Caterina had stolen borrowed Mo's skateboard and had taken it down to where she could find a nice open and empty spot. She really hadn't practiced much, since this actually wasn't her skateboard, so she was definitely not that great at it. She managed to stay standing and balanced for the most part, but that in itself was a great triumph.

With as balanced and as steady as she was, though, there were always surprises lurking. She managed to hit a pocket of gravel and the skateboard tipped forward and the Caterina fell off and landed on her poor bottom. "Ouch."

The thought of hanging out in the common room and maybe running into Zahra was not an appealing thought especially after their fight at the feast. So Michael decided to head outside. There was more room and less chance of running into his so called BFF.

Maybe he might run into Rhodes.

Or maybe he might run into a runaway skateboard. Michael stuck his foot out to stop the board from rolling an further. He looked up to see where the owner of the board was when he spotted a girl on the ground.

It didn't take a genius to know what happened. He scooped up the board and made his way over to the girl, his free hand dangling in front of her. "Are you okay?"

Cat's bottom was definitely sore and not happy, but at least she'd managed something of a graceful and lady like fall. Thanks for the ballet lessons, mama. She hoped that she hadn't broken the skateboard, or she'd be most definitely buying a new one ASAP.

Noting that she was no longer alone in the corridor, Cat glanced up at the younger boy as he offered his hand to her. "I'm alright." She replied with a nod. Cat took his hand and lifted herself up then let go to pat herself down and get the dust off. "Thanks for asking." She grinned at him and then nodded to the skateboard. "Not broken, is it? It's not mine."

A grin made its way onto Michael's face as he held out the skateboard for her. "Don't take this the wrong way but I figured it wasn't yours." He could tell that the board clearly belonged to a boy. And she was obviously a beginner and the board was definitely not a beginners board. "But no, it's not broken."

While Michael didn't have a huge circle of friends, he did know who was who of Hogwarts. And the older girl standing before him was the girlfriend of Mo Branxton. Caterina Moretti.

"I'm no professional skateboard rider but I can ride." Yes he was going somewhere with this. "And this area here is too uneven for riding a skateboard. That's why you fell off." It was probably also because she had no idea how to ride a skateboard but he wasn't going to say that. They could just blame the ground.

"Maybe you should try placing a few charms around." Or something.

Caterina laughed at what he had just said and how he had said it. "No offense taken. This is probably the second time I've ever messed about with it." She knew she was not great, but she wasn't bothered by that either, she was just out to have a bit of fun and getting a few bruises along the way was part of that.

"Oh good. Not broken is good. I'd be buying the boyfriend a new one if it was." Which wasn't that bad, she'd bought it in the first place, she could make a replacement. The area was uneven. Yeah. Yeah that made sense. "Ah, but that's part of the fun. The challenge. I don't mind falling off." Though she tilted her head in consideration, "Will you show me?" His mooooooves. Smooth moves, she wanted to see.

*Walking down the corridor he had his book bag empty of books and filled with prawn flavored crisps for the squid. In his hand was a book that his nose happened to be stuck in. He wasn't paying to much attention to where he was going but he had walked these paths so long that it had become second nature. He could hear some banging and chatter of other students but he pushed it back. This book on muggle farming was interesting.*

Well thank goodness she had taken any offense. He could hear his father now telling him that it would be a crime to offend a pretty girl. "It's nice to see some muggle objects around."While he loved doing magic, fooling around with muggle items was just as cool.

"Well this one here is a pretty good board. It would take a lot to break it." Michael let out a small laugh, he liked it when girls didn't mind getting dirty. "I remember when mum first brought me home a skateboard and I thought I was so awesome on it, that I decided to ride down this huge hill." He chuckled. "I think I took half the skin off my legs and arms." He had never seen his mother so angry after she had gotten over the shock that he wasn't going to die or anything.

He was still chuckling at the memory when she spoke again. Huh? "You want to watch me ride it?"

A good one! Yes. Score for Caterina. "Oh. I like the sound of that, considering I just picked one." It was good to know that she had a good eye for skateboards. She could add that to the mental list of things to feel good about herself.

Cat's eyes went wide with amusement, excitement and a bit of pity at the story, "Goodness. That sounds like it was fun, though. Also painful, but mostly fun, right?" Sometimes, painful and fun went hand in hand. "Bet your mama didn't like it at all though." Mamas were like that. "Yeah. You're surely better than I am. I'd like to see, if you don't mind, that is."

How awesome was Caterina Morretti? When it was time for him to have a girlfriend, he wanted one just like her. She bought the best gifts. Michael hoped that Mo appreciated her.

