Rylee knew exactly what she wanted to do as she made her way into the Astronomy tower. With all the new rules and the new curfew taking place it was getting harder and harder to enjoy all the simple little things without landing herself in detention.

So here she was on a rainy Saturday afternoon. As soon as she entered the room she opened the small chest beside the door and pulled out a blanket which she draped over her shoulders, she was well aware of the chill that sneak into the room if she remained in here long enough.

Plopping down on one of the couches she tucked herself up into a tight little ball, laying her head back on the arm rest and staring up at the ceiling. It was so easy to get lost staring at the starry sky.

Finding a quiet place to hide was always on his mind lately. With all the drama that was going on in the school, a bit of peace and quiet was hard to find. Getting to the top of the astronomy tower now, Ewan couldn’t help but give a small laugh. So, all of these early morning laps did help after all. He wasn’t tired. Entering the circular room, he slung his backpack from his shoulders and removed his uke before finally reaching for a blanket. “Aha”, was the only sound out of his mouth as he reached for his favourite cheetah spotted blanket. The fur was remarkably soft. Turning now, he froze in place, blanket and uke in hands as he spotted a small figure nestled in one of the couches. He would have chuckled if he hadn’t been so surprised to see someone. Sticking out of one of the blankets was the red head of a familiar face.



Walking over silently, Ewan plopped himself down into another couch close to Rylee and nestled himself under his blanket. “Hey there, girl on fire”, he whispered, unsure if she was awake or sleep or just wanting to be alone.



Without another word, he looked up into the sky, or ceiling and looked closely for his favourite constellations.

Having to wear his uniform at ALL hours of the day was getting pretty annoying and Beau was finding it difficult to keep his uniform clean during the day... because last year he had always eaten his meals in his non-uniform clothes unless he had to race to a class afterwards. But now.....he was just spilling food on his uniform on purpose and turning up to classes with stains on the jumper. Woteva.

But now he was trying to avoid doing homework, so he had snuck away to the one place he still hadn't been with Jolie but wanted to. The snuggle deck. Or that was what it was for him. The perfect place to snuggle.

Even if these stupid rules said he couldn't.

What was the point of having a girlfriend if he couldn't hold he hand until it went so sweaty that they fell away from one another? What was the point of having a girlfriend if he couldn't lean his head on hers and smell how nice her hair smelt and hope it transferred onto his own hair?

WHAT WAS THE POINT?!?!?!?!???!!

Throwing himself onto an empty sofa, the fourth year groaned loudly and let his cloak fall over his head. Beau out.

Being a Gryffindor wasn't the worst thing in the world, even if it wasn't Slytherin and even if he DID have to walk alllllllll the way up to the TOP OF THE TOWER to get to his bed. It was OKAY. It was PASSABLE. It was getting better each day.

The rules weren't, though, and Jó was probably breaking about seven as he wandered up to the Astronomy Tower with half of his uniform on inside out and his tie nowhere to be seen.

Nowhere, really - he was SURE he'd had it yesterday but then TODAY it had VANISHED and his SPARE was also LOST.

But thoughts of uniform and rules were quickly pushed from his mind at the side of someone HIDING.

In their cloak.

Józef waited until he was sat right next to the person before speaking. "That's an awful hiding place."

Rylee wasn't at all asleep but she was indeed enjoy the quietness of her surroundings. Until a voice broke through the silence at least. A voice she knew all to well. Seeing as to how no one else called her 'Girl on Fire'. Turning her head only enough on the arm rest to now see that Ewan had also made himself comfortable on one of the couches she smiled a bit.

"You're up here to enjoy the view or the silence?" Maybe both like she was. "Unless you're trying to hideaway from everyone... in which case you're not doing a very good job." She grinned a little bit playfully trying to ease the bitter mode everyone seemed to be in lately, including herself.

Looking up from his couch, Ewan couldn’t help but smile at her obvious comfort. With a little wiggle, he slunk further under the blanket, “I came here for the quiet”, he reluctantly replied, “But it’s okay, as long as you don’t mind me playing my Ukulele”. Pulling it in front of him now, he started plucking the chords until it started to make somewhat of a tune.

