Welcome to the Courtyard. This place is bound to be the quietest spot on the grounds and is usually a favourite when it comes to finish homework or even to think about certain influential points in your life. Or even giggle about the pie that landed on Johnny’s head last year. It’s up to you.

Complete with a flowery aroma and areas of shade, the courtyard is a great place to come and do whatever you would like (up to a point, of course). Even if it’s just to catch a breath of fresh air in between classes, come on your own or bring a friend and come out to enjoy the beauty of the Courtyard.

Taylie walked into the courtyard and looked around with a smile on her face.She really had missed this place. Yes she was a nerd but mising a school..
If only every thing she missed last term were back. She continued walking slowly, then she remembered "This is Hogwarts!" she shrieked and began running through the courtyard squeeling.

Krissy strolled into the courtyard and saw her friend running and squealing. Shaking her head and laughing Krissy shouted at her. "Yeh are a bloody weirdo lass! calm yerself or they will put yeh in the looney-bin!" Krissy was so happy to see yet another one of her friends so happy.

Taylie stopped in front of Krissy and smiled. "I think we all have a reason to celebrate. It is my opinion the we have survived the "looney bin", i mean, Bella school for witches. "

strolling over to a nearby bench Krissy nodded. "Aye, `tis good to be home again. I love having all me friends here again..." Krissy bit her lip and looked up at Taylie knowing that one of their good friends was missing and probably wouldn't return to Hogwarts. "Have yeh seen Helios? He smells like me perfume. jest a bit of lavender." she giggled. "`twasn't on purpose, but I think he may thinks I dropped it on his robes on purpose." she gave taylie a wicked grin.

Taylie laughed, " I am to believe that it is an accident that he smells like your perfume. Seems to me that someone is marking their territory."

Krissy looked indignant and a little peeved. "I've no idea what yeh mean by that! I've no territory! I ruined several rolls of parchment and lost a bottle of me favorite perfume." she sighed and pouted. " I thought yeh would find it funny, not accuse me of laying claim on Helios."

"Hey, why are you so upset, I did find it funny, hence the laughing. You have to admit that is how it sounds." Taylie watched Krissy for a moment, then decided to take a chance. " Hmm, you really haven't laid a claim on him have you. Maybe I should take a run at him. What do you think?"

Krissy was fiddling with her bookbag when Taylie said that. She was glad she wasn't holding her wand or she would have snapped it in half. Shooting Taylie a look she nearly growled. "I don't care if yeh make a play for `im. He's not mine to defend. Besides I know yeh wouldn't do it. Yeh never went after Liam. Yeh don't have it in yeh. Yer a chicken."Krissy muttered the last few sentences. Why did she care either way?

Taylie just looked at her friend for a moment. "Wow", she said. " So I'm a chicken now. I see." She turned away from her friend and looked across the courtyard. She would not give her friend the satisfaction of seeing her tears. " Maybe I didn't go after Liam as obviously as you and Kayla did. I"m just not that kind of person. I was raised to be a lady." She said the last part with an edge of bitteness and a lot of pain. When she was sure the tears were gone she turned back. " I don't even like Helios, but maybe I'll go after him just to prove that I can. Maybe you need some good competition."

Krissy looked at Taylie and spoke in a controlled whisper. "I am a lady. There be no doubt in that. I never once threw meself at Liam and yeh know that perfectly well. Yeh can go after Helios, but don't do it to prove anything to me." She was so angry she was shaking.Tears welled in her eyes. "Yeh attacked me first lass, make no mistake about that. I jest spoke the truth. Yeh've been in love with Liam for years and not once did yeh even bat yer eyelashes at him. Helios is me friend, and yeh know I'm sensitive about `im. I can't have anyone because I have to get bloody married! did yeh forget?!" Krissy was seething as the hot angry tears fell down her cheeks.She'd never been so hurt by Taylie.

