This term was weird, it was crazy, and this Ravenclaw was scared to even go out on her planning time to relax, but the days were getting shorter and shorter and she wanted to spend some time outside so off to the grounds she went. Wondering around Chloe didn't even know where she was going, she just knew she wanted to have some quiet to read one of her favorite stories.

Not wanting to go to the lake where most people were she headed towards the tree everyone was afraid of. Her mother used to say about going to the tree and sitting near it, but not too close.


Taking a seat in the grass she pulled out her book and started to read.

Cal needed to clear his head and get some fresh air after finishing his homework. So, outside he went. Only, he didn't go to the barns as he usually would. He didn't even go to the lake. Nope... He decided to take a walk and he ended up coming near the Whomping Willow.

He had his ginger kitten, Beatrice, trailing behind him just a step or two. Callum was whistling his favourite tune. His hands shoved into his pockets to keep his fingers warm in the chill October air. He was coming close to the tree when he saw a blonde girl sitting all alone with a book in her hand.

" Hello there.. ", he said. He wanted to be sure not to scare her by just all of a sudden appearing in her peripheral vision. That would be rude and Callum was NOT rude. He just had a hard candy shell. " Nice spot to read ya got here..", Cal continued with a attempt at a smile. " I wanted to tell ya how brilliant yur idea at the Feast was ", remembering what she had tried to do. " Mind if I sit and relax a minute?."

Chloe had just gotten into her book and was chewing on her lip a little when she heard a voice and looked up. "Oh Cal, Hello" A smile crossed her lips as pink moved into her cheeks thinking about how he really knew she wasn't a Hufflepuff now.

"Brilliant, I don't know about that. They still made me go back to the house I don't think I should be in." Moving over she gave him room on her blanket. "I love Ravenclaw, but I don't think I'm doing it justice. Classes don't come easy to me like I think they did for my mum and dad. During that attack last term I was in the way and horrible. I should have failed last term.... That isn't Ravenclaw at all." She knew she wasn't doing her part in her house, but she was now trying to come up with a plan to fix that.

"How is term going for you?" She was curious to see if she was the only one having a hard time.

Cal thought Chloe had a nice smile when she answered as he approached. It made his smile a bit bigger than the sad forced one he'd tried to muster.


" I thought it was.. Ya got more nerve than I do. I shoulda been sorted into Slytherin like my friends Beth and Eria.. But instead I was placed in Hufflepuff.", he said as he took a seat next to her on her blanket and pet his kitten when she settled on his lap quickly. " This is Beatrice.. Rylee got 'im for me for my birthday."


Callum shrugged as he considered her question, " It's been a rough start.. I keep losin' points for stupid stuff and Professor Fletcher is mean as they get I think.. I don't even know how many pushups I'm gonna end up doin' in his class this term.." This, of course, was his attempt at be humorous..

"Well thank you" Chloe sat up a little straighter, she thought her efforts were good too, but it still failed in the end. When he said he should be in Slytherin she gave him looks. "That's very interesting. My brother is in Slytherin. I thought mom was going to have a heart attack when she found out." Chloe couldn't help but laugh thinking about it. "I don't know why you wouldn't want to be in Hufflepuff, mom talks so much about how great it was and how great her friends were there. Dad was a Ravenclaw and loved it too. " She frowned a little because she did love Ravenclaw she just didn't feel like she was filling her dad's shoes the way she wanted to.

"My cat Teacup is around here some where. She likes to wonder off and visit other people." She was either there or sleeping in Chloe's bed, though Chloe couldn't remember seeing her that morning. "Your kitten is very cute." Reaching over she pet its ears.

"These new people are really scary. I get we had bad things happen, but did they have to go to this extreme?" She shivered a little thinking about it. "I just want to go home."

" Yur welcome. ", Cal said with a little nod of his head. Her next statement just garnered her a shrug of his shoulders. " Most of my family was in Hufflepuff.. Ry's in Gryffindor.. But I just figured I was meant to be all my own.. Kinda why I don't go by my first name anymore.. I don't feel like I fit in Hufflepuff.. I like being on my own for the most part and I'm not always the friendliest person to be around.. I'm stubborn and driven in my interests and pursuits. ", he added as he tried to explain his thoughts on being poorly sorted.



