Alice raced across the the shore of the Lake, It was so HUGE! She was running from Diaval, to the normal human it would have appeared she was being chased, but this was a came they played. Alice had a Blue ribbon in her hand, one that Smelliot had given her. heh. She would run as fast as she could as the bird tried to snatch it away.

It was perfectly safe.. so what if she'd been nipped once or twice? it was worth the fun. But the really great part was how fast she got to run, just moving as fast as she could. She knew the bird let her get ahead now and then, of course he was faster than she'd ever be. But that just meant he was playing along.

There was nothing nicer than a bit of fresh air to kick things off in the morning, that is, so long as it was accompanied by breakfast. Having stepped into the Great Hall long enough to grab himself a handful of toast slices which he kept warm with a heating charm, Zeke then took himself outside, his feet leading him down to the lake's edge.

Here he seated himself on a rock near the dock, tucking one leg beneath him, the other extended straight. It was a nice day. Smiling to himself, the Gryffindor fifth year took a generous bite of his first slice.

The Great Lake, he loved it! As soon as he stepped on Hogwarts ground he knew he had to go by the Great Lake...Especially on a special day like this one, the first day he met Arista. He was positive the girl hadn't remembered it wasn't such a special day to her right? He looked around it was times like these that he missed his brother being at Hogwarts with him he could very easily talk to his other brother that was here but he was focused on other things. The boy put his hand up to eyes rubbing them he yawned. Maybe he had woken up to early?

He shook his head and looked for a place to sit, right in front of the lake sounded good, not so close that if he stretched his foot out it would touch but close enough to where he could hear the sounds of it. He reached into his pocket and retrieved an apple he had collected from the Great Hall before continuing to stare out at the lake.

The Gryffindor was going to take a generous bite of something else when she caught up to him. IF and WHEN he'd ever stop moving. Gosh darn long legs and growth spurts.

But Amur was trucking along at a steady pace. She had been ever since she caught sight of the bugger down in the kitchens sneaking a bit of breakfast. After such a sighting, she had made up her mind that she wouldn't call, holler, yell or otherwise TRY and get his attention. Not until she was up right close and could give him a swift bit of her mind.

Which, as she drew up right behind him, turned out not to be so swift. Either that, or it was so swift it was like a boomerang, coming around and whalloping HER right in the back of the head. Why? Because she stood there. She just STOOD there, STARING at the back of his moppy head.

And the worst part? She was loosing her anger! WHAT. EVEN?!

Clenching her fists, Amur took a breath and stomped around and them promptly deposited her behind on the bit of rock left next to him. She might have pushed him a bit just so she could get on. Lap sitting was for girlfriends ONLY, so he was going to have to share.

It wasn't uncommon for others to be out at this time of the morning, and frankly he didn't much care for them. He was too busy enjoying other things, like the reflection of the clouds in the water, and the occasional glimmer of sunlight as they passed. In addition to that, the melted butter that softened his toast was blissful.

...

And then there were interruptions.

Stomping had alerted him to the fact that someone had followed him, but he couldn't attribute the heavy footfalls to anyone in particular, that is, until he saw Amur.

His brows rose curiously as he took another bite and chewed, shoving a fraction across the rock to make room for her. HI.

"Lizard in your socks?" he echoed her words from the previous night after swallowing his mouthful.

Was. He. SERIOUS?!

For a moment, Amur just STARED at him some more. Should she give a snippy reply like he had the night before? She would have, if turning into a neutral piece of flatbread was as easy for her as it was apparently for him. Thing was, when she had emotions her brow refused to lie flat.

So, it was as crinkly as the old Hag's wrinkles as she pressed her lips into a narrow line. "YOUR lizards ATE them."

There. If she couldn't manage neutrality she could at least manage snippy.

Still, it was hard to stay mad at Zeke. Especially when there was that irritating twinkle of life in his eyes and when the stress and weight of whatever it was from last night seemed to be lifted away by the morning breeze. It was hard to be angry at anyone who looked so free and well.....free.

Merlin's stinky socks.

He wasn't a complete idiot. Despite not being able to recognise Maggie's feelings on the train and then after, he could see perfectly well that Amur had her panties in a knot, or two knots... perhaps she had more knots than the Willow. So all he could do was stare back at her.

