The Lake. One of his favourite spots ever!

Apart from the Duck Pond.

With his hands tucked deep into his pockets, Alec wandered down towards the lake, the grin on his face spreading even wider just at the prospect of being down there. It was the perfect place to do some thinking, yeah? Because... it looked nice, the lake.

And... it was empty? BLINK.

This was... unusual. Usually, there were lots of people here and sometimes, it was hard to find a decent spot. But... not now. ALL of his favourite spots were free and... it was still weird. Where was everyone? It was a nice day, especially for September and... this was still weird.

BLINK.

Shrugging, Alec sat down close to the edge of the lake. He took off his shoes and socks and dipped his feet into the water, a grin slowly spreading across his face. This... was perfect! Yeah!

Some nice quiet time down by the lake would great for her.

Adeline made her way down to her favorite place at Hogwarts where *cough, cough* lots of this happened there in her first and second years. It mostly had to do with Alec of course, when she had a crush on him and when she sort of kind of kissed him. Therefor making Alec her first kiss. But now she's kissed loads of times and just by one person.

Adeline giggled at the thought of Asher. She paused. Why was it so empty here? It normally was never like that.

Then she found a familiar face or back of the head. It was Alec! So that means it was totally empty but at the same time it was because now it was just the two of them.

"ALEC!!"

Mika made her way to the edge of the lake and placed her book bag onto a nearby rock. Taking out her wand holster and strapping it to her arm she quickly took off the cover up she had been wearing and placed it into the bag. Locking the bag so only she could open it there.

Smiling to herself and placing her wand in the holster she quickly ran and jumped into the water. The cold water was not fun. Nope not at all, but she wanted to get to the floating dock. She wanted to swim.

"Gaaaaaah" She cried out as she surfaced. "Cold, soooo cold."

What on earth had prompted her to wear a bikini? Maybe something with more fabric would help? A wet suit?

Now that he thought about it, this place held quite a few memories for him, didn't it? And most of those memories seemed to be linked with one brunette in particular. Alec let a small smile cross his face as he looked around the grassy patches by the Lake. He could almost list the places they had stood when things... happened. He could almost see their past selves sitting around and just... enjoying the each other's friendly company?

It was... nice. Yeah.

And speaking of Adeline, she had come back to Hogwarts, hadn't she? And Asher too? Alec missed the two of them, actually. One was one of his first magical friends and the other was his bro. So... well... yeah. He hoped they were here but if not... maybe he could owl them later? Yeah... that didn't seem like a bad idea. Now, he would just sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of-

...

Or maybe not.

Alec BLINKED as someone called his name. A voice that sounded all too familiar. The fourth year turned around... and GRINNED WIDELY. "Adeline!" he called, standing up and heading over towards her, "I... it's... it's actually you!" GRIN.

The thing about this place was it was never going to be a place for her and Asher. This place was a place for her and Alec. The only place that she would go back to even if there was some awkwardness to it. The awkwardness was always going to be looming in the air for her because she was a bold and scared first year that couldn't make up her mind at the time. Now that she has made up her mind she is now happy with her life for the most part. Adeline had chosen Asher and she was glad that she had chosen him because he was perfect in every way possible.

Adeline beamed at her favorite Hufflepuff.

Adel couldn't help but grin widely at Alec, she was so happy to see someone that was extremely happy to see her, someone that wasn't Asher of course. "Of course it's me silly." she giggled. "I wouldn't ever miss a year at Hogwarts, I've done that one before and I wiill never do it again, never." she beamed. "How was your summer?"

Maybe the fact that he was finally seeing her again reminded him just how much he had missed this Hufflepuff friend of his. Because... back in their first year, the two had met up pretty regularly, hadn't they? And it was only afterwards that he realised why the reason was... but... it was still nice. The way they had met up so often.

Because friends should ALWAYS see each other, yeah? YEAH.

