*huff huff huff* *pant pant pant*

Azura slumped against the wall and slid to the floor, did she love Hogwarts? Yes she did! She she loved everything about it.. Yes! Did she like the stairs?

No!

Her legs were burning as she sat on the wall and tried to catch her breath as she wondered for the umpteenth time why she couldn't have been a Hufflepuff! Seriously! The stairs were a nightmare, not only for her poor little legs, but for her lack of cordination! She had already tripped and fallen down them once and skinned up her leg..

*sigh*

She bit her lip as she leaned her head back against the wall.. Too much was on her mind and at least she could concentrate on the stairs instead of everything else that she was going through.

Hady didn't have a lesson going on soon. Her common room wasn't up this way either. So really as of the moment she had no true reason to be headed up this way. Except that she did, Frankie was lion and therefore his common room was up here. So if anyone asked which they probably wouldn't, she was headed to see him. Or maybe she was just doing her Head Girl rounds. Who really knew anymore?

Turning a corner down one of the corridors she realized just how quiet it was up here right now. There wasn't a sound. It was actually a little bit unsettling that there wasn't anyone around. Probably all outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine before the weather changed and became much to cold for most of them.

If she weren't as observant as she was Hady might have missed the young girl sitting alone on the floor against one of the walls. Stopping as she got closer she realized that she knew the younger girl, Azura. "Everything alright?" Hady asked softly with her usual smile in place stopping just in front.

Az was trying to keep her mind off of.. everything when she heard a voice above her and she opened her eyes and looked up at the older head! girl. "Hady!" She said with a warm smile as she nodded.

"Yeah, everything is all right. " sorta she said with a nod as she looked around and noticed they were they only two up here! "The stairs just got the better of me and I needed to take a break. " She explained as she looked up at the older girl.

"Congratulations on becoming Head Girl! They couldn't have given it to a better person. " Az said with a warm smile. Head girl was a dream of hers, one that probably wouldn't come true.

A bright smile spread across her face when Azura looked up at her and smiled. The smile was warm and friendly, not one that showed anything was wrong. This was good.

Hady gave a soft laugh at hearing the younger girl explain about the stairs. "The stairs can do that to anyone, they used to nearly kill me back in my first few years." An elevator would be nice but sadly that wasn't going to happen here. Moving closer she sat down on the floor beside her. "I find that giving myself a few extra minutes usually helps, that way I can do as you did and take a short break when I need to."

"Thank you Az, I really hope I can keep the title a proud one." Live up to what a Head Girl should be. "I bet if you kept up all the good work you could become Head Girl someday." Any of them could if they worked hard.

Azura returned Hady's bright smile, she really liked the older girl. It was funny, she had talked now to all three of the head girls since she had been here at Hogwarts, Tia had taken her to the hospital wing in her first year. Penny, had helped her talk things out last year when she was so upset over her mom and now here she was talking to Hady.

Azura made a bit of a face, "Yeah, it's not only the stairs themselves but I'm clumsy, and well stairs present issues with my coordination. " She said with a soft sighs. Especially the moving ones, those just needed to be banned right now.. Cause they were dangerous. The Ravenclaw nodded at the older girls words. "I'll see about that. That is actually a good idea. Thank you. "

Azura smiled "I'm sure you'll be able to Hady, I had faith in you. " She did too.. She knew she would be an amazing head girl.

"No, that was my dream, but when they gave prefect to someone who was just one year ahead of me.. Well..that dream sort of left. So.." It stung a bit, but it was okay, especially if she wasn't going to be here for her last few years.

Those that knew Hady knew she liked to talk, make friends and be of help. If someone needed her she was there, no questions asked. Over the years she had gotten herself in deep with always taking on way to much but she had slowly learned to manage her time better. It hadn't been easy but it had been worth the pain she had gone through to learn what was more important sometimes.

Hady nodded. "I would have to agree that the stairs can be a problem for a lot of us. I remember a few terms ago where the stairs went crazy and were wizzing around super fast, several students and professor Airey had to cast charms to fix it." That had been rough and a few people had gotten hurt that day. Even so she didn't think the staircases would be leaving anytime soon. "It's worth a try at least." Giving ones self extra could help with stress as well.

"Thanks, that helps." So many had faith in her it seemed. She just hoped she wouldn't let them down.

Listening quietly to Azura explain her lost dream she frowned. "That doesn't mean things can't change. I've never been prefect so I really didn't expect Head Girl. If you want it, keep going for it."