“I’m not trying to hide. I mean, you know where I’d go if I wanted to hide”, his mind going back to the room with a forest in it. “Although, with the way things have gone this term so far, I may need to go back once or twice”. Despite the light tone of his voice, Ewan couldn’t help but feel slightly aggrieved at most of the new rules. “Aaaaaaaaaaaany way, why are you up here?”, a small smile across his face.

"Mm, no," Rylee half whispered half almost yawned before laughing softly. Perhaps she was a little too comfortable underneath this blanket all curled up on the couch. "If you're any good I might just end up falling asleep." She grinned at him playfully. It hadn't occurred to her to bring her violin up here and play a little but than again she was still very much a beginner.

A hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "Do I?", she asked innocently like she had no clue when in fact it was her that had helped him find one of his hiding spots. "Once or twice? That's it? Please... I probably go there once or twice a week." If not more. Lately it was likely to be more.

Why was she up here? The obvious reason of course. The Gryffindor turned her gaze back upwards towards the ceiling to star at the stars. "For the sky. It felt like a good day to watch the stars." In other words she needed a little bit of down time.

The Grey Lady floated along up to the Observation Deck without really seeing where she was going. She was lost in thoughts because of the recent firing of the Ravenclaw Head of House. It was most upsetting. The Deck was the most comforting place for Helena. The stars always were beautiful. Tonight was no different. Helena moved to stare out of a window. Her face was serious as she stared up at them. It surely was beautiful out there.

Where Beau landed is exactly where Beau stayed for what seemed like hours. It had only been a minute or five, but that was hours to the Gryffindor boy that struggled to sit still for more than twenty seconds. Hours, honestly.

He might have started to doze off, too, because in his head he could hear Jolie nattering on about socks and sandals and adding it to a list and blah blah blah. Had she followed him here? Nope. She had to be doing something like washing or brushing her hair for sure. Someone was speaking, though. Which was probably what woke him up, because he was groggy and his eyes were a bit sticky. Ugh.

"M'not hiding." The voice came back, before he peeled the cloak away from his head and groaned again. This time it was because the light in the room that he had been hidden away from for a short while. It was dark under a cloak. A lot darker than it was without. "I'm avoiding school work."

Laughing now, a small smile playing on his lips, he started to pluck the cords of his favourite song. “I’m okay. I just play for me, you know? I don’t usually play in front of anyone else”. In all honesty, he’d only been playing for a few years but he enjoyed the way his mind would just focus on the strings and the different sounds that it then made as he plucked.

Stopping now to laugh at her poorly disguised attempt at innocence, he looked at her, rolling his eyes in a typical Ewan fashion, “We both know that’s not true Ry!” Closing his eyes now, he continued to play whilst listening to her. “Aha I do love the stars! Althoooooough, its better when you’ve got someone to share it with!” Pausing now, he couldn’t help but look at her. “Uh, unless you wanted to be alone?”.

Hogwarts ....

The whole school seemed to have gotten an attitude check. The boy had found a moment away and had escaped from his homework, housemates, and friends to just think. What mess had they gotten into exactly?

He didn't know. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked silently up the staircase until he found himself in a room with a telescope. The observation deck. Good choice, he told himself as he walked himself over to the star charts, letting his mind go numb as he slowly eyed the charts of the sky.

It must have been getting pretty late. Dinner would happen soon and he was sure that he would have to be present there or suffer losing points... Then again if people didn't notice him there, then perhaps that would be okay. Maybe they'd forget about him? He wouldn't mind that... He could actually escape. Well maybe they could forget about him for an hour.

Chase folded his arms and just stood as he glanced out at the sky, watching the sun set and the stars begin to dance in the night sky.

