Such a warm, bright day!

It reflected Jude’s mood perfectly. He had already kicked off his footwear and had turned to look towards his younger sister. “Not lost in thought, are you?’’ he teased, not saying more or referring to whom Keighley might be lost in thoughts about. Then again, he wasn’t even sure who - Olivia or Charlie - would be occupying space in her mind right now. Maybe it was both of the fifth years.

“Okay, so I’m going to soak my feet for a bit? Join me? Also, with any luck, we might see Bartholomew.” Like the young gentleman Jude was, he held out his hand to his sister. He dug his toes in the damp sand while he waited; he always found the feel of damp sand to be comforting.

When Jude had asked her to join him outside, there was no way she would be saying no. The day was such a nice one and not meant to be wasted inside.

She had been watching him remove his footware when he spoke to her. "No, my attention is right here." Earlier after breakfast she had spoken with Charlie over a mirror call and she was supposed to meet up with Olivia after dinner. So Jude had all of her attention.

"Yes, I would. Give me one second?" Keighley was now taking off her shoes and setting them beside her brothers. Raising to her feet she walked over and slipped her hand into his outstretched one. "Ooooh, now that would be really nice! Do you think he'll come out today, Jude?"

It was great morning. Yumeki woke up exactly when he wanted to. Got himself dressed, grabbed his shinai and looped it around his back with is bag of Kendo gear at his side. Headed directly to the Beech Tree by the Lake. He had his whole day planned out. Some light training by the lake, a bit of studying the Astronomy texts his Great-Grandmother gave him. Practice a particular spell and then maybe a quick nap before his 1st class of the day began in the Afternoon.

As he walked along the shore of the lake before reaching the Beech Tree. Yumeki took his shinai into his hands and practiced some motions while he walked. Occasionally pausing and then proceeding to work on his suri-ashi.

Once he reached the tree the 5th Year Lion put his bag down against some of it's roots and sat down against it's trunk closed his eyes and went right back to sleep. This wasn't the Eternal Sakura Tree by any comparison, but it always did the trick. His light snoring picked right up where it left off only an hour ago.

SPOILER!!: Her! *__*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

When Jude had asked her to join him outside, there was no way she would be saying no. The day was such a nice one and not meant to be wasted inside.

She had been watching him remove his footware when he spoke to her. "No, my attention is right here." Earlier after breakfast she had spoken with Charlie over a mirror call and she was supposed to meet up with Olivia after dinner. So Jude had all of her attention.

"Yes, I would. Give me one second?" Keighley was now taking off her shoes and setting them beside her brothers. Raising to her feet she walked over and slipped her hand into his outstretched one. "Ooooh, now that would be really nice! Do you think he'll come out today, Jude?"

Sometimes Jude wondered if he took advantage of Keigh by asking her to hang out with him so often. After last year, he had grown rather attached to her company and he knew that she would say yes every time he asked her. However, that was before she had begun crushing on anyone. Now that she had Olivia, he wondered if he was cutting into Keigh’s time with the Ravenclaw. He could imagine how he would feel if Charlie attended Hogwarts too.

“Just checking,’’ Jude replied with a smile. Truthfully, he would have understood if Keigh had been preoccupied with thoughts of certain persons. Afterall, he had been there and done that numerous times; he still did. He was also secretly and selfishly happy that the baby sister was giving him her full attention. The older Hufflepuff’s hand closed around the younger’s. “Right?!” Never mind his trousers were being soaked at the bottom; that could easily be dried off later. “I hope so! He’s a great conversationalist.” Jude kicked his left foot a bit, splashing water outwards. “So… are you feeling much more settled now? I mean about what you, Reagan and I talked about at the end of summer?”

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Moose

It was great morning. Yumeki woke up exactly when he wanted to. Got himself dressed, grabbed his shinai and looped it around his back with is bag of Kendo gear at his side. Headed directly to the Beech Tree by the Lake. He had his whole day planned out. Some light training by the lake, a bit of studying the Astronomy texts his Great-Grandmother gave him. Practice a particular spell and then maybe a quick nap before his 1st class of the day began in the Afternoon.

