Hard word doesn't go unnoticed. Maybe this should be her new motto. It fit her nearly to a 'T'. She was all about hard work even if she did tend to overdo things most of the time. All that mattered was it got done and to the very best of her ability at all times. For this she gave a smile and a nod of her head. She would be continuing to do all she could to further herself in her academics then.

With nothing more to be said on the matter as she wasn't about to bring up her one horrible grade as he had seen it that was that. It was a done matter. "Well I should be on my way, I have another lesson soon." When didn't she have a lesson or some type of training or practice happening. "Have a nice day Sir, I'll see you at our next lesson." Hady gave another smile grin and turned about to leave the man to his reading which she had disturbed earlier.

"Enjoy the rest of your day," he nodded as she began walking away. See, most students got on his nerves. Actually almost all students got on his nerves. Lynch on the other hand, she knew how to handle herself. Just enough confidence to ask for what she wanted, but just enough reserve to step back when needed. Honestly, he'd been hoping that more of the younger students would start striving to follow her example.

But one could only hope. Knowing James' luck, that wouldn't happen anytime soon because most students were following Haddy Denaker's example. Which meant terrible things to come. Once the Slytherin was out of sight, James pulled back over to his seat and opened his book once more.

Hearing the call of 'Enjoy the rest of your day' but a small smile on the girls face. Turning to glance back over her shoulder at Draper she smiled once again, "You too Sir." Pushing some hair from her face as she turned back around she continued walking onward. Where she was headed didn't entirely matter just so it was outdoors in the fresh air for a bit.

Taking in a deep breath she continued on her way to nowhere in particular.

Kelly walked out onto the courtyard. She was thankful for the still mild weather. The autumn leaves shone in bright colours and the blonde had decided to get some inspiration for drawings and mood boards. If she really wanted to pursue her career she needed to be the best of the best. the Slytherin didnt just want to design shop windows, she wanted to design the best and most talked about shop windows and catwalks and photoshoot themes.

As she sat down on one of the benches Kelly took out her sketchbook and started to put together warm oranges,yellows and soft browns. The colours of autumn. Maybe one day she could put a magical tree onto a display and make the leaves fall down in different colours, creating the shop logo. Now that would be fun.

Or maybe by the time the fifth year would have to make a decision, the Sirens would be big and she was touring the world. Or she'd become an astrologist. So many opportunities.

Now that his nephew was taken care of a bit, Julien could turn to the rest of the group. "I think pumpkin carving would be fun." He wasn't the only professor that seemed to think it would be fun. Noticing Art he gave a nod. "I was just saying how maybe we should put them up throughout the castle. It could add a nice touch having some of the students work around." There own as well since he was about to carve one himself.

"Thank you Kaycee, I think this one will be perfect to start carving and I do think this deserves some points for such an excellent idea. Five points to Gryffindor for trying to be a great prefect and getting students involved in the Holiday." He could appreciate effort and this prefect did try. He hoped more students would come over the carve some.

Looking at Miranda he smiled, "Yes I can help you. It is Diffindo and you point your wand at what you want to cut. So put the pumpkin on the ground and carefully do the top first." He showed her and pulled off the top. "Now you could scoop the seeds with the spoon or vanish them." He would vanish his because faster and easier. Doing the wand movement he vanished them away. "Then we just need to cut a face." Carefully he made a face in his pumpkin and showed her once he was finished.

Kaycee smiled. She, of course, didn't do it for the points, but to have a wholesome activity. But yayy. Points! "Thank you Professor. I honestly just wanted to carve a pumpkin though. I figured other people would want to too."

She smiled and went to work carving. A little diffindo here. A little there.

Once she removed the top, she used the spoon to scoop out the innards. She could have, of course, used magic, but there was something wayyy more satisfying about doing it this way.

Often, Dalton thought that running off his irritability was the only thing that kept him from lashing out at annoying strangers. He was snappish and surly, and it was always just the littlest things that made him want to speak his mind, which was not a good idea. Big things made him want to hit things. But he was determined that he wouldn't do anything like that, and so when an group of annoying first years had irritated him beyond belief, he'd moved from the Common Room to his dorm, put on his trainers, and left the castle.

Autumn was always the best season to run in. Not too hot, not too cold, and today was the perfect example of that. Crossing through the courtyard after a decent forty minutes, he slowed to a walk when he noticed Kelly.

"Hey," he managed breathlessly, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

Kelly had gotten lost in her work as she continued her autumn mood board. This happened to her a lot, cause the things she put together just spoke to her. There was so much more to colours than....well being colours. They were expressions, voices, visions. They weren't simple either, one colour had so many shades and facets. Take her fave colour, mauve. It was a liaison of muted purples and muted pinks. Just beautiful.

