Wow...this Kid was deternmined. Never had he seen someone so fascinated by a Fish. Though now the Ravenclaw was having trouble carrying the Tank. "I'll take it from here, Kid. You can give you're arms a rest." She had carried it from the Astronomy Tower, down to the Hospital Wing, then all the way outside. He could mention that she could just levitate the Tank, but he needed to get his hands on that Bass! Return the Fish to the Lake was taking Priority. "We can have a conversation you know. I never did catch your Name." Faith, Hope, Love, Hugs, Unity..He couldn't remember if it was one of those or not.

Oooh, this librarian seemed really nice!

But then, a lot of the Staff at the school were friendly. "Nice to meet you too!" Taking the book, she smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Kitridge." Eagerly she started flipping through the pages, wanting to see how long it was and how many pictures there were. Surely, a librarian would be happy to see a student who was interested in reading, and Lux sure loved to read.

Oh, that sucked. It would have been cool if he had snow senses.

But now that he mentioned it, the birds had stopped singing. "I do not like the cold, but I like playing in the snow. Snowball fights are really fun. Oooh, you have been to the skating rink before, right?" She was sure she had seen him there, and the Professors and other Staff probably had a blast there! Though she was sure that some of them would not be able to skate now, such as poor Professor Flamsteed who did not look good at all.

Hmm... good question. She thought about it as she leaned back against the tree and looked up at the clouds in the sky. "Well, I like the King Arthur stuff, but I suppose that counts as adventure too... so maybe anything besides romance." Making a face, though she did not think the notion of it was... as unappealing as she used to. "Oh, and I don't really like the scary stuff either. Ghosts scare me." The last sentence was a whisper, because they really did scare her!

Leo felt a teeny tiny stone lift off his shoulders when Lux confirmed that she knew who he was. It would have been right embarrassing if she hadn’t known and he had made no attempt to introduce himself when she did so. Possible embarrassment stayed off Leo relaxed against the trunk with a smile pursing his lips as Lux shared her views on winter.

Nodding Leo reminisced. "I used to like partaking in snow balls fights just like you do especially when I won over my sisters. I liked making snow angles too. Winter is a fun month but yes I agree I could do without the cold too." Brr. He needed to talk to the house elves about heating for the library and also with the caretaker.

Focusing on Lux again realizing that his thoughts had drifted away Leo asked furrowing his brows slightly in curiosity "Why don’t you like romance novels?" He had noted Lux’s grimace. The last revelation made Leo a little surprised but he could see that Lux meant it and he sympathized with her. "Do all ghosts scare you, even your house ghost?" he asked quietly trying to understand.

It was a little weird thinking of Staff members as kids, but she had to realize that most if not all of them had actually attended Hogwarts like her. Some had even been Hufflepuffs! "Ohh, I want to make a snowman too! And then I wish I could enchant it, but I wouldn't know how to." It was a shame really, because she could have a lot of fun with an enchanted snowman before it melted in the sun.

Why did she not like romance books? "Well, it seems weird to me..." She was only just starting to get curious about the dating thing, and it still was kind of confusing. Kissing also seemed to be a lot more trouble than it was worth seeing how Bay had reacted when she kissed Louis on the lips at the lake. It was really interesting and strange, kissing. "Romance books are just so... full of emotion and love and stuff." Things she did not understand yet. "And I am scared of all of the ghosts here. Sir. Nick scared me." They were so creepy.

She didn't really care about it being cold. She did enough curling up next to the fireplace in the common room and sipping hot chocolate like an old lady. She decided to get out and breath fresh air and just wander around as she usually does. Might have been a cleverer idea to stay indoors, but the snake decided to go out to the grounds. Her mind worked like that, don't question it.