Alec let out a small chuckle at Adeline's words. "Erm... I'm glad you won't," Although... wasn't it something to do with her mum? Wasn't she the reason why Adeline hadn't come back during her second year? Yeah? "Erm... so your mum's okay with you staying?" You know, was she okay enough to actually let her stay?

His summer? "It was awesome! Erm... I went to a wedding and... erm... I went out for ice cream..." What else? "Oh! And I went to a birthday party and... and... just hung out mostly. How was yours?" And did she spend most of it with Asher?

Adeline really had to catch Alec up on what had happened with her mother. It was mostly last term but she couldn't remember what had happened over this past summer and she didn't know if she had told Alec about what had happened last year.

"I never stayed with my mother or father this summer...orlastsummerreally." she told him. "I...erm...pretty muched movedintoAsher'shome...in Italy." she blurted out to him. At first she thought he knew but then he didn't.

So Aidan had gone all summer without seeing her. It didn't seem like a big deal to him, really. Summer was when they all went home and traveled anyway, right? That was the point? And Dora had done the latter, apparently, while he, well, stayed home.

But school had started up again and he missed her the first night and they hadn't yet run into each other, so it was high time to spend some time together. So Aidan walked down to the lake to meet her.

"Hey," he greeted with a smile.

With the bag swinging over her shoulder, Gwendolyn made her way to the lake. Her plan was to swim for a while and then maybe go to the library. She was curious to see if she could find any more books from the same author her bestie had recommended to her. Mhm. That sounded like a good plan.

Just as she was ready to jump in the water, the sixth year saw another student there. Errr. Is the water really so cold?, the sixth year wondered, but then decided to just go in. Whatever. It couldn’t be freezing…

Errrr.

On second thought.

‘Is it that cold?’, Gwen asked, looking at the other girl, who was apparently complaining about the water. In that case, the sixth year was planning on giving up her plan and head back to the castle.

Dora had changed her glasses green, then yellow, and finally red before deciding that she actually did like the black better, even if red was an awesome color. It didn't matter much though, since she was just killing time, and observing some of the changes to the grounds while she waited for Aidan.

He was taking forever, but then again she did arrive early and had made herself comfortable beside the lake where the water was shallow. Seriously, where was he?

OH. "Hey!" She smiled up at him and tapped her wand against her knee in thought. "You took a long time."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quick Quotes Quill

With the bag swinging over her shoulder, Gwendolyn made her way to the lake. Her plan was to swim for a while and then maybe go to the library. She was curious to see if she could find any more books from the same author her bestie had recommended to her. Mhm. That sounded like a good plan.

Just as she was ready to jump in the water, the sixth year saw another student there. Errr. Is the water really so cold?, the sixth year wondered, but then decided to just go in. Whatever. It couldn’t be freezing…

Errrr.

On second thought.

‘Is it that cold?’, Gwen asked, looking at the other girl, who was apparently complaining about the water. In that case, the sixth year was planning on giving up her plan and head back to the castle.

Mika looked up when she heard someone ask her if the water really was as cold as it seemed. Well, no it was fine really - for people who were from here she thought and just sent her a quick smile.

"Its u-ugh f-f-fine...I'm j-just not from the UK originally" she admitted sheepishly, "australian and not used to colder water in September" see? It was the end of winter beginning of spring at the time.

Well it had been before she had moved and gone to school here. Flipping seasons was strange and at least now she didn't have to anymore. "Hey your a Ravenclaw right?" she asked brightly smiling to her. "Don't know if I ever introduced myself, I'm Mika" all smiles and less shivering now that she was getting used to the water.

This place is always be his favorite spot on Hogwarts. He could spend his spare time here to read, play guitar, take photos or maybe just lay and enjoy the afternoon breeze. He had loved this place since he arrived at Hogwarts, even for the first time he still refused to move here. Not to mention that there’s so much memories happened in this place.

And there here he was again.