As he walked along the shore of the lake before reaching the Beech Tree. Yumeki took his shinai into his hands and practiced some motions while he walked. Occasionally pausing and then proceeding to work on his suri-ashi.

Once he reached the tree the 5th Year Lion put his bag down against some of it's roots and sat down against it's trunk closed his eyes and went right back to sleep. This wasn't the Eternal Sakura Tree by any comparison, but it always did the trick. His light snoring picked right up where it left off only an hour ago.

It was not intentional, but one thing had lead to another and before she knew it she was wandering the grounds. Her attention had moved from a bit of dust, to a seed, to the flight of a butterfly, and then the way the sunlight was reflecting off the surface of the water. It often happened this way and it was a pity she would never know what would have been discussed in her morning lessons...but she no doubt could get notes from someone later or the highlights from Mercer, so she was hardly fussed about it.

The way the light reflected and danced on top of the water brought her gaze back to the shore and then to a pair of shoes attached to legs that were most certainly attached to sempai. Eyes widening for a brief moment and fingers folding across her stomach, she cautiously approached the sleeping Gryffindor and crouched just out of touching distance from him. Arms hugging her knees to her chest, she stayed like that for a bit until her ankles started to get a little sore and then she folded her legs beneath herself and pulled her bookbag in front of her. Unclasping it, she pulled a bit of parchment and quill from inside, since she did not have her watercolors, and began to sketch him sleeping as she always did when she happened upon him like this.

The adorable little sister that Keigh was would cry if she knew that Jude still sometimes thought this way. It wasn't true. Not then. And most certainly not now. All of her time spent with him was because she loved being around her brother, it was really that simply. Yes, she had crashed extremely hard into the world of crushes this past summer but that didn't mean she was going to drop Jude like a hot potato. Charlie got his mirror calls and she still wrote letters to him. While she and Olivia also spent time together, Keigh made sure that she had time for everything and everyone else that was important to her. Especially family.

"Is Dav on your mind?" she asked cheekily, flashing him a sweet innocent smile. If the other boy was, Keigh would understand because the relationship between him and her brother was still rather new. Her fingers gentle squeezed the older Hufflepuff's when he took hold of her own. "I would love to hear what he's been up to all summer!" Really, what does a giant squid do in a lake all summer long while everyone else is gone? "Umm, kinda? I'm feeling really good about things with Liv because she's here but I think sometimes she gets upset about Char?" Really, Keighley wasn't completely sure. "But.. he's not even here sooooo..." Which made things hard too. Jude surely understood that since Davit wasn't here with him, right? This hadn't at all been what she had meant when she had agreed to open herself up to meeting new people.

Yumeki was having the nicest dream, or the weirdest. There wasn't much happening in it. He walking down a path in a park but everything looked like it was wet and dripping paint. Off in the distance beyond some of the wet painted trees was a bridge that he was not getting any closer too. Off to the side of the path...was it a bike or a unicycle? Did it matter? To his Left the trees were morphing into massive bronze colored moths, and hiding within them there were some yellowed colored eyes looking directly at him. He would pick up his pace to avoid looking directly at these eyes but his destination was now further away, but the bike or unicycle was now directly beside him. He should get onto it.

Then he heard some movement, and the sound of something unclasping and his attention was now out of his dream, he only slightly opened one eye to get a peak of who woke him up. He should have guessed it was Mitsuki. Who was kneeling rather close to him, but her attention looked split between him and her book. So he let her do her thing for a while he pretend snored.

After a few extra minutes he shifted and opened his eyes to look at her. "Good Morning Mitsuki-chan."

Wrapping her cloak tightly around her, Rory walked to the water's edge and looked across the lake. The trees were reflected in the water in the distance and she could see leaves flying down, some spiraling before they hit the ground. Trying to catch one off-handedly, she reached out her arm and hopped once, careful not to tread water. However, her efforts were in vain. The leaf fell into the water and floated away. Sighing, Rory bent down in a squat, her eyes boring into the somewhat clear water.

Today was a nice day for a walk. Pleasant climate and everything. Plus, after all the chaos in settling down and adjusting to this new world, it was these walks across picturesque Hogwarts locations that kept her sane.

