There was something spectacular about the grounds in September; perhaps it was because in Scotland anytime after this month the ground could get quite chilly and save for classes and outdoors classes such as Care of Magical Creatures and flying/quidditch, the sixth year was one to remain indoors curled up by the fireplace. So she was definitely going to enjoy the warm hot springs while she could, even if the sulphuric fumes were concealed.

Approaching the hot springs, Skylar slipped off her shoes and took a seat down on the dock, feet wriggling in the cool blue water. It was actually kind of pretty here and much less crowded than the great lake. Almost made her wish she'd worn her swimsuit under her jumper, but she wasn't opposed to swimming her uniform either. For now though, feet soaking was enough. No one push her in, please and thank you?

Having taken a dip in the lake, and now being suitably cold, Shera had run over to the hot springs barefoot to try to get there as quickly as possible. She was still dripping wet and her towel hanging over her shoulders.

Not really thinking she dropped her now wet towel just out of the water, and immediately dropping herself into the water so she was neck deep. Shera let out a sigh of relief that she could actually feel her extremities again. Maybe she had made a mistake in going swimming?

But it was totally worth it.

It was at that moment she noticed an older girl sitting on the dock and quickly waved. She was pretty sure she hadn't actually met her, but thought that she looked vaguely familiar. "Hey, I'm Shera... it's nice to meet you."

She was quite comfortable here, with her feet soaking and wriggling in the warm hot springs water. That was, until she felt a wet towel. Graze her arm. Along with the water splashing and soaking her tights.

It was really a good thing that the cold Scotland weather hadn't set in yet and that the water from the hot springs was warm. She did have to smile too, because the young girl who jumped into the water was so carefree and how Skylar desperately wished for those days again. Not a care in the world, it seemed and Skylar doubted she realized how lucky she was. No, because when you're that age, all you can think of is how you want to be older. But no one realizes that with age comes emotions and feelings and responsibilities. Or they do realize it, but naivety and denial keeps one from accepting it.

"Hey. Nice to meet you, Shera. I'm Skylar. First year?" Because it was kind of obvious, but she wanted to confirm. "Want me to dry your towel for you for when you're done?" Because hot air charms were great for that and if she was a first year, surely she wouldn't be competent in such a charm yet. And the towel was super wet.

"Yep, first year. Which year are you in?" she responded with a large grin on her face. It was pretty clear that she was older, but she still wasn't good at estimating ages so she figured asking was better than assuming. At the offer of drying her towel, Shera couldn't help but beam at the older girl.

"Yes please, I should really get around to learning that charm myself... but I haven't quite gotten there yet..." she responded, with a shy shrug. There wasn't all that much she could do about it yet. She was practicing her spells as far as she could but she definitely had a ways to go.

The boot was finally off and the Gryffindor was determined to celebrate by getting wet, something that he hadn't been able to do for a good portion of the summer. But the lake was too crowded (read: too surrounded by judge-y people) for his liking, so Ronan made his way to the usually less crowded hot springs instead. Besides, all that warm water was supposed to be good for your muscles, right?

Reaching the springs, he found that it was, in fact, less crowded, the only other two people around being Skylar Diggory and a younger girl he didn't know. Fine by him. He slipped off his shirt and flip-flops, placing them on the deck, leaving just his swim trunks (red with the Gryffindor shield on one leg) before backing up a little. Then, he suddenly took off running full-tilt towards the end of aforementioned deck, leaping off at the end. "Cowabunga!"

*SPLASH*

The sixth year's flying leap sent water splashing everywhere.

Oops?

Ah her suspicions were correct in that Shera was a first year. Good, good. "Me? Oh... im a sixth year. Quidditch captain too which is pretty awesome" definitely better than prefect; got the same amenities but no late night patrols.

She was about to remove her wand from its holster to dry the towel for Shera when there was a movement from her periphery and a shouting of 'cowabunga', to which the snakette promptly raised her hands to shield herself.

Which didnt work. By the way. Because her uniform was effectively SOAKED and all the sixth year could think was thank merlin she wasn't wearing a white shirt

"OI! Ronan! Some people aren't dressed for swimming and just here for the foot soak!" Glares at you Mr Gryffindor boy, to which she reached her hand into the springs to splash him. Not that it made any difference for him but you know. It was the principle of the matter.

Glancing back over to Shera, she smiled at her. "No worries. Its quite simple and I'd be happy to work with you on the charm anytime you'd like."

Skylar was a Quidditch captain. Shera literally beamed at her. "That is sooooo cool! I'd like to be Quidditch captain in a few years if I get the chance... at the moment I guess I should worry more about the try outs and getting on the team first..."

"I'd appreciate that," she responded with a smile, when the snakette had offered to practice the charm with her.

The girl in front of her was everything she wanted to be. Welcoming, friendly, helpful and the Quidditch captain!

And then a boy had suddenly appeared, diving into the water and shouting some kind of nonsense that Shera didn't understand. If she wasn't already wet, then she would've probably been bothered by it, so she wasn't surprised at the Slytherin's irritation. it seemed like a justified reaction.