Azura smiled warmly as she listed to Hady speak, she always enjoyed listening to stories of Hogwarts before she arrived. Things had seemed fairly calm here in the time that she had attended.. Oh sure there was the creepy hag.. who tried to kill a few students.. And Miffy pretending to be a creepy doll.. But that seemed like small potatoes compared to the flood her mother always talked about or even the spiders that the older students had mentioned.

Azura's face fell ever so slightly as Hady mentioned Professor Airey.. "I miss him you know. We weren't close, and I only saw him in classes, but he always seemed to bring a smile to my face, him and several other of the Professors that left." She knew it was part of life, that people had to move on.. but still, it wasn't a super fun reminder. And a small part of her wondered if she had done anything to make them leave..

A silly thing really.. but still the thought was there.

"Yes, it will be worth a try. Thank you so much." Az said with a nod. before smiling more up at the head girl.

"Honestly Hady.. you are great. You are always so helpful and amazing." Azura really looked up to the older girl.

Azura bit her lip a little as Hady spoke and she sighed softly.. "I mean I do want it.. but there are so many girls in my year.. Heck even my dorm who would do amazingly at it.. Rachel of course, Haddie would be.. unusual but still good! Ariadne would be the bounciest one we've had.." She said with a smile. "I don't know.. I don't even know if I'll be here for that long." She explained with a bit of a sigh.

With it being her final year so much had happened here at Hogwarts. Some of it made for incredibly hilarious stories. Others...not so much. Not many people wanted to speak of the spiders and all that had went along with that. She was usually one of those people, one of them many that were still terrified of the animal/creature no matter how small it was.

Hady hadn't meant to upset Azura when she had mentioned Airey. She wrapped a friendly arm around her giving her shoulder a light squeeze. "I know what you mean, he's one of the professors I miss too." As well as Draper and Nana to name a few. "I bet you could always owl him sometime." It might help her to feel better as well.

"Thank you Az, hearing that helps. It makes me want to keep doing what I do." It was the little things that mattered a lot of the time. Just a simple word of praise had a tendency to go a long long way.

Ah, okay. She could totally see what she meant. "It's true that your year is a large one and there are many capable students but that shouldn't get you down. Keep doing what you're already doing and the professors will notice." Hard work always paid off. What was that last bit though? She might not be here that long? The teen looked at her questioningly for a second. "Are you planning on switching schools or something?" Why else wouldn't she return to Hogwarts?

Azura smiled warmly up at Hady as she felt the older girl give her shoulder a light squeeze. It was comforting and she was grateful for that. "Ohhh, I probably could do that. Him, and Draper, Icichara, Mr. Kitridge, Primeaux.. Tanner.." She sighed softly, so many people had left. "If it wasn't for Professor Meyers and Professor Hirsch I probably would have started crying at the welcome back feast." She explained. Those two men were her favorite, along with Mr. Kitridge.

"Well, I am glad I can be of help. If you ever need any encouragement of any sort, I'm here." She said with a warm smile as she looked up at the older girl. She would do a good job, she was sure of it.

Ahh yeah.. "Well, I'm audtioning for music schools, seeing as I want to be a professional pianist and composer. So, Hogwarts doesn't fully fit my needs. I won't really need NEWTS. Since i'm not planning on getting a magical job." She took a bit of a breath. "If I get into a music school, I'll be leaving Hogwarts after I take the OWLS." She explained.

Listening to Azura list the professors that had left she couldn't help but feel a tinge of pain once more. "I know...I feel the same. I keep in contact with with Ichihara and Finch mostly. I should owl Draper really soon too..." Those three meant something to her. They had together helped her decide and conquer all things important to her right now and in her future. "Crying is okay. Honestly, I almost did as well. My very first glance at the staff table that night hurt...I didn't expect such a large change but that's how life is." Always expect the unexpected. Never get to comfortable with how things are.

Hadleigh laughed softly looking down at Azura. "I'd like that. And in payment for your strong encouragement towards me you'll get the same." Helping others was what she was good at.

Falling silent to listen the seventh year took in all that was being said. Another budding musician. She couldn't help but smile at this. "Music is wonderful and if it's your true calling then that's what you need to do. Is there a specific school you're aiming at getting into after next year?" There were tons of music schools out there.

Azura was silent as she listened to the older girl talk, it was nice to hear that she wasn't the only one who had felt hurt and shock when seeing the staff table for the first time. She had also felt something else.. a slight bit of Betrayal? She hadn't even known they were leaving, if she had, she would have asked for their addresses, given them hugs, wished them well on their new journeys.. instead.. They were just gone.

It was painful.

She nodded along at Hady's last words, she knew all to well that was how life was. "Yes, that is how life is. I'm trying to roll with what happened and get to know some of the new Professors, but it still stings." She said softly as she shrugged a bit.