As she walked by, she saw an older girl squatting by the water. 'Hey, you okay?,' she asked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Moose

Yumeki was having the nicest dream, or the weirdest. There wasn't much happening in it. He walking down a path in a park but everything looked like it was wet and dripping paint. Off in the distance beyond some of the wet painted trees was a bridge that he was not getting any closer too. Off to the side of the path...was it a bike or a unicycle? Did it matter? To his Left the trees were morphing into massive bronze colored moths, and hiding within them there were some yellowed colored eyes looking directly at him. He would pick up his pace to avoid looking directly at these eyes but his destination was now further away, but the bike or unicycle was now directly beside him. He should get onto it.

Then he heard some movement, and the sound of something unclasping and his attention was now out of his dream, he only slightly opened one eye to get a peak of who woke him up. He should have guessed it was Mitsuki. Who was kneeling rather close to him, but her attention looked split between him and her book. So he let her do her thing for a while he pretend snored.

After a few extra minutes he shifted and opened his eyes to look at her. "Good Morning Mitsuki-chan."

For the number of times she had sketched him like this, it pleased her that no two sketches or watercolors ever looked identical and there were more differences than the lighting or setting. Like today was the first she had noticed how some of his hairs had the tendency to lay with a swish to the right whole the majority went left, but then there would be hairs that ought to have gone left that went right and some that simply preferred to curl upwards like delightful vines climbing towards the sky. There was also a certain line that ran across his brow while he was dreaming, several in fact, but today was the first that she had really noticed this particular one.

She had also done this enough times to recognize the change in snores, the differences subtle between an involuntary one and a performative one. She would never call him out on such things, however, seeing as he was doing so to permit her more sketching time. At least, that was what she presumed was the intention. She felt it rude to ask.

The corners of her lips twitched ever so slightly, her wrist gave one more flick upwards to finish her stroke, and her head slowly lifted to peek up at him through her thin lashes and much thicker bangs. "Hello, Yumeki-senpai," she greeted softly as she lay her quill down and balanced both it and her sketchbook upon her knees.

It was officially her birthday month but not yet Scorpio season. The internal battle between excitement and anxiety has began. Excitement because her Ceremony was getting closer. She'd be able to prove herself and join the tree of powerful Baltazar heirs. She's worked her bum off ever since she got her hands on a wand. Even during the summer, she trained with a fake one and sharpened her combat skills. Her father and tutor did mention she was top student. Serena didn't take that lightly. They trained only those with promising skills.

Anxiety...it never left her side, but this was a different kind. If she wasn't good enough, if she failed...

Serena didn't know how she'd face her family ever again. Her mum reminds her day in and day out that the family will love her no matter what the results. She didn't get it, though. Her mum passed the ceremony. Besides, this wasn't about impressing anyone else. It was about her. Serena wanted to know she was capable of that and even more.

The mental battle had driven Serena into a nauseas state, so she skipped breakfast and opted for the cool October air by the lake instead. She wore just her Scotland team sweatshirt, black ripped jeans and combat boots. An outfit that should boost her mood.

Feeling the cool breeze brush against her face, Serena let out a deep, burdened breath. That felt nice. Maybe she'll go for a broom ride later.

Johnny had been itching to get out of his dorm room, take a break from his studies as boredom had been setting in. This felt like the time he was excited to go to Quidditch camp only to feel bored and wander home on his own. But that wouldn’t be the case here as he was in a way “stuck” at Hogwarts. Hopefully Uncle Kennedy can make class interesting and draw the boy in on the school fun again.

Whilst on his journey out for a break he spotted his dear cousin and best friend, Serena in the near vicinity. He had been concerned over the injury to her arm and overall mental state, he was one to mind his own business but knew how strict Uncle Seth would be at times--all the time. ”Rini!” Johnny had a habit of sometimes calling her by a nickname they’d given Serena when he was a toddler because the boy couldn’t pronounce her name. Johnny jogged the remainder of the way to Serena. ”How’s the arm?” He nodded at the arm.

