she said in between laughs. Still, she shook his hand. Her parents raised her right, after all. At his explaination, Althea laughed even harder. "So, not only are you extremely polite but you're also lecherous."

He was more interesting than she'd originally thought.

"Oh, don't get me wrong, this is purely to feed my ego and my vanity." Which was the truth. The Kennings had a strong gene pool, full of attractive faces. In her opinion, she gave her brothers a run for their money. After crossed her legs and sized Bentley up. "You're not offensive looking. So I'll charge you twenty-five percent less for a photoshoot." It was her inadvertent way of telling him that he had an attractive face.

"How do you want me?"

"A lot of people would not agree with that assessment of me, but I'll take it. Extremely polite isn't something I've heard in a while." She did get a laugh for the lecherous part.

"Harsh....very harsh. You definitely wounded me there." He was still sporting his grin though.

"Ego and vanity?" He finally really looked at her uniform..."Not something I hear from Hufflepuffs often...especially pretty ones." He walked around her, while she sat on the swing.

"There's a charge now?.." He tsked..."I'd like you just where you are."

Usually, there were very few men in her life that garnered this much attention from her. There were even fewer who managed to warrant an extended conversation. Interesting. Very very interesting. "In due time you'll come to figure out that I am nothing like anyone you've ever dealt with before." Because she truly believed she was one of kind.

Amias had scurried over to her other shoulder, she almost chastised him but refrained. Who knew scarab beetles could beso energetic?

"I'm lethal like that," she offered in response with a slight shrug of her shoulders. More accurately, she had a deadly aim and she never held back. "I'm told that I should've been a Ravenclaw," an assessment that she wholeheartedly agreed with. With a raised brow--she had to applaud his audacity--Althea grinned. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, y'know."

She was fully prepared to eat him alive.

"You don't expect me to let you photograph me for free?" A ridiculous notion and out of the question. At that she glanced over her shoulder at him. As long as the pictures came out nice, she wouldn't complain.

"I'm sure you're not. I'm a firm believer that we're all unique. That's the appeal." He gave her a little tilt of the head before claiming a spot against the swing post.

From his spot he noticed the beetle flying around her. "That's your familiar?" A beetle pet was certainly....different.

Hmmm, seemed he attracted the Claw types...officially and unofficially. "Yeah? Well I guess they're on to something then. There's definitely something familiar about your personality."

Bentley laughed. "No I don't know but I'm guessing that I'm about to find out. All this Gryffindor has to say to that is..bring it on." He fixed her with another grin.

He raised an eyebrow. "I work with a barter system actually."

Althea didn't agree, but she kept that to herself. She was trying the whole 'friendly' thing Levi talked so much about. So far it wasn't totally a disaster. "You tryin' to say that I've caught your eye?" Bentley was certainly living up to the bold, Gryffindor stereotype. She froze once he'd made mention Amias, and looked away briefly. "Something like that...," because she couldn't really explain Amias to anyone anyway. "He's good company." Which was all she would say on the matter.

Something familiar? About her? Althea shook her head in disbelief; Bentley was being funny again. "What's so familiar about me then," she'd never been told that before. She didn't entirely believe him either. He was foolish--she wasn't sure if that was a good thing just yet---but he kept up with her so she wouldn't judge him too harshly. "Now that is a very Gryffindor-like statement. I wonder if you're all talk..."

A barter system sounded medieval and ridiculous, but Althea couldn't help but reply with: "Explain."

Bentley's eyebrows almost cleared his face but he did grin at her. Did she catch his eyes? Yes, but that's what made him a good photographer.

"I think you'd like for that to be the case, yes? It would be good for your ego and all that." His green eyes glinted mischievously.

" He must be if you have him buzzing around like that." Waay too distracting for his taste but to each their own.

" You're quite brash..reminds me of my girlfriend, who's a RavenClaw." Brash and a little insane...not that he was complaining or anything.

Bentley laugh. "Definitely not all talk love. I promise." He was a man of action and very much prided himself on that.

He nodded. " What I mean is. I take your picture and you get professional photos of yourself that you wouldn't otherwise have. I'm not profiting from them so I think its a fair trade."

Althea watched Bentley carefully. He looked a bit older and she couldn't remember if she'd seen him around (which, in all honesty, said more about her than it did about him.) Strange. "My ego takes only the best sorts of compliments, so, please, feed away." She made a note to harass Levi later about him. If anything they were most likely dorm mates, which made things easier for her.

"Yes, he's annoying like that." But not really. She'd grown accustomed to his presence, so she rarely pestered him about flying around. Though, she supposed, it was only in his nature. He was a bug, after all. If he thought his comment would shock her, it worked, because Althea stared, bug-eyed, at Bentley. She fixed her face quickly. "You must have a pretty open relationship, if your girl has no problem with you being friendly with other girls." Which wasn't an issue for Althea, actually. "Not that I mind it, you're good company, I've decided." Meaning that she'd officially adopt him into their circle soon enough (without her brothers' permission of course.)

