The sun was something Natalia craved all the time. She loved being outside and she knew the days were number to have it. Soon the horrible cold would set in. She had already felt the temps drop when they arrived at school. As much as she could care less about Australia, she did miss the heat and the sun in the winter.


Sitting near the willow, but far enough that the tree wasn't going to kill her if it got mad. Nat laid back in the grass and closed her eyes. She was going to enjoy this peace and quiet for as long as she could. Maybe she'd even just skip her next class to stay out longer. New professors wouldn't have a clue if she was there or not, right?

Kimi stopped a good bit away from the Whomping Willow tree as he didnt want to get too close because he did not want to get hurt so near to the start of term

If Henry had the choice, he'd much rather be outside than inside. And since he figured he had that option for lunch, he decided to take a sandwich and go for a walk. He knew the grounds pretty well considering that he went on a morning run nearly every day, but he was always looking for something new and interesting when he went out.

Today would be a leisurely walk while the weather was still nice as he had already gotten that run in and would have a hard time eating while running anyway. Nope, he was going to enjoy his sandwich though and thought about sitting under a tree to enjoy a mini picnic. Maybe he should have brought more food. Or some lemonade.

As he walked further through the grounds towards the Whomping Willow, he noticed someone laying on the ground nearby. Had they gotten hit by the crazy tree and now were knocked out on the ground? He slowed his pace, keeping his concerned eyes on the girl and soon realized it was Nat. She wasn't moving. Hopefully, she was alright.

"Hey, Nat!" he called to her as he got close enough but far enough away that he wouldn't get hit by any wild branches. "You okay??" Hopefully. His Rennervate wasn't so good yet.

The Whomping Willow was pretty much LEGENDARY, especially because it was slightly murderous and didn't feel at all bad about it. YOu get too close, you get a branch to the noggin, and that was just... that. No regrets. It was a powerful way to live.

It was cool.

And then there was this kid standing well back from the tree and acting like he didn't know how very cool it was. "Coward."

The sun was so nice and Nat was comfy on the ground. It was quiet and warm. That was until she heard her name. At first she though maybe she could pretend to be asleep. No one would wake a sleeping person, would they? Though she knew that voice and a smile played on her lips. "If I'm not okay will you run for the healer?" Opening her eyes and sitting up she pushed her hands through her hair.

"I'm fine. I was just enjoying the sun. It will get colder soon and I don't think I'll ever get use to the cold here." It was the only thing she'd ever change around here. "Do you like the cold?" Her eyes flickered to the tree as it moved a bit. "Don't think that thing can get close to us right here, do you?" Just as she said it she saw a branch swing towards them.

"WATCH OUT" She grabbed his robes and pulled him down towards her out of the way from the branch hitting him.

Kimi looked at the older Slytherin girl and said "What i would go closer i just feel slightly scared but i would go closer if possible" Kimi wasn't sure why this girl was calling him a coward he usually wasnt this scared

"It's possible, but you have to be [i]braver[i]," Katy tugged at the end of one of her curls before inching forward a few steps to show him. It helped that she'd observed this tree in action and knew its timing. It also helped that there were birds around, annoying the Willow enough that it was barely aware of some piddly students on the ground.

She danced out of reach a moment later.

"It's possible." See?

Henry got a little closer, trying to see if Nat was dead, unconscious, or what. Well, she was talking, so that was a good sign. He raised a speculative eyebrow at her words though and let out a short chuckle. "Well, I already had my run today.. so you might just have to see how good my healing charms are." Sure, he was joking, but he could tell at this point that she was fine as she sat up.

Oh, just enjoying the sun.. yeah, he could understand that and he nodded his agreement. "I like to spend a lot of time outside too, at least as much as I can." But he was outside in cold weather too even if he did prefer warmer. "I don't mind the cold too much, I guess," he said with a shrug. "Warm is better, but there are fun things to do in each season." Like snowball fights in the winter with hot chocolate afterwards to warm up.