His lizard ate them? That couldn't be right.

"I had dragons, not lizards," he corrected, holding out his stack of toast for her to help herself to. Food. Food was good for the soul, she should try it, clearly she was troubled. The thing about Amur being troubled, was it appeared as though HE was at fault for it. How that worked, he had no clue.

... "You 'kay?" he asked, genuinely concerned for hisher wellbeing.

Brian had just started running in the mornings a couple of days ago, since he had nothing better to do than sleep. Well, sleeping was great and all that but if he slept more than he did, he'd be sleeping through lessons and this was a great way to keep awake during Transfiguration so he was doing it. It was for his education. Really. It was worth it. Right? He hoped so, at least.

So he was a-running when suddenly, there was a girl being chased by a BIRD running right at him and all he could do was stumble to a halt and flail a little to avoid crashing right into her. And it might not have been a very successfull attempt at not crashing into her. "I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Yeah, lets hope the bird wouldn't decide to kill him too, now.

Ugh. Just UGH. He was frustrating. So very frustrating. Did he know that?

Surely he did, because he just offered her FOOD. FOOD was the ultimate peace offering. The ultimate act of settling the score. The ultimate 'Do-Not-Cross-Go-Angry'. If she took it, she couldn't be angry. She had to admit defeat.

Problem was, when you were fourteen and growing at a rapid pace to rival beanpoles, stomachs had different ideas than teenage mentality. Which, included a stomach rumble subsequently followed by her fingers picking off the top piece of bread. That was it. She was done. She had to admit a truce into the unspoken war-zone.

And then of course he had to go and ask THAT in THAT tone. Amur tried for the flatbread look, but it probably looked more like a sad puppy. "You're impossible, you know that?" And she wasn't going to say why right away. Nope, she was going to munch on the corner of her bread for a moment of silent effect.

It didn't last too long, likely because she hadn't taken a big enough bite. "I followed you, determined to be angry at you, because you just disappear last night. You were clearly upset and I was worried, as your friend. But you....just. Gone. Vanished." She picked at her bread. Now that she was saying it, it all sounded rather childish.

She shifted her weight. "I was hoping that as a friend you'd come and talk....if you needed help." After a moment, she peeked at him, the frustration gone as she searched his eyes. "What I mean is..........Are YOU okay?"

Arista had been sitting in the lobby of the Gryffindor common room when she saw a familiar boy making his way towards the Great Hall...Or so she thought? She had been following him and was going to the Library when she saw him leave the Great Hall and went outside....What where was he going? Curiosity getting the best of her she followed him outside. It was a surprise to find him at the Great Lake...What was he doing here? Then again the boy did like the place, she was curious as to why.

She slowly followed him making sure to be quiet, super sneaky, and hidey which turned out to be quite difficult for the normally loud girl. Once she saw him sit down she smirked perfect opprotunity running over to him she tackled him and said "Ha got you!" She giggled and then rolled over so she was laying next to him. "Why are you up so early? Gosh learn to sleep!" Hadn't he ever heard of beauty sleep, or what ever it was called.

He was fine with holding out his peace offering for as long as it took for her to bite. Heh, bite. Content with resuming his own breakfast, Zeke chewed as he watched and waited. And just as he had hoped (and suspected) she went for it. Very few would be able to resist it. Really. Grinning a little as she ate, he polished off his piece and started on the next.

Sitting in silence would have been fine with him, but he knew it wouldn't work for long, Amur was like a billywig caught in a spray of weeds, she would break free and when she did he'd have to watch for her sting. He was almost disappointed too, when it came, because he thought she could do better. "So I've been told," he replied in the first instance, smirking slightly as he looked out at the water. Might be nice to take a boat out...

Hearing that she'd been determined to be angry with him, Zeke turned to face her, curiosity tickling him.


... and oh. That.

Just how many people had seen?! First Sir Nick, and now Amur... was he going to have to account for it to everyone?

"Yeah... sorry about that, it wasn't planned," he shrugged before contemplating another bite. He didn't take it though, because then his question was directed back at him. "I'm... fantastic," he replied, wondering if the word did him justice, "brilliant actually." Didn't he look it?