Callum smiled a bit when she said that she had a cat as well and that with luck, she was nearby. " Oh yeah?.. Cool.. Beatrice isn't ready to go off on her own just yet.. She's only 5 months old. But I bet she'd love to make a friend.. " The entire time the tiny ginger kitty leant into the petting and purred loudly. Eventually, She slithered slinkily over onto Chloe's lap.


" I know!.. This place is practically under Marshall law!.. Have ya heard about the resistance group that's formin'? You should join up.. I'm gonna.. ", Cal answered and then suggested to his fellow mis-sorted.

"Well I don't think Hufflepuff just means nice and getting along with everyone. My mom can be stubborn, at least that's what she tells me. I think Hufflepuff is loyal to friends and can be understanding to other's even if they don't agree with things. I don't think being a Hufflepuff means being super huggable and agree with everything." There were many stories she had heard about all the houses before she came to school and now that she was at school and had met people from all the houses she had her own opinions.

The kitten was cute and Chloe enjoyed patting it, she stroked it's back as it came to sit on her lap. "We could have Teacup and her visit sometime soon. I think they will like each other. " Teacup liked most of the cats around the school, so she couldn't see her not liking Cal's kitten.

Her eyes widened at the word of people going against them, "They can't though, they will get in more trouble and get us in more trouble. We need to just do what we are told and get through this. Once they see the school is safe they'll make the ministry people leave. They have to." That or she was going to ask her mom and dad to send her to Brazil with her cousin.

Cal nodded with what he agreed with as Chloe spoke. It was true.. He had learnt that there were plenty of not-so-nice badgers just like himself at different parts history at the school. But he also knew that he had a fair bit of fight in him for those he held in high regard, as few as they were in number, but he was trying to do better. " I suppose yur right.. At least at some points.. But I know what it's like to feel out of place or like yur not meetin' their expectations..", he said after a moment mulling over.



" Yeah. Alright.. We could do that whenever ya want to.. ", Callum said with a smile as he nodded excitedly. Then he reached over and ran his hand heavily down Trice's spine, making her push her furry bum into the air, her tail straight up and into a happy-cat question mark as she nuzzled into Chloe's hand more at her ear attentions paid.


Just as quickly she had made him smile, she also wiped it clear off his face when she told him that he and whoever else opposed should stand down and bow down to the injustices and harsh conditions they were being subjected to. " I can't do that, Chloe.. It's gotten too personal for me to let it go. I was given a detention for sayin' the word crap!.. And I was only talkin' to Rylee as we were runnin'! And I lost points... It's overkill and I can't just stand by and let it continue. "

Point blank.. Cal was probably going to go out of his way to irritate a few certain people from now on.. Make them rethink their decision to have ever come to try and change what was just fine before they got there.

She knew she was right, but had nothing to really hold to her case when she didn't feel she was doing a very good job being a claw. "I guess maybe all of us have a little bit of all the houses really. So we maybe shouldn't be in just one. Maybe the school shouldn't be divided at all." How interesting would that be if they didn't have these houses, "Maybe if points were just going towards our grades instead of making us compete against each other in a way of behaviors...." She pondered this for a moment wondering how different things would be. It actually seemed like a brilliant idea the more she thought about it, maybe it could be asked if there were nicer people around.

"She likes all this attention?" Chloe was enjoying this kitten, she loved animals and enjoyed that the kitten seemed to like her. "Teacup does too, but some don't so I always like finding the ones that seem to like being around people more. Elise our cat at home use to run from me when I was younger." It might have been because Chloe chased her and pulled at her tail a bit too.

Giving him a small frown she just looked to the ground, "Everyone can do their own things and do what they feel is right, but I'm not going to be doing that. I just want to make it under the radar with these people. They aren't nice at all and I don't want to be caught doing anything I shouldn't be. I don't want to know what their punishments are. " Her mother warned her never to get detention, so she was going to really try not to.

Summer had passed peacefully without any disturbances but the Whomping Willow was well aware that when the temperature dropped just a little it meant the return of the students. It swayed a little to the left as a first protest when a girl [Chloe] approached it and sat down. As another student [Reese] and a cat approached, it was losing patience.