Personally, the History of Magic professor agreed with many of the changes which had come to Hogwarts (though the firing of the friendly Kay made her sad), and that was part of the reason why she had now taken up prowling the castle during spare time looking for lawbreakers. It was high time Hogwarts was run by disciplined people! No more would chaos be the law of the school and that meant no more would students be in danger of the incompetence of previous management egos. The students may be upset now, but in time they would learn to be grateful for the measures that had to be taken. Or so the History of Magic professor thought.

That was one of the reasons she was keeping her eye on potential mischief. The other reason was she was naturally ambitious and she wanted to show her new boss that she was loyal and not someone to be fired. The firing of Miss. Stewart had sent a shiver down her spine. If anyone else was going to be fired, it was not going to be her.

And so it was that Miss. O'Hara had followed the sloppily dressed Gryffindor student up to the Observation Deck in the Astronomy tower. She may or may not have had an invisibility cloak. It did not matter because her reflexes were stealthy and the boy did not look like he was paying attention. She hung back at the entrance to the deck as she heard him muttering something to another student. Slowly she entered the room.

"Mr. Kowalski!" She crossed the room with four large strides, coming to a halt less than two feet from the sloppily dressed Gryffindor boy and whoever he was talking to. "Where is your tie, Mr. Kowalski?" She crossed her arms in front of her and looked down at him with eyebrows raised. His uniform being inside out hadn't escaped her notice either. Her attention turned towards the other student. "Mr. Montague?" she asked, bending down to squint at the face which had just peaked out of the cloak. "I don't believe I heard your last words to Mr. Kowalski. Could you please repeat them, and then get out from under that cloak? I want to see you have your tie."

"There's nothing wrong with that at all. I can even be totally quiet if you need me to be so you can play and forget I'm even here." Or as quiet as she could be anyhow. That wasn't something she was well known for usually, being quiet. As of lately however it is something that has been becoming more and more common. Not recognizing the song, Ewan was playing, Rylee laid her head back on the couch once more letting her eyes close as she listened to the melody wash over her.

At Ewan's laughter, the look on her face was one that could only be explained as 'why are you laughing'. Rylee knew very well what the laughter was about and it only caused her to smiled sweet at him. "Sure it is. I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about." There was joy in her eyes and a grin tugging at her lips that spoke otherwise. Clearly she was having a grand ole' time joking around.

Alone. Did she want to be alone. Maybe. No. Yes. She wasn't sure. Normally she would lay outside and stargaze with Reese or Pulsar but he was back at him. Sometimes Rian too but not as much anymore. "I don't mind the company. I like having someone to talk to." Especially when she felt alone.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be quiet. I can play and listen at the same time!” smiling at her now. It was clear that she didn’t recognise the song, but that was okay. He always knew his music taste was a little different and well, at least now she’d know it.

Ewan always knew he could joke around with Rylee. It was one of the best parts of their friendship, the constant joking around. Smirking at her now, his eyes full of light hearted humour, he couldn’t help but look up at the stars in wonder at how massive the universe really is. Taking a peek at Rylee now, he noticed something wasn’t quite right. “Are you okay Ry? What’s up?” his expression somewhat concerned. Despite her obvious independence, it wasn’t like her to be somewhere alone. Usually, she was with her brother at least.

Rylee glanced over at him and smirked slightly. "You sure you want to be telling me that?" Telling her she didn't have to be quiet was a very dangerous thing to do. Did he not remember how she could get at times? The crazy loud ginger girl of last term? The one that liked to run around and get messy, sing at the top of her lungs and not think about anything until after all was said and done? Yeah... she messed that person. She needed to get back to being that girl again.

Pulling her gaze from the stars she fixed her attention on Ewan once more when he asked if she was alright. "I'm fine, why? Do I look like something's wrong?" Physically she was in perfect health. Mentally, well all these rules and changes were getting to her but that was the same with just about everyone else so there was no sense in complaining about it. She was taking it all in stride. Unless he meant she looked tired cause she was, more than normal. Sleep wasn't really a thing anymore. All her time was spent on more important things.