Thinking of Mo caused Michael to think about what happened last night at the feast. Zahra had been way out of line. Cat seemed to be a really nice girl and she didn't deserve to have her boyfriend being kissed by someone who was trying to prove some sort of point. He didn't know if Branxton had said anything about it to her and he certainly wasn't going to bring it up.

Although it would be nice to talk to SOMEONE about his dilemma.

For now though he was just going to enjoy his time with the older girl. "It was fun." He grinned and nodding his head. "I think I broke the sound barrier I was going that fast." Okay that was an exaggeration but hey an older, pretty girl wanted to hear his stories.

And now she wanted to watch him ride the skateboard, Michael almost puffed out his chest. Almost. Instead he placed the board onto the ground and placed one foot onto the board. "See these front bolts here? Place your foot just behind them." He made a show with his foot so she knew what he was talking about.

"When you're pushing off make sure to use long strides. Your foot should extend passed your foot that is on the board." Deciding he might be confusing her, Michael thought it best to just show her.

So he began pushing his foot in long stride and once he had enough momentum, he twisted his foot on the board sideways before placing his other foot towards the back of the board. He let it roll for a few meters before turning the board around and head back towards Cat. "Piece of cake." He said with a laugh as he jumped off the board and gestured for her to have a go.

Anna looked around and not seeing anyone around she quickly sat down and pulled her guitar to her lap and smiled weakly, hoping this would help her mood, and since no one was around she seemed to really have a chance. Unlike the song she was usually playing this was something that normally cheered her up. She started to play, hoping it really would help. She continued to play, lost in her own world, still very careful with the old worn out guitar. She hadn't played it since her sister left at the beginning of summer but she seemed to still know how to play the old thing well without damaging it anymore than it already was.

Caterina very much doubted that he had managed to go that fast, but she was definitely an appreciator of a well placed over-exaggeration, so she laughed again. "I'm sure that's got to be some sort of record, right?" Boys were so funny, she really enjoyed them.

Oh, oh. But now he was going to show her how to properly ride the skateboard. Yes! Lessons! Or sort of. She put on her best concentration face and listened carefully. She was impressed by the ease of which he managed to roll around. Maybe with enough practice, she could manage that too! Of course, that would mean Mo would have less time with his skateboard. Maybe she'd get one for herself too.

"I like cake." Cat replied with a grin, as she made her attempt at mimicking his moves. "I'll make you cake for helping me." She was still a little wobbly, which was to be expected, but she rather thought she'd managed quite well at it, if she did say so. She rolled on and on but didn't quite master that turning thing, and sort of jumped off before she fell over again. "I might have to get my own board." She said, out loud this time, "So I can practice more." Cat pushed it over to the boy again, "Do you know how to do those jump things?" Cause that was also impressive. But not something she could learn before she got the basics down.

Melek wandered around the grounds, exploring Hogwarts when she heard some music. Mel followed the sound with a smile until she stopped right in front of the person making it. Her eyes narrowed and she sighed, crossing her arms. She mumbled, "Great..." Melek started to turn as she went back to where she was exploring but she accidentally bumped the guitar but not enough to damage it. Mel mumbled an apology and kept going, trying to get as much distance between Annaleecia and her. Tears were trying to force their way out of her eyes as she tried to pick up her pace. Melek fell to her knees a little bit away and covered her face, letting the emotions from the lack of attention her parents gave her and then losing one of her only friends. Her shoulders did not shake though and she did not make a sound as her lip quivered and tears came trailing down her face. Her hands went to the ground and she tried to make a grab at the floor.

Michael couldn't help but BEAM at Caterina. He was pretty sure that she knew he was exaggerating but she didn't call him out on it. She was such a cool chick. What a shame that she was taken. Not to mention that was a little too old for him. But a boy could dream, right?

Seems he had discovered girls with a vengeance.

Wow! She was going to make him a cake? "You don't have to do that. I'm having fun." But if she really, really wanted to make him one then he wasn't going to complain. He watched her as she attempted to ride the board and there was a grin on his face when she made her way back to him. "You should. You've got potential." Pfft as if he knew if she had potential or not. The words were just rolling out of his mouth. Seems he had learned a thing or two from the Toussaint men.

Michael stopped the board with his foot again and as much as he wished he could impress her some more, he couldn't lie. "Unfortunately no. If I had of started to practice jumps then my best friend Zahra would have wanted to do it too. And well I didn't fancy having the Minister for Magic coming down on me because I got his daughter injured." Or killed, because Zahra certainly had no fear when it came to that sort of stuff.