After all class had finished, the blonde guy walked to the ground to visit his favorite spot ever. Untucked shirt, loosened tie, and rolled sleeve, Gary was too lazy to go back to his dormitory and changed his uniform. All he wanted to do just spending his time alone there. Being a seventh year student and also a Head Boy made him need more time to relax here, too much things that made him stressed right now and also his personal problems too. Huh.

He layed himself at the edge of the lake and closed his eyes just to forget all evil things that haunted his mind now.

Gwendolyn crossed her arms as she waited for a response from the other person. She remained still for a moment, trying to figure out if she should stick to this plan or come swimming some other time.

‘Oh. Umm… all right’, the Ravenclaw mumbled, narrowing her eyes suspiciously as she drew her attention back to the other girl, who didn’t seem to believe herself when she said the water was ‘fine’. Errr. Gwen was seriously considering heading back to the castle, but as she took a step back, she heard the other student say something else. Well. The explanation that followed made her change her mind. Then I guess it’s all right to go for a swim, the sixth year thought and jumped in the water.

‘Hmm?’, Gwenolyn mused and looked back at the other girl, just as she started talking. ‘Yes, that’s right’, she answered the question about being a Ravenclaw. ‘And I guess you are too?’ Hmm. Now that I think about it… I believe I’ve seen her around the Common Room…, the sixth year thought.

‘Nice to meet you’ Mika. She was going to try keep that name in mind. ‘I’m Gwen’, the sixth year eventually introduced herself with a small smirk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quick Quotes Quill

Gwendolyn crossed her arms as she waited for a response from the other person. She remained still for a moment, trying to figure out if she should stick to this plan or come swimming some other time.

‘Oh. Umm… all right’, the Ravenclaw mumbled, narrowing her eyes suspiciously as she drew her attention back to the other girl, who didn’t seem to believe herself when she said the water was ‘fine’. Errr. Gwen was seriously considering heading back to the castle, but as she took a step back, she heard the other student say something else. Well. The explanation that followed made her change her mind. Then I guess it’s all right to go for a swim, the sixth year thought and jumped in the water.

‘Hmm?’, Gwenolyn mused and looked back at the other girl, just as she started talking. ‘Yes, that’s right’, she answered the question about being a Ravenclaw. ‘And I guess you are too?’ Hmm. Now that I think about it… I believe I’ve seen her around the Common Room…, the sixth year thought.

‘Nice to meet you’ Mika. She was going to try keep that name in mind. ‘I’m Gwen’, the sixth year eventually introduced herself with a small smirk.

Gwen. She looked nice and yeah she had seen her in the common room and probably that strange Ravenclaw sleeping area in the common room the year before.

Yeah that had been strange.

"Well its nice to actually meet you Gwen!" She smiled over to her and quickly ducked under the water, emerging again her hair sopping wet.

Alice shyly looked around as she strolled towards the lake. It was just amazing how big the school campus wad was. She really should come out more often and be like a normal Hufflepuff and be more friendly instead of her reclusive self.

Hoho~! That new resolution didn't last very long. Alice tried best to avoid the students and attempted to use every fiber of her being to blend into the back ground; one benefit of being super short. Eventually she found herself a spot under a big shady tree over looking the serene scene of the pond. Whipping out a small sketch book and a pencil, she began to sketch her surroundings a peaceful expression decorated her facial features.

The day was nice enough for Lex to go looking for Mr. Squid. Of course she'd never met him before but she was CONFIDENT that eventually he'd show up. She skipped along the grounds until she came to the black lake. Her first instinct was to run right up to it's wasters and start yelling for Mr. Giant Squid but then her eyes caught sight of someone who might as well had locked herself in her common room all year round.

"ALICE!"

She temporarily ignored the inviting waters of the lake so she could give her friend a wonderful piece of her mind. Lex plopped down next to her and snatched her sketch book. "What have I told you about going off by yourself? How do you expect to make friends when all you do is go to class then hide in your common room?" Then she gave her a look. The girl knew she was right, didn't she?

