Kitty had just finished one of her rounds of prefect patrolling, and was looking forward to a long evening of reading in the library. Today she was reading books on a subject many people found uniquely boring: law. Specifically she was reading about the Statute and what punishments one might expect for breaking it, and if there were any exceptions.

Yet even despite her passion for this particular subject, the books were written in such a dull way that she soon found herself dozing off...

Someone dropped a book somewhere in the library, jolting her awake. Upon realizing that what had happened, Kitty turned to make sure nothing that she'd have to concern herself with was happening. Not hearing any further noises, she snapped open her little hand mirror and examined herself, not surprised to find her hair had turned blue with yellow stripes.

Let's see....Haddie could start studying for her O.W.L.s so she wouldn't have to cram at the end of the term, or...she could read books about animagus training that she knew word for word by now. Honestly, it was sorta a no-brainer. Hads pulled the animagus book off the shelf and mossied on over to the fireplace. She plopped down into a large comfy chair, accidentally causing the sleeping Asher to slide off her shoulder and tumble into her lap. He didn't even wake up. Ferrets.

After a few apologetic strokes to the deeply unconscious ferret, Hads rested her book on the chairs armrest and glanced around. "Oh, hey Kitty. Love the hair by the way."

It was at that precise moment that she realized Haddie was here, and with her adorable ferret.

"You do?" she asked vaguely, examining it again in the mirror. "You can compliment Mr. Kennedy for it, he's the one who enchanted it to look like this. I dozed off." And with a slightly guilty smile, she showed her the law books she'd been reading.

She snapped the mirror shut and turned to face her friend. "It's not really my style, but I'll leave it like this until tomorrow, just for you. How goes the animagus studies?" She asked this upon catching a glimpse of the books she'd been reading.

William had finally gotten adjusted to being at Hogwarts. Well, for the most part. He wasn't used to climbing up all those steps for some classes and having to come back down to his common room. Not gonna lie, they were a good workout for his legs. Sure the place wasn't as fancy as Beauxbatons, but it was gonna be his home for the next few years. Sitting in the library, Will read through a book about figure skating techniques. He had been doing it since he was little, but it still didn't hurt to learn something new. Plus, he enjoyed the quietness of the place.

What with the number of Ilvermorny students swarming about the place, the Castle, which had felt so overwhelmingly big during Felicity's first weeks here, was starting to feel claustrophobic. Maybe it was the presence of her old classmates, or seeing the Professors at meal times, but it was just striving to make Flick feel more homesick than ever, and she found herself seeing the quiet of the library more and more often.

Heading over to the fireplace with her Astronomy book in hand, Felicity did manage a smile at the boy engrossed in his book. "Hey, William," she managed quietly, not wanting to disturb him as she took the chair next to his.

Instead of walking up to the Ravenclaw common room, Mason changed his direction and entered the libary instead. The elimination at the first task had happened almost twenty minutes ago and the seventh year needed to be in an environment where he felt safe. And the library was that place.

Still ignoring his wounded elbow as he had left the area very quickly and he didn't want the Healer to heal him at the moment, he entered the library and immediatly he made his way over to the fireplace, pointed his wand at the chair and non-verbally moved it closer to the fire though not close enough for the alarm to go off. He had witnessed that once in his fifth year so he knew it was there. As he sat down on the chair, he kicked off his shoes and for the first time in a long time, he did not grab a book to read but stared at the fire feeling dissapointment in himself.

Dora had been well out of the arena after the IMPS announcements. The Ilvermorny drama had been a ways away... even though they all seemed to be able to see hER actions from WELL up the stands.

Whatever.

What had caught her attention most was Mason. His elimination. And him rushing away. This wasn't good!

So being the good Gryffindor that she was, the girl had quietly followed her friend. And she wasn't disappointed when he stopped in the library. Not even a little bit.

Silently, she moved to the chair beside the boy and followwd his lead. Her shoes came off, legs pulled up, feet in the chair.

She could make the fire bigger if he wanted? "You did amazingly." She meant it. And knew it by playbacks.