A loud creaking sound was heard as the Willow for the first time in a few blissful summer weeks felt the urge to really warn the intruders not to get too close. Its long, powerful branches gently and slowly whooshed through the air, far above the heads of the two people below. It wouldn't take much of an effort to allow one of the branches to land heavily on the grass below.

Its patience was running low now. Another little cat paw on one of the roots and there would be consequences.

Callum listened and agreed with some of what she was saying.. Sure, they all had a bit of each of the school's house qualities.. But the part about not being sorted at all? That didn't make much sense. How would they have quidditch teams to play against.. Or Quadpod? " But I think it's good to have that little bit of competition, Chloe... It helps to motivate us all to be better.. Strive to be more proficient than their peers. ", he said rather bluntly. He didn't mean to sound rude or forceful.. He was just passionate about his beliefs. " It's just how the real world works.." Cal just shrugged.


He was about to answer her about the cat when he heard a creaking that sounded a wee bit ominous. He looked up to see the Whomping Willow's upper branches begin to move. " Uhhh.. Chlo?.. ", he said as he pointed up. " I think we oughtta move.. ", Cal added as he scooped Beatrice from his friend's lap.


" I get why ya don't wanna stick yur neck out though.. Just.. Would ya mind keepin' this all to yurself.? ", He asked.. His blue eyes half-begging her to agree to keep this in confidence.

She listened and nodded to what he was saying, she liked competition too, but she didn't feel the house thing was working or worked. "I think making people identify with one house though is making them live up to a stereotype that shouldn't be there. Like all Ravenclaw being smart, I'm not smart and yet I'm in these robes or like you said all Hufflepuffs being loveable. I think a person can be all houses or maybe I'll change as I get older and not be in one house or the other." She wasn't sure how it all worked, but she felt there had to be more. 'We have other ways to compete. I mean we have quidditch, there could still be teams, we have the debate team and other clubs for competition. So why should houses compete?"


She looked up as he said it and saw the tree moving around, "We should be okay, I mean I didn't sit right under it. I've seen it swing before, so I made sure to sit out in a safe spot." At least she thought it was safe, but she might have misjudged. "Mom said she use to sit out near it all the time." Though her mother did say to be careful because the tree was super dangerous. Why did it seem like so much at Hogwarts was dangerous?

Her nose scrunched up super quick when he said about not saying anything. "I am no tattle tale!!" The thought that she even was annoyed the little blonde and it showed on her face. 'Just because I am not going to do it and I really REALLY don't think you should do it, doesn't mean I'm going to go off and tattle just to get you in trouble. I am not that type of person."

Callum would normally be a wee bit annoyed with someone being so opinionated, but then again.. He himself was rather outspoken when he believed in something strongly.. Obviously. That's why he was constantly being told off... But Chloe had a lot of fair points to her argument and he really liked that. She had more than one supporting piece of evidence to her theory.. And this made him smile as he listened to her. " There are many forms of smart, Chloe.. Like, you.. You got common sense. That's the best kind of smart there is.. ", he said. His blue eyes clear with the truth of it for her to see. He may be a troublemaker, but Reese Callum Prichard was no liar!


All the while he'd glance up at the tree to make sure they weren't encroaching on it. " I got knocked out last term by it.. I don't take the chance in being too close anymore.. I had a headache for a month afterward..", Callum warned her. Her mother was wide to advise caution. That tree was dangerous indeed, as were many things on the grounds and within the castle itself.


Cal could only blink and be surprised when she went off on him.. He hadn't called her a tattle tale!! He looked at her with confusion and tried to calm her and reassure her that he didn't think of her that way.. No, not at all! " I never said ya were.. I just was tryin' to be discreet.. I'm sorry... I didn't want ya to think I think yur a rat or nothin'. I really think yur great, actually.. "

That was Anna's unofficial favourite place to train some random bits of martial art that she made up had learned from Koen. As their schedules didn't always match, the Gryffindor had to practice on her own once in a while and today was one of those days.

When she arrived at her favourite spot, she bowed to the Willow as if greeting her opponent. Heehee. NOT that she was insane enough to try and actual fight the Willow, but you know. That was kind of funny and she liked to laugh at her own antics. Heehee!

She had to admit she WAS getting better at it now that's been nearly a year since she started training and that was exciting. Maybe she COULD take Koen down, mwahaha probably not, but she could dream big.

