Once she was near the base of the tree, Eliza loosened her grip around her cloak. She didn't want to seem standoffish, so she tried to relax. Okay...now time to talk to a tree. She cleared her throat and swallowed once. I really should've brought some chapstick with me, she thought, feeling her lips dry a bit in the chilly weather. No matter, you'll be inside soon. Just...do this.

She liked nature. She really did. Trees included. She'd even sent out silent thanks to nature before, but she'd never verbally tried to ...communicate with it, but she was now. "Erm...hello there tree! I've come to visit you. My name is Eliza Dawnsel and I know that you are a willow tree, though I'm sorry I don't know how to learn your name. If you have a specific one, that is." She shifted her feet and smoothed down her robes, not sure what to do with herself. Professor Botros said it would be fine, so just relax, she coached herself. "I've come today because I appreciate you and what you do for the environment and for people and animals too. And because I have a favor to ask, but I wanted to get to know you better first," she continued, a little more smoothly this time. Why did she feel like she was on some kind of a blind date with this tree? She didn't know its hobbies, likes or dislikes... Well maybe she knew a few likes. Staple items such as water, dirt, sunlight - that sort of thing. But other than that... She'd have to talk to the tree a little more.

She sat down at the base and rested her back against the trunk of the tall tree. "Is this okay for me to do? Would you like some company?" She laid her cheek against the bark and touched her palm of her hand to it. It wasn't as rough as some trees, but not as smooth either. She supposed a happy medium was a good thing to be. "It must get a little lonely to be the only willow tree around, doesn't it?" she asked quietly. No need to speak loudly when they were sitting so closely together. "Well you don't have to be lonely or sad now because I'm here to chat with you. You're a very nice looking tree you know. Tall, strong, pretty flowing branches. And this spot by the lake is really ideal! I know how much you like water and I'll bet the view is nice year round!" There, she was getting better at communicating already.

There was a lot of flailing on her end, which made HIS flailing harder to do and his at least had a purpose. Pen needed to cut that out. No more flailing for her because he had SNOW in his sleeve, her fault of course. And now he needed to get it out, jeez. Consideration.

And then she was telling him to GET OFF?! Was she serious? Glare. Pen had to be out of her mind because he was cold here and what was she- being squished? Well, she could deal. It wasn't like this was the first time. Ahem.

Continuing to flail, he wiggled around on her and continued to shake out his sleeve, "Gimme a minute, jeez. SNOW IN THE SLEEVE!" Did she not UNDERSTAND?!

A song about a pickle? Um......Okay then..not even with a guitar? Right? The red head just blinked at her fellow Head Boy and didn't know what to make of what he was doing. Anyways...someone was talking to her.

Giggle. Cute..but no. He didn't need to call her that. He was a friend, and she still had a name. "Keep it as Nessie, yeah?" Or anything that he usually called her, to be honest she didn't mind too much. "Thank you, kiddo." She gave him a smile. Really, how had these kids grown up so big?

Alecutie and his ice cream. Or more like everyone and their ice cream. Too crazy for words. "As long as it's good." He got some more smiles. And sweeets....were their chocolates? Because he clearly knew chocolate was always her favorite. "Thanks, I'll help myself soon." She wanted to first see what was going on with the whole explosion thing. But Yeeep stressful studying was, she gave Alec a few nods there. And Nods for Tobias too, because she was right about what she said.

These kids were really getting lectured bad and Ness might have felt a little bad for them. But what other way would they---

Um.....why was he Mr. Firth heading towards them? Blink...um..and he wanted to speak to them? MORE blinking.

A little confused the red head looked at Ella and then at Oakey who was now singing some trouble song. Pout. What had they even done to get into trouble?

Anyways..walked off she did and listen too. Mellow. Technically they had done nothing, but then that was the problem. The nothing bit. At least it wasn't proper trouble. What Ness did want to say that she had arrived late, which she did, and that she hadn't noticed, but she didn't say that because she didn't want the others to take all the blame. It wasn't really their fault either. "Sorry, Mr. Firth...I..we--"

O____________________O

SNOWBALL ON ITS WAY!

"You might want to duck." And quickly, before that big blob of snow hit his head. Who threw it anyways? Couldn't have been Professor Airey, could it? But then it did come his way.