"So did you have a good summer?" He asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Anna jumped hearing someone come up and fought a glare as they kicked her guitar, "Carefu…" She trialed off as she looked at Melek… She looked down for a moment still upset for her way of acting at the feast. But she continued to look, knowing by the way she was acting something was way off with her. She gently and carefully sat the guitar down and went over to her, not really sure what to do. She didn’t want her to hug her, she knew, but that was the only way she knew to comfort, "Mel?" She knelt beside her, worry showing. Especially when she saw the tears… Annaleecia looked at her, trying to decide, "Mel, please don’t cry... I’m sorry… Please…" She laid a hand on her shoulder not sure what to say. She just felt guilty, This is my fault… I was so excited to tell her and when she blew me off I got so angry I just… I’m a horrid person… She looked at her and wanted to pull her close, like she would if she was the one crying… But Mel made it quite clear, no hugs in public, and she wasn’t going to be snapped at just for trying to make her feel better.

Melek looked up at her with tears trailing down her cheeks. Her voice shook as she spoke, "I... I.. I am sorry..." The tears came faster and faster as her lip quivered. Mel looked up at her friend with the saddest eyes that have ever been on her face. "I miss you and I am home-sick... and I... I... dont know what to do..." She wiped the tears away but they kept on coming. Her shoulders shook now and she looked at her friend all defeated. "I dont mean to be all Slytherin or rude to you..." Melek looked at her and wanted to bury her head in her friend's shoulder but resisted because no hugs in public. Mel tried to calm down because crying especially like this in public is a big no-no. She finally was able to bring it down to a whimper as she pulled away. "You probably dont want to talk to me..." A sigh escaped and she tried to stand up.

Annaleecia looked at her and sighed, wanting to hold her, knowing it would probably help the most but she didn’t want to be yelled at. She looked at her, "No… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said that to you… It was wrong of me to take my anger out on you for just being who you are…" She looked down, "I was horrid to you… and I don’t deserve you as a friend with how much you do for me…" Anna looked at her and gently grabbed her arm pulling her back down to where she was, "And please don’t leave… I don’t want to be here without my best friend… With her angry at me… It’s horrid." She looked at her, pleading showing. She looked down, "I… I’ll do whatever’ll make you happy. I won’t tell you anything about my house, or my new friends… I’ll just talk about whatever you want me to…" Anna looked up at her again, "Just don’t leave me here without the only one who really knows what’s going on…"

Melek looked at her, "But you are right... I was being rude and not being a good friend... I even threw a goblet at you..." Mel sighed and frowned slightly, "I am super super sorry for doing that, by the way..." She glanced down and sighed, sitting back down when she got grabbed and pulled down. "I dont want to have you think that you cant tell me things..." Melek looked up at her, "I am just having a bit of a time adjusting... and the food is horrible here... we have amazing food back home..." Mel sighed and her tummy growled, "I am just being grouchy and just rude... please forgive me, Anna..." She pleaded and looked at her friend, "Please let us still be besties." Melek held out her pinky for Anna to take. Mel gave her a pleading look and she gave a weak smile, hoping that her frield would take her pinky... and she might be willing to give one hug in making up with her friend if it was a short hug... like maybe 5 seconds... or even 10 if need be...

She looked down, she couldn’t argue with the whole goblet thing, after all, it had left a huge bump and a bruise… at least her hair covered it though… "It’s fine…." Anna gave a small nod then looked up at her friend again. Horrible food? She actually really liked it, it was better than anything the orphanage ever served… but then, she couldn’t really compare those could she? A home cooked meal to something that just comes out of a huge can or freezer pack. She just gave a small nod to what her friend said, "Have you asked your mom to send you anything?" Annaleecia reached in her backpack and grabbed her sour gummy worms, "Do you want some?" She was supposed to share them with Kace on the train ride to Hogwarts, but she couldn’t find him there, and now she had a bunch left over. She looked at her and nodded, taking her pinky with her free one, "Of course we can still be best friends." She smiled at her, "After all, I wouldn’t even be here if you hadn’t nagged me to leave the orphanage to actually learn about magic."

Potential? Potential to fall on her bum again, probably. Cat laughed at that. The boy was charming, she had to give him that. "I'm not so sure about that, but I think I can be decent enough if I practice more." She grinned at him, obviously he wanted cake. Everyone wanted cake. "I make stuff all the time. I'll make you a cake and you don't even have to share it with anyone." She leaned against the wall, all ready to be out of the way and see some cool skateboard tricks, "What kind do you like best?" She was making cake later.

Sadly, though, he didn't know how to do jumps either. That was disappointing, but Cat was the type to bounce back quickly. Besides, it wasn't his fault. Though she did have to fight hard to not make a face at the mention of Zahra. "Ah. Kettleburn. The one who thinks it's okay to kiss any boy she wants." The one who was lucky Cat didn't make a practice of punching third years. That one. Yeah. "You two having a squabble, or something?" It had better be SOMETHING if the kid was planting unwanted kisses on Caterina's boyfriend.