Mason usually noticed what happened around him. He was always vigilant especially after what happened with the portal and monster last term but right now he had not even noticed that Dora had followed him out of the arena and to the library.

Or perhaps he had noticed but he was making that excuse so that he didn't needed to talk to anyone? Whatever the reason, Mason was only mildly surprised when the figure of Dora sat down the chair beside him.

He snorted at her comment, not looking at her at all. "Well, 'amazingly' didn't cut it, did it" he frowned as he watched the fire dance in front of them and after a couple of seconds of silence he turned to look at the Gryffindor. "Are you okay? You're not hurt right?"

"They're stupid." That was what she had to say about those who had scored the competition, really. Mason was one of the brightest wizards she knew. Hands down.

And she frowned deeply before slipping out of her chair and going to fold herself into the floor near his. "I'm fine. I saw you hurt your emblow though? Can I see? " She asked quietly.

Playbacks and all.

They seemed to have been taking pleasure in replaying the events of the challenge in the stands. Disgusting. "Also... we have an event. Will you be my unofficial date? Sure Cas will be there, but you were chosen as a champion too. I want you to be my unofficial date. "

Mason shook his head. "I couldn't even finish the first task" he said bitterly, watching as Dora got up from her chair. For a second, he thought that she was leaving and was very surprised when he realised that he did not want her to leave. He needed a friend by his side right now.

But she surprised him again when she sat down on the floor near his chair and he frowned in confusion when she mentioned him getting hurt during the task but then his expression changed to understanding. He knew about his wounded elbow but didn't want anyone to think he was a whiner , like that stupid old man dummy he had to safe.

He held up his arm, showing her his scraped elbow but he wasn't looking at her anymore. The fire was far more interesting.

As she mentioned an event, the first thing Mason wanted to do was to refuse it. He wasn't in the mood for a party and definitely not in the mood to be in a room with others whispering about him for being stupid enough that he couldn't even finish the first and easiest task. "I don't know if i'm in the mood...." he said quietly.

As she settled in the floor and looked up at his elbow she frowned slightly. Then took her wand from its holster. "May I? It's the only healing spell I can do... " Meaning she wouldn't do it if he didn't want her to. But she didn't like that it hurt him.

"Well I need someone there to help me in case I get jumped by a bunch of angry Americans." And yeah she figured they were ALL American. How the heck was she supposed to know who was from Canada and who wasn't?

Oh right. She had no way of knowing that unless they told her...

"Well I understand, but if I have to go... I'd rather go with you. I'd feel safest. " And she really enjoyed his company. He was, without warning, quickly becoming one of her good friends.

How odd.

But then another thought struck her...

"Or we can both skip it. And hang out here. I quite like the library. " She did, too. And well... not having to be around a bunch of people she didn't like was sounding better and better, really...

Mason thought for a moment as Dora asked if she could heal his wound. There was a hint of doubtfulness in his eyes and he wanted to say that he'd prefered a qualified Healer to look at it. But then again, she did follow him here instead of celebrating with the other competitors so maybe he should give her the benefit of the doubt.

"OK...just...be careful" he said as he brought his arm closer to her. Oh gosh this wasn't going to hurt right????

"I don't think that feast is mandatory though" though maybe it was for the competitors? To put them in the spotlight like some sort of attraction. Mason frowned at his thoughts. If that was true he was glad to be out of the race. "But..." he said slowly. "Maybe we should go. Who says we need to interact with the others anyways and...well, my mom send me a suit" meaning if he didn't wear it she'll kill him. Not really but as a matter of speaking. "Now i know why she send it...."

He sighed loudly and turned to look at the fire again. "Won't people talk though? if we won't go? They'll notice that two champions aren't present" It then dawned on him what he had said and he casted his gaze downward. "I mean one champion...." He really needed a distraction.

Dora took her wand and pointed it at the scrape as she spoke. "Episkey. " It was said with great determination and a small smile spread her lips as she watched the spell take effect. Tucking the wand back into its holster she gave the boy a look as he continued to speak.