Serena was deep in thought, her mind going over a dueling strategy she wanted to try out on dummies later. She couldn't master a certain move the way her dad showed her. He always did have intricate dueling styles to "keep your opponent from guessing your next move." Serena wanted her own signature move, but how could she make it so her opponent wouldn't see it coming?

Johnny's voice, and the nickname he gave her when they were toddlers, brought Serena back to the present. "Johnny-boy," she smiled. That name had been given to him by her grandfather. Glancing at her arm, the redhead gave it a shake then a flex. "It's one-hundred percent back," she said. "My healer sent me some recovering exercises and I've just finished them a few days ago. I'm ready for quidditch practice."

That meant they could train together now that he was here at Hogwarts. Usually she trained mostly with Jasper because he keeps up with her intensity and never complains about extra time. Practicing with Johnny was going to be fun, too. He was a chaser and she was a beater, that meant another dynamic.

"How's Hogwarts for you?" she asked. "Haven't tried walking your way back home yet?" Oh, yes. Serena remembers the time Johnny grew bored at quidditch camp and decided to walk himself all the way home. Of course, Serena hadn't told the camp leaders about it. She wasn't going to snitch on her favorite cousin.

Hearing Johnny-boy made the Gryffindor smile, seeing Serena flex her arm made his smile grow wider! ”That’s brilliant!” Johnathan was elated to see his cousin’s arm healed marvelously! ”I’ll join in the practice!” He grinned. Perhaps that will cure his boredom too and to sharpen his skills! He didn’t want to lose his momentum, though it was all muscle memory of the techniques his grandfather taught him. But falling behind in his training made him anxious, nobody pushed him harder than himself to be honest. He was his own critic.

John let out a deep sigh and his shoulders slump, ”I’m so bored!” He whined. ”I have not ruled that out.” Johnny smirked as if it were possible to do so. Not that he wouldn’t try if it were a possibility. Maybe his vampire brother would bail him out? Either way he was confident Serena would cover for him again since she did just that during Quidditch Camp. ”How’s school for you so far?” He smiled. So much had happened in this short period that he hadn’t been caught up to speed with his cousin’s ventures.

"Of course, you'll join me," Serena decided. "I must make sure my arm is fully recovered with full range of motion and everything." Especially her explosive power in swinging her beaters' bat.

He was bored? That must be nice.

"How can you be bored when there's so much to do?" she asked, bewilderment written across her face. "Are you studying for OWLs? Are you keeping up with your homework? What about quidditch practice?" She was going big sister on him, but only because he was family and his success mattered to her. As for walking out, it was probably lucky that uncle Kennedy was at the castle or Johnny would have found a tunnel out of here.

Serena sighed at his question. She sat down on a small boulder near the water, and shrugged. "Not much thus far. I've been studying for OWLs mostly." Limited because of her arm. Now that it was back to normal she was going out at full force. She did...have questions for Johnny, though. He was like her in the honesty and bluntness department, so Serena could expect solid answers from him. "You're a boy, Johnny. How do you let someone know you like them? Like-like them?" Maybe she could learn to understand boy brains through him.

Johnny grinned and nodded, he was glad she was feeling better. At least she didn’t lose an arm like Uncle Kennedy. Don’t worry, the arm was reattached.

”Besides schoolwork and class? So far it’s be lame.” Johnny sighed. The boy had a short attention span and needed mental stimulation and to keep himself active in order to keep himself interested. ”Quidditch, yes! Everything else I’m working on. Did my mum tell you to ask me that?” He teased. His mom would always be keeping him on track, she would constantly nag him if he didn’t meet school deadlines and ground him by not letting Johnny do anything related to Quidditch as punishment.

Johnny sat on a boulder next to Serena and nodded, she was quite studious unlike himself. Very admirable. ”Studying makes me nauseous." He had a studying allergy apparently (not really). Baffled, John nodded, ”Last time I checked, I am.” He nodded, but what was this all about? And then it clicked. ”Just tell him? Later we’ll all die said the gator to the fly.” Considering the history of the school, that saying surely applies. ”Don’t beat it around the bush or be cryptic, that only leads to words lost in translation and misunderstandings. Be firm and spill it!” And how did he come up with his response? Well it’s what his dad advised his older siblings when they had relationship issues. Except for Henry, he’s too busy being a moody vampire.