"Hmm?" Henry glanced over at the tree as Nat mentioned it. He had thought he was at a decent enough distance away but perhaps he misjudged it because no sooner had she said that than a branch came swinging his way. Her yelled warning caught him off-guard and he wasn't prepared for her grabbing him to pull him out of the way. In fact, it sent him off-balance and the momentum of her pulling him sent him falling into her, the weight of him causing him to land on top of her. "Oh.. sorry.." He rolled away a bit. "Uh, thanks though.." Hopefully he didn't hurt her in the process.

The sun was shining, white clouds fluffed about in the sky, and there was a slight wind. It was approaching fall, so of course it was slightly cool but nothing Paul couldn't handle. He had a light sweater draped around his shoulders. He was just checking on the Willow was all.

She looked fine. Or He. He wasn't sure. IT. IT looked fine. Students were milling about, and he often wondered why so many were attracted to spots so near the violent tree. At least none of them were too near the tree.

In hindsight, he really should have brought Zelda out for a walk.

Kimi nodded and said "Yeah i guess it is possible but i mean you make it look easy but i will have to try it for myself"

Giggles left Nat's lips as she listened to Henry say about his healing charms. I"m not sure I'd let anyone do healer charms on me that wasn't really a healer."[/b] Her own boyfriend was going to be a healer and had never done hearing charms on her. Looking up at him she smiled though, it was sweet for him to make sure she was okay.

Wrinkling her nose she shook her head, "Maybe it's my Australian blood, but the cold is just too cold here. I'd never move back, but I do miss the warm weather when the castle becomes freezing all the time. Though I'm positive I freeze longer then anyone else here." She was already feeling the cold in the morning and evenings. Which just wasn't making her happy.

...and he was on top of her. She had fallen back to be on the ground blinking a bit. "Are you okay?" Sitting up as he rolled to her side. She looked at the tree, "Did it get bigger over summer? I've always sat this far and have never had an issue." She looked around wondering if she misjudged her usual seat.

Did Paul have a death wish? That was the only reason Rosalyn could come up with as to why the man was looking the thing over. Obviously he had the good sense not to get TOO close, but still... She had never liked the tree and that feeling would probably not change, though there was some interesting history behind it and that was something that she could not ignore. History was one of her biggest weaknesses.

Keeping a wary eye on the branches, she slowly approached her colleague. "Afternoon, Paul. Checking up on the tree? Seeing if it has a clean bill of health?" As the Herbology Professor, he WAS plant doctor. Had something happened to the Whomping Willow? Looked as good as ever to her but then she was no expert on the matter; if the thing started looking truly dead... Well, that would certainly catch her attention. For the moment, however, everything seemed to be going really GOOD.

Paul nodded at the voice, who he recognized as Rosalyn Newton, Art's niece and one of his new coworkers. "Pretty much. But it looks okay today. I did some work on it last term and was making sure nothing I did affected it poorly. Which it didn't, nor did I think it would have, but it's always good to be safe," he said as he eyed one of the branches moving slowly, but menacingly.

"How do you like the castle so far, Miss Newton?" he asked with a smile. "And how do you like teaching? Any students giving you trouble?" he chuckled a little at the thought. His lessons had been going relatively smoothly thus far, thank Merlin. "I usually buy all the new professors a plant for their office...but there were so many this term...I decided to forego that practice." And maybe forever more, now. It was a hassle, one he was getting too old to do.

Henry sat up a bit from the ground, brushing off some of the grass from his robes. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine.. are you?" Not that he was all that heavy to have landed on top of her, but he had knocked her back onto the ground. He glanced up at the willow, keeping a cautious eye so as to not be in its way again. "I don't know, maybe? Trees do continue to grow, right?" He didn't know completely for sure, but he didn't think they were like people or animals who had a stopping point for growth, at least for height.