Good thing she had lots of layers on since her feet demanded rest as she reached the pathway. Without thinking much about it, the sixth year plopped down besides a tree and leaned against it stretching out her legs in front of her. Wasn't that bad of an idea, to be here, or so far it didn't seem to be. She sort of had a nice view? Of trees and... people? Not that she was gonna sit here staring at people. Might seem creepy. Though if anyone asks, she's a prefect on a mission. Mhhm. Go as the healer. Which probably no one would, so she was safe. Great cover story. No flaws at all. Nope.

Olly wasn't sure why she'd decided it was a good idea to even go outside today. Despite wearing her hat she still felt cold. The fact that her nose was constantly running wasn't exactly helping either. She sneezed. Frowning at nothing in particular (life maybe?), the Hufflepuff stopped and patted down her pockets in search for a tissue.

OF COURSE she didn't have one. Brilliant. Just great. Awesome.

UGH.

She sniffed, looking around for a moment. As if she'd be lucky enough to find one of her friends out here. And she didn't want to go back inside now. She still had to go get something from the Greenhouses. Wrapping her arms around her, Olly continued to just stand on the same spot for another few seconds. Stupid winter. Stupid cold.

When she said she wasn't going to sit and stare at people she surely didn't mean she wasn't going to observe those who passed and sat around. Well, barely anyone lingered for long, might be the cold? Probably that was it. Not a bad of a reason if you ask her especially now that she started to lose feeling of her behind. Cold ground. A numb butt..such an uncomfortable feeling. So she pushed herself off the ground and took a couple of steps to the right a bit weirdly.

She decided to just stand there until she could walk properly again.

And look who stood nearby. Curiously, the snake inched closer to the hufflepuff who stood there obviously cold as well. And was she CRYING! lol, as if. She obviously just had a cold or something. Did Cassia care? Nope. Was she gonna walk away? Also, nope.

"I have a tissue," She simply said taking one step closer and stuffing her hands in her pockets. And you need one, she wanted to add but didn't. Was it childish feeling superior that she had a tissue and Olly didn't? Yes it was.

"I tell you what when the first snow comes we can build a snow man together if you want?" Leo offered with a big beam. Playing in the snow once more could be fun. Being in his mid 30’s he rarely did things like build snow men or snow angels or grottos for that matter unless he of course spent time with his nieces and nephews. "Enchanting the snow man after building it sounds cool. You can ask Professor Fuller for useful spells."

"Ah, I see. Well keep reading adventure stories then and maybe you can give those romance novels a new try in a few years. The best romance novels are packed with love and emotion and stuff." Leo commented. Lux was young so boys could probably still be a bit odd in her book; he knew he had viewed girls that way when he was Lux’s age too. It was perfectly normal.

"That wasn't good, how did Sir Nicholas scare you? He usually is kind and warm." Unless of course his head had gotten knocked askew then maybe he’d been scary. Heads dangling to the side were scary.

Also stupid aging thing. It was one of the reasons she was wearing the hat. To hide her graying hair. The other one being that IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD AND SHE HAD A RUNNY NOSE obviously. Olly sniffed again. Was there a spell that could...oh, was there a spell to conjure up tissues? Now THAT would be extremely useful. How had no one thought of that before?

Stupid spell-inventing people.

If she'd actually taken a closer look earlier then she might have noticed that there was in fact someone she knew nearby. Not that that someone was a FRIEND exactly. More like the opposite. Though, seeing as they hadn't engaged in any interaction the last year (LUCKILY) Cassia had gone from "annoying" to "don't care" in her head. At least that's what she'd told herself.

Only now that she was RIGHT THERE Olly instinctively frowned at her. "Good for you." Cassia had a tissue. Was she rubbing it in?

"Actually," Hope said clenching the tank a little tighter. "I would prefer to continue to carry it. I did promise Professor Airey that I would ensure that I got the fish to its temporary home safe and sound and I NEVER break a promise." Plus, she had just FINALLY gotten her hands on the tank as of this day, nothing was going to get her to let it go, not even the numb feeling in her arms.

