She was not amused.

It was meant to be a simple walk but the moment the kneazle got close enough to the owlery, he bolted. Being the good kneazle!Mummy she was, she didn't send the first spell to come to her mind at him but merlin did she want to. Lex watched him bolt inside and crouch expectantly at a distance from the closest owl. He was the reason they stirred whenever she came to ask for something to be delivered.

Not noticing her company in the room for a moment, she acted on impulse and dived at the feline, grabbing hold of his hind legs and pulling him into a forced hug.

"You promised you would behave." More or less. Kneazles didn't typically talking afterall. His lack of resistance made her all kinds of suspicious...until she looked over and saw his new source of fascination. Oh! "Charlie!" GRIN. "HAI!" She scrambled off the ground, not daring to loosen her grip on the feline. "Did you forget something at home?" Considering they'd only just gotten back from the Holiday, she figured a thing or two might have been left. Lex left things but nothing she really needed.

As one owl began to make its descent down to the treats in Charlie's hand, suddenly all of them were recoiling. Startled, she looked around for the disturbance and felt a furry thing rush past her calves. Following the movement, she giggled a little at the cat crouched in the corner.

This was why she didn't bring Lightening anywhere near the Owlery. Cats and birds... that was more of a match made in hell. Only, she realised, this wasn't a cat, but a kneazle, which made her giggle even more. Who's was it? Turning towards the door in expectation, Charlie grinned at the girl running through it, and laughed aloud as she watched her attack her pet. "Lex," she greeted, still laughing slightly. "How's he?" Nod towards the cutest kneazle ever.

Now that the animal was safely in their owners arms, Charlie managed to coax an barn owl down, and began to attach the letter to its leg. "Probably, I've asked my dad to check, but really I'm just letting him know I'm back safely." A rolll of the eyes to accompany that. "You sending a letter?"

Lex was prepared to call this trip to the owlery a success. Granted this wasn't her original destination when she'd left her Common Room but they were here now, no birds had been eaten and she'd run into Charlie. It was like a double score...she still wasn't letting him go though. The moment she did there'd be chaos.

Despite his trying to cuddle up, she would not be swayed. He would get cuddles later. Much later after she'd gotten the feeling of diving on her stomach to go away. It wasn't the best feeling in the world, you know? Perhaps if she'd found a better technique for diving? Something to work on in the future. For now she glanced down at the kneazle. "He's...a menace to anything smaller than him and a few things that might be up to two times his size." THAT was how he was. She'd tried going to the former CoMC Professor about it but she only told her there was nothing to be done about it. "You you have a pet? A cat even?? Oh or a kneazle??"

Lex peered over at the letter curiously. Just checking in by the sounds of it. "Ooohh. I used to send those home to Daddy at the end of every week but then I realized I didn't have to and he realized I'd still be alive at the end of the term and now I only owl him when I'm cluing him in on mega important stuff." Stuff she called important anyway. "I guess your Dad's still kinda worried because you're new to this being far away thing? Is that it?"

As for her...she shook her head. "I was out taking Felix for a wake when he suddenly bolted off in this direction. I tried so hard not to cast at him but he makes it hard." Eyes on you kneazle. Yup.

"I'll keep Lightning away from him, then." Charlie chuckled at the thought of the two animals fighting, even if she could see her Bombay coming off the worst. The cat was such a softy, she didn't think it had even brought her a 'trophy'' animal. "Bombay cat," she added at Lex's question, because she'd already mentioned his name? Yeah, cheesy name. Ten year old name.

That was her excuse.

Mega important stuff, oh how Charlie wished her father was only interested in that. Sigh. "That must be so much easier," she managed, rolling her eyes at the letter as she began to tie it to the owls leg. "He's so protective. I hope it is, that might mean that it'll die down by this time next year." Unless she moved back in with her mum, and that was something she was seriously considering. Maybe then they'd get more frequent, or less, depending on his relationship. Either way, it felt very Catch-22 at the moment.

Giggle. Again. "Have you cast at him before?" Charlie found that an amusing thought, and she wanted to see it. Even if she felt mean on the kneazle at the same time. MORE CATCH-22. ALL THE CATCHES.