"Cowabunga?"

Eeeeee!

There was a hot spring! Why hadn't anyone told her! Rylee loved to swim! And what better way was there to relax sore muscles than a dip in the water, especially not warm water. Skipping her way down along the dock and plopping herself down on the edge she pulled off her shoes and socks, pushing the legs of her pants up as high as she could. With feet dangling down into the water or well as much as she could get them she sighed in content. This was so nice!

If only she had known about this spot earlier she would have worn her swimsuit so she could really get into the warm water. Would the Professors mind if she got in in her clothing? It was only water, right? Cause there was noway she would be going back inside and all the way up to her dorm in the tower just for her swimsuit... not today.

Laying back, feet still dangling down into the water below, Rylee followed her arms beneath her head of long ginger hair and closed her eyes. Laying here with the sun on her face was sort of like being home at the lake when visiting Rian's place. It was nice. Comforting.

Suit on Zita was going to go relax in the hot springs. It had been a crazy few weeks since getting to school and she was just in the mood to take a break from the social and relax with her book in the hot springs. Smiling to herself as she made her way down Z stopped and looked around noticing a first year just standing there staring.

"If you are getting in you might want to change your clothes."
The girl was cute for a first year, but she was not going to deal with a thousand questions if she was a talker. Why hadn't she brought one of her first-year minions down to shooo the girl away?

Side stepping her she laid her towl and book down and slipped into the hot spring. A sigh of enjoyment left her lips before looking at the girl again.
"I do know I'm beautiful, but staring isn't very nice so either join me or leave."

Huh?

Rylee blinked turning around to notice a older girl there and no one else. Clearly the girl must have been talking to her. "I don't have my swimsuit with me, I didn't know there was a hot spring here." If she had she would've had her suit on already. One doesn't knowingly go to a hot spring and not bring their swim things. She let out a small huff. She hadn't intended on finding this spot which was why she was still where her jeans and t-shirt, minus her socks and shoes which were beside her.

Beautiful? Staring? Who was staring? Surely whoever this girl was she was no longer talking to her. She couldn't be. From her laying down position with her eyes shut there was noway she was staring at anyone. Obviously someone else must have joined them... but Rylee didn't hear anyone else. Blinking her eyes open and shielding them with her arm she sat up slowly glancing around. No one else was there. "I wasn't staring at anyone... " she replied quietly a little less cheerfully than usual due to her confusion. Could she go back to laying down now and enjoying the sunshine?

First years were either good at helping older students to things they didn't want to do or they annoyed older students until they got a hex placed on them and this one well Z wasn't fully sure yet. "You could ask someone to transfigure your clothes or run to the castle to grab your suit." She had options why hadn't she used them yet?

Relaxing in the hot springs she couldn't help but close her eyes and just let the warmth run through her. She needed to have this quiet moment away from other people and away from things, but she wasn't truly alone and her eyes opened as she looked back at the girl with a small smirk. "It's okay,
I don't mind." She did enjoy the attention and she knew she was pretty,
so no harm at all. "I'll tell you what, what if I transfigured your clothes into a suit or if you want just get in and I'll use the drying charm to dry you off when we get out."

Z just wanted to relax and having this one standing there wasn't allowing that to happen.

This was true. She could have done both of those things but there was reasons why she hadn't. "There wasn't anyone else out here to ask for help from... and I'm a Gryffindor... it's a little far to run all the way up to my dorm and back..." Not that she couldn't do it or even wouldn't she just hadn't really wanted to. Made sense to her. Though this older girl was here now and she could a-

Oh! Rylee smiled brightly and nodded fast. "Could you? A swimsuit would be great if it's not to much trouble." Swimming in her clothes would be okay but wet clothing got really heavy and it wasn't as much fun to swim around in.

As was expected the temperature had dropped considerably because of the time of year. It didn't make much sense to be outside right now if you didn't want numb fingers or a cold nose but Magnolia hated being cooped up inside the castle, so she quickly thought up a solution; the hot springs.

It was an awesome way to kill two birds with one stone. She could be outdoors ad still be warm.

The fourth year dropped her robes and adjusted her one piece blue swimsuit,then stuck a toe into the spring to test the water.

Mhmmm...perfect.

She easily slid in and closed her eyes.

Relaxation.

This first year was going to be put on the annoying list real quick and being put on the annoying list was not a good thing. Z wanted to find some younger students to be her little minions and being her minion meant they would be protected if needed, but if you were not on that good list you would not be protected from anyone, especially her. Yes, yes, the tower was so far, blah blah, this girl talk too much and Z was about to take her wand and silence her before she finally said something useful.

Lifting her wand she did the movement and changed the girl's clothes into a not so cute swimsuit, maybe Z could have tried harder, but ugh it was the first year did it matter? No one was really looking at first years in a way of needing a cute suit, not like Z needing one.


"Now get in so I can finally relax."

