Laura looked at Penelope and smiled. "I'm glad, I've been getting better, had a bad summer holiday." Laura sighed, she didn't want to talk about it though because she knew she would just get upset, her friend wasn't coming back. "I know I'll be careful not to go into the Great Hall if I can, I have food in my trunk and maybe I can sneak into the kitchen to cook." Laura giggled. "What you been doing lately?"

The start of Autumn is it? It felt like time passed by quite faster than most people thought. Summer had come and gone and autumn was just an alarm clock to tell them that school has officially started and when there is school..... there is homework. But none of that today. Today is a resting day... sort of procrastinating with studies. It's not like there are OWLs for her to answer at the end of this term. Nope. So yes, she can take all the rest she wants.

She made her way outside of the castle and reached into the lake. Juliet took a deep breath and then went near it. She did stretch her hands up a bit. and then to the left and to the right. She took a seat on the grass near the huge tree and opened her bag where she took out a medium size plastic bag full of strawberries. YUM!

Nom. nom.

Clement still had his school bag on him. He hadn't bothered going back down to the dormitory all day. He certainly didn't want to pay a ton of knuts every day. So he'd just brought everything with him. thank goodness that he was good at making everything smaller and lightly. It meant that his bag wasn't overly heavy. Though it had been a bit of a pain having to enlarge everything. But he would happily take that over having to pay to go get each and every book he needed from his dorm. He wasn't really in a mood to study, or do any homework after lessons had finished. And he didn't really want to have to pay to go back to the common room, or to eat, so he decided to head out to the grounds. At least you didn't have to pay for that. Yet. He was certainly regretting not going back to Beauxbatons at the moment. But he wouldn't moan. He'd liked Hogwarts not for the school really, but for the friends he had made.

Moving into the grounds, he wondered down towards the lake. He remembered from last year that it had been pretty down here last term, so figured he would go head down there. Maybe he could have a little bit of a nap. He hadn't got much sleep the night before. Running his fingers through her lengthy ginger hair, he moved it out of his eyes, and walked down towards the lake. Hmmm. His memory hadn't failed him. The lake was looking rather pretty.

It was also about time that Juliet should write to her parents. They get really worried when they don't hear from her the moment she leaves from France. What? She will write.... eventually. Right now, going in and out of the common room is a bad idea, not unless she likes paying that machine that separates them from their room.

Taking another bite from the strawberry Juliet saw someone familiar. Slytherin but not entirely acquainted. But yes, he is familiar. She has come across him around the common room. What was his name again? Juliet began tapping her fingers on her leg as he kept looking at the guy.

Oh well, why not share the strawberries? She's not doing anything anyway nor is waiting for anyone.

She gave him a friendly smile and noticed that he had his school bag with him. "Common room isn't being a bit of a convenience for the moment" students are usually just hanging outside. She then offered the plastic bag to him "Strawberries?" he could take two if he wants.

Clement wasn't really paying that much attention, so he nearly missed when someone spoke to him. He glanced over to his side, noticing that it was someone from his house. Hmm. She was pretty. He didn't really know her, but did kind of know her. He was pretty sure that she was in his year. Or near enough around his age anyway. He'd seen her around the common room. not now obviously. Last year some time.

He laughed at what she said though. "Oh yes." It wasn't being very nice. He wasn't too happy about that. But they had to deal with it. The food situation was worse to be honest. And he hadn't even bothered to tell his mother about that yet. He was pretty sure that she was going to go mental. He wasn't coming back home though. He couldn't rely on his mother for ever. He was going to be off age soon, and so wanted to start being a little more independent.

Ooh. She had strawberries. Food was food, even if it was fruit, and Clement was not going to be saying no to food. "Thanks." He murmured, as he sat down next to her, and took a strawberry out of the plastic bag. He took a bit, and smiled. "Mmm...yummy."

He laughed. It's a good sign. Juliet does have her own fair share of first hellos from other people and not all of them had the same fun reaction as this guy did so that was nice. "The dorms are a bit filthy too." at some point the girls' dorm room had a rat running around the area "I can't eat there" she cringed, mentally picturing the first time she went inside after the welcoming feast.. True, Juliet usually eats on her bed back at the dorms but this time was different. She can't bare staying there unless she needed to sleep. "Are we having the same situation?" she asked him. "Are the boys' dorm rooms having better luck than us?" maybe the stink bomb and the tornado just passed by over the girls room. Who knows really, they're not allowed to go to that area anyway.