He had only been joking about the healing charms thing, but he had been a little curious about what she said about Australia. "Yeah, but, aren't the seasons opposite here to what they are there? Like, it's becoming summer there when it's going to be winter here, but when it's summer and hot here, isn't it winter there? It doesn't get cold there then?" He really didn't know and had never been there himself, but he thought that was the way it worked and was curious about it so he thought he'd ask to see. She'd know better than him, of course. But maybe it was also weird to suddenly have things opposite, even if she had been here a few years now.

She was fine though she did rub the back of her head. "I'm fine, really. It wasn't that hard of a hit." She smiled playfully, "You aren't that heavy." She was joking of course, Henry wasn't heavy at all. Looking at the tree she wasn't really sure if it kept growing or not. She knew it was an old tree, so maybe it was done growing or maybe it could stretch it's limbs further then normal. "Yeah they probably do grown all the time." There should be a sign indicating where it was safe, though she liked coming to the tree so sign or not she'd be here.

Her eyes on the tree she nodded, "Yeah, summer will be starting soon there. It will be so hot." Just thinking about it made Nat want summer weather. "Where I was it never got this cold in the winter. We were long sleeves and stuff, but never these huge cloaks and winter coats. Those things are horrid." She still hadn't gotten use to it even if it was her third winter here.

She glanced back at him and smiled, "So what brings you outside today?"

Ashwin decided to get some fresh air. He especially liked it because today seemed like a cloudy day and the sun was his Irish pale skin's enemy. He made his was to a marvelous tree, but made sure not to get to close. He only heard the rumors of that tree and didn't want to press his luck. Instead he kept his distance and decided to take a seat on the cool grass as the breeze swept through his hair.

Aah, so the tree had some problems after all. Seemed that whatever Paul had done worked wonders because it seemed to be as healthy as ever. If only it didn't have a violet streak... Siiiigh. At least it did have its historical significance though she was probably the only one who cared about that. Rosalyn knew that history bored some people but she found it utterly fascinating; good thing too since that was the subject that she taught. "So what was wrong with it?" she asked curiously. Then it was his turn to ask her some questions.

She chuckled along with him. "The castle is as good as I remember... except when did we get a FEMALE poltergeist?" Miffy - or whatever her name was - definitely hadn't been around during her student days. It had been Peeves and only Peeves for a very long time. It was... interesting and Rosalyn wasn't a huge fan of the development. "Teaching is going great. I wasn't sure how I would manage with it, but it's better than I had imagined. No trouble students. So far at least." There were bound to be a few problems but then it was natural when dealing with youth. "I assume classes are going well for you also?" Herbology had been pretty fun even if it wasn't her favourite subject. Though... "Too bad about my plant. Does this mean that I am getting something else?" Just teasing though she definitely wouldn't turn down a present. Especially not one that was pretty and she could put in her office.

At that moment she noticed a young boy plop himself down on the grass a fair distance from the tree. Rosalyn couldn't blame him one bit and it was nice to see that the students weren't getting too close. That was an accident waiting to happen and Joy would have her hands full with patients. "Hello there. Beautiful day, isn't it?" she said to him conversationally with a smile.

He jolted ever so slightly as he heard a voice call out to him. He looked around a bit and there was definitely no one else in his direction. "Yeh, it's a fine day miss," he called out. "If only der was a bit o'rain it would make ta day so much bettah." Why did he say that? Why would anyone think rain make a day better? Certainly not normal people. He just sort of forced a smile and then looked up at the sky awkwardly.

"Nothing major. Just a typical checkup, really. Hadn't done one in awhile, and it needed some major trimming." Just like people needed to trim their HAIR, it was quite similar for trees.

He chuckled. "Miffy appeared....a few terms ago? It actually caused quite a bit of chaos...she was trying to court Peeves, it seems. Exactly what Hogwarts needs, eh, a poltergeist couple." Who now..wanted to get married O__O Yeah, just what the school needed right now. MHMM. "Perhaps I will grace you with a place," he smirked. "But we'll see. It would be unfair to my other new colleagues, you know, Rosalyn."