A subtle look of annoyance washed over Alice's features, but was quickly replaced with a more socially acceptable one.

"Oh, Lex, fancy meeting you here," she groaned, sarcasm dripping from her words, "if you must know, I'm drawing the beautiful lake! I over heard some of the other girls in my dorm talking about how beautiful they were and, well, I thought I'd see it for myself now that I'm on my work hiatus!"

Alice felt brimming with scholarly pride, she was slowly on her was to being a true Victorian young lady like she's always dreamed of. Who needs an outgoing wife anyways? Being outgoing has only ever gotten her in trouble and ironically when ever she found herself being outgoing Lex was always the one to initiate it.

"Any who, what are you doing out here? Don't you have some rabbit to befriend or some chocolate frog family to ruin?" Alice whined, trying to retrieve her sketch book back from what could be her only friend on campus.

Now that Alice thought about it, it was quite sad. Time to make a new "New Years Resolution" list for next year!

Lex grinned sheepishly at the girl. Same old Alice. She never did like being interrupted from her art. "Fancy meeting you here too, I never thought you were aware of the existence of anything but your common room." Her grin got a bit wider as she leaned over and gave her a gentle nudge. "Besides, you're acting like you're not happy I ran into you. Drawing without an audience must be so lonely." She was WELCOME and could thank her anytime...sooner would of course be preferred to later. Just saying.

She burst out laughing after that. "I suppose I do have a few but I've already eaten my way through about 20 of 'em today; saving the rest for after dinner." See? She had restraint!

She turned her gaze to the lake again, skillfully managing to keep the sketchpad away from the grabby girl. This was their bonding time, she wouldn't spend it drawing. "I actually came looking for the Giant Squid. I've always wanted to meet him but haven't had much luck so far."

Did her friend have any better luck? It wasn't likely seeing as the girl hardly ever left her dorm. "Oh and Mo has a bunny, he's a vampire bunny!" GRIN.

"Sigh," Alice smiled sweetly, "well as I said before, I only know of this place based on the things I've heard about it and since it was empty at this time, I thought I'd pay it a visit."

Alice tickled her sides in attempts to get her sketch book back.

"As far as giant squids go, I haven't seen one. I'd lend you Shadow, but he's being a bit... difficult. He really isn't taking to the climate too well."

Alice immediately stopped her tickling, looking back at the castle. A look of worry suddenly washed over her face.

"I hope he's ok. I mean, though he's just a physically apparition based on my dreams, he's still just a puppy," she sighed yet again, "I just hope he doesn't get caught, it's hard enough having his shape-shift to fool teachers as it is."

Though in truth, Alice never did actually 'lie' about what kind of pet Shadow was when she first made the request for him to follow her at the beginning of the school year. Shadow was essentially anything she willed him to be, a 'cat', 'rat', 'owl', anything really. Shadow just preferred to be a wolf was all, maybe because Alice herself could relate to wolves. They only associated themselves with their tight family pack and were disgustingly independent and lonely, like herself.

"Well, I guess I could help you myself," slowly rose from the ground, patting the imaginary dust from her skirt, "I have no work to be done for any time soon and my drawing skills was wavering anyways."

Zhenya had been sitting beneath a tree, wanting to have a bit of quiet before she tries to explain everything to Gary. She was wearing her uniform, neat and tidy, but she had her shoes off. She was digging her feet into the earth, grass, near some flowers. And then... he was there. She saw him. He looked scruffy. She smiled at herself as she saw him, he was still very handsome. Not that she had expected him to change much. She stood up and slowly walked towards him.

"Hi," she said softly, sitting next to him. He looked like he could have been sleeping. Very peaceful.

Snoring softly, he didn't realize that he was falling asleep there. The afternoon wind was so breezy and made him felt sleepy. Sleeping is very good to relax his mind from all evil things on his head right now. Hopefully no one noticed that the Head Boy was a sleepyhead and now he's currently fall asleep here.