AH. "Oh, I forgot to say - I got you Polish candy." GRIN. She rummaged in her bag for a moment before pulling the rather large package out, and holding it out to the other girl. "Merry belated-Christmas." Was that even a thing?

"You don't have to." Lex said, an easy grin slipping onto her face. "He's not one to attack felines unless I'm giving them more attention than what he's getting." Her kneazle was something special. He was never very good at sharing her but apparently he was allowed to have other preferences like CUDDLING UP WITH AAAIDAN. Her lap was just as comfy. She didn't see the appeal in the Ravenclaw's lap over her's. Rude kneazle. And Charlie had a cat, a bombay one. "Those are interesting. I could definitely do with one of those, but only for the colour." Not that she'd trade Felix or change his colour.

Charlie sounded like she was in a bit of a fix. Lex gave a small shrug. "It's a lot easier but it's gonna take a bit of leaving out the truth at times. Hogwarts...has this thing about never being safe...if you share your whole year with him chances are he won't send you here next term." After the man-eating plant it took some convincing to not have her father pull her from school. Convincing and future omissions while telling stories.

Her eyes widened a bit at the question. "No. Never. I don't believe in raising a wand to him but last term's Charms Professor was. My poor baby felt all kinds of sick afterwards so I went and made a complaint. He was fine though." LUCKILY.

By the time the girl had done talking she found herself mirroring her grin. "You remembered!!!" Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! Polish candy. If it was anything like Swedish candy she would melt right here. She shifted Felix to one hand then took the package, grin still in place. "Thanks! I remembered the Swedish candy for you too but I didn't know I'd run into you here so it's up in my dorm. I'll take it with me the next time I leave my Common Room." She wouldn't leave it now, knowing she could run into her at any time. "Did you enjoy your time there?"

Nod. Nod nod. "If that's the case, they should meet sometime." Although Charlie wasn't too sure that Lex wouldn't fawn all over Lightening: she didn't see how anyone just couldn't. Apart from crazy people. Although she was the crazy cat lady. But, that was her opinion of her pet, and Lex probably thought the same about hers. People were odd and attached like that, weren't they? "They're gorgeous," she agreed, with another nod, reaching out to stroke the kneazle. "What's his name?"

"Yes... I heard about the groundskeeper... uh, dying last year. That did put me off coming a little, and I'm pretty sure if I mentioned it to my dad I'd be at home right now." And she could totally understand why. If she had kids, she wouldn't want them to be at risk of dying at school. "This year should be okay, though, right?" Like, nothing strange had happened yet, and there was this huge tournament and so many extra adults that they had to be safe. Right? Right. Charlie was sure of it. Or, at least, sure that she wouldn't be telling her father much, except for about her lessons. However, she hadn't even mentioned Arithmancy.

Because he'd probably try to teach her again if he knew how much she didn't like the Professor.

Phew. She had to admit that she was relieved to find out that Lex had never actually raised her want to him. Though funny, the humour would be fleeting in comparison to the cruelty, she was sure. [b]"Is that even allowed?!" Because, you know, that was cruel. And sounded totally out of order. Even if it had been the pretty charms Professor. "Thank Merlin."

"I decided to just carry it 'round. Just in case." She'd done that with a few people, actually. Because she owed people candy and she seemed to run into them a lot around the school. Something she was definitely not complaining about, though. So much better than loneliness. "Don't worry about it. But soon, yes?" Because she wanted to try Swedish candy! Sweets and stuff please. "It was a lot of fun, and seeing my family was great. The snow was amazing." Much better than the drizzle Leicestershire got.

"How was Sweden?!"

Alexa approved of this idea, mhm, even if it was making her kneazle a bit antsy. "That sounds brilliant! We'll have to work something out, it's gonna happen, okay??" Not bossy, just now very excited about the idea and hanging out with Charlie. Lex liked making new friends...er...she was allowed to call her a friend, yes? "They are. My aunt has one. We don't take him with us when we're visiting her though..." It was a recipe for disaster. As for his name. "It's Felix. The day he crawled in through our livingroom window I thought 'you look like a Felix' and the name just kinda stuck after that." He didn't have any complaints about it either...not from what she was seeing and it'd been four years.