Rylee needed a...

BREEEEEEEEAAAKKKKKKKK!

A true break from everything. Where she did pretty much nothing at all. At least that was the thirteen year old's intention. All she wanted to do was sit near the Whomping Willow with her kitten, Lamb and enjoy some fresh air before curfew. Nothing more.

Only when she got there she wasn't alone.

Rylee stood there for much longer than necessary taking in the form of the slightly older Gryffindor whom was also the Quidditch Captain and her friend. What was Anna doing?! Even Lamb appeared to be confused as he sat down near the young gingers feet.

She did keep her eye on the tree, but really Chloe wasn't that scared of it. She knew what it was capable of, which she felt more secure knowing where she was sitting. Not knowing is when things got terrifying and the rest of the castle at the moment is what was scary. She didn't know who those men were or why they were so mean, what they were here for, it was all just worrisome.

Giving him a look that brought her back out of her thoughts she smiled a bit, "Thanks, I'm glad you think so." She knew she wasn't stupid, but she wasn't brilliant either. Someone else saying she was smart was nice though, "I think you are pretty smart too, though a little crazy and super brave when it comes to talking back to adults. Maybe you should have been a Gryffindor." Her best friend was a Gryffindor and Chloe thought he could fit the mold well.

"Ouch, it did that?"

Her eyes were back at the tree, but still, it wasn't a look of fear but of interest. How was a tree still standing that was so mean to kids? Wouldn't a professor have it removed by now?

She took a deep breath and calmed down again, she didn't want people to think she was going to be that way. Just because she didn't want to be involved didn't mean she was going to rat anyone else out. "Okay, as long as you know."

Cal gave her a bit of a nod as a you're welcome and listened as she spoke. Next thing he knew he was grinning ear to ear as she called him brave for being all outspoken and standing up for himself against the men that had come and turned Hogwarts into a mini bootcamp. " Thanks, Chloe.. My sister's in Gryffindor. She's super brave.. But she doesn't really talk back like I do.. She's more of a covert operator.." , Callum said with a cheeky grin. " I don't blame ya though.. If ya can keep from gettin' caught up then ya should... But they got me from the start.. First day they gave me a detention... "


" Aye!.. It sent me sailin'!.. ", he said with a light chuckle. " That's why I try and give it a wide birth.. Don't need another flyin' lesson sans broom.. ", He joked.

So there were a lot of rules around and she knew she wasn't allowed to be out of uniform, but that didn't mean she couldn't fix her hair and put on a little bit of makeup! Which is precisely what she did before making her way out on the grounds and down to the Whomping Willow to wait for her Benji to arrive. Yep. Hers. Hehe. Not that she would ever voice something like that! Never. EVER. But it was fun to think about things like that.

Until it made her anxiety flare up, that is. Which was precisely what was happening at that very moment. Her breathing hitched a bit and she paused to do some breathing exercises. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath, held it for seven seconds, and then exhaled as she counted to eight in her head. That was always, oddly enough, her go to when she was making herself nervous. The Hufflepuff also dug her nails into the palm of her hand as she opened her eyes back up and thanked Merlin for the warming charm she had placed on herself.

Now where was her Benji at? Had he gotten held up by one of the awful new professors?

Ahhhhhhhh it was time!!! Finally!! Benji had been counting down the minutes to his meeting with Penny ever since he'd woken up that morning. But, you know, toooootally casually. Tooootally. Ahem. It was just Potions help, after all. Nothing to get worked up over.

But of course, worked up he was. How could he not be? He straightened his tie one last time -- he'd only done it about 5000 times already, but you could never be too careful -- and made his way out to the designated spot at the Whomping Willow. He'd brought along his Potions textbook, but he was already feeling a little jittery. How was he supposed to study under these conditions? Why did his tutor have to be so pretty and smart and amazing and distracting?! He had left the castle pretty early and thought he might beat Penny down there. Maybe he could, like... Pose coolly while waiting for her so he looked brooding and pensive or something when she got there.