Cameron liked to venture down to the hot springs occasionally. To read, not to get in usually. In fact, he couldn't remember ever going in to be honest. Maybe he should do that some time. Maybe. Alone seemed to be boring though. Maybe he could convince Liam to join him next time.

Hmm.

Either way, today was a reading day for sure so naturally he was carrying a book in his arms as he made his down to the springs. In search for a nice place to sit - close enough TO the springs to feel the warmth - he looked around and...spotted someone who looked familiar.

"Magnolia." Hello! Smiling, he walked over to where she'd just gotten into the water. "Hi."

Rylee waited about as patiently as an eleven year old could wait for the older girl to change her things into a swimsuit. Before she knew it she was standing there in a not the prettiest swimsuit but a swimsuit none-the-less. The fact of the matter was she was no longer going to have to get her clothes wet. So this worked for her... even if it wasn't purple. Could she change the color herself? Maybe but she wasn't about to. "Thank you." See she was polite.

Huh?

Blink. Blink. What was this girls problem? First she accused her of staring at her and now she was acting as if she was disturbing her. Rylee so wanted to roll her eyes and tell the girl she shouldn't have offered to help her if she hadn't wanted to but right now she just wanted to enjoy the water and feel like she was back home... even if just for a few minutes.

With her excitement from earlier slowly slipping away, Rylee lowered herself down into the hot spring sighing contently as the warm water washed all thoughts from her mind.

Magnolia was enjoying her steam, wiggling her toes and humming when she heard her name. The voice was very familiar so she wasn't startled by it. In fact she turned around and looked up at him with a smile.

"Hey Cam!" She beamed up at him and kicked her legs up from under her while resting her chin on her hands.

"Are you going to get in? The water is really good." And she'd really like the company.

Cameron's eyes were briefly drawn to her feet when they moved but were soon back on her face. "Hey." He returned, a smile on his lips. It looked comfortable what she was doing. Maybe he SHOULD have prepared to go in as well. Well it was too late now.

Next time maybe.

Crouching down first then taking a seat on the ground next to her, Cameron shook his head. "No, I just brought my book." He held it up for emphasis. "I didn't bring a bathing suit. But I can sit with you here." If that was something she wanted.

Magnolia nodded.

Of course it would have been more fun having him join her in the water but she was satisfied with having his company in some form or the other.

"Maybe next time then. I'll be sure to invite you so you're better prepared."

She tilted her head up to try to get a better look at the cover of the book that he brought with him to read.

"What are you reading?"

Next time, sure.

Cameron nodded. “I‘d like that.“ Maybe he‘d finally actually go in this term. Not that it had been on his bucket list per se but somehow, thinking about it, it was quite strange that he hadn‘t actually been IN the water here.

Leaning forward he held the book closer to her face so she could read the title. “Matilda.“ He sat back again and set the book next to him on the ground. “Do you come here a lot?“ She looked comfortable.

Oh Matilda..

"My papa read that to me ages ago. I remember the gist of it but not small details." She did remember that it was a good book though. It was nice seeing a guy who read a lot. Connor, her younger brother wasn't much of a reader, he was more of a hands on kind of guy, which was fine of course. She just believed that 'reading maketh the man'.

She thought about his question and tilted her head a bit in contemplation before answering.

"Kinda...maybe twice a week. Been doing that since last year. It helps to calm me when I'm feeling...overwhelmed."

The hot springs. One of Hattie's favourite places. She'd spent a lot of time here last year, and had really enjoyed them. They had been pretty great in enabling her to de-stress from the OWLs. This year she had no exams though, and so didn't really need it to de-stress so much. She was still going to be coming down here though. She enjoyed coming here and just relaxing. That was exactly what she was coming down here to do right now. It was pretty early, she wanted to come down before she started off the day. What better way to start the day than a nice relax in the hot spring?

She'd worn her swimsuit under her clothes, so she quickly stripped down to it and got into the spring. It was a little chilly out, so she was quick to get into the hot water. She sighed, leaning back against the side and closing her eyes. Yep. this was perfect. The best way to start the morning.

Seeing the girl look at her Zita was really wanting to hex her, but she didn't want to lose her relaxing position, "You know if you aren't too annoying as a first year you might get the chance to be part of a group. Have older girls help you with things." Like her group, show her makeup and in return, the group got their very own minion.

Wouldn't that be just fun?

Zita could see it now, just telling the girl what to do and having her do it. They would dress her up and show her how to be popular and cool, but having someone to carry books and things, yes that would work so well.

Slipping down lower into the water, Rylee was perfectly content with not saying anything else to the older girl... at least for now. Only she was being spoken to now and it wasn't polite to ignore someone that was speaking to you especially if you know they were. Being part of a group? That would be nice. Depending on what type of group this was. The more friends she had the better. It didn't matter that she already had a bunch of friends of all ages.

"What kind of group?" she asked curiously tucking a strand of long ginger hair behind her ear. "What do I need to do to be a part of it?" Very important. She would only do so much to be a part of any group or club. If she had to change how she looked or acted it was an automatic no-go. Rylee Prichard did NOT change herself for anyone.