Also outside the Groundskeeper's hut is a doghouse for Mr. Masterson's newly acquired puppy. A picket fence surrounds the house so that the German Shepard has a safe place to stay when Masterson needs to go do something out on the grounds. You're more than welcome to go in and play with her, just make sure to ask Mr. Masterson first!

Miles walked along the grounds, kicking up stones every now and then. He hadn't seen Fia in days, well it seemed like anyway. Probably hanging out with Theooooooo he scoffed and looked around. He wasn't sure why that bothered him so much really aside from her spending more time...no all of her time with him. Sighing he spotted what looked like a little house with a fence around it. "A little house for little people!" he laughed and sighed again. "No use making jokes when no ones here to hear them...." Looking around he hopped over the fence and went toward the little house to be greeted by a dog. "Awwww...I didn't know Masterson had gotten a dog.." And here he thought he was going to meet little people. Smirking he sat down on the ground, not caring about getting his robes dirty and ran his hand over the pups soft fur. When she turned and walked back into the house he watched curiously and crawled toward the entrance. It was rather large.... "Wander if I can fit..." Looking thoughtful he started in and grinned as he was able to enter fully and the pup looked at him curiously, "It helps being small sometimes." Watching the dog he smiled when she came up to him and rested her head on his leg. "Hey there," he said petting her.

Fia spotted him. Finally he appeared from out of nowhere and what in Merlin's left, big toe was he doing in that dog house? Who's dog house was that? She peeked around the corner at Miles and watched to see what he did. She placed her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling out loud but a small peep came out.

She couldn't help herself any more. She had to tell him that little people don't...oh he figured it out and...

"Lord Miles Vorkosigan," she whispered loudly knowing that no one was supposed to call him that, but she had to because he could. "You are supposed to ask Mr. Masterson first. Can't you read?". She placed her hands on her hips and sighed. The boy was going to get caught one day and she would not be there to rescue him. Bless him.

Miles was petting the dog with a smile, "Well...least you're here..." he said more to himself then out loud. Hearing someone whisper his name...and the only person who knew that name he jumped up and hit his head on the top of the house. Wincing he stuck his head out of the dog house and look at Fia, "Well look who it is. Finally free of Spazo Theo are you?" Spreading out he sprawled out on the ground, propping his head up on his head as he lay on the ground, feeling the dog on top of him.

"You missed my successful charm..." he said looking at the ground and grabbing and acorn that was lying there. "You also missed my tryouts...but no I don't know if I made it." Looking at it curiously he looked around for a tree that it could have fallen from curiously.

Fia sported a serious face as Miles began to make fun of Theo. There were things he didn't know about the boy and he was already judging him. "Well, I'll have you know that Theo helped me to the Healer, Melita the other day." Damn! She really didn't need to bring that up. It was stupid and..."I had an accident with my foot, but nothing more.

"Everything's okay," she mumbled lowly, looking towards the ground. How could she miss his tryouts? How could she miss her own? "I didn't get to try out." She was at the nurse.

She looked at her Ravenclaw friend, you know, the one that was supposed to be smart about things and tilted her head. "You know, Mr. Masterson might get really mad at you for playing with his dog. Especially since it says right here that you need to have....Perrrrrmissssionnn." Ok! So she could be a smart mouth sometimes but sometimes things just needed to be enunciated clearly.

Miles looked up quickly as he heard her speak. Theo had brought.... Why did that bother him so much. "What did you do to need a healer?" And why didn't you tell me.... The last was left unsaid though as he found a stick and began doodling in the dirt. He turned his head as the puppy curled up on his back and he smiled.

He nodded and continued strawing in the dirt. Why was this so weird now? Things just didn't make sense anymore. He felt...second best...that was it. She has Spazo Theo and he has...a dog on his back. Lovely.

As he heard her again he looked up and smirked, "Now Fi...when have I been in a situation I couldn't get out of." Well several times really but usually he had people to get him out of the bind. "Or asked permission..." Now that was true. "I doubt he'll mind too much. Not like I'm hurting her." Looking at the dog who was asleep on his back he grinned, "She seems to like me. Probably cause I'm all warm."

Fia sat down in the dirt next to the dog house. This was going to be a long story and well, she had to explain it well.

But how to start?

Sighs!