SPOILER!!: Sweet lil sister! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

The adorable little sister that Keigh was would cry if she knew that Jude still sometimes thought this way. It wasn't true. Not then. And most certainly not now. All of her time spent with him was because she loved being around her brother, it was really that simply. Yes, she had crashed extremely hard into the world of crushes this past summer but that didn't mean she was going to drop Jude like a hot potato. Charlie got his mirror calls and she still wrote letters to him. While she and Olivia also spent time together, Keigh made sure that she had time for everything and everyone else that was important to her. Especially family.

"Is Dav on your mind?" she asked cheekily, flashing him a sweet innocent smile. If the other boy was, Keigh would understand because the relationship between him and her brother was still rather new. Her fingers gentle squeezed the older Hufflepuff's when he took hold of her own. "I would love to hear what he's been up to all summer!" Really, what does a giant squid do in a lake all summer long while everyone else is gone? "Umm, kinda? I'm feeling really good about things with Liv because she's here but I think sometimes she gets upset about Char?" Really, Keighley wasn't completely sure. "But.. he's not even here sooooo..." Which made things hard too. Jude surely understood that since Davit wasn't here with him, right? This hadn't at all been what she had meant when she had agreed to open herself up to meeting new people.

Nooooo! He wouldn’t allow the baby sister to cry over anything if he could help it! Jude just wanted to make sure that he wasn’t taking her away from anyone else she might want to spend time with or anything else she might want to be doing. He only wanted the best for her especially after she had helped him cope last year. Without Keighley, Jude wasn’t sure he would have bounced back from his situation. He knew life had taken a big turn for his sister and he also knew that both he and Rea would continue being there to help her figure things out.

The older Hufflepuff laughed and tapped Keigh on her nose. “Yes. I miss him a great deal.” He honestly was so fortunate that Davet was patient with him and didn’t mind keeping in contact via letters. “He probably is happy to be left alone to bask in the sun,” Jude mused. “Even Giant Squids need their alone time, I suspect.” And having students around constantly didn’t make that easy. Then talk turned to Keighley’s love life. “That’s understandable. I expect she gets insecure at times. I can tell you this, Keigh, keep being honest with her, and with Charlie. It’s the same I do with Dav; he knows how I feel about Ev, he knows I went to the dance with him... he doesn’t talk about it, but I wouldn’t blame him if he gets insecure because of Ev.”

Her cousin was definitely from another species. Depending on the schoolwork, Serena enjoyed it. Especially if it was something that challenged her. "If you say so," she shrugged. They could discuss schoolwork all day and not agree on it. The one subject they did agree was quidditch. Serena laughed next. "No. The only person I'm getting paid to look after is Percy. Our uncles over protect him." That earned an eye roll from Serena. Uncle Danny and Uncle Aiden should have more faith in their son, but she wasn't going to tell them that. Extra money in her bag was nice.

Studying made him nauseous?! That earned a laugh from the redhead. "There's no such thing, Johnathan. Nice try." He was good at coming up with things like that, but she knew him better than that. He also said things about gators and flies that Serena's logical brain didn't connect. "Well...I did. Sort of." She frowned, then went on to explain, "I told him I was trying to woo him and that I've been flirting with him. I did all that, but...how do I know if he likes-likes me?" She ran a hand through her hair, allowing her shoulders to slump. "Why doesn't this all come with a manual. I need specifics."

There might be something very new going on in her life but that was all the more reason for her to need time with her big brother. It was these moments together and their talks that always helped her and she looked forward to them. But more than that she looked forward to spending time together even on the best of days when all was perfect in the world.

