Grounds: The Pathways

[Wilber Winterbottom]

Graphic credit: Felixir

A set of paths, some stone, most dirt, link the wooden bridge to almost every other area of the Hogwarts grounds. You will more than likely use these pathways at some point to reach your grounds-based classes, to visit other outdoor locations, or simply to take a walk and clear your head. This is a quiet area of the grounds with the soft sound of leaves rustling in the wind or lightly crunching below your feet. Doesn't the air just seem fresher around here somehow?

Walk with a friend, sit and relax on one of the many benches placed in intervals along the numerous pathway routes, climb a nearby tree, take a moment to appreciate the great outdoors in this breathtaking part of the country. Just be careful not to trip on loose stones or roots as you go. The groundskeeper does what he can to keep the pathways maintained, but he can only do so much.

[PhoenixRising]

As promised after Care of Magical Creatures class, Emma held back to walk with Aryan to their next class, taking care to make sure it was just them walking. She hoped he could know by now that he could trust her with whatever happened to be on his mind and from the start of the lesson, it definitely seemed like something was bothering him.

"You ... " She started to say, you okay, but when one asked those sorts of questions, it never seemed to give a honest response. "A sickle for your thoughts?"

[FearlessLeader19]

SPOILER!!: Emma! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

As promised after Care of Magical Creatures class, Emma held back to walk with Aryan to their next class, taking care to make sure it was just them walking. She hoped he could know by now that he could trust her with whatever happened to be on his mind and from the start of the lesson, it definitely seemed like something was bothering him.

"You ... " She started to say, you okay, but when one asked those sorts of questions, it never seemed to give a honest response. "A sickle for your thoughts?"

Ary departed from CoMC after waving goodbye to Aunty Hady. He joined Emma so that they could together head off for the next lesson. As they took off, he couldn’t help but feel at ease with his friend’s presence. He was silent as well but knew that would only last for a short while. Indeed the Slytherin was correct as the Hufflepuff broke it with a statement.

“Only one sickle?” This was his attempt at a joke. “Now, if it would have been a sickle per thought, that would have been something.” Because Aryan had a ton of them chasing around in his head. “Wonder how that saying came by though. The ‘sickle for your thoughts’ I mean.”

The boy was quite babbling to avoid talking about the serious conversation which he knew Emma wanted to have.

[PhoenixRising]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Ary departed from CoMC after waving goodbye to Aunty Hady. He joined Emma so that they could together head off for the next lesson. As they took off, he couldn’t help but feel at ease with his friend’s presence. He was silent as well but knew that would only last for a short while. Indeed the Slytherin was correct as the Hufflepuff broke it with a statement.

“Only one sickle?” This was his attempt at a joke. “Now, if it would have been a sickle per thought, that would have been something.” Because Aryan had a ton of them chasing around in his head. “Wonder how that saying came by though. The ‘sickle for your thoughts’ I mean.”

The boy was quite babbling to avoid talking about the serious conversation which he knew Emma wanted to have.

She didn't expect him to open up immediately. Emma wasn't naive enough about slytherins to know they were often more introspective. She was however, optimistic enough, to believe that through kindness, just maybe she'd get a sliver. A sliver was all that was needed to wedge herself and show that she could be trusted.

Emma smiled and shook her head. "Okay, fine, I'll give you two," she grinned over at him. "It might actually have started with it being a knut, but personally I think a sickle sounds better and more generous. I'd say a galleon, but I'm not my parents." Aka, they'd had years to establish their wealth and while technically she wasn't poor, if it was considered her money only, she wasn't wealthy.

"You're diffusing though." She stopped walking to look over at her friend, seriously.

[FearlessLeader19]

SPOILER!!: Emma! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixRising

She didn't expect him to open up immediately. Emma wasn't naive enough about slytherins to know they were often more introspective. She was however, optimistic enough, to believe that through kindness, just maybe she'd get a sliver. A sliver was all that was needed to wedge herself and show that she could be trusted.

Emma smiled and shook her head. "Okay, fine, I'll give you two," she grinned over at him. "It might actually have started with it being a knut, but personally I think a sickle sounds better and more generous. I'd say a galleon, but I'm not my parents." Aka, they'd had years to establish their wealth and while technically she wasn't poor, if it was considered her money only, she wasn't wealthy.

"You're diffusing though." She stopped walking to look over at her friend, seriously.

It was true: kindness could play a huge part in almost anything. Almost. When one’s resolve was extremely strong about not opening up, such kindness was not of much use. He did appreciate Emma for trying though. Not to mention her company was a huge comfort.

Listening to her, Aryan just had to chuckle. Especially at the part when she mentioned her parents. “I think all those galleons will be yours sometime though.’’ Maybe in the very distant future, just like the family Reserve was going to be his a long time from now. Or so he hoped since none of his three siblings seemed interested in inheriting it.

Ary tilted his head, holding his friend's gaze. “Are you saying I’m a ticking time bomb?”