"Truth?" Well DUH! No lie to him and tell him that it was all in his head and he imagined her saying that she went to the healer. "After you left the other night, you know, in the RoR? I...sort of...kicked the table." Okay! Now started the laughing hysterically by Miles because he was going to call her a cluts.

"I didn't go until the next day and it was because...well...the look and tone of Theo's voice reminded me of what my father would say if he were here." She looked down to watch him drawing in the dirt as she just didn't want to tell the whole situation with Theo. It was too strange to speak about such things around Miles. Now why was that?

"I just...don't want to disappoint or hurt someone's feelings because they care enough to help me out." Was that so wrong to say? "It wasn't until I..." got down from riding on his back...don't say that! "...placed pressure on my foot after a while that it really began to hurt...more than I thought."

Go back to Quidditch! Go back to Quidditch!

"I wished you were there, but you...were probably in practice." Yeah! That's why he wasn't around! Practice and tryouts.

"Noo...a complete and utter lie," he said rolling his eyes. Looking at her he raised an eyebrow, "You kicked the table..." Stopping himself from chuckling he shook his head instead, "Any particular reason why?"

"Ah," he said simply as she explained why Theo had taken her. He still felt uneasy about it all. "I would've taken you..." if he had known. If he had been there...didn't seem to be spending more and more of his time alone.

Sighing he threw the stick toward the fence and watched as it clanged against it. "Well are you better now?" he looked at his best friend. Things were different and it didn't sit well with him. He didn't like not being the center of attention...especially with someone he was supposed to be so close to.

Fia shrugged her shoulders. "Not really," she said, answering his question as she was telling the truth. "Oh my ankle is better but..." She was now having a hard time telling and explaining why she seemed so distant. Miles was her best friend, the one person she spent all of her time with and...well...she missed him terribly...

To the point that...her chest would hurt sometimes. Was that normal? Was he giving her a heart attack? GAH! Boys! "Well, I haven't talked to you in..."Just say it and get it over with. "Miles! It's been entirely too bloody long since you have made a joke at my expense!" There! She said it! She missed his jokes, missed trying to keep him out of trouble as much as possible. "I swear, if I find you in detention...I'm...going to have to do something to get in there with you just so I can keep an eye on you."

Yeah! She had to make herself sound like a tough girl! One who could take care of herself and having to take care of her friends...her best friend and keep him out of trouble! Oh yeah!

Miles looked at Fia and then down at her ankle, "Well I'm glad your ankle is better. Sorry you missed tryouts, I know how much you wanted to try out." He watched her curiously and looked away feeling slightly weird.

She seemed to be at a loss for words which was very much not like her. Looking back at her he had a bemused smirk on his face and a quirk of his eyebrow. As he heard her remark finally come out in a burst he broke into laughter. "Are you kidding? If I get in detention you will be too...you're inside the fence." Grinning he looked at her and then sighed, "So how's Theo?"

This was just...weirdly wrong. Never before had they been so...awkwardly different to the point that it was hard to stare at each other. His joke of course made her laugh but when Miles asked about Theo, her smile disappeared once again. She wanted to run around and tell everyone that someone liked her! She soooo wanted her best friend to know that HE kissed HER on the CHEEK! WOW! It was like...she was acting like...a girl.

<insert very LONG pause here>

"He's fine," Fia smiled as she turned to look at something else. A blade of grass. A rock. OH if only she had a name to come back with him. OH OH! She did...what was her name? "And how's Cela?" She was a sweet girl but Fia didn't want Miles to think that she liked her or anything. Seemed every boy had the hots for her. Kind of like that Lyra girl from last year. GAH! So Girlie!

Miles looked at Fia as the silence stretched on wondering what she was thinking about. As she spoke he nodded and watched as she turned her gaze toward the ground. Hmmm.... His thoughtful look turned into a wide eyed expression at her own question and he laughed, "I don't know...should I?"

Fia's smirk disappeared and was replaced by a stern look at Miles. She blinked her eyes a couple of times then shook her head. "Well, if she's your girlfriend you should." There! HA! That would be one way to turn things around and see if they were going out.

Miles' eyes, if possible, went even wider at her remark, "G...girlfriend...? Who said we were....I'm not dating Cela!" Geez what was she thinking. Him dating Cela....wow.... "I've been spending all MY time in the room of requirement working on OUR project." For some reason her accusation made him mad and he wasn't sure why. Standing up the puppy jumped off his back scratching him, "OUCH!"