She gave him a quick assessment and took a deep breath. She had to play nice and play by the rules. He was a....whatever he was. Not a Professor, but not a student either...he was middle ground. Grey area, but still, the rules, however vaguely, applied to all grey areas. "I'm Hope. Hope Evans." No, he was not getting a hand shake for several reasons. First, she was not letting go of the tank, second she still wasn't one hundred percent with people, a handful maybe, but not all, and thirdly, his one hand can probably crush her whole body, and that scared her just a bit.

"What should I call you?" After all, not a Professor. Maybe a mister?

Cassia really disapproved of the hat. She thought it wasn't classy nor fashionable at all. Or did it appear so because it was on Olly's head? Maybe. That wouldn't be surprising. It would have probably looked prettier on someone else. Say for example Schuyler. That girl made everything pretty. Well, except Olly whom usually was found with her. She would die wondering how those two could be close, Cassia would.

Of course the hufflepuff won't ask her for a tissue. Being sick didn't soften anything in the girl. What could, though, the snake wondered.

"You're not gonna blow your nose with you sleeve, are you?" She asked amused as Olly sniffed. Hehehe. She was so enjoying this. Though, a reaction was expected. A not pleasant one. Unless she was totally ignored.

Yesss, building snowmen seemed like so much fun! "Yeah, let's totally do that! And maybe Professor Fuller can join in so that he doesn't feel left out." She did not want anyone to be sad because they were not participating in the building of snowmen. "I really want it to snow now, so we can have our own Frosty the Snowman."

This librarian was so smart; she was sure that it came from the fact that he read to many books and was older and wiser than her. "I think I will do that, because I am really liking The Lord of the Rings books my friend gave me. And I haven't experienced any serious romance in it yet." The girl was just getting curious about kissing now, she was not ready to read about icky love stories yet. "And he scared me because he's dead and then he said I should go back to my own table because I was sitting with my Gryffindor friends." See? He was really scary.

Not gonna blow her nose with her sleeve? OF COURSE NOT. "With yours maybe." Because ew, no, that would make her clothes gross. She didn't want snot on her clothes. Cassia's though? Well, she didn't exactly care if she got snot on CASSIA'S clothes.

Not that she was seriously considering it.

Olly DID take a step towards the Slytherin though, a smirk playing around her lips. Good idea yes?

"Awesome, it’s settled! When the first snow comes we’ll build snow men together!" BEAM! Stilling smiling broadly Leo said "Sure, the more the merrier if Professor Fuller wants to participate." It would definitely be fun. Leo was certain of it. Aww, Lux had already given the snow man a name.

Furrowing his brows Leo shook his head. "I don't think I've read Lord of the Rings. Who is the author?" It didn’t sound like a wizard author to him but it didn't matter. Muggle books were just as nice to read as those of the wizard kind. "No story is complete without some romance in it. If it’s a thick book maybe you haven't come to romance part yet?"

Lux then switched to talking about the Gryffindor ghost and how he had scared her. Leo listened and responded trying to connect the dots but failing slightly. "I see. I don't think Sir Nicholas was intentionally trying to scare you off. Did you see him at meal time recently and he urged you to sit with your own house?" Or was Lux talk about the opening feast that was now one month into the past?

Like she needed more reasons to dislike the hufflepuff even more. Cassia gave Olly the coldest glare. For someone who didn't glare at people much, it only meant that when she did, she put all her efforts into it. "Wow. A comeback of a firstie. How impressive." she shot back.

"I'd suggest you use your hat," she said noting that they were a step closer to each other now. "It's so hideous, it's hurting my eye." At that she dramatically looked away with her nose scrunched up.

And yeah, she stepped back instinctively because of the look on Olly's face. She comforted herself that her wand was within reach.

"Awesome!" Lux started bouncing a little where she sat. Mr. Kitridge might think she was silly for doing, so but she did not mind in the slightest; making snowman had her all excited. "I want to make a mermaid snowman!" Or she supposed that would be a snowwoman, but she was not really all that worried about particulars at the moment.

Tisk. Tisk. Tisk.

Bad librarian.