Oh no, looks like trouble

Oakey swung his bass in his hand, and listened to the third staff berate him for his lack of leadership this term. Oakey has had about enough of it. Three times, was too much for him. Why not just hurry it up and take his badge from him then. It'd be easier.

looks like trouble for sure

"Mr. Firth sir. We came down to the Lake to have a Hufflepuff Team get together. When we arrived Alexa, Nigel, and Mika looked like they were just talking. Nothing to bother about, plus we had all of our Housemates surrounding us, so we had to keep an eye on them too." He'd understand that, yeah? They were trying to be good House Leaders to their other housemates. Besides they were just as suprised when they heard the loud booms too.

the bath tub's full, it's fulla bubbles
an' water's all over the floor

"By the time they set off the fireworks, you and Flamsteed had arrived, you seemed to have the situation under control, and I didn't want to intrude on your authority." What was that flying at Mr.Firths head?

Well, I'll bet you a sickel, that I'm in a pickle

"INCOMING!"

Were they really getting in trouble for this? Really? Ella bit her lip and fought off the urge to explain that she couldn't be held responsible for something that she wasn't even aware of. Because how was she expected to pay attention to those three when she was with her team who had ice cream. Ice cream which she didn't get a chance to finish, by the way. She glanced longingly over her shoulder at it before quickly directing her attention back to Firth. She also wanted to say that her boyfriend and her Messy were being ridiculous boys and she was more focused on that possible explosion than the ones in the sky but she refrained. Something told her Firth didn't want excuses.

The sixteen year old nodded along with what Oakey was saying and added, "We honestly didn't realize something was amiss until you came down and began reprimanding them, Sir. We surely would have said something earlier had we th-"

O_____O

"Snowball!"

Ella squeezed her eyes shut tight, afraid to see if the rogue snowball had hit its target. Who threw that, anyway? And why did Professor Airey face seem to be in such a huff?

Well. Ali didn't know what Airey problem was (well, he could guess), but he didn't really care if he was ruining fun or whatever. His job was to uphold the rules and keep students safe--plus the whole keeping the grounds looking nice bit.

Ignoring his colleague for the moment, he returned his attention to the three students in front of him. Renesmee was mumbling an apology, while the other two were claiming they hadn't heard or seen the large explosions nearby. "Perhaps yeh need ter have yer ears cleaned out, you three. I'm curious how yeh couldn' have--"

But then he was rudely interrupted. All three of them were yelling something at the same time, so he couldn't make out the individual words. He was about to ask them to kindly repeat themselves--one at a time--when...

ker-SPLAT!

Alistaire Firth was silent. One second passed, which he spent simply staring at the student who happened to be straight in front of him, the Head Girl. Two seconds... Three seconds...

Then softly, the Groundskeeper asked, "Why is the back of my head cold and wet?"

Merlin's beard, this wasn't a hard concept to grasp. He could just roll over and lay in the snow himself - or better yet, stand up so he wouldn't get anymore snow on him - and all their problems would be solved because then she could get up too and they could go into the castle and get warm, have some hot chocolate, etc., and have a nice not-cold-and-covered-in-snow rest of the day.

But no, no, apparently he thought it was smarter for them to just continue to lay there where she was getting colder and colder by the second. Dear Merlin.

"Snow in my BACK!" Penelope replied with another flail and attempt to push him off. "I don't have a minute, I'm already half frozen." Obviously an exaggeration, but desperate times called for desperate exaggerations. Or something like that.

Troy found himself with a bucket full of color chalk he had asked his Brother David to OWL over, for the purpose of playing some good ol' muggle hopscotch! Prior to his he had OWLed his "lady friend" Peyton, to get her butt over here so he could teach her how to play.

He drew the grid consisting of squares and numbers on the ground, playing a couple of rounds before Peyton showed up. In the pocket in front of his chest he had two little figures that he was going to use while playing.

"Women." Troy shook his head "They always take foooooooorever" He sighed as he was impatient and already quite excited to start playing!

She was late to her little play-date with Troy. But to her defense it wasn't her fault. Her kneazle decided it would be fun to play with her green hair tie -- the one she specifically picked out for today -- and dragged it all over the her dorm, then settled with hiding it under her bed. Cute stupid kneazle.

Peyton finally walked out to the grounds, tying her bright red hair into a nice high ponytail. This hopscotch business seemed important. Well, to the kid, and she really did want to learn to play it. Maybe then hopscotch wouldn't just remind her of the beverage her dad drinks quite often.

When she spotted the little dude, Peyton waved high and mighty. "Trooooooooooooy!" Look at him with his cute little overalls and cute cheeks. Awww. She couldn't help it. Peyton pinched his cheek. "How'ya doing, kid?"

She eyed the drawing on the ground. Hmm. Hopscotch.

Troy giggled and shook his face "My grandma always did that, except hers really hurt so I gave her a little push." He shrugged his shoulders, with a cunning smile plastered on his face. "And you're late. But whatevs, let's get this game on the road!"