Sitting up slightly now, he couldn’t help but smirk at the red head girl in front of him, a small idea forming in his head. “Am I sure? Uh, yeaaaaaaah! I’m sure!” he replied, placing his ukulele on the floor inconspicuously. “I mean, sure you can be a little hyper at times buuuuut”, pausing now to reach for a pillow. “So can I!” he shouted, throwing a pillow at Rylee, a wide grin on his face.

Still laughing now, he couldn’t help but smile at her reassurance that she was fine. “Good! I’m glad. Or I’d have to come and poke you until you tell me what’s wrong”, giving her a small wink as he said this. She’d been there for him in the summer when he had lots of ‘things’ going on so he was going to be there for her if she wasn’t okay. She didn’t have a choice. It was already decided.

Oh, he was sure, was he? Rylee's smirk remained very firmed in place her eyes fixed on Ewan. At times? At times. Did he really not know who he was talking to? "You don't know me very well d-"

Out of nowhere she took a pillow to the face!

To. The. Face.

Her.

Rylee gripped the pillow and laughed shaking her head. "Thanks for the pillow," she grinned cheekily tucking the pillow behind her head rather than toss it back like she wanted to. She was waiting for the perfect moment to do that.

"Poke me? Really? Is that how you get someone to tell you what's wrong?" The ginger lioness laughed once again. Everyone had their own methods of getting their friends to talk. She had to admit she had some good friends, ones that were always there for her when she needed them.

Ewan couldn’t help but smirk now at the expression on her face. What was it, a mixture of surprise and amusement? “Are you sure I don’t know you?” laughing now slightly as he eyed her suspiciously, waiting for the pillow to find its way back to him. Or rather his head.

Watching closely as she tucked it behind her head, he couldn’t help but grin back at her. He wasn’t sure when it would come back to him but he had a feeling he’d get it back.

“Poke, Uh… yeah? Or tickle. You know. Call it what you want” he continued, an unusually calm, unconcerned expression on his face, eying her out of the corner of his eyes now waiting for her to react to this ‘threat’ of sorts. It wasn’t exactly the normal route people usually get people to talk but since when was he everyone else? Nope. Nope. Nope. He was certainly not normal. Buuuuut, he was a good friend who cared for his friends and would do whatever it took to get them to open up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watson

Hogwarts ....

The whole school seemed to have gotten an attitude check. The boy had found a moment away and had escaped from his homework, housemates, and friends to just think. What mess had they gotten into exactly?

He didn't know. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked silently up the staircase until he found himself in a room with a telescope. The observation deck. Good choice, he told himself as he walked himself over to the star charts, letting his mind go numb as he slowly eyed the charts of the sky.

It must have been getting pretty late. Dinner would happen soon and he was sure that he would have to be present there or suffer losing points... Then again if people didn't notice him there, then perhaps that would be okay. Maybe they'd forget about him? He wouldn't mind that... He could actually escape. Well maybe they could forget about him for an hour.

Chase folded his arms and just stood as he glanced out at the sky, watching the sun set and the stars begin to dance in the night sky.

Natalie didn't remember what time she had come up here, but it wasn't DARK when she had... meaning that she had fallen asleep while tucked away in a corner of the astronomy tower while reading her book. Her book that, of course, was educational. Of course.

Standing up, she stretched out of her curled up position and yawned before picking up her book and heading out. It was getting late now and she didn't want to get in trouble for roaming the halls after sundown. This also meant that she had missed dinner... and she was going to have to go through the night on an empty stomach.

Natalie emerged from her dark corner was a little surprised to see someone else in the room.

"You know there's an astronomy class right? Where you have permission to look at the stars at night?" Because curfew was right around the corner and they were going to be late.

Chase chuckled at the suggestion. Heh. How informative of the other person. Turning his gaze, he saw a very pretty girl approaching him. Wow... Ermm... He was now staring for like five seconds. He averted his eyes and chuckled again. "Yeah but in astronomy class I have to answer questions and pay more attention to what the Professor is saying. Now I can just relax and think to myself," he said with a shrug, glancing up to make eye contact with the girl. He had def. seen her around before but was unsure if they had ever interacted. He had probably seen her with Derf and maybe Stasya? She seemed around their age... he thought. Though he could be mistaken.