"It's J.R.R. Tolkien. He also wrote The Hobbit." And if Mr. Kitridge had not heard of that either, Lux would be fainting right where she was. The romance comment was interesting though. "Maybe, but I don't really see why it's totally necessary. I am beginning to understand a little though..." She had Tessa and Sander to explain dating to her, and now she knew that it wasn't really proper to kiss her friends unless it was on the cheek.

Errr. "Opening Feast. I haven't seen any ghosts since then. And if I did, I would have my friends Bay and Tessa protect me." She knew that they would do a good job of it, and Bay was rather protective of her anyway.

Leo smiled as Lux practically bounced up and down on the blanket in excitement over the prospect of making a snowman soon correction a mermaid snowman. "You like mermaids?" Probably a silly question but he asked it nonetheless. Maybe Lux had encountered a mermaid or even the mer people in the Hogwarts Lake and was fascinated by them?

Giving Lux a blank look Leo said "I'll look the author Tolkien up when I head back the library. He writes books worth reading?" Hopefully Lux wasn’t cross with him. Leo really had never heard of Tolkien or read anything by him which made him conclude that Tolkien was a muggle author.

Then they were back to romance again. With a small cryptic wink Leo said "You'll get it more and more as you get older. I promise." Not that he understood it fully and he was approaching his mid 30’s. Maybe it was different for girls?

Oh. His assumption had been correct. Lux had met Sir Nicholas at the opening feast. "There is no need to be scared dear. Most of the castle ghosts are friendly. Who is your head of house? I’m sure she can set you up to meet your house ghost so you’ll get to meet at least one nice ghost."

Oooooooh, would you look at that. Was that a glare on Cassia's face? Olly smirked, clearly amused. "Well, I had to make sure you'd understand." She raised her eyebrows and gave the other girl an unimpressed look.

The need for a tissue? Yeah, it was all forgotten for now.

Her HAT?! "And I only dress to impress you obviously." Is that why she should care about Cassia's opinion on her hat? What was she, a 12 year old girl in need of affirmation from someone she didn't even like?

And now the Prefect was even taking a step back? THAT brought back the smirk from earlier. Olly casually followed the Slytherin.

Did she like mermaids? Mr. Kitridge obviously had not heard the news that she was the new Ariel. "Yes, I do! I am going to make a Little Mermaid topiary in Herbology!" And she was sure it would turn out amazing, and if she needed help with it, she was sure she could go to Professor Bentley, because she was so very nice. "I want to meet the merpeople in the lake as well as the Giant Squid. But I can't get him to come to the surface as of yet." Big pout.

Good thing he was willing to look into things like a good librarian did. Nod. "Yes, though sometimes The Lord of the Rings can be really descriptive and dragging in places, I think it is worth reading. The Hobbit is faster going. Both are full of adventure, and he even wrote his own language or whatever." Which was really cool, she thought. "My friend Tessa explained some of it to me. She told me that it isn't good to kiss friends on the lips, and that it's better to do it on the cheek." So she was learning.

"Ooh, that is a great idea, Mr. Kitridge!" She would have never thought of that herself. "My Head of House is Professor Hadley, and she seems rather nice, though I have not talked to her as much as I have Professor Flamsteed."

She was really getting on her nerves now. Cassia usually avoided such situations where she'd have to encounter annoying people. But she felt the need to get the Slytherin vibes out of her system every now and then. She only hoped that her face didn't flush. So far, so good. "Merlin, you're so nice, will you stop it?" She gasped, her lips forming a perfect O, obviously mocking.

"Well, I don't see it happening anytime soon," She contemplated telling her to tell Schuyler to choose her clothes for her but mentioning the NICE Gryffindor seemed out of place. Even Elodie. How, did people tolerate this badger, again?

Cassia so didn't like the distance shrinking between them. But for the sake of her dignity she willed her feet to stay where they were. Wouldn't want a younger snake seeing her and thinking she was afraid of someone. She had a reputation in the dungeons to maintain.