When the Slytherin boy took a seat beside her and didn't hesitate in taking the strawberry Juliet gave him a smile. Hey, she's finally making new friends. That's good because her mother still thinks she needs more of them. "I don't think we have been properly introduced..." she said casually "... I'm Juliet, by the way." lovers of strawberries. Or err, fruits. And familiar boy's name issssss??????

Cue, drum roll...

Ahh. So it wasn't just the boys dorm that was filthy too. Clement had not been impressed about it. Though with their wands it didn't take too long to clean it. But it really was not their job at all. They were only kids after all. He was chosing not to tell his mom about the dorms. She would not be pleased at all. "Ours are pretty bad too..." He mused with a bit of a frown. He really did not know what was going on at the school right now, but it really was not good. It was seriously making him regret his decision to come back. "Our dorms were disgusting... like the common room. Really dirty." He hadn't liked that. They would get sick if they lived in an area that was that dirty. He only hoped that it wasn't going to be like this for the rest of the year, because it really would not be good.

"We haven't...." He mused, after he had swallowed the rest of his strawberry. He knew it was rude to talk with his mouth full, and his Mother would kill him if he even tried to forget his manners. Good thing he wasn't then really. "It's nice to meet you Juliet..." He murmured, a smile on his lips. Juliet. That named suited her. "I'm Clement."

It was odd in the first place how the elves just quit the job and left Hogwarts to its doom... Doom, because for one thing, everything inside their common room looked and smelled really awful. Students did help out in cleaning. This is Hogwarts after all, if it becomes normal like any regular school, then that would be scarier. "Guess that's why we're both out here then" she laughed. Juliet is not even that excited in going back there yet because she has to pay that 1 knut before entering. "Hogwarts is really weird" she smiled. Hogwarts would never be the same if it weren't for the weird events and happenings. "Well, I hope you're sleeping well at night then" the beds are still comfortable, nothing much has changed.

She once again handed the Slytherin the plastic full of strawberries. "Take more. I'm planning to finish eating them today before they overripe" and no one wants that. So why waste it. Juliet then took another piece and took a bite of it. She usually prefer strawberries dipped in chocolate. Come on, who doesn't like that?!?!?!

Clement...

"And to you as well, Clement" that's a rare name. "That's a nice name." Not many people have that name or well, Juliet hasn't met people with that name. He's the first one actually. "Are you in the sixth year?" or maybe fifth? seventh?

Clement grinned at the comment Juliet made. It was probably the reason why they were both in the grounds. Clement had no intentions in going back to the common room until he really had to. Because at least then he wouldn't have to spend ages in the place. At least then he wouldn't have to come back out, because he wasn't in to spending lots of knuts each day. One would do him fine. Or two maybe. He could stretch to two. But with having to pay 10 knuts for each meal he had he knew he couldn't overspend. Didn't want to spend all his money in one go. He'd have no money left for Honeydukes then. And he'd already learnt last year that the sweet shop was pretty amazing. "It really is...." He murmured, with a little frown. "It was much better last year..." He had approved of the school much more last year. Though he was kind of wanted to know why they had no money. Were teachers expensive this year or something?

"Thanks." He flashed her a smile, before taking another strawberry. They were really nice. And he hadn't had dinner yet, so was feeling a pretty hungry. These would tide him over. Though he didn't think he'd be able to skip dinner, he'd be to hungry in the middle of the night. That would not do at all. He liked his food too much.

She thought his name as nice? He did tend to get some remarks about his name. "Thanks..." He murmured, with a cocky smile. "It's french." which made sense considering that he was french.

Juliet grinned with Clement. Most people seem to be complaining about the sudden money machine found in the common rooms. And she laughed a little harder when Clement said about liking Hogwarts much more last year. "Last year was a bit stressful for me..." she paused as she looked at Clement and shrugged "OWLs" Juliet was not a big fan of tests "I guess you were right though. Compared to paying that is" she said nudging his arm. "Gotta enjoy Hogwarts" she smiled. 2 more terms and then its graduation for them.

French. Quite frankly she misses conversing in French, it was really a miss. "French origin... even nicer" what? Juliet gets homesick a lot. "My name is not French though but I am" she giggled. Hey, they now have something in common other than their house that is. Juliet took another bite from the strawberry. Yum yum yum.