Thankfully her mind was pulled off the painful memories as the head girl spoke again and she smiled. "Thank you Hady, I appreciate that. I also might want some help with some spells that I've been attempting to master." Such as Incarcerous and the Patronus charm.

Azura nodded her dark head, her hair falling into her face for a moment. "It is my true calling, and..as for schools." She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and looked down a little shyly. "Julliard and WADA are my dream schools really." It would be a miracle if she got in though, no matter what anyone said.

Bentley lost count of the amount of times that he had to wait outside the RavenClaw common room just to grab Chloe before her girl friends got her. It was always easier when he had sickles and knuts that he could use to pay first year for errands, but he was out so he had to do the deed himself.

He leaned against the wall and tried to look as casual as he could while waiting.

He didn't look casual. That was the first thing that Chloe managed to think when she saw him efforting on the wall outside of the Ravenclaw Common Room.

The blonde tugged her books closer to her chest and pointed out, "You look tense." Did he know? Because he did and she was keenly observing him. He always looked some level of practiced cool but today he was oozing it.

"Waiting for me?" she asked.

Bentley leaned off the wall and rolled his eyes in a semi good nature'd manner. He was sure he managed to pull off the 'I'm just leaning against this wall cuz I can, it's no big deal thing' just fine. A few girls even passed and waved at him.

"Was that Chloe for you look nice today Bentley?" He'd just go with that interpretation.

"As a matter of fact I was. Where are you off to?" Plans on tagging along if he can't steer her elsewhere.

It was nice to know she wasn't the only one. Sure, many others probably felt the same way but not to many voiced how they felt. Being able to sit beside her friend and say what she felt to know that Azura was feeling the same helped. As strange as that might be it did. "I know, it's not easy. I can give you what you need to owl some of them." At least the info to the professors she had.

"Anytime. You're welcome to come to me whenever you need to." Helping her with some spell work wouldn't at all be any trouble either.

The way Az spoke about music was how she spoke about healing. There was passion behind the young girls words and Hady hoped she always felt that strongly about it. "If it's your calling then you make sure not to back down, okay? Follow through and always put your all into it, you'll make it." If she wanted it bad enough she had to work for it and something told Hady that she did. Julliard huh? WADA? "Some really top notice schools you're looking into. Like I said, give it your heart and soul and you'll go far. If you fail try again." And again and again. As many times as it took to make it.

Azura smiled warmly up at the older girl. "Really? I was going to go to the Headmaster in order to get some of the information I needed, but if I can get them from you, that is much better." She really liked the Headmaster, but she didn't want to bother him with things like that. He had so much on his plate, with running the school and all..

She smiled up at the older girl gratefully. "Thank you so much Hady." She was going to miss her when she was gone. But that was life.. Even if she didn't like it, that's how things went..

The purple eyed girl nodded as the Head Girl spoke. "I won't back down, I have a dream.. and I'm going to follow it.. no matter what." She said with a determined nod.. "Mmmm, I hope I will, everyone keeps telling me how amazing I am, but they are my friends.. and there is always going to be someone better than me, someone more talented than I am.. But I am going to work hard.. and one day.. Orchestra's will be playing things I've written." She said with a smile.. "Of course, I'll be playing in that Orchestra as well." A wide grin crossed her face at that thought.

"Yeah, they are some of the best.. Which is why I'm trying now.. so if they don't take me, I'll have enough time to audition again." and again, and again.. if she needed too.. She was going to do this..

If girls thought he was cool then they obviously didn't know him very well. Bentley Moore was a impulsive, heart-on-his-sleeve, not very smooth Gryffindor. Again, practiced cool. Not the genuine kind.

It was endearing on him.

But no, it was not Chloe!talk for he looked nice. How he looked had nothing to do with the fact that he was tense. And she could tell that he was. But, then again, Chloe had a theory that Bentley was always secretly wound up. Waiting for one small thing to make his temper burst. Gryffindors were like that.

She shook her head at his inquiry and moved on to his next question, lighting up slightly because he had waited for her, "The library." A stock answer, sure, but realistic.

"Of course. I don't have contact information for everyone but those I do keep in touch with I can give to you." It wouldn't be difficult at all seeing as all the needed information was written down and kept in her dorm. "I'll get it for you later on, how does that sound?"

She smiled warmly at Azura. "Anytime. I'm always around and even after I'm gone from here you can always owl me as well." Anyone that wanted to keep in touch with her was always more then welcome to and she'd offer up any help that she could when needed.