OMG! That was like...wonderful news! WOOOOOT!

Innocent! Look as innocent as can be! Nothing going on inside my head.

"Oh, okay," Fia said as his attitude changed rather snooty towards having to work on THEIR project. "You trying to tell me something?" Oh if he wanted to play games...grrrrr...She was ready for another punch!

Miranda had been walkin aimlessly for a while now. She was on a quest to finding something to help build her telescope. Though what exactly, she had no idea.

Her thoughts had drifted off to Quidditch again, and the conversation with Mr Lawson and her friends...
But before she knew it, the cute little doghouse was in her sight and she stopped. Where am I? Oh right!

Yes the huffie had been here before, remembering how she was too scared to pet the cute dog. Or had she petted it? Frown.

"Hello Romaaa... Just looking around...trying to find something..." Miranda said in a quiet tone and started to look around the ground, slightly bent over. Hmmm.

Roma peeked her out from her little doghouse to watch the girl. She remembered her! She was a nice girl. With a quick wagging tail, Roma got to her feet and walked out of her little hut. She wanted the POUNCE on the girl and play...but she sensed that the girl didn't seem to comfortable...

Shame..

Whoa. Jerking her head around at some noise, Miranda took a deep breath and let it out relieved, noticing that it was Roma who had decided to step out of her cozy house.

Hmmm, wonder if she remembers me...
"Hellooo..." she called out in a kind voice and began to move towards the pup. "You've gotten bigger since I last saw you." cocking her head to the side, the Huffie simply watched Roma. she wouldn't eat her right? Well, you are still here, aren't you?

"Do you have something I could use for my telescope?" Miranda asked while slowly reaching out a hand for Roma to sniff.

Tail still wagging quickly, Roma walked closer towards the girl, her nose twitching as she sniffed out her hand. Then, she licked the girl's hand tentatively.

Bahahaha.
"That tickles!" Miranda chuckled. Hmmm, this was rather deja vu-ish. Well atleast this time she wasn't that afraid of Roma. Though she wouldn't want to step inside to her little garden.

All the thought of searching for telescope worthy things went out the window.
Miranda slowly began to pet Roma on the head, quite captivated by this little animal.

"Aren't you lonely, Roma?" Miranda asked, her sadness creeping out. "Maybe Mr. Masterson can bring you a friend or a brother... That would be nice, yeah?"

Roma gave a playful bark, her tail slowing down in it's wagging speed. Her eyes watched the girl, but slowly began to close over the little human scratched her head. If Roma could purr, she would so be doing it right now!

As tranquil as everything was out here, Miranda gasped at the bark, not really feeling entirely safe with Roma all of a sudden. The Huffie didn't know why, but barks made the her nervous.

But as Roma seemed rather content at the moment and was more than happy to being pet, Miranda smiled at her cuteness and she gradually felt calmer again.

"Would you like having a friend here? Someone to play with?" Miranda asked, wondering what the puppy would answer if she could actually speak. "Or maybe not...Then you wouldn't have all of this for yourself." Sibling rivalry was a pain. Snort.

"You are lucky though..." She scratched behind the ears a bit absentmindedly, "You have Mr. Masterson who will stay with you forever..." That was true, unlike Miranda's friends who would just...leave.

Roma opened her eyes, her ears perking up as the girl started to scratch there. Roma did wish Oscar was here...they could do dog-like things together; Roma whined gently, turning her head to start licking the girl's hand again.

"Oh I'm sorry, did I hurt you Roma?" Miranda scrunched up her brow in worry. She had no idea if this was something dogs did all the time. Maybe it was Roma's way of talking? Er.

But she did know this. Miranda had half a mind to barge in to Mr. Mastersons hut and ask, no demand that he get a brother for Roma! How could she possibly be lonely in this big place...Hogwarts was immense... Miranda even got lost once! Oh dear.

Lost in thought she hadn't even noticed Roma licking her hand again. Feeling the ticklish, her head dropped down to look at the pup. "Are you hungry?" What did dogs eat? Miranda only had chocolate frogs in her pockets, but she was almost sure dogs didn't eat that...

Roma got onto all four paws. Food? Her nose twitched as she sniffed out the air, trying to locate some. Sure, her owner had fed her not too long ago, but...a snack was always nice. Her tail started to wag quickly again.