Troy was about to grab a piece of chalk but returned back to Peyton "Oh Hi Peyton!" He returned only to greet her. XD

Troy wrote down their names on the ground, to keep score and pulled out the little figures he had in his front pocket.

"Here you get the unicorn 'cause it's for like girls. And you're a girl, so here." He handed the figure over to Her. "And I get the Pegasus, because he's manly." Troy beamed at the little flying horse figure and growled "rawwwr" he giggled.

"A little push?" Peyton raised an eyebrow and then giggled. If Troy was talking about the same "little pushes" she gave Rosie -- the family's resident sociopath -- then this was a friendship that'll last for ages.

Someone forgot his manners, but it didn't matter 'cause he was teaching her how to play hopscotch and she wasn't even paying him. Free lessons, whoop! It was extra awesome with the crisis at Hogwarts.

"Yessss!" Peyton fist bumped the air. Unicorn figurine was so hers. Wait. "Pegasus are manly?" Really? With pretty wings and all? Troy was silly. "Careful there, kiddo. Some girls can take that the wrong way and think you're being sexist or something." True. She's seen her sisters go all banshee on guys who went all: You're a girl... Then SMACK in the face.

The redhead looked down at the chalk lines and at the unicorn figurine. Was she supposed to hop like a unicorn? 'Cause she hasn't seen a unicorn hop.

... Except for that one time, but that was her dad in a unicorn suit for her fifth birthday party. :3

Troy nodded. Has she even seen the Disney movie Hercules?

"Shexist? What's shexist?" Troy had a slight slurp to that word, but in no was he being that. "I dunno what that means, and I don't like those girls then." He pouted and his cheeks bubbled. He waved his hand in the air "i don't care" style. Shrugging it off he began with the lessons.

"Okay the key of this game is to toss your unicorn onto whatever number it lands on and you have to hop over it. Okay Peyton. HOP." Troy beamed and demonstrated how to hop.

He threw his little Pegasus onto the grid and landed on the number 2 "1..." He hopped over 2 "3,4,5,6,7,8,0" Troy turned around and smiled. "See now your turn!" The young lion clapped his little hands.

"Not shexist. Oh, nevermind." She could tell the little temper ball was about to have a tantrum, so she just waved it off. "Good. I don't like them either." Her sisters that is. "And you get to meet them this summer." Though they were a tad more tamed nowadays.

Peyton nodded. Okay. Toss her unicorn. Hop. She totally got this! She watched Troy hop and had the urge to hop after him. "My turn!" She announced. Peyton tossed her unicorn. It bobbled on the ground and landed on the seven.

"So, I skip that one, right?" She didn't wait for an answer. Peyton went ahead and hopped. She made it to the other side, but not before her foot sliiiightly touched the 8 square.



Troy didn't see that, she decided. "I did it!" She gets a point, yes?

Troy nodded. He wasn't going to have an option since he was going to spend the summer with the Baltazars' after his sister's wedding.

"Okay the unicorn landed on 7 mhmm..." Troy scanned and observed the Hopscotch situation for any cheating "you slightly landed on 8 mhmmm..." the final verdict was pretty indecisive "that still doesn't count, Peyton." with a strict emphasis on the "P" "No point for you. It's the rules." he nodded and pointed to a parchment paper, on which he wrote down the rules .

"Now me." Troy held his head high and pointed to himself. He tossed the Pegasus landing on the number 5 "1,2,3,4.....6,7,8,9,0!" Troy beamed and added a point under his name. "If I win you have to do my homework." He was a little behind, he saw his chance and went for it!

Messer had no idea what's happening in the lake. One minutw they're having picnic with ice cream and the next thing he knew the Groundskeeper came and asked to speak with Ella, Nessie and Oakey. But thanks to his ignorance, the fifth year just keep nomming his ice cream.

His eyes went from his ice cream to the small younger Hufflepuff. "Its nice to meet you too...Umm.." What's the boy name again? "I think I haven't catch your name."

Keep it as Nessie, yeah? But Miss Head Girl sounds really cool. Oh well, since Nessie asked. "Okay. If you promise not to call me kiddo again, deal?" He gave Nessie his biggest smile. Didn't the Head Girl notice that he already grown up?

Messer attention was caught by Alec's question about the tutu. How many time did he has to tell him that he NEVER EVER wear a tutu. Sigh. "Who's tutu? I don't know anyone name tutu." Yeah. Alec should be more specific with his question. And the grin? No Messer didn't like that grin. It said trouble all over it.