"So tell me..." she said and then swallowing the fruit on her mouth before continuing "... why haven't I seen you that much around" taking her handkerchief from her pocket and then wiping her lips. "I mean, I saw you last year but not before that" unless he was a new kid at Hogwarts like Juliet as well. "I hope you're not too shy" or not but you know, they're new acquaintances. haha.

Ahh. She was talking about the owls. He understood that stress. Exams were really not his thing. He was much more about action. "I know that stress...." He mused with a laugh, shaking his head. Clement was much more enjoying this year. There were no exams. Which meant he could just relax all year long. And as long as he didn't fall too far behind in his lessons it would all be fine. "Just glad I passed them though" Because it would've been a bit embarrassing if he hadn't. But he had. And it was all fine. He'd been impressed with his results, because he'd done better than he thought. Maybe he should've been a Ravenclaw. But he was very happy about his house. He loved being a slytherin. They were the coolest house around.

She as french too? A big grin came across his face. "French people are the best..." Which was so true. Because he was French and he was amazing. "What part of France about you from?" Because People from Paris were so the best. That was where he was from. And he loved it. Disneyland was there. And that was cool too. Thinking about Paris made him a little homesick actually. Christmas would be good.

"Oh...." He nodded at her words. "I transferred from beauxbatons later term." And had clearly loved it so much that he'd come back.

Taylor smiled, "Yep." She hugged him and looked up at him with relief in her eyes, "Thank you, love." Tay gave him a light peck. "It means so much to me..." She laid her head on his shoulder, "I was so worried about you not having enough so now I know you have enough for a few days at least." Taylor had love and gratefulness in her eyes as she looked into his. "Thank you for appeasing me this once." She giggled and then nodded, "Yep, I really do." Tay smirked and then started to play with his hair.

She shook her head. Nononononono. "I do not. I'm frightened of them." she said with a firm nod. She hated being near them. She nearly fainted when she took a walk through that butterfly garden...she had no idea that it was a butterfly garden...meh.

She gave a half smile as he squeezed her. "Thanks, Jory." she said, hugging him back tightly. She felt a little better when he said not to worry as much. Maybe she didn't really need to be so worried..

She smiled, glad he'd come. "Great, thanks!" she said. "Let's just start looking around inside." she said with a nod. "Where should we start?" she asked as she began walking with him towards the castle.

The blond girl was bouncing and skipping by the lake – her hair flying all around her face. As she skipped and stuck her hands out in front of her to throw herself into a cartwheel, but something went wrong. Something as in instead landing on her feet she landed rather awkwardly in the mud sitting – well, unintentionally sitting crossed legged in a large expanse of mud.

Yeah, that wasn’t awkward at all. Especially since the splooshing sound that came with her landing on her bum in the mud wasn’t completely audible. The most audible part though was the obvious laughter.

“Oh phooey” she muttered before laughing once more. All smiles and laughter – that was the good thing. She was just being her strange old skipping self. To try not to attract more attention to herself the girl just sat there in the mud like it was all on purpose.

Even from a distance, Mo could tell that this cartwheel business was a doomed venture, but there was no way he could make it to Mika in time to catch her feet and keep her from face-planting into the mud. He did hustle the remaining distance from the path to the lake to make sure that she wasn't injured.

And found that Mika was laughing. Merlin.

Mo crouched and peered into her face, but Mika didn't look hurt... just muddy. Very very muddy. "You appear to have a little something right there on your face, Creepy," he pointed at her cheek... which was entirely covered in mud.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Even from a distance, Mo could tell that this cartwheel business was a doomed venture, but there was no way he could make it to Mika in time to catch her feet and keep her from face-planting into the mud. He did hustle the remaining distance from the path to the lake to make sure that she wasn't injured.

And found that Mika was laughing. Merlin.

Mo crouched and peered into her face, but Mika didn't look hurt... just muddy. Very very muddy. "You appear to have a little something right there on your face, Creepy," he pointed at her cheek... which was entirely covered in mud.

Thank goodness for mud. Because of the mud Mo didn't see the fact that when he ran over she began to blush. She was of course embarrassed about the fact that she was a mud covered mess of a thing.