Oh...oh, she'd heard about Mr. Firth as well...yeah...last year wasn't exactly a good term and she didn't feel grand about the way he died. When she and Lottie said it...they'd meant it as a JOKE but when it actually happened...it didn't seem nearly as funny. Boo. She was drawn from her thoughts by her question. Lex considered this for a minute before answering. "Well...tasks...the tasks are kinda dangerous...the world is full of idiots...something's bound to happen--not saying it will and I hope we all end up fine in the end but these things are breeding grounds for disaster." And she should know, she was a Gryffindor, they could see danger a mile away.

Alexa noted the look on Charlie's face, glad someone could feel her kneazle's pain. "It's not allowed, not that I know of, but Professor Knox did what she wanted to and didn't care. Her excuse was that she was a Governor and could do what she wanted--gave me a detention too...but then she was quick and glad to get rid of me shortly after." Something she never understood. Why give her detention if you'd wanna kick her out after? It made no sense but happened so often.

Hahahaha, yup, "How very Ravenclaw of you to plan ahead." She said, grinning at her. She gave her a nod. "Very soon. If you want, you can follow me back to my Common Room and I'll run in to get it for you." That could work, yeah? Their Common Rooms shared a floor, it wasn't extra walking. "I imagine seeing your family would have been good, mine just annoyed me." Thank merlin for Lottie whisking her away, huh? "Sweden was lovely!! It was SO pretty and the night came quickly but I didn't mind, it kinda made it all a little mystery you know?" Like what was lurking outside at 5 in the evening?

"Yes!" Charlie agreed with a grin. Feline play date was going to happen. She could just imagine how cute they'd be. Very cute. That was the correct answer. Yey for new friends and feline friends. And Charlie was relieved that now not all of her friends would be abandoning her when it came to her seventh year. "How come?" Because surely the pets would get on - no? They should, Charlie thought. "That's so cute. He must've liked the view from outside the window." You know, nice house, nice girl, new family for him? Totally.

Charlie's voice had fallen to almost a whisper due to such a topic. She hadn't even known the man but felt as though she should personally grieve for walking on his grass, or something. "Your task went well, though, right?" You know, the herbology and potions one that she'd watched. It had seemed alright. They'd saved the elf, after all. Maybe Durmstrang or the French school would get into trouble and Charlie could just stay safe a Hogwarts? After Lex's explanation, she was glad she hadn't been chosen to compete - knowing her luck, she'd end up seriously injured or something. If it had been panels and questions and buzzers like she'd imagined... surely that would be much safer?

"Professor Knox? So Professor Fuller's new?" Not to her, but to the school in general. She was so confused when people talked about past people. Old students, old professors. People should have the same knowledge as her. It would save some understanding. "What was the point in the detention, then?" You know, if the teacher had just wanted it to be over as much as the student? If Charlie was ever a teacher, she could see detentions and punishments as something she avoided as much as she did now that she was a student.

Ravenclaw, huh? "I guess there's got to be some reason for me to be there." Because she still didn't feel like she'd belonged, although throwaway comments like this and the Charms professor's certainly made her feel a lot better about it, and a lot less lonely in her own Common Room. "Sure," Charlie smiled, letting the owl fly through the window and reaching to pick up her bag from where she'd left it on the disgusting floor. Ew. She wrinkled her nose as she regretted the depression, and made a mental note to thoroughly clean it later. For now, Tergo had to do. "I barely see my mums side, so yes, it was really nice. Annoying family I can understand, though." Quick wave to the flying bird and the letter for her father. "It sounds exciting!" And she would love to go someday. Officially on her 'places to go' list.

Charlie was asking for a reason, a fair question considering the statement. "As much as I'd love to think my kneazle plays nicely with others, he doesn't. He's not a fan of competition when it comes to attention and I have a tendency gush over things even when he's there." It was a little hard to explain. That was the easiest way she could think to get it out. Lex shrugged, her kneazle was weird. "And he must have liked the view, he got comfy almost instantly, scared my step-mum too so that was a plus." It was after seeing his dislike for the woman that she became adamant he had to stay.