After he gave Ella kissed on the cheek, the fifth year noticed his roommate's behavior change like someone just steal his ice cream. Huh? What did he do? His eyes went back and forth looking at Ella and Alec. "Did someone die?" Blink. Blink. Blink.

That isn't what he or Ella had just said! Renesmee, needed to step up her game. Two out of three Puff leaders trying to save their hides wasn't going to cut it. Oakey glanced over to the Head Girl then back to Firth. "Sir, we did here the loud booms. You were just fast on the scene, like Superman, or more like the Flash. Those heroes in the comics you know." Oakey liked the Flash a little more, so it was in his head when he was yelling incoming that the Groundskeeper had his own Rogues gallery, and a Nemisis like Captain Cold. That Snow ball was coming fast, and if Mr.Firth was anything like the Flash he'd be out of it's way in an instant


...


Nope...Guess Mr.Firth was Superhuman after all. Kind of a shame. "Either, Captain Cold is real, and out to get you. Or I think the Astronomy Professor wants your attention...sorry I read to many comics" Oakey pointed over to the Astronomy Professor. Have some fun Mr.Firth, fight back. Oakey wouldn't mind a snow ball fight, he'll side with the Groundskeeper and hopefully get a few hits on the Astro Prof. himself.

Had he just denied her of calling him kiddo? Come on. Frown. Messer sorta had a point though, maybe at his age it was a little humiliating to have someone call you a kid. But hey she was only teasing no harm intended. "Fine, fine. I won't call you that." She gave him a tiny cheek pinch then stopped, realizing he might have not wanted that either.

-----------

Ears? No..no her ears were fine. Maybe Oakey's weren't, but then she hadn't screeched in front of him for quite some time so surely they were fine by now. The red head looked between Ella and Oakey, then kept her eyes on Oakey.

Superhero comparison? Um...was Mr. Firth even going to accept that? They'd have to see, because Ness decided to utter not a word more about that just yet. She didn't have much she could say about the matter and anyways did Mr. Firth not hear them about the SNOWBALL coming...because it was getting nearer you know..and soon it would--

The staring. Mellow. She told him to duck, so seriously. He shouldn't have been staring at her like that, it kinda creeped her out. But his question. She could answer this one without even much thinking, but still there was hesitation as Oakey beat her too it..but with a weird answer, kinda amusing though which was why she couldn't help but let out a giggle. "Snow, Sir. I think someone threw a snowball at you." COUGH Airey, because it had came from his way."Would you like me to dry it for you?" she eyed his face with a little tilt of her head as if trying to look at the back of his head. No more trouble for her, so anything that made Mr. Firth chilled with them she'd listen to.

Ella was just staring at Oakey. Comic references? Was Firth a comic fan? The blonde hoped so because she really didn't want any trouble and she honestly hadn't been paying attention to the Gryffinclaw trio. Honest.

And then...O__________O

Yeah, the snowball was only going to make Mr. Firth more aggravated and Ella wasn't a fan of being in the presence of aggravated adults. Especially aggravated adults who could take points and sentence students to detentions.

The blonde followed his gaze to Nessie, her green eyes still wide as she waited to see what the red head would say. Oh and Oakey Worm had totally just threw Airey-face under the bus. He knew that, right? Ella didn't want any of her teammates to get in trouble for the rogue snowball but she didn't want Airey and Firth all angry and stuff either. How did they get put in the middle of this again?

"Maybe...someone wants to have a snowball fight with you, Sir?" Grasping at straws here. "You do look like a formidable opponent." Yup. Shuffle.

And Firth should really let Ness dry his head cause he didn't want to catch a cold! Shiverrrrrr.

Ah, so Ella agreed then. Yes good.

No, wait... were they leaviiiiiing? Aww, sad. Tobias would have liked to make more friends. CLEARLY the groundskeeper had been a massive meanie pants and sent them away or something. No fair, what if they'd wanted ice cream?

Oh no... he was coming over. ABORT ABO-

Wait, the guy only wanted those free, so Tobias was safe. He sat back on the blanket with his other teammates and Messer and spooned ice cream into his mouth as he watched.

And speaking of Messer...

Tobias looked at him again and then lightly slapped his own forehead with the palm of his hand. Doi! He hadn't said his name. "Oh yeah! My name's Tobias," he smiled. Or Toby. Whatever.

But theeeeeeeeeeeen he looked back at the other group and from this angle they had the absolute best view. Tobias watched Professor Starman even as the groundskeeper talked to the other three... saw him wind up his arm with a snowball... saw the student leaders see the Starman... and saw the snowball hit the groundskeeper right in the back of the head.