Oh? Good. "Then why hasn't it stuck between those big ears?" Huh? If he'd been told once, that SHOULD have been enough.

Apparently not for Mr. Browne. And apparently common courtesy wasn't either. That, did a good bit to spark that fading anger back to a small but brief flame. Stuffing the toast between her teeth, Amur turned, wound her arm back and gave him a good, solid punch in the arm. With her free hand she promptly plucked the toast out of her mouth, because it was hard to speak between forming croutons. "You could have said something. I was sitting RIGHT beside you!"

As in, a word would have been nice. Even if it wasn't planned. "Maybe not right away, but you could have come back. Like," and here she put on her best smug Zeke imitation, "'Hey Amur. Know I walked out like a drenched dog denied the best part of a t-bone steak. But I'm okay now. Don't worry. I'm actually fantastic. Brilliant really. I think I could walk on water!'" To echo his final sentiments.

Which. GOOD. She was glad. Truthfully and honestly. She couldn't be more glad. But he did deserve some small correction.

Thomas put his head back looking up at the sky he was completely oblivious of his surroundings. That was until he heard a crunch of the grass being stepped on next time and before he could even open his eyes he felt something fall on top of him. Pushing whoever it was off he glared over at whomever it was.

Realizing it was Arista, his gaze softened. "Hello Love what are you doing here?" He snickered at her question as well as the got you. "Haven't you realized by now I'm far to gorgeous to need such things. Sleep is for the weak my dear." He ran his hand on her cheek, she didn't know at all what today was.

Arista grimaced and looked over at the boy...Why in the world would he say such a thing. Sighing she flicked his forehead, "You know sometimes I wonder why I love you so much." She shook her head this boy was ridiculous at times. She wondered why she liked the boy, merlin he even liked Astronomy. She despised that subject.

Looking around she fell onto the ground and said "Ughhhhh what are you doing out here?" She looked around and then back at the boy when he touched her cheek, putting her hand on top of his she gave a small smile. "Is everything all right?" She hated when he acted like this...The only other time had been right before he had started acting so weird last year, right after she had met his mother...Stepping away from him she looked at him seriously, what on Earth was going through his mind?

Thomas rubbed his forehead, what in the heck was that for. He tossed a look over at her and mummbled something about abuse and how he wouldn't stand for it. He stopped suddenly when he heard her words, it always made his heart flutter when she said those words. "Because I'm fabulous and I love you to." He chuckled before looking back out at the lake.

What was he doing out here? Hmmm what was he doing out here? He looked over at her and then slowly the wheels in his head starting turning and he realized what she was thinking. He was an idiot, and that was an understatement. How stupid could one be. Standing up he yelled "I'M FINE!" He threw up his hands and grabbed hold of her arms and pulled her into him. "Today's just one of those day's that brings old memories back and I'm stuck in them." He smiled and ran his hand over her cheek again.

Genuinely concerned he asked "What about you, are you okay love?"

Ouch, geez, someone was lashing out. "Actually my ears are proportionate to my head," he replied, opting to ignore the fact that he ought to have done something about being 'impossible'. Like, thank you very much, Amur. The beauty of being impossible, was that it was IMPOSSIBLE to stop. People should know that much. They should just deal.

He was happy eating too until he saw her draw back and follow through with a punch to his arm.

Fkdojsowfco!!!!!

That was going to bruise, but he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of saying so out loud. "I'm sorry! I had other things on my mind at the time!" he replied, tossing the crust of his toast into the water before planting his hand against Amur's cheek and pushing her to the side. Retracting his hand before she could bite, he nudged her with his elbow for good measure. Had she calmed her farm?!

... apparently not.

Gone back?! He was supposed to go back?! Zeke rolled his eyes before sticking another bit of toast between his teeth, his lips curling around it as he watched her impersonation of him. A lovely performance. Really, he was impressed. "I probably could walk on water you know," he agreed, well aware that he was perhaps antagonising her too much. It was time for an apology, he supposed.

"Going back wasn't an option... I was busy." So so so busy. "You over it now?"