Her task? Ah yes, she remembered that. It'd been epic fun. Lex gave a firm nod and a grin. "It did, we bested the man eating plant, shame I didn't get a sapling or something but I'll keep trying til I do." Truthfully it wasn't that hard, challenging and thrilling yes but certainly nothing she would have classified as life threatening.

Charlie's next question almost had her facepalming. Riiiight she was new and didn't know these things. "Yup, he only just got here. Last year we had a woman named Ivy Knox, bloody mean if you ask me. She hardly ever smiled unless she was torturing you." Which totally backfired on her might we add. Alexa shrugged at her question. "I dunno. It happens often. I get kicked out of detention. I dunno why she kicked me out though. I thought we were having fun." More like Lex talking nonstop and driving the woman up the wall with all her questions and remarks about ice-cream. Eh, details details.

"O'course there's a reason. The sorting hat knows what it's doing, even if we don't agree at first." Truth. Yup. She was a Gryffindor through and through. At first she wanted to argue this but now she wouldn't dream of it. And she'd visited her mum's side. "I don't see my mum's side very often anymore...hardly actually." Kinda sad...kinda. They didn't like her very much anyway. "It WAS exciting but we never got to see a yeti." Disappointing. Mhm.

Cutty was pushing his feet down onto the floor as hard as he could in effort to stomp. The effects were...mild. He took out a quill, ink and parchment and flopped down onto the floor looking a moments away from tantrum, and indeed if there were anyone around on whom that might have had the slightest effect Cutty might have tried it, but here on his own he felt it unnecessary. He knew he was too old for it. It simply wasn't above him especially where any reward could be gleaned.

A huffing sort of sigh escaped from the boy as he prepped himself to write a letter which he intended to sound mature and adult-like.

He rolled up the parchment and looked for the owl that looked like it was best up for the distance. He called it down, and huffed as he fastened the letter to his out-stretched leg. The owl then nipped the boy as if to say Calm down! Cutty hissed and shewed the animal away, who was all too glad to take its leave anyway. He then hurried down the steps to tend to his finger.

Why was that boy looking at her like that? Was it SOOO strange that she had said sorry? Pff! He was so pathetic! But instead of making a mean comment she kept her mouth shut, not because she liked that boy, but simply because she still didn't wanted to have a fight right now, she also didn't wanted to get in trouble! She would be NOT surprised if he would ran immediately toward a teacher to tell everybody how mean she had been, and she REALLY didn't wanted to get in trouble, not today! So she flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder and tried to ignore him, to NOT say anything to him! She already had enough problems herself, more than he and he even wasn't smart enough to understand her, he was a muggle after all....

Huh? The third year old stared at the boy and blinked a few times with her eyes. Had he... also some problems at home? Hmm, she didn't had suspected this, but maybe he was just telling her this because he wanted a excuse to act and to look this stupid! Yes, that must it be, muggles were too stupid and too dump to understand what problems she had! But, because there was a possibility that he was telling the truth, she decided to not act mean to him about this, for only THIS moment, simply because IF he had real problems, she understood him... "I'm sorry to hear that" was all what Sonea said before she grabbed her stuff and turned him her back, she didn't wanted to talk anymore!

A few seconds later she heard how he left the owlery... And she stayed there alone for a few minutes, re-reading her letter over and over, and thinking...

"Jealous little creature, is he?" Charlie giggled, reaching out a hand to pet the kneazle. She kind of wished Lightening loved her enough to get jealous when she gave attention to anyone else. She got jealous when that happened, but the facts were that her cat was an attention-seeker, and would go to anyone offering food and cuddles, and didn't care if Charlie gave them to something else. "You don't like her?" she asked, curiously, not realising how nosey and prying she sounded. With the news of her fathers imminent engagement, she needed to know that she was not the only one to hate their dads partner.

Lex was mad.

That was Charlies conclusion, now. Her eyes widened as her friend spoke of the task in such a light hearted way. "It was a man-eating plant?" She had not known that. And she wanted to try again till she got a sapling?! "Uh, just don't die, yes?" That would not be good, if the plant ate her. Killed by your favourite subject was not a way to go, and if Transfiguration or Arithmancy were going to murder Charlie one day, she would not be impressed.