Just as the blonde was about to add a firey red pattern she heard a voice and looked up. A huge smile spread on her face when she saw who it belonged to. "Dalton!" As she watched him wipe her brow the slytherin put away her board and petted the space next to her. "Need a break?"

Miranda smiled at Kaycee. " Wow, Prefect. That's a big deal isn't it?" She hoped that one day she'd be chosen for the honor.Miranda sat down on the ground with her pumpkin in front of her and then turned her attention back to Professor Primeaux.

Miranda watched and listened intently to the instructions he was giving her. Saying diffindo under her breath a few times to ensure the correct pronounciation and then pulled her wand from her robes.
waving it just so as she pointed it at the top of her pumpkin and said" Diffindo..." Tracing a circle around the stem and removed it with ease... " Whoa... That was wicked... I'll never use a knife again!"
Miranda was beaming... " Thankyou , Sir.... I saw you vanish those pumpkin guts... Could you teach me that charm too, Professor Primeaux?"
Oh she hoped he'd say yes.... Oh please Oh please... Thirsty for knowledge she waited.

With a little nod, Dalton sat down in the space that Kelly had patted, slightly annoyed - although he didn't show it - that she'd put her art stuff away. He was curious as to what she was doing, but as per himself, didn't ask to see it. Maybe he didn't care that much, maybe he was just happy to see her.

"A break indeed." With another nod towards her bag, Dalton hoped his breathing wasn't disgustingly pant-y and that he didn't look ridiculously sweaty. Which was a stupid hope, because although his breathing had slowed, he looked disgustingly sweaty. Leaning forward on his forearms and rubbing the back of his shoulder through his tank top, he managed, "Got any water, by any chance?"

Kelly's smile grew bigger when he sat down next to her. Whenever she saw him she was really happy to have his company. He probably would not believe her if she told him so the blonde kept quiet about it. The first time she smiled she had made a deal with herself to make him as happy as she possibly could. Simply because he deserved it.Mood boards could wait know, the Slytherin could carry on when she was alone. Maybe she should do one about Dalton one day and surprise him with it....but would he like it?!

For some reason the blonde couldnt hold back a giggle when he asked her for water."I've got all you need." Reaching into her bag she pulled out a mauve water bottle and a chocolate bar. "Here take it.You deserve it."
There was something very mesmerizing about watching his chest move as he was breathing hard. "You ran away from something?" She couldn't remember him being the type to work out?

Dalton rolled his eyes slightly as Kelly giggled. Not out of annoyance, but playfully. For some reason, he could never be annoyed by her. It just didn't happen the way it did with everyone else. He took the water bottle from her and gratefully gulped it down, feeling his heart rate begin to slow and his body (which was probably sill radiating sweaty heat) start to cool down. "Sorry if I smell gross," he managed with a slight grimace as he took the chocolate bar and began to unwrap it.

"Nah," at her next question, he shook his head. "Well. Kind of, I guess. When I get angry or really annoyed. Running makes me forget about it. Or, at least, too tired to act on it for a bit."

Which meant no first years were getting hit today.

Kelly watched him roll his eyes and poked his side. Such a rude Dalton he was...only not. He could pretend to be all careless and baddie all he wanted, the blonde knew he was nothing but cute. Sugar with two legs. Now this should be her new advertisement for him. Sugar on legs. Who wouldn't want a bite of that? Giggle.

Watching him drink a huge smile spread on her face. Damn he had needed that water. Now she had to find out his running routes and provide water for him. Maybe write little notes too, just to make him smile. She couldn't help but laugh when he apologised for smelling gross...which he didn't. "You don't smell gross. You smell like roses and baby tears and chocolate." The baby tears were a joke to be fair. He probably couldn't make anyone cry, he was far too lovely for that.

Someone made him angry? Who was this person the Slytherin had to have a serious talk with?" It's good to have an outlet. But what happened?" They'd definitely go to the common room together later and she'd bring proper food and a blanket with her. The dalton therapy.

SPOILER!!: Hopers

Hope wandered down to the courtyard. courtyard it was so pretty outside. There seemed to be alot of people in the courtyard. She even spotted her cousin, Noelle. She waved as she found an empty bench.

She sat down and proceeded to people watch. It was entertaining. Every one was different and had their own mannerisms. She smiled as she leaned back.

Mason was scarcely ever inside the castle anymore, now that the were Second Years she was finally allowed to bring her broom to school, which meant that she was on the Pitch more often than not.

It was still spring-ish so the weather was perfect, soon the quaint Courtyard would be frozen over, meaning that she probably would set foot here until Summer, cause Mason HATED the cold.