"Hey!" she laughed at the tap to her nose. Lifting one of her feet she lightly kicked a bit of water in his direction. "How do you do it? Only communication through letters.. isn't it difficult?" Writes to Charlie and mirror calls him and it still crushes her that hes so far away. Keighley smiled at the thought of the Giant Squid spending all summer swimming around and basking in the sun. "I bet you're right. That does sound rather nice." If not a little bit lonely though. Did he get lonely? She knew that she would. "I will be Jude. I promised them I would and even if I hadn't.. I can't lie to either of them." Her honesty is what got her in this situation in the first place but there was no way she was going to stop being honest with them. "I don't want her feeling insure when she's the one that gets to see me everyday, she really has no reason to feel that way. I'm not going anywhere and I'm not choosing one over the other." But as always, Jude was right and she knew it. Liv was going to need her more.

Johnny chuckled, Percy was another child he was sworn to look after and for FREE! What the heck, she’s getting PAID?! ”Wait, you’re getting paid to watch my nephew?!” John scoffed, ”I’m going charge Danny and Aiden interest and taxes when I get home.” It felt a bit strange to have a nephew so close in age to him. Why mom and dad, WHY?!

Johnny grinned, ”I beg to differ, dear cousin.” He teased. Johnny raised a brow, who uses the word ’woo’ nowadays? Perhaps Serena’s been hanging out too much with grandpa Jack. ”Okay but did you specifically tell him you had feelings beyond friendship? Because if a girl tells me she’s flirting to ’woo’ me I’d be like: ’cool, thanks.’” ‘course this is coming from Johnny’s perspective as he was a blunt and direct person. But he reminded himself that this was probably his cousin’s first crush or something like that and tried to be sympathetic. ”He’d be daft to not be into you.” He nodded. ”That aside, just ask him if he likes you the way you like him. Or I can ask him for you?” John was willing to play Owl for his cousin if need be.

That's right. They were both cousins, but Johnny was Percy's uncle. That was so weird. Serena smirked at his reaction. "Yeah. Uncle Aiden came to me before Percy's first year and since I refused to look after him, he offered some galleons and I accepted." Back then she had been stripped from her allowance for riding a hippogriff in front of muggles. "Don't do that. They might reduce my money." And Johnny would NOT hear the end of it. She'd make sure of it.

Woo might not have been the best term she could have used, but in her defense, Serena hasn't been into the romance genre. All the romancing she did was what she thought felt right. She didn't grow up immersed in fairytales. Her life has consisted mostly of academic subjects and quidditch. The only romance she's been exposed to is her parents. They're the only love story she knows through and through. They were forbidden. Her grandfather REFUSED her dad to date her mum. He SEPARATED them. Then her mum ran away--more like flew away on a broomstick--and went to her dad. She was the knight in shining armor. The female lead. The girl who went after what she wanted and
got it.

Serena admired that a great deal.

Here she was, though. Afraid to bare her true feelings to Jasper. Johnny spoke his words as if it was soooo easy. "I didn't and I haven't told him that." It was probably a mistake on her part, assuming Jasper would read her feelings through kisses and stuff. Serena gave Johnny a little smile for being a supportive cousin. "The last time I confessed my feelings to someone it didn't go well," she admitted. "I guess now that I know how that feels, I'm hesitant to open up like that. It's one thing feeling it and keeping it inside and another, voicing it to the person and giving them power to break your heart." It made her anxious to even think about giving someone else a sliver of power to any part of herself.

Johnny grinned, ”Bet!” He teased mischievously. He will definitely figure out a way to get his oldest brother to compensate for looking after Percy. Hehe. John had heard about Serena exposing a hippogriff in the presence of muggles and thought that was pretty cool!

Johnny was inexperienced when it came to feelings and love that didn’t relate to familial affection. He did have a crush once at the homeschooling academy but forgot to call her back and completely forgot about it until the term had ended. Or maybe he got cold feet? Either way he didn’t take relationships seriously (for himself obviously), but he did want to help his cousin in any capacity.

Frowning a bit at Serena’s confession, he sympathizes because knowing her it must’ve taken a lot to open up to the person only for things to not go well. Giving her a small pat on the shoulder he smiled softly to show he cares. Taking a moment to think of what to respond next he thought to himself what would grandpa Jack say? Because grandpa was so wise and usually had the right thing to say. ”Keeping feelings to yourself is only going to sink you deeper. What if he’s feeling the same way as you are but doesn’t have the nerve to stand up and confess.” Plausible. ”Didn’t your mum make the first move on your dad?” And look where they are now, but then again they went through a lot according to stories he’s heard. ”But it’s also understandable to be hesitant and protect your heart. I can't relate but I stand by what I said, he’d be daft to not be into you Rini.” Johnny smiled softly. ”What’s his name?” Curious.