"Is that allowed?" The torturing, she meant. It didn't cross her mind that Lex might mean a metaphorical torture, and her mind leapt to the Cruciatus Curse, and other deadly spells, which were ILLEGAL. Was that why this Knox character was no longer teaching here? Sounded about right, to her. Fun in detention? Charlie laughed at that, shaking her head a little. She'd never had detention herself, being home schooled, but fun in it did sound out of the ordinary.

Wistfully, she raked her fingers through her hair as the remembered the hat, and her main worry being what her hair looked like afterwards. "I hope so." She managed with a nod, wondering when the day would be that she felt like she belonged in the blue robes and not in... well, she didn't think she belonged in any robes, in all honesty. [b]"That's sad,"[/] Charlie frowned slightly: she only saw her mum in the holidays, now, in summer or winter, and that little time was definitely not enough for her. She missed her, all the time.

"No yeti?! You'll just have to keep going back, then."

This was an easy enough question to answer. "Yup. He's got to be the centre of my attention at all or most times, otherwise he acts out." A kneazle that acted out was NOT a good thing. In those instances she would have to act quickly otherwise someone was likely to lose a pet or some other thing of value. Eh, details details. Point was her kneazle was a terrible thing and a handful when he was jealous. As for step mum, Lex wrinkled her nose. "Not. One. Bit. We have a mutual dislike thing going on." She shrugged. It was an old issue. Nothing new.

Charlie looked a bit taken aback by the fact that the plant was man-eating. "Those are the best kind. I wasn't really sure about doing the competition until the Professor mentioned that there was a chance I'd go up against one. Haven't you ever been drawn in by the promise of life-threatening danger?" No? Was it just her?? She found herself laughing at the request. "I won't. I'm really good at this whole not dying thing. This is my fourth year here and all my limbs are still in tact." GRIN.

Is...what allowed? The torturing. Lex shrugged again, shifting the kneazle to make him a bit more comfy. "They have a torture chamber down in the dungeons, I figure if they have one of those then it must be allowed. I had detention in that room once. It wasn't so bad." Not with the ice-cream she got. It was actually kinda fun.

"It's not all that sad. They don't like me much anyway." She could tell they tolerated her but could see there was little beyond that. "How often do you see either your mum's or your dad's family?" Lex was aware that some people were close knit like that. Must be nice...or really annoying.

Her eyes widened, she liked that idea very much. "I should! Hey, do they have Yetis in Poland?"

Was it possible that the more emotionally demanding the kneazle got, the more adorable he was? Quite, to Charlie anyway. Although the kneazle acting out and not behaving, etcetera, didn't sound like fun, really. You know, the cleaning up and everything afterwards. Charlie smiled softly at Lex's nose wrinkle, tilting her head to the side. "I'm glad to think I'm not the only one," she said. Even though Elaine wasn't her step-mother as of yet...

Apparently she would be soon. Sigh.

"I can't say I have," Charlie laughed, shaking her head at the prospect of life-threatening danger being enjoyable. Nope, not something that she would enjoy getting into. Especially not if it was a promise. She shuddered a little at the thought. Not for Charlie, not today, at least. ".............Do you mean that there is a high chance of me losing my arm?!" Whilst she was here? Or something along those lines? That was not fun! That was SCARY. Charlie liked her arms and legs.

And to think that Charlie had embraced the school so far. "A chamber. For torturing people." Nope, she did not plan on getting detention in the near future. Or ever. "And... did they torture you?" And how had they done it? Was it painful?

Charlie found the fact that Lex's family didn't like her incredibly sad, and she frowned at the thought. She knew her dad and his partner didn't have much time for her, too, so she knew how it felt. "I lived with my dad permanently from when I was six, I saw my mum and Christmas and in the summer and now... it just depends." What with her being at school now, and stuff.

Yeti's in Poland? It wasn't something Charlie had thought about. "I'm not sure. Maybe I should go looking next time I'm there."