Now this. This was exactly what Hady wanted to hear. That determination to make it. To make ones dreams come true. "See there you go. That's what you need to focus on. Just always give it your all no matter what and you will make it in the end." She smiled nodding her head. "And when that day comes for you Azura I'll be in the crowd watching you." Seeing her friends dreams come true wouldn't be anything she would ever miss.

"Nothing at all wrong with trying early on. If it just so happens that you don't make it, hopefully they'll be kind enough to inform you on what you need to improve on." That way she could work on that area and become the very best to make it into the school of her choice.

Seven pixies flew up to the seventh floor, eager to cause some mischief. They loudly spoke to each other in their pixie language, but they went completely silent when they turned the corner. Devilish grins appeared on each of their faces.

Ehehehehee! Victims!

The small group separated, three quietly soaring above the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw and the others to the Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Two latched onto the blonde's (Chloe) hair and pulled while the other went to give the Gryffindor (Bentley) a nice little nibble on the neck. Meanwhile, the other pixies were occupied with the Ravenclaw and Slytherin duo, thinking it would be funny to pinch the Ravenclaw's (Azura) cheeks and pull up the Slytherin's (Hadleigh) robes and wrap them over her head.

"EHEHEHEHEE!" they all screamed. It was all very funny indeed.

Azura smiled warmly at Hady as she spoke and she was about to respond to thank her for being so amazing whens suddenly..

What in the Blazing Fwoopers was happening?? Pixies? Again!!

Azura was trying to bat them away but sadly she had her eyes closed and her wild flails just hit air! She opened her eyes just in time to see one pinching her cheeks!!

ACKKK!!!

"Hey now, those are my own personal cheeks.. no one gets to pinch them." She said as she tried to get the Pixie off of her face.. cause.. OUCH!

Hadleigh smiled at Azura hoping that if anything at all came from their conversation today it would be some form of clarity for the younger girl. Life was tough and getting older only made the decisions one had to make all the more harder. When life goals came into play anxiety, strength, practice, willpower and so much more was needed. You never knew what was going to happen from day to day.

Opening her mouth to say something else Hady froze when sudden little blue somethings came zipping at them both!

What in the world?!

Pixies? Who let pixies out?!

Reaching quickly for her wand in hopes of getting to it and immobilzing the little pests before they could cause harm proved to be a fail. Before she even knew it her robes were somehow up over her head and she could hear Azura saying something about being pinched. UGH!

Struggling with her robes and wiggling about it took a few moments to get them off her head. Robes were not meant to be wrapped around your head, especially while you were still wearing them! Some fidgeting about happened for her wand and she gripped it tight. Only she couldn't cast at the pixies without hitting Azura as well.

Wrinkling her nose Hady did the next best thing. She raised her hand and swatted at one of them. "Get! Leave her alone!" If she could get them to move away a little then she could freeze them!

SOOOOOO SOFT! The Ravenclaw's (Azura) cheeks were so soft! A pixie on the right, a pixie on the left paid no heed to her as they continued pulling and tugging EEEEEHEHEE! THIS WAS FUUUUUUUN!

EEEEEHEHEE!

The Slytherin (Hady) words too fell on deaf (not literally) electric blue ears. They kept pulling and tugging her robes. They were trying to knot it over her head. HOW AMUSING! Their little fingers held the robes in place while another tried to knot the robes.

GAHHHHHHHHH!

Someone get them off of her!

Az felt like they were going to rip her cheeks right off her face, by how hard they were pulling, it was even worse than her Great Aunt Elena, and Az had those THOSE cheek pinches were bad..

"Stopppp!" Az managed to get out as she tried to swat a bit at the blue things that were pulling at her face hard.. She didn't want to hurt them, for the love of the Fwoopers!!

Gah!! She kept scrambling and trying to get them off her face.. she couldn't very well aim a spell at them, it would hit her as well! But.. she might have to take one for the team, and by team, she meant her and Hady...

"Get off!" The Ravenclaw said as she scrambled for her wand..

Through the commotion Hady could barely make out what was going on with her friend. Little blue pests were flying about and being a pain. She could hear the shouts from Azura and knew the Ravenclaw wasn't having any luck with getting rid of the pixies either.

Her struggles with her robes were getting frustrating. She was the Head Girl and didn't have time for this! Tugging at her robes was doing no good and that's when she realized something very simple. Removing them! Hady quickly unclasped the fastenings on her robes and tugged them off. Ha! Now let them do as they pleased with that.

Aiming her wand at one of the pixies as best she could she waited hardly a second to get the best shot. "Sorry Azura!," she called to her just in case. Really she didn't want to hit her friend with a spell but there wasn't much more they could do other then try to run away and that wasn't going to work. "Immobulus!" was cast at the pixies hopefully to freeze them in their tracks.