SPOILER!!: *__*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolyander

There might be something very new going on in her life but that was all the more reason for her to need time with her big brother. It was these moments together and their talks that always helped her and she looked forward to them. But more than that she looked forward to spending time together even on the best of days when all was perfect in the world.

"Hey!" she laughed at the tap to her nose. Lifting one of her feet she lightly kicked a bit of water in his direction. "How do you do it? Only communication through letters.. isn't it difficult?" Writes to Charlie and mirror calls him and it still crushes her that hes so far away. Keighley smiled at the thought of the Giant Squid spending all summer swimming around and basking in the sun. "I bet you're right. That does sound rather nice." If not a little bit lonely though. Did he get lonely? She knew that she would. "I will be Jude. I promised them I would and even if I hadn't.. I can't lie to either of them." Her honesty is what got her in this situation in the first place but there was no way she was going to stop being honest with them. "I don't want her feeling insure when she's the one that gets to see me everyday, she really has no reason to feel that way. I'm not going anywhere and I'm not choosing one over the other." But as always, Jude was right and she knew it. Liv was going to need her more.

Jude would like to think that he would be understanding if Keigh needed more time with Olivia and Charlie. Merlin knew that his sister had found herself in a really complicated situation. That meant he’d give her all the time she wanted but he gathered he would only be able to take so much because one of his worst fears was the closeness he shared with the siblings evaporating.

The older Hufflepuff laughed as water came his way, splashing on his clothing and face. He SO loved these movements with Keigh! Her question made his smile fade a bit though. “It’s very difficult,’’ he agreed. “It makes me miss Dav even more, not being able to see him. I know he feels the same too.” Like right now… Jude really wished he could see Davet’s handsome, smiling face. “I guess it’s difficult for you and Charlie too? Even with mirrors?” For him, the main upside about graduating would be being able to see Davet regularly. With regard to Bartholomew, the boy was still casting his eyes around but so far, there was no Squid.

Oh yes. He knew what sort of person Keigh was and that lying would chew her up from the inside. It was like that with him, and that was why he could offer this deep advice; it was based on experience. He smiled at his baby sister. “I’m so proud of you, you know. You’re growing into a wiser young lady. Olivia and Charlie are both lucky to have you.” Jude eyed Keighley. “Um… I don’t know either of them well, but I think Olivia might be the one who will need you the most; it might be more difficult for her to adjust.” Don’t ask him how he knew; being an empath he sometimes picked up clearly on how others were feeling. “I’ll be here to talk about anything if you need to.” There was a pause. “Oh. And Rea.”

Johnny was going to ruin her babysitting business. Serena shot him an unimpressed look. "I'll help you with your potions homework in exchange for your silence," she offered. Potions homework was entertaining for the redhead. She wouldn't mind twice the work as long as her money is untouched.

Listening to Johnathan, Serena could almost hear grandpa Walker. He was channeling him, wasn't he? That was kind. Nonetheless, Serena took in his words. A piece of home and family was always welcomed.

The more she listened, the more her brain wondered in her head. So many questions, and Serena was a creature of answers. She didn't like the unknown. "She did," she said, referring to her mum. "But I'm not like my mum. She's fearless and knows how to get up after her feelings are hurt. I...I'm destructive when I'm hurt." Serena's anger issues had gained fame in the family. When she was a child she would have many sudden bursts of magic whenever she was upset or angry. Unintentional, of course. Where she inherited that from, she had no clue.

Glancing out into the lake, Serena smiled to herself by simply thinking about Jasper's name. It was so dumb. Why did her face do that? WHY did her body react without her permission? She turned her attention back to Johnathan, the smile still in place. "It's Jasper. The beater on your team."

Hello, heart eyes.