"Well the comment you call an attack, I thought was a joke. You took it much to seriously." Taylie said with no hint of a her usual smile. She suddenly looked much older than her 14 years. " I guess it's good to know what you actually think of me. Tears began to well up in her eyes again. " Yes I have been in love with Liam, and I have never said anything. I would have never, ever had a chance with him anyways. First he was madly in love with you, then Kayla. He never even noticed me most of the time. The tears wee pouring down her face now. I guess I know where your loyalties are. You are completely willing to hurt me, because I made a joke about that....boy."

Krissy sighed and took a deep breath. "I wasn't trying to hurt yeh. I thought yeh were making a low blow." she wanted to cry she was so upset. "Yeh have no idea how easily yeh could have had Liam...He jest needed to know and I knew yeh would hate me if I told `im." She wiped angrily at her tears. "As for that `boy'. Yeh know how I feel for `im. Yeh jest know..." She couldn't hold back anymore, the pain she had been denying for the past three years poured out. tears fell down her face as she felt the hole in her heart pull apart. "I don't even have any options... me life has been decided." she sobbed. Taylie probably wouldn't show her any sympathy after the horrible things Krissy had said, but she couldn't stop the torrent of emotion.

"You don't have to say those things about Liam. I know the truth. I also know how you feel about Helios. I also know that you are getting married, but you will not even meet him for three more years. I think you should have fun date. Do something that will make you happy, for once in your life. I was trying to get you to realize the full extent of your feelings for him."

The sobs racked Krissy's body. She couldn't meet taylie's eyes. "Yeh are wrong about Liam. He would have been so happy with yeh. Yeh `ave the best parts of me and Kayla in yeh, plus yeh are bloody smart and a great artist." she pulled a lace handkerchief out of her bag and wiped at her smearing eye-makeup. "`tis pointless for me to date... I'll jest get attached and then have to leave `im when me betrothed comes to claim me. Plus we don't even know if he will wait until I graduate! What if he comes when I turn 17? I'll only be in 6th year!" she heard the desperation in her voice and tried to control it. "Besides... Helios will not have me. `Tis much easier to jest take care of `im and be a good friend when I can. He lets me fuss over `im. More than I could ask for really..." She whispered.

Can't you just date the for fun. Tell them upfront that you are betrothed. Maybe you will meet someone willing to fight for you. Taylie said ignoring the comments about Liam. Is it really necessary to reunite two clans or whatever the plan is. That seems so victorian.

I really think Helios would be happy to date you. When ever he is hurting he always finds you. It seems to me that there is some kind of connection there.

Krissy shook her head. "I don't know what is necessary, but me people are praying that I can bring peace... they are starving and dying and I don't even know why. No one tells me anything. All I know is I'm supposed to shut up and get married." looking at her friend she gave a weak smile. "I'm sorry Tay. It was a hard summer without yeh.I didn't mean to hurt yeh..." Shaking her head again she added. "Helios thinks of me as one of his royal servants. I fetch his school supplies and mend his wounds. Nothing more. I'm nothing to `im but a way to stay at school looking his best." she gave a meek whimper fighting back another wave of tears. "I'm jest happy to be around `im and I don't know why. There is no connection, jest me stupid obsession. The prince gave me a chocolate frog! Ugh I wish I could wipe that memory along with everything prior to knowing I'm a witch."

"Maybe he will be your dream guy. He will look just like Heliops except he will be much nicer."Taylie said her smile coming back. "If he's not then I will create a rescue squad and we will come and take you back."

Krissy giggled. "yeh know it's not Helios' looks right? I mean yes he's good looking, but his hair changing colors is confusing... plus those eyes. I think it'd be odd to wake up every morning and know what the sky looked like without glancing out of the window." She finally gave a real smile and sighed. "I don't think I'll want to be rescued. I'm sure wherever I have to go to be with me `husband' it will be far from Greece, or wherever Helios is. Hopefully it will bring peace to me clan. It can only be good. Maybe I'll even eventually learn to love `im. Have babies... Mum's letter said having Moon girls was my second duty to me people..." She sighed thinking about the baby she took care of over the summer. The curly red locks that tickled her cheeks as she rocked the bairn to sleep. Yes Krissy would love to be someone's mum someday.