Though when all he did was point to mud on her face and say she had something on her face she couldn't help but laugh. She just smiled. Brushing her hand over the mud-caked face. "Did I get it?" She asked still beaming all the while.

"I think I need to use that spell from charms on myself to be able to do cartwheels" she laughed. "So Macabre been up to anything fun? other than attempting to rescue mod-covered damsels?" she asked in a cheekier tone than usual.

Sixth year is most relaxing. By far it is the year where you can practice your apparition with some people in the ministry and then it is also the year that you can sit back and relax for half the time. "Indeed" fifth year was more stressful. Your OWL results will affect your sixth year subjects. Juliet smiled as she tugged her hair. "It's a celebration to pass it" it always is. "Wonder how will NEWTs feel like" probably same as the OWLs but with more stress, perhaps? No? "Which subject did you do best?" Transfiguration? Charms? Muggle Studies? Potions?

French people are the best...

That statement made Juliet burst into laughing. It's not that she had complains with it, she just thought that.. well... errrr... it is pretty funny. "I like that" she looked at him and then pointed at him "I like you" she added. It's true, he's a really funny guy with this kinda laid back personality plus with awesome red hair. Yeah.

Which part of France... Hmmmm.... "somewhere in Aix-les-Bains" she replied. It's not Paris but it's just as great. It'd be nice to live somewhere in Paris though. They have tons of thing to do there. Juliet's usually at home and doing stuff like, archery. Boring stuff. "I'm going to take a wild guess here and say you're from Paris?" she said in her confused tone. Whaaaaat? It's a guess. It's worth a try.

And as for more common things between them, Beauxbaton adds to the list. Juliet's eyes suddenly sparkled as she found someone who is transferred student, again. "Whoah!" she murmured and then suddenly shook her head as she glanced back to Clement "I mean, wow, Beauxbatons" ohhhh this is getting fun and interesting. Wonder he looked familiar? Juliet's not to sure, she barely knew half the people in her class back when she was at Beauxbatons.

Why did he look so surprised to see her? Was she early or something? She checked her watch sneakily. Nope. She wasn't early, she was - in a sense - fashionably late. So, that just begged the question, what his problem? Hmmm, he was hiding something under his jacket, she could tell from the way he was fiddling with it. WHAT IS IT, Mr. Tag?

Eyeing you, eyeing you.

Awkward Tag is awkward, so, awkward Bliss is awkward, too. Ahem. "Hi," she said again. Wait, she had to sit down? He was ordering her to sit down? Normally, she wouldn't take it, being ordered around, but it was Tag and clearly, he had a reason to want her sit down. Before she could even start to sit down, however, she was being wrapped up in a hug ... and a very awkward hug at that. Bliss hugged him back, squeezing slightly before letting go and plopping herself down on the ground.

She looked up at him and kept her eyes on him, even as he moved and sat down beside her. "I'm ready when you are, I guess," she said and beamed slightly. OH and see? She'd known there was something in his jacket. BUT WAIT. "Presents?" she asked, "with an s on the end? Plural?" BLINK. She didn't need or deserve more than one, surely.

All the more reason to eye him. Yes?

He gave a small nod, "You're welcome." Though he still hated taking it from her, did she think he couldn't take care of himself or something? Brodie sighed and returned the peck. He chuckled and shook his head to the next part, "Fine, Ravenpuff it is, though I'm certain that Hufflepuff's have been winning everything for quite a while here."

He wasn't do a very good job of this, and his nerves needed to calm down or he'd be having a hard trouble doing something in a few minutes. "Hi! Ok, right, your first present." Tag said grinning from cheek to cheek as he carefully got out a nice packaged box of Bertie Bott's beans and an oddly wrapped up present of a plush sea otter. "For my favorite jelly bean broccoli sea otter girl!" He said passing them to her.

With all his excitement and nerves Tag just bounced his legs up and down as he sat cross legged from Bliss. "Yeah, presents Blissy bear. Saving the best for last. The very best. Mhm. " He hoped she liked all of her presents, some took some time figuring them out, and the others was just a mere chance of finding where to buy them. "Sooooo" The leprechaun wanted to hear the verdict. Also, why was Bliss looking at him all weird?

Minerva made her way out to the lake, Fluffy on her shoulder, she had been taking the pygmy with her everywhere lately. Feeling bad for her being in the dorm alone she didn't want the cute fluff ball to get sad now did she.