"What brings you so high up in the castle? I thought Slytherins stayed in the dungeons?" he asked with a slight playful smirk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watson

Chase chuckled at the suggestion. Heh. How informative of the other person. Turning his gaze, he saw a very pretty girl approaching him. Wow... Ermm... He was now staring for like five seconds. He averted his eyes and chuckled again. "Yeah but in astronomy class I have to answer questions and pay more attention to what the Professor is saying. Now I can just relax and think to myself," he said with a shrug, glancing up to make eye contact with the girl. He had def. seen her around before but was unsure if they had ever interacted. He had probably seen her with Derf and maybe Stasya? She seemed around their age... he thought. Though he could be mistaken.

"What brings you so high up in the castle? I thought Slytherins stayed in the dungeons?" he asked with a slight playful smirk.

Standing off to the side of the boy, Natalie watched him as he turned and... stared? Was he staring? It was only a few seconds, so maybe it didn't qualify, but it did take him a moment to actually reply. Perhaps she was making it up. He did have a point though. Astronomy class was more work. Though she did leave the last one at the beginning of class.

It was relaxing up here, though. That was why she had come, too. "Until you get caught for being out after curfew." Then he would have the Headmaster to answer to and that... was ugly.

Hugging her book to her abdomen, Natalie watched the boy with an amused expression. "Slytherins can do what they want," she retorted plainly. Anyone could do what they want, really. Or.. somewhat, considering all the new rules that were recently implemented. "With that logic, you shouldn't ever be outside on the grounds." Because he was a Gryffindor, right? She knew she had seen him around before, but she couldn't remember his name.

"At least I won't be the only one caught because it appears that you are here too...." If she was here, then she, too, must have been playing the curfew game very carefully.

Slytherins could do what they want? What? Did she think he was a fledgling? Hardly. Chase raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "Oh. Can they? Intriguing. I didn't know that it was a house specific thing." He was joking, of course... "I think that's what you think. Anyone can do what they want regardless of house."

He sat up from where he had been laying and star-gazing. "So what's your name? I've seen you around before. I'm Chang-Woo Spenley. I go by Chase. It's easier to say," he said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watson

"At least I won't be the only one caught because it appears that you are here too...." If she was here, then she, too, must have been playing the curfew game very carefully.

Slytherins could do what they want? What? Did she think he was a fledgling? Hardly. Chase raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "Oh. Can they? Intriguing. I didn't know that it was a house specific thing." He was joking, of course... "I think that's what you think. Anyone can do what they want regardless of house."

He sat up from where he had been laying and star-gazing. "So what's your name? I've seen you around before. I'm Chang-Woo Spenley. I go by Chase. It's easier to say," he said.

Yes, she was there too... But to his observation, she merely shrugged innocently. She was small. And she could run fast.

"You're the one who thinks we're subjected to our dungeons." So, she was just playing his game, wasn't she? The never ending game of house stereotypes. That meant that he was a brash and bold Gryffindor and that was probably why he was up here so close to curfew. Natalie had simply fallen asleep.

She watched him rise. Chase. Yes, he was right, that was much easier than his full name. She gave him a smile, her hands still wrapped around the book she was holding to her stomach. "I'm Natalie." Just Natalie. Nothing special. "I know I've seen you before, though." If she wasn't mistaken, he was a fourth year. Just two years below her.

"Mm' I dunno. You tell me." Rylee did her best to hold back a laugh this time. She was very well known for her laughter and contagious smile, the girl with ginger hair that was always happy. There were times though that even she got depressed, angry even. That black cloud liked to hang over her and had to be chased away when she'd had enough of it's gloom and doom but it happened from time to time. She was a girl of many masks but to those around her she only wore one... Happiness.

With her arms folded under head, Rylee continued to watch Ewan with a relaxed expression. She had his pillow. There wasn't much more he could do now unless he tossed another one at her. "And what if that doesn't work? Not everyone spills their guts because of a tickle attack." Cue the cheeky grin.