She was on her way back from the Pitch, bag slung over her shoulder and ponytail damp with sweat. She wanted to take a nap (like always) so obviously she needed to cut through the Courtyard to get to the castle, like every other day. But today, something- or rather someone caught her attention. A small smile tugged at her lips when she say the girl and started towards where she sat on the bench. "Hey, Hope." She greeted when she reached the Lion, "Haven't seen you since Ava and Teddy's party." And with a plop she dropped her bag and sunk onto the bench beside her.

Bethany walked toward the courtyard briskly, really she was in no mood for the cheery Christmas spirit, as her friends called it, happening inside the castle. It wasn't her fault that Great Aunt Susie had fallen ill, so why was she being punished for it?

Not being able to go home for Christmas, well that was certainly unheard of in the St. Clair family.

Her mother had sent her a very clear letter that morning informing her of the unfortunate fever that came upon her Great Aunt who, might she add, was living in Sweden. SWEDEN OF ALL PLACES. So of course this meant that her entire family was leaving for Sweden tomorrow, and she couldn't go home for the holidays. Really, she wouldn't have minded had it not been the fact that this was possibly the very last Christmas she would spend with her granddad, who's ailing health had put him in a hospital as of recently. She sighed, took a breath to calm her frustration and cast a warming spell over her shivering self. Maybe spending Christmas at Hogwarts with her friends wouldn't be so bad, but she still would terribly miss granddad.

Kitty walked through the corridors slowly, humming a soft tune and swishing her cape back and forth as she did so. The castle was mostly empty, due of course to it being Christmas and most students were back at home with their parents. Normally she would be one of those leaving, but her parents were visiting her aunt's family in northern Ireland and she had no desire to participate. So she had simply told her mom to wish her aunt a Merry Christmas from her, and that she would be staying at Hogwarts for the first time. It was a quite Christmas, but that was okay with Kitty.

Entering the courtyard, she caught sight of one other student - a Gryffindor girl a few years older than Kitty. She seemed to be in a hurry. Hmmmm...

The Gothic girl slowly took her camera from her robes and snapped a picture of the girl.

Wallowing in her self-pity, Bethany didn't notice another person enter the courtyard. And honestly she probably wouldn't have noticed at all had it not been the loud CLICK sound and flash that had come from the entrance. She turned in the direction of the sound to see a Ravenclaw girl, who couldn't have been more than just a few years younger than herself, holding a camera up to her face. It was pointed towards Bethany and she had to take a few seconds to realise that this girl, who she didn't even know, had just taken a picture of her.

"Um...hi?" She said questioningly to the girl, who still had the camera up to her face. "Uh, did you just take a picture of me?" She pointed to the camera. Is that a muggle or wizard camera? she wondered. She didn't think she was that interesting enough to have a random person take a photo of her, not that she necessarily minded. It was an amusing ego boost she quite needed.

She was more confused at the fact that all her years at Hogwarts she'd never seen this girl before, the girl wasn't exactly a plain Jane, more like a cool, gothic version of fancy Nancy...right?

"How do you know what baby tears smell like?" Dalton said, between gulps of water managing some laughter that resulted in a few random hiccups. He did take a dramatic sniff of his armpits, though. "Definitely not roses and chocolate. I'm thinking -" SNIFF. SNIFF SNIFF. SNIIIIIFFFFFF. "Sweat. And outdoorsness. And definitely not roses."

He grinned again, chugging some more water before passing the bottle back to her. "Thank you." He nodded a little bit, before leaning forward on his forearms and letting out a sigh. "It was just first years. Being loud and obnoxious in the Common Room." With a shake of his head, Dalton rolled his neck slightly. "It's stupid things that annoy me."

And he hoped Kelly didn't think he was horrible for thinking so.

"Yep, I just took a picture of you," replied Kitty cheerfully to the older girl. "I hope you don't mind. I'm taking lots of pictures of people and things at Hogwarts. At the end of the year I am going to put them in my book and show people at the feast. I'm going to be a reporter slash journalist when I grow up." The Gothic girl put away her camera and approached the Gryffindor, her cape swirling with a slight breeze behind her.

She extended a very pale hand to her."My name is Kitty DuGray Valentine, but you may call me Kitty for short."

Bethany shook her hand. "Nice to meet you Kitty. I'm Bethany St. Clair." she smiled, her mother's letter was completely forgotten at this point. "People usually just call me Beth though." Beth dropped her hand and motioned over to the camera. "I really don't mind at all, you'll definitely have to show me that book at the end-of-year feast." She said, fully intrigued. Beth had never in her five years at Hogwarts heard of a cooler idea, the thought of a photo book was exciting and she couldn't wait to see it. No doubt this girl would be a great journalist if she always had cool ideas like this.

"You can sit down if you'd like. I know it's kind of too cold to be outside right now, you should probably cast a warming charm on yourself before you catch a cold." Beth said, laughing. She really didn't want to be the cause of her new friend getting ill, especially not during Christmas time. "Also I was meaning to ask - is that a muggle camera or a wizard one?"