"You sure you don't want the tissue?" she asked pulling one out of her pocket.

"That sounds like a lovely idea. You like herbology? It was never my forte in school."No it wasn't. Leo had never had much luck with plants. He didn’t have green thumbs just like nobody else did in his family with the exception of his great great grandmother Mildred. “Have you asked Mr Kirby or Professor Thompson for help? I'm sure they come up with a way to coax the Giant Squid to come to the surface."Leo said faithfully. If anyone could do it, it was Javy and Orsino.

Furrowing his brows attentively Leo nodded. "In some books you need to have patience with the dragging descriptive parts." It was just how some books were. You needed patience to keep read because if you turned enough pages books usually got better."Tessa sounds like a sensible friend you should listen to." Leo pointed out. He was not going to say anything about kissing on cheeks versus lips. It was risky waters.

"Professor Hadley is a very nice woman that is easy to approach and talk to. She can let you meet the Fat Friar. I think you'll like him." The Friar was definitely less scary than say the Baron.

Errr, Lux was not really sure how she felt about Herbology since she didn't really get any practice doing it at home when she had been taught there. "I think it's interesting, but since this is my first Term here... I don't really know if I'm good with plants." Hopefully she would have a green thumb, or her mermaid topiary would not do well at all. "Mr. Kirby is the Groundskeeper dude, right?" She had seen him around, but never talked to him before. "Ooh, that's a good idea! Maybe I will ask them if I need help." Thanks, Mr. Kitridge.

And more wise words. "I am learning so many things here, it's so much better than being home schooled." As much as she loved and missed her family, she had to admit that it was a lot more educational at Hogwarts. Besides, there were friends here and really nice staff members!

"I think I will do that. There aren't any scary ghosts here, are there?" She had heard things about the Slytherin one, but hoped that it was all just a rumour.

Ooooh. Sarcasm. Bad sarcasm too. What a great reaction. Very original. Well done, Cassia. Olly rolled her eyes at the Slytherin. "You're really bad at this you know?" She probably did know though. It was quite hard to miss. Even for someone like Cassia.

"Well, it's usually not my clothes that are making an impression on people." No, it was her great personality. HAHAHA. No, but seriously. Olly smirked broadly at the other girl and wrinkled her nose slightly. She could feel another sneeze coming on but was trying to suppress it for now. What was the thing you had to do? Put your tongue against the roof of your mouth?

Though she couldn't do THAT and talk at the same time. Crap.

Wow, Cassia hadn't even moved back. Olly raised her eyebrows and looked at the tissue in the other girl's hands. "No." Stubborn? Her? No, not at all.

So the little redhead was kind of walking around and shaping the clay for her assignment. No big deal. People did that all of the time. Right? At least people who needed to do the homework and didn't feel like sitting down. She was very jittery lately. It might just be because of her upcoming birthday, or because she was finally letting out her energies. But either one led to walky Caelen.

The girl went to go touch her braid, but then remembered that her hands were kind of full of clay and stopped. Eww. Clay was reeeallly hard to wash from hair. She would know. Her Aunt insisted she worked with it at least once a week and she wasn't exactly careful about these kinds of things. On more than one occasion she had ruined a pair of shorts because of this.

She looked up at the sky and sat down on the side of the pathway, still shaping the amulet and humming to herself. She wasn't sure what the song was EXACTLY, but it was something out of an old movie. She really liked songs from old movies. They always made her smile. And they were better than what the kids in her old class listened to. Of course they were in kindergarten so it was mostly stupid kids songs, but still.

Wearing one of the new dresses that Willa had sent in the post a few months ago, Lux wandered down the pathways. It was a beautiful day outside, and she felt really pretty wearing makeup and new shoes. They were pretty sandals that she had gotten from her mom. They were also heels.

Since she was not used to wearing heels, Lux was finding walking a little bit wobbly. Her hands had to be held out to the side so that she would not fall over.

If I flap my arms a little, I could pretend that I'm a bird...

SNORT.