Alice was too busy trying to keep the ribbon to notice the older boy running toward them.. She bumped into him and was equally at fault as they collided. "Yes... I think so.. you okay?" She asked and turned to see Diaval looking rather angry, like he might try to defend her from this boy. "Diaval, no. You calm down." She knew it was an accident and as soon as she commanded this the bird landed on the ground next to her. He was nothing if not obedient.

"You're Brian right? We met in the Great Hall before the feast got out of hand.. You're a Hufflepuff?" That's what she remembered anyway. She'd met so many people the last few days.. it would be hard to keep track of them all. "Sorry about Diaval.. He's a bit overprotective."

Near the lake she looking into the water. Pointing towards it with her finger she snapped her fingers as a few fish jumped and landed on the ground near her feat. Picking them up and placing them in her bag, she turned in time to see two children with a bird. Her laughter started and she headed straight for them.

"You, you there (schroyers) that bird is he yours?" This was too good and Ursula moved even closer. Looking at the boy (Laurange) "You don't harm this bird. I sense animals will not like you and will turn on you soon. Watching your fingers dearie, they might think they are worms."

Alice was in the middle of her conversation with Brian when that creepy old lady from the train showed up.. Cackling like a witch from a disney movie. Merlin. "Yes.. he's my pet. Why?" She said looking at the old witch like she was insane.

For all Alice knew she was. She'd heard plenty of stories about the things that happened at Hogwarts and clearly this cackling weirdo was a part of all that.

Arista pulled her cardigan down on her shoulders and shrugged her shoulders oh well if he wanted to think that he could go on thinking that. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." She looked over her shoulders and laughed he was a weird one that was for sure!

She stepped back a bit more when he yelled, but was thwarted when his hands gripped her arms. Having no choice she walked a bit closer that way as to not hurt either of them. Sighing she blew some hair out of her face. What did he mean memories?! "What do you mean memories, is there really something special about today that I am not remembering!?" Well she was a terrible girlfriend, scratch that she was a terrible person. She pulled away right as his hand touched her cheek.

"Of course I'm not okay, your acting strange, I'm forgetting a very important date and you are acting weird! Wait I already said that!" She chuckled before realizing this was a serious time and there was no time for laughter.

Azura had made her way down to the lake and now she was walking along the shore happily! The wind was blowing through her raven hair and her purple eyes were sparkling happily..

All up util the point where she didn't watch where she placed her foot, tripped over a rock and ended up face in the rocks!!

Merlin!

Azura groaned softly as she slowly started to push herself upwards and she whimpered..

Owwwwwww

Trixie raced down to the lake at full speed. She wanted to see the giant squid that her father and uncle kept talking about. She was sure that they were just pulling her leg because they were always telling her stories that weren't true.

But if there was a giant squid, that would be so awesome!!

Before she even had a chance to scan the water, Trixie saw a girl about her age hit the ground. Hard. Immediately she changed direction and headed over to the girl.

"Hey! You okay?" She asked grabbing the girls arm and gently pulling her back to her feet.

Azura groaned slightly as she tried to push herself upwards. She was halfway up when she heard a voice above her and she felt someone helping her up!!

"Yeah..I think I'm okay." She said as she looked at the girl with a warm smile, her purple eyes shining warmly at the other girl.

Though.. she wasn't fully sure if she was all right or not! Thankfully the ankle that rolled seemed to hold her weight, but it was her face that was hurting! Her nose especially!

"I'm Azura.. Thank you for helping me up!" She said with another warm smile as she gingerly put her fingers up to her nose..

Was it bleeding?

THE GIRL HAD PURPLE EYES!!

Trixie couldn't help but stare, she had never seen anyone with purple eyes before. After a moment though she realised that the girl was talking to her and she gave herself a small shake and gave the girl an apologetic smile. She hoped that she hadn't made her uncomfortable.

"Oh that's no problem." She let go of the girl's arm and waved her hand dismissively. "It's what we Gryffindors do." Hehe. "It's nice to meet you Azura. My name is Trixie."

She noticed the girl touching her nose. Poor thing. That would have hurt. "Don't worry it's not bleeding but it is starting to swell a little." So it was probably going to be tender for a few days.

"So how did you fall over? Did someone get you with a trip jinx?" Trixie immediately scanned the area to see if there was anyone else around.