GOLD.

Katerina still searching for gold. Gold. Gold. She continued to mumble about gold she moved strangely around the courtyard. She needed the gold, to take back with her. Bumping into benches and even almost tripping in the fountain.

There had to be gold somewhere. Someone had gold. Kat must find gold.

"Kat need gooold."

Kelly couldn't help but laugh along with him when he asked her about the baby tears. "To be honest i have no idea...i would probably cry if a baby cried in front of me or because of me." It just sounded kinda cool. Babies were supposed to be happy though, smiley little cuddle balls. But to be honest, everyone deserved to be happy and that's why she particularly enjoyed hearing Dalton laugh. The most precious laugh of all.

When he took sniffs off his armpit, the blonde almost fell from the bench because she was laughing so hard. After punching him playfully she held her stomach. Someone should record this. "if it wasn't dead weird, even for me, i would take a sniff but honestly i smell nothing. ALSO roses are included in outdoorness for your information." Giving him a wink she took the water bottle and put it beside her.

"You're welcome. Anything for you." Watching him lean Kelly crossed her legs and smiled. He was always so modest, but he didn't have to be. Someone she would teach him that. "What did they do?",she asked dancing her fingers up and down his back. "It's okay to be annoyed at little things, everyone has a different patience level. "

Dal was cold. Though, she was usually cold, so she didn't mind too much. The need to be outside was stronger than the desire to be warm, so she'd pulled on a second jumper and made her way outside.

Admittedly, she'd been reluctant to return to Hogwarts. In fact, she'd been a little bitter about having to leave Beauxbatons at all, but so far it hadn't been all that bad. She was actually kind of annoyed that she had been proven wrong... she could just see her dad reminding her that she should pay attention to him sometimes because he occasionally made sense.

On the other hand... this place was beautiful. Dali was trying to take it all in as she explored the grounds, but she got the feeling she'd be discovering new things every couple of days whilst she was here. So that was cool.

Eventually she found herself back in the Courtyard. She'd rushed through it earlier, eager to see the outer reaches of the grounds, but now she took some time to look at it. Granted, there wasn't much that you could make exciting about Courtyards, but even so... it was very pretty. Obviously very old... and...

Was that a pear tree? Brilliant! Dalia made her way over to it and stood on her tiptoes... She wasn't quite able to reach that pear... the one that looked so juicy and delicious. And she'd decided on that one now, so she couldn't back out and pick one that was closer to her reach.

Dali stood back and eyed the tree... would she be in trouble if she climbed it?

Azura was sitting against the wall of the courtyard. Her head was in her hands and tears were streaming down her face.. She was an awful person.. What was she going to do? Chris? Cour? Ughhhhh...

She didn't want to hurt anyone.. and now.. It seems like she was. She bit her lip as she sniffled more.. Where was her mother when she needed her? She just needed a hug.. and to hear her gentle voice and warm arms around her to say that everything was going to be all right..

Her life seemed to be falling apart right now.. The missing few weeks she had.. The terror of talking to the spiders..She had missed charms class? And now..This..

She groaned as she sniffled more and looked up to wipe her eyes.. when she saw something.. Sitting in front of her..

It was a patronus..

A Bunny patronus..

Her MOM'S PATRONUS!!

She cleared her eyes and blinked.. gasping as she sat forward.. Dead people couldn't send patronuses!! Which meant.. Her MOTHER WAS ALIVE!!

"Mom! Mommm!" She yelled at the Patronus as it sat there.. wiggling it's nose at her.. "Where are you? Mom!! She reached out to touch the bunny, but it faded from view and Azura gasped.. "No! No! Come back.." She yelled out as she stared at where the bunny had been..

Azura's mind was spinning.. Her mom was alive.. She needed to tell someone.. But.. Who? Her family didn't count anymore.. wait.. wasn't..

Azura instantly sprung to her feet.. Mason's Dad.. Wasn't he the one that had told them about her? Could he help? The teen was instantly running.. and then falling.. and crashing into a wall.. And then getting up.. and uncaring of the blood running down her face.. Made a mad dash for.. the dungeons!

There were only a couple days until her birthday and Esme was rather excited about being 15 years old. What she WASN'T excited about was doing homework - especially when said homework involved History of Magic. She liked Professor Finch and thought he was cute but yeah... this was not her thing by any means.

Sighing, she crumpled up what felt like the millionth piece of paper and hoped that someone, ANYONE would save her from her boredom. Oh well. At least this kept her mind occupied from other things. Esme knew that she liked to hide from her problems until she was ready to face them; it was an instinct that was hard for her to shake. It was just the way that she was. There was nothing to be done about it other than carry on with life. This was something that she couldn't hide from, however, because she knew that it had affected other people as well.