But apparently there was someone who bothering him.

Who the heck was able to bother him sleeping now? Huh, but he could guess the only one who did that. The crazy childish Gryffindor candy girl: Tiffany. Still stay on his position, he spoke to that person. "Oi, could you please not to bother me while I was sleeping, Tiffany?" said him slightly annoyed. Then he decided to awake and noticed that... she's not Tiffany.

Zhenya? What did she do here?

Oh, snap! He did forget 2 things:

1. This is also her place. Remember that when both of them met each other here?
2. He asked her to talk here (Well, he didn't mention this place. But she could discover it by herself.)

Ignoring what did he just say before, Gary then sat but not too close to her. Didn't know why he wanted to keep a distance between both of them. "Surprisingly you can find me here." Sounds a little bit sarcastic maybe. He just tried not to look awkward in front of her. Okay, What did you wanna say, Zhenya Burton? Spill it.

She almost reached out to touch him. Almost. He was just familiar to her... but they weren't together anymore. She was facing the lake, distracted by how beautiful it was, when Gary stirred and started speaking. She frowned at his tone and opened her mouth to reply when she heard that he didn't speak her name. Who was Tiffany? She felt her face go hot and red and quickly looked away, telling herself that this was what she should have expected. She left, he didn't, he was free to do whatever he wanted.

But it didn't stop her from being shocked and, perhaps, just a little upset. He didn't recognise her voice, and he was speaking to her like she was... an idiot or something. "Well, yeah. You told me to come. I knew exactly where you were talking about. So... why are you so surprised to see me here?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. She hugged her legs to her chest and tried to breathe normally.

His blue eyes noticed her expression when he mentioned Tiffany. Jealous, huh? Actually she didn't need to be jealous because Tiffany and him were just friends, siblings to be exact. Did he have to explain it to her? No, he thought. Because she seemed didn't want to know about that. Besides that, they were here because they had more important conversation than talking about Tiffany, right?

Gary managed himself not to look awkward. He avoided to have an eye-contact with her by throwing some gravels to the lake. "I thought you won't remember that I usually love to spend my spare time here." said him sarcastically. Why did he sound so sarcastic and cold toward her now? Because that's also his way to hide his awkwardness. "But yeah, you did find me." Should he say congratulations or something because that means she still remembered about him?

To be honest, himself still remembered some things about her.

"So, do you want to tell something?" asked him to the point and still not to look at her. He stopped throwing the gravels, crossing his legs and nodding his head.

Lex wiggled around a bit when the girl tried a tickle attack. "Stop, you know that tickles." She knocked her hands away but kept the sketchbook quite secure. Alice might as well had given up. There was no way she was handing it over when they still hadn't gotten much time to talk. The Hufflepuff Common Room wasn't exactly open for all to visit and she didn't think that Alice was worth getting dosed in vinegar. Nothing was--okay maybe chocolate frogs were...and her Mama Vivi too...ahem.

She scooted a little out of her range of tickling so she could focus on what she was saying. "You haven't? That's too bad. I wanna see him soooooo badly but no matter how loud I call he never shows up." She gave a little sigh. Melanie said he might just not be able to hear them because he's so far down. This obviously meant he wasn't ignoring her but that didn't make her feel any better. It wasn't fair that others got to talk with him.

She lowered the sketchbook and gave the girl a curious look. "Oh? Well have you tried taking him to the CoCM Professor? She's really good with creatures so she's probably good with whatever that thing is too." Juuuuust a suggestion. "Or you could leave him be and hope he adapts but I know for sure I wouldn't take any chances with Felix. He's much too precious."

Her eyes widened just a bit. "You will?? Great! I was thinking we could send him a message...got any ideas??" She hopped up too but didn't bother brushing away at her robes and such. They were going to get dirty one way or another.