His impetuousness had caused her to laugh breathlessly. She only stopped when she felt that she was almost about to fall out of the swing. Holding up a hand, so he could catch her breath, Althea shook her head fiercely. "No, that's not going to work. See, I don't do anything for free--even for someone as attractive as you. So, you're going to have to figure something out." And, because she figured he didn't actually have the funds to meet her demands, she added: "Take me out, and I'll give you the best photo shoot of your life. I'm very partial to sweet foods."

Bentley laughed.

She had a similar sense of humour to his and he could definitely appreciate that. "I put a cap on the amount I give out per day. You're dangerously close to your max." He was teasing of course. He didn't mind giving compliments, considering the fact that he liked getting them just as much.

The fifth year tilted his head a fix and looked at her. Open relationship? Chloe was crazy but she wasn't..psycho crazy...that was more Clara, her twin. "Hmmm...I don't know about open, but I'm sure she knows by now that I'm a friendly guy." He didn't think that was cause for concern. Weren't most Gryffindors friendly and out going? He didn't mind sticking close to that stereotype.

"I think I might have to agree with you on that one. I am awesome company. You're not too bad yourself either." As in, she wasn't just a pretty shell. He liked people who could carry a conversation.

Bentley was awfully pleased with the fact that she found him so amusing. It had been a while since he had made anyone laugh quite like that. The smug look was evident on his face too. Her rubbed his chin as he thought about her request. Of course he could pay her probably but where was the fun or adventure in that.

"Well, where would you like me to take you?"

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Althea couldn't hide her amusement. "You'll figure out something, I'm sure. You won't regret keeping me in high spirits." Since thr alternative was Althea's signature ice-everyone-out mode. She was trying to be softer; it was a lot of work. Though...Bentley made it easy for her.

Althea laughed at his explanation. "You misunderstood me," she started, pausing to figure out the best way to explain what she meant. "Unless you're the type to cozy up to every girl you meet, I doubt your girl would be okay with how you've been shamelessly flirting with me." And, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, she added: "Unless you're that type of guy and she's accepted that part of you. I'd have to commend her for that." There were all kinds of people at the school, after all.

After uncrossing her legs, Althea stood up to stretch. "Please," she said playfully. "I'm the most exciting thing that's happened to you all day. I deserve more credit than that." She caught the look he'd had on his face, she surmised that it was probably because of how much she'd laughed. Moving closer to him, she thoughtold carefully about his question. "Wherever's intimate enough for me to really get a good look at you," she said simply. "Also, it must have a great dessert menu."

Once again she had Bentley's eyebrows climbing his forehead. He chuckled, quite amused by her statement.

"Oh I won't? Do you turn into a horrible screeching banshee when you're upset, or is it the spoilt tantrum throwing, princess thing?" Real question. She didn't give him horrible princess vibe....

Bentley coughed dramatically and threw her an exaggerated look of being affronted. "Meeeeeeeeeee? Shamelessly flirting? Never. I'm just a really friendly guy. My mum's a hufflepuff you see, so I can't really help myself." He flashed her another charming dimpled smile. But really, he was just being his usual self. Might explain why he always got in trouble though.

Bentley laughed again. "Fine you're more than 'not bad' you're alright." The fifth year tapped his chin in thought. "Umm...I suppose we can go to the three broomsticks the next Hogsmeade weekend." That was well lit and not romantic.

A banshee? As if she could ever look that ugly. Althea grimaced at his inquiry, but answered him nonetheless. "I'd have to really dislike you to act that way." She disregarded the instances when her brattiness had gotten the better of her when dealing with her brothers.

Bentley was horribly transparent, but his theatrics had caused Althea to laugh. Again. "Don't bother trying to cover your tracks now." Helga, help her. "I've exposed you completely; you might as well confess and admit your guilt." There was absolutely nothing wrong with flirting; she found it to be a very healthy form of socialization. If she could she'd flirt all day! With the right people, anyway.

"Offensive, I'm ten times better than alright. I've proven that already, multiple times," she said, pointing at him. "I'll have to ask my brother about you. He's a Gryffindor too." She wondered how much Levi knew about Bentley--if he knew anything at all, actually. "I guess I can accept that. Oh, and if you think we won't be hanging out the entire day: you're wrong." She grinned, feeling content with her decision, and sat back down on the swing.

"Well then I give you two weeks." He smirked a little. "No I'm kidding. I'm a gentleman....sort of." If he was honest with himself, he'd say he toed the lines most of the time. And he was fine with that.

Bentley laughed. He was truly amused by her now. So much so that he capped his camera and slung it over his shoulder. He didn't need it right now. "I promise I'm not flirting. I suppose if I was doing that, you'd have thrown yourself into my arms by now."He wagged his brows at her.

"Your brother? What's his name?" He was sure that he knew everyone in Gryffindor house by now, so if she had a brother he probably knew him. "Are you trying to monopolize all my time? Now who's enjoying who here?" He smirked.