"But I seriously only like you and like 4 other people. It'll be horrible. But if I go you have to be my date. Deal? " A full range of emotions washed over her as she spoke. So may emotions that she flopped down in the floor. DRAMATICALLY!

THE HORROR!

"You're a champion also, Mason. No one can ever take the fact that the book of Merlin chose you. " BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY... WHAT WAS SHE GOING TO WEAR?! Ugh.

Fireplaces. There had always been a captivating characteristic of them for Ethan. It was the way that the flames danced, the way they spoke their own lingo as they moved about. The warmth too, of course, especially in the winter. Most importantly, Ethan enjoyed the serenity of just being able to sit for a few moments and think to himself. he hadn't done that in quite some time: partly because he didn't want to think about things, but also because OWLs were looming ever so close.

This was it, though. He needed a breather. He'd studied to the point of his brain shutting down for the day, and he needed to start to come to terms with all that was on his mind. Accordingly, this was why Ethan was placed by the library fireplace. He'd considered going to the common room, but this appeared to be empty for now and that was what he most desired, time to think alone.

Vivian never really came to the library often and if she did, it was either for homework -- yes, she actually does homework -- or for that really nice fireplace at the corner of the room. Today, she didn't have anything to do as she finished her homework early and decided to settle for the latter. Sure, it wasn't exactly Christmas time anymore, but there were still cases when she found it rather cooler than normal days and, on top of that, the fireplace was too aesthetically appealing to be ignored. Vivian admired beauty, and it was exactly what this corner of the library was.

But you know what else made staying in this place even better? Having someone to be with. The blonde sort of stared at the boy who occupied the place on his own, wanting for some 'alone' time... but it instantly turned into a wide beam when he turned out to be a familiar face. Putting up an act, the Slytherin cleared her throat. "Excuse me? Is the seat beside you taken?" All proper and formal and manly, except for the obvious 'girl-trying-to-speak-like-a-boy' tone. She prepared her winning smile for when Ethan actually turned around. Surprise, surprise!

The thoughts in his mind were wondering swiftly about, until within a split second he jolted back to the reality around him. First he heard the voice, then he blinked only to turn around and identify a face. While the voicde and the face did not originally match, it all clicked in eventually.

"Vivie, of course you-you may sit." He smiled softly, noting that he was beginning to feel more comfortable around her presence.

He really was getting the hang of this then, friends that was. It was all evident in his stuttering. The more comfortable he felt around someone, the less he felt anxious to the point of not being able to speak clearly. For instance around Astrea, Ness and Azura he barely stuttered at all, and as for Izzy well...there were valid reasons why he felt more anxious around her.

"Are you here to find a-a book?" the sixth year murmured softly as to not annoy others who would want quiet in the library.

Vivian couldn't help but giggle at Ethan's reaction, which was probably another thing that gave away her identity as 'manly human'. Eh, well, the older person façade wasn't supposed to last long anyway. Once she had Ethan's permission to sit, she sort of flopped on the seat beside him. "Thank you! What's up? Are you studying for OWLs?" She didn't want to disturb if that was the case, really.

"How are you?" The usual question, of course, because they were friends. She knew about stuff, so she was hoping for updates on certain things. Their friendship was a rather interesting one, which started on the train ride before the beginning of Vivi's second year. It was great too, knowing her Auntie Elise and Ethan's sister Nessie knew each other. They'd gotten to hang out during the holidays, too, which was all things fun! Vivian never really minded his stuttering as it was starting to ease down lately. She used to have a hard time understanding, but 'patience' was this Slytherin's middle name.

A... book? Oh definitely not. Vivian shook her head and smiled. "Nope," she said and crossed her legs up on her seat. "I finished my homework early. Yay me! So that's why I'm here." Mhm. Was he proud of her for accomplishing her homework early? "Also, the fireplace is cozy." She'd probably fall asleep here, cuddling with her kneazle Marshmallow, if given the chance. Soooo comfy!