Melek gave a small nod and then sighed, shaking her head. "Not yet but Mother probably wouldnt send anything anyways... I mean she hardly spent time with me... always off doing something... even when they were teaching me... they give me a lesson plan and a textbook then leave... but you already knew that..." Mel sighed, "She probably wouldnt have noticed that I have left if it wasnt for the fact that my father insisted that both of them needed to see me off... She only went as far as the public square even..." She sighed and looked down. Melek looked up at her friend and nodded, "Yeah, Ill take some..." Mel took some and started popping them into her mouth. She didnt think they were too sour but then again, she loved sour candy. A small smile came as Annaleecia said that they can be best friends still and then took her pinky. "Good." Melek shrugged, "You might have chosen to come later..."

Caelen was in the middle of a super important task. Well, that depends on if you called exploring the grounds an important task. She did, for sure, but Rockwell always claimed that she was just immature and would sit still when she was older. She didn't think so.

Anyway, the kid came across another corridor, running to a window and looking outside. The courtyard, yes! She was almost outside! That's where she wanted to go right now. Enjoy some fresh air and meet new people. And or sketch a bunch of things and lay awkwardly in the grass. Whatever worked.

Yeah, Caelen wasn't one of those people content with much sitting. Unless she was watching a movie, eating, or playing a game. Or when she was off from school. But now she had all of this ground to travel on!

She walked away from the window, fast walking outside. A small, controlled smile was on her face so she wasn't smiling like an idiot, but she was soo excited!

She had made it her weird mission to explore every piece of the grounds before her second term was over, and The little redhead wanted to complete her mission. It was like a promise, and the child always kept her promises.

He couldn't argue with that logic. How many times had he heard his parents say, 'practice makes perfect.' Which was fine if you were practicing something that was fun. He would have said something like that to her too, but then she was talking about cake again and that he didn't have to share with anyone. "I don't mind sharing." Although depending on what she made, he might keep it to himself. "What kind of things do you make? I tried to make chocolate last year with Alexa Cambridge." He scrunched up his nose at the memory. "It didn't go so well." He'd put her in the hospital wing, but he wasn't about to say that.

He grinned a little at her question as he kicked at the ground with his foot. "Well it'snot really a cake." Actually it wasn't a cake at all. "But I really like lemon tarts." The mixture of the sweet pastry and tangy lemon, it was awesome.

Oh. Michael rubbed at the back of his neck. "I see that Branxton told you about that." He wasn't sure why he felt bad about what happened, it wasn't like he had been the one to kiss her boyfriend, that had been his BFF. "Look I'm really sorry about that. She was mad at me and I guess that was her way of getting back at me." He wasn't sure why he was apologising for Zahra either.

"She found out that I kissed someone." Merlin! He didn't know kissing a girl could cause so much trouble. "And...I don't know..." He threw up his hands and looked at Cat with a slight grimace on his face. He didn't know what to do about her.

She sighed and gave a small nod, "I know…" She didn’t add that she should be appreciative that she still had parents. Even if they acted the way Mel’s did, they were still there for her, fed her, kept a roof over her head… loved her and accepted her. That was more than enough to Anna. She nodded to what her friends said though, not going to comment and be snapped on, though in her eyes, Mel should be happy to have parents at all. Annaleecia smiled as she took some of the candy and handed her the package of them and grabbed another out of her bag, "Thanks… If I ate all these I’d probably get fat." She gave a laugh, "I have about another 20 packs of them in my suitcase." Yeah, Kace had warned her they didn’t sell muggle candies, and she didn’t know if she could go an entire school year without her favorite snack. She looked at her as she said she could come later and shook her head, "I wouldn’t have wanted to… I would've been just as terrified when you first saw me after I did something…" She gave a small laugh, "Do you remember? When you first showed me that you could do it too? Made me realize I wasn’t the only one…"

Hope was minding her own and heading out to explore the grounds and find something interesting to do other than stay locked away in her common room. She had Poppy placed on her shoulder and it was squeaking with happiness right in her ear. It was the reminder that she had decided to not drown the thing over break and that she even went a step further by bringing it with her to the school.

She tried not to lose herself in her thought but it was inevitable. She didn't really do anything but think ALL THE TIME. However, she wasn't thinking as much as she was plotting. She wanted the whole school to know her and she was determined to find a way to do that. It was only a matter of how and when and with whom because Hope Evans doesn't do anything troublesome alone.