...And then he spotted her from behind. (Thank Merlin because his posing idea was just embarrassing.) He froze momentarily, and yes, straightened his tie one last time. Alright, you can do this! he thought to himself. Get it together! There's no reason to be nervous! You're only... You know... Hanging out with the most beautiful girl you've ever seen. NO REASON AT ALL to be nervous. None!!! With that less-than-inspiring inner monologue finished, he took a deep breath and walked over to his Penny.

"Hey," he said from over her shoulder, not wanting to sneak up on her or scare her. That was casual, right? Sounded cool? And not like an idiot? He realized then that his palms were all clammy, and he desperately wanted to discreetly wipe them on his pants, but he wasn't sure how to do that a) without her noticing and b) while holding his Potions book. Instead, he just kinda tried to pretend it wasn't happening... But truthfully, all that was running through his mind was the following panicked stream of consciousness:

Ohnoohnoohno I'm with Penny and my hands are sweaty and what happens if she notices like what if for some reason she touches my hand while we're talking and realizes it's super sweaty and then thinks I'm gross or WHAT IF she tries to hold my hand and it's like this????? And then her hand gets all sweaty because of mine being sweaty??? And then she never wants to talk to me ever again, let alone hold my hand and no COME ON BENJI, she's not going to hold your hand, why would she, she's got no reason to do that, she's got no reason to think you'd even think that, right? Are you being obvious right now? Does she know you think she's beautiful? And smart? And funny and ridiculously cool and all the things you've ever said you wanted in a girl? HOLY COW, why are you even thinking about this right now? This is NOT HELPING the Sweat Situation we have going on here, my friend. But while we're on the subject, here's a reminder that if she decides your sweaty hands are really gross, she'll definitely never want to kiss you and OKAY AGAIN NOT HELPING, don't think about kissing Penny, don't think about kissing anyone, but ESPECIALLY don't think about kissing Penny because she's going to KNOW and that's so AWKWARD and just basically what are you doing?! CHILL OUT!!!!!!!!

Perhaps needless to say, he was having a certified Minor(?) Freakout internally, and his brain yelling at him to chill out was, you know, not really helping. In this 10-second span of these racing and super embarrassing thoughts, his face didn't betray much other than a slight tinge of pink crossing his cheeks. But on the inside? Yeah, heading fast into meltdown mode. For his sake, she'd better say something quick to interrupt his thoughts. Poor kid. This had all happened so fast. They hadn't even met that long ago, and he was already deeeeeep into crush territory. Ahh, puppy love and raging teenage hormones. A winning combination, indeed.

Penny had been so very caught up in her panic thoughts that she had not heard Benji approaching... not that she was particularly vigilant anyway. Ha. But when he spoke she felt this warmth spread over her and those darned butterflies in her tummy seemed to wake up and start fluttering around. Trying not to seem too eager she took a deep breath before turning around. She had set her cauldron down with the text book and ingredients inside of it, so her hands were free.

Honestly she wasn't sure what spurred her to do the next thing she did, but yeah... without thinking of the repercussions and such, she just threw her arms around him and hugged him quickly. Even as her arms were around him her brain was screaming that she needed to stop that! It was only after a few beats that she basically jumped back away from him and turned an obnoxious shade of red. "H-heyyy... erm... hello," she squeaked.

How embarrassing was this?! Had she just really hugged him? Yep. Apparently she had done that. Could the ground open up and swallow her now? Because that was what needed to happen. THEY HAD NEVER HUGGED BEFORE! Why now? Especially when there were rules in place that said they should not. OH MERLIN! What if she got him in trouble by accident? This was all very stressful and confusing. Could someone give her a handbook to navigate teenage hormones, please?

What. WHAT. WHAT WHAT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED... ?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!

When Penny had turned around, she had............... HUGGED HIM?

For half a second, Benji had been so stunned that he had just stood there like an actual idiot (after dropping his book in surprise, also like an actual idiot). Thankfully, reflex kicked in after a moment, and he hugged her back. Granted, it was a very awkward teenage-boy-with-an-undeclared-crush-on-this-girl hug on his part, but who could blame him? He was now officially FREAKING OUT. WHAT DID IT MEEEEEEEEAN????? And could it just go ahead and happen again please?