Oh

Sweet

Merlin

Tobias immediately dissolved into giggles and tried to muffle his mouth with a blanket covered hand as he did so. That was AWESOME. DO IT AGAIN, STARMAN! "Did you see that?!" he spoke through muffled giggles as he addressed the housemates who remained. C'MON ALEC HOW FUNNY WAS THAT.

That was quite a commotion, wasn't it? Wade for majority of it furrowed his brows at the scene. It all happened so fast, next thing he knew it was just him and the other guys save Oakey Pokeyand Minnie of his teammates that were left to eat the ice cream and pickles. It was too bad, he was getting all comfy in his tiger onesie enough to go into nap mode when his house leaders had to go bye-bye. So much for getting to recommend a zebra onesie for LocNessie. Heh.

Oh right, he forgot to mention his own name, heh. Silly Wade. "Good meeting you Messer, I'm Wade." It was easier and better to have a name to go with familar faces. Now where was Professor Space-suited-man?..Hmm? What was he going to do with- aha. *Smirk* too late for Mr. Firth.

I guess that was one way to cool off. The man who desperately needed ice cream was getting served, only missing a cone to go with that snow. Wade nodded as little Tobi excitedly pointed it out, "I did, that was a wicked shot." Chuckling as he shoveled another helping of ice cream. No wonder the Professor was chosen to play in that Staff and Student Quidditch match. It looked like the next move was now on Mr. Firth's court. "Two gummy worms says Professor Space man will get screamed at." What? it was a match, after all. His time at Durmstrang made him expect shouting matches from these kind of situations.

It was all really cold and he didn't want to listen to reason. More specifically he didn't want to listen to HER reason. After all she was the one who behind WHY he was cold. So yeah, pfft, he wasn't listening to her right now. Ridiculous notion.

Although, he did notice that they were sinking, which was peculiar. After all, he was on top of her so they should have been- right. That was why. Oh well, payback. She started this. Now Pen had to deal with it.

Why she was flailing, he didn't know. Ascanius was BIGGER then her and how she was going to manage moving him was amusing to him 'cause of reasons. Smirk. Although, he did continue to flail his arm to get out the snow. Snow was cold.

"YOU STARTED THIS!" he pointed out.

"It was just the line," she mumbled. Not her fault Troy drew really thick lines. She bit back the comment though. Peyton had a hunch the first year was capable wiping this hopscotch grid and make another one. She was already urging to go back inside the castle and get some ice cream.

She watched him with a smirk on her lips. "You shoe touched the line on six." Not really. But...TAKE THAT, TROY. CACKLE.

Peyton tossed her unicorn and it landed on the 9 square. She hoped onto the first square and glanced over at Troy. "Me, do you homework?" She laughed as she hopped onto the next square. "I don't think so. You see, the person who did my homework is gone, so I have to do my own homework." Which was BORING. She hopped over to three and four. "How about I feed you ice cream and you bathe my kneazle." Hopping the rest of the way to eight, Peyton skipped over nine.

"I get a point!" Mark it down, kiddo.

It hadn't actually been all that long since she'd been down to the lake with Tag. On their date. It had been strange .. thinking of it as a date and not just 'hanging out', it hadn't even felt that different to her. At the same time, it had made her jumpier and more excited and nervous than normal.

In the hopes that she'd figure out her feelings for Tag, Bliss headed down towards the lake's edge and laid down.

Oooh, that cloud looks like a potato ~

In hopes of finding some sort of Solace after a really depressing one on one with Jared, Jayden decided some lake time would do her some good. As she approached the water however, a huge grin began forming on her face. Bliss, one of her favorite younger Puffers was laying down.. she hadn't seen thatgirl in ages.

CATCH UP TIME!

"Well, well. Long time, no see little puffer stranger!" Jayden grinned, tossing her hair back as she sat down next to the girl.


Ugh. Dirt. Oh well... she could....deal.

Before long, Bliss was counting the clouds and naming them and wow, she should really get a life, but what could she say? It was fun and if not, then a way to pass the time, which was going surprisingly slow today. After only ten minutes of cloud-watching, she'd named possibly fifty clouds, giving them names like 'Candy', 'Sid', 'Max', 'Dot' and 'Sparkle'. Strange, considering that clouds don't sparkle.

MOVING ON.

Someone had arrived. A someone that she hadn't seen for a long, long time. How exciting! "HEY. Who are you calling a stranger, stranger?" BEAM. Just kidding. "Hey, Jayden. How have you been? WHERE have you been?" Questions. A lot of them. She must answer them all for the Bliss to be content.