As she got to the lake she looked around, nope Ariana wasn't there yet, but no surprise she was probably at tryouts still or off with Oakey, but Min knew she would come eventually. Sitting at the edge of the lake she put Fluffy in the grass and watched the puff bounce around. She couldn't help but giggle at how cute she was.

Well, Merlin knew she didn't seem to be injured, as evidenced by that laugh and the follow-on joking. Plus no blood or tears. Mo sat back on his heels with a relieved expression. "Yeah. Yeah, you got it. All clean now, obviously."

He ruffled his hair and got mud on his own face as well. "Is there a cartwheeling charm, or do you mean a cushioning charm? I think you just need a spotter." Someone to hang around and watch while she fell in the mud. What were friends for?

"I don't rescue damsels, by the way. I figure most of them would rather rescue themselves, and it would be rude of me to assume self-rescue wasn't a possibility. But other than not rescuing anyone, I haven't been up to anything fun. Sadly."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Well, Merlin knew she didn't seem to be injured, as evidenced by that laugh and the follow-on joking. Plus no blood or tears. Mo sat back on his heels with a relieved expression. "Yeah. Yeah, you got it. All clean now, obviously."

He ruffled his hair and got mud on his own face as well. "Is there a cartwheeling charm, or do you mean a cushioning charm? I think you just need a spotter." Someone to hang around and watch while she fell in the mud. What were friends for?

"I don't rescue damsels, by the way. I figure most of them would rather rescue themselves, and it would be rude of me to assume self-rescue wasn't a possibility. But other than not rescuing anyone, I haven't been up to anything fun. Sadly."

She sat there in the mud – not really caring that her pants were coated in the stuff. Though when she noticed the relieved expression she was slightly confused at first – had she really been that out of control? She would have to ask about that later.

He had a good point and mud on his face. “Er, Mo…you’ve got,” she pointed towards his general face-region, “face” she just smiled laughingly “stuff…mud” yep. She had said that all so wonderfully. Wow. She had sounded oh so intelligent there.

“And hey, spotter…that sounds smart – what about a spotter with a cushioning charm cast one them so if I you know flail into them they don’t get knocked about too badly…less bruises and things” she shrugged with a laugh. She was trying not to laugh as much but the idea of her flailing and landing on top of someone just made her laugh. She was one of those girls who laughed at herself constantly. Luckily for the people around her the laugh was actually a tolerable almost cute one…nothing like the one from that Nanny show she had found over summer. That laugh would and did give her nightmares.

“Not up to having fun?” Mika asked her eyes widening in shock. “Well this cannot be! If you need to blow off steam ever you know where to find me” she smiled. “And you know its not rude to offer help…its chivalrous – well, that’s atleast what I think when I’m not in a fire-breathing-dragon mood.”

An idea popped into her head. “Hey! We should plan some pranks sometime as a way to distract you from not wanting to have fun” beams all around. Yeah she was so sly. If he was distracted from not wanting to have any fun then he’d be having fun. Ravenclaw logic for the win.

Once again, Waful was proudly out delivering a letter and a package. He soared over the Hogwarts grounds for a few moments, searching for the boy he was bringing this letter to. It wasn't long before the owl spotted him.

Down he went before landing gracefully next to the boy person. He set the package and attached letter down. "Hoo." Here, person. You're welcome.

Then with a lazy (but majestic!) stretch of his wings, he rose and soared back into the air, heading back the way he had come.

He had stuff mud on his face TOO? Mo stared at his hands before rubbing off some of the mud from his fingers onto his trousers. Once they were mostly clean, he scrubbed at the mud on his face a bit urgently, almost like he didn't really like the idea of being dirty.

"Did I get it? I'd ask you to get it, but I feel like you're a lost cause, Creepy. I think we'll have to roll you into the lake." Mo stood up then and offered his hand to Mika, in spite of the fact that he was just gonna get himself muddy again. Still, he was a gentleman. "I think you're doing it wrong, too, if you knock out your spotter. Maybe cartwheels aren't really your thing. Didja consider somersaults instead?"

Much less dangerous.

"You're not a damsel, Creepy. You're definitely not helpless. You see a dragon, you'll tell it where to go," Mo gave her fingers a squeeze before dropping her hand. "But no, I'm not sure I'm really in the mood for pranking right now." He was in the mood to be crazy and reckless, but not for planning.