"Hi-i," he stammered back. He had a split second of realization that PDA was against the rules, and they could both get in trouble if anyone had seen them. But, for the first time EVER in his life, Good Boy Benji Park didn't... care...? about getting in trouble??? The concept of that was entirely foreign to him. But something in his brain decided: Benefits of Hugging Penny Goodman > Detention and Also Maybe a Potential Beating with Chains and Whips Etc. from the Headmaster & Co. (That's definitely what he imagined would happen to him if the headmaster ever did get him in trouble, anyway.)

A grin was threatening to break across his face, and he was trying to stifle it, which probably made him look like he was about to barf or something. But he couldn't help it! She COULDN'T KNOW that he had reeeeeeally liked it when she hugged him and that he definitely wanted to do it again like RIGHT NOW. That was so embarrassing!!!! It was probably just a friendly thing anyway, and she was probably not even thinking about it anymore and he should PROBABLY just accept that. Maybe she hugged all her friends. What made him think he was special??? It probably didn't even mean anything at all to her. Probably.

Realizing that they were standing there in sort of weird silence, Benji cleared his throat just to make a noise, then bent down to retrieve the book he'd accidentally flung in shock. "Soooo... What's new?" (Way casual, Benj. Way casual.) "... Good to see you," he added a bit shyly, the grin finally appearing despite his best efforts to keep it at bay.

There. Totally didn't seem like he was freaking out. Right? Right. Totally.

Chloe could never be as outspoken as he was, so she admired that part, though after so many points she'd probably have fainted or run away even if she was outspoken. "Can I ask you something without upsetting you. Why do you keep up with the talking back and stuff when you've already lost points? Why not just do exactly what they say instead of getting another detention?"


Keep from getting caught up? Had she really done that? "No, I don't think I've just slipped through really. They were really mean and the standing thing in class. I might not have gotten points taken, but they don't like me at all. I'm not sure they like anyone. " Maybe they could all just really use hugs or something.

Her eyes grew big when he said the three actually hit him, "How did you survive that? I think that would really hurt." She didn't even want to find out how hard that tree could hurt and even though she thought she was away from him she found herself scooting her bottom back even further.

He hadn't hugged her back immediately... what did that mean? Was he repulsed by her? It did look as though he may very well barf his guts out at any moment...

Oh for the love of all things Merlinian! Penny Goodman had just hugged a boy and he was clearly not too happy about it. Her anxiety was kicking into high gear as she stood in that awkward silence after he stammered a greeting. This was it. The willow was welcome to bash her into the next millennium if it so chose to do so! She would welcome her death at this point! But, after a few moments of staring at her feet and doing a breathing exercise she was able to look at him finally and offer a sad sort of expression. "Hey. I... uh... sorry abou' tha'..." she stammered before turning and walking a ways. Maybe to walk away? Maybe to go to where her cauldron was sitting on top of a jar... Hahaha. WHO KNEW?! Not even SHE knew at this point.

What she did know for sure was the thing that was eating at her soul at this very moment: She definitely liked Benji Park. She had also hugged him and he looked like he wanted to puke.

So yeah. Stellar day for Penny Goodman, this was! [/sarcasm]

Why was she apologizing?!?!!!!! What the heck? Had he looked horrified or something? Because he was literally the exact polar opposite of horrified!!! Maybe she was apologizing to herself because she’d touched a boy with really sweaty hands and that was gross. Yikes.

But sweaty hands be darned, Benji — without even realizing what he was doing — reached out to grab her forearm loosely as she turned away. ”Nothing to be sorry for! It was... nice,” he said... then finally noticed the fact that he was touching her. Holding her, more like. Now THAT was awkward. He dropped her arm quickly and added an apology of his own to the mix: ”Sorry! I didn’t mean to... you know... grab you...?” He hadn’t meant for that last part to sound like a question, but his voice rose with nerves, and now he was nervous for sure. SHE DEFINITELY HATED HIM. And WHY had he admitted that it was nice? That probably made it sooo obvious that he liked her! How EMBARRASSING!!!! Now she was going to probably reject him and laugh in his face and tell everybody what a loser he was. (Never mind the fact that he really hadn’t confessed anything... It sure felt to him like he had.)

The pinkish hue that seemed to take up permanent residence on his cheeks when Penny was around grew a little brighter. ”I just...” he waved his hand in a vague gesture. He wanted to explain, but how could he without making things a thousand times weirder?