He, too, saw his young badger, but Rosalyn had beaten him to saying hello! How rude! "My dear boy--you want it to rain?" he asked with a slight grin. "Why?" Paul liked any weather nature decided to place on him, but he wondered why anyone WISHED for rain. How intriguing.

SPOILER!!: Ashwin and Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnceUponAStar

He jolted ever so slightly as he heard a voice call out to him. He looked around a bit and there was definitely no one else in his direction. "Yeh, it's a fine day miss," he called out. "If only der was a bit o'rain it would make ta day so much bettah." Why did he say that? Why would anyone think rain make a day better? Certainly not normal people. He just sort of forced a smile and then looked up at the sky awkwardly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

"Nothing major. Just a typical checkup, really. Hadn't done one in awhile, and it needed some major trimming." Just like people needed to trim their HAIR, it was quite similar for trees.

He chuckled. "Miffy appeared....a few terms ago? It actually caused quite a bit of chaos...she was trying to court Peeves, it seems. Exactly what Hogwarts needs, eh, a poltergeist couple." Who now..wanted to get married O__O Yeah, just what the school needed right now. MHMM. "Perhaps I will grace you with a place," he smirked. "But we'll see. It would be unfair to my other new colleagues, you know, Rosalyn."

He, too, saw his young badger, but Rosalyn had beaten him to saying hello! How rude! "My dear boy--you want it to rain?" he asked with a slight grin. "Why?" Paul liked any weather nature decided to place on him, but he wondered why anyone WISHED for rain. How intriguing.

Ah, of course. Trees would need checkups in the same way that humans did. Rosalyn remembered lessons on tree and plant care from way back when she was a student. Obviously aggressive trees hadn't been covered... "So is there a special spell you use to freeze it? Or does a standard one work?" Excuse the questions, Paul. They kind of came with being a former Ravenclaw.

Hmm. So that explained a few things. The process of poltergeist creation wasn't lost on her and there WAS a lot of chaos at Hogwarts... Miffy's arrival made a lot of sense even if she wasn't thrilled about it. "Never in a million years did I think that PEEVES would get married."It was madness. Utter madness. What next? A bunch of polterbabies? There was a line when it came to things like this and it had been stomped on. Repeatedly. Rosalyn shook her head and then laughed at what he said next. "Well, even a small one would do. Or even something like a rose." They were beautiful and smelled lovely.

Rain would make things better? She looked up at the sky and saw that there were some clouds. "Looks like you might get your wish." Personally she was more than happy with a sunny day though she wouldn't say no to a little bit of rain either. "Does it rain a lot in Ireland?" Since she had never been there before, she had no idea. Maybe one day she would be able to see for herself.

Ashwin swallowed the lump in his throat. He never felt like he said the right thing and apparently, according to Professor Myers that was a very strange wish indeed. "Well, ay s'pose it brings life an' gives a sense o' home," he replied. "Or as Charlie Chaplin once say, 'Ay always like walkin' in da rain, so no one can see me cryin'." Not that Ashwin was crying or anything, he was just quoting a classic. He loved the old black and white movies from the 20th century, they had so much heart, expression and originality compared to what was out there today. It was his favorite muggle thing to do, was watch movies.

He then looked at the sky to see what Professor Newton was referencing. The clouds did look like they were stirring and a wide smile stretched across his face. "Ay do believe you're righ' miss, looks like some nimbus clouds are formin' now," he grinned. Why did he know so much about clouds and weather? Well, having a meteorologist for a father kind of stuck these thoughts into your mind. "It's no' too bad in Ireland, jus' depends on how da Atlantic ocean is actin'." Not very many people really asked him about Ireland, the accent was a dead giveaway, but he appreciated the little reminder of home. "What's best 'bout rain is there's always sunshine ta come afta. Like how William Henry Davies puts it, 'Ay hear leaves drinkin' rain; Ay hear rich leaves on top, Giving da poor beneath, Drop after drop; 'Tis a sweet noise ta hear, These green leaves drinkin' near. An' when da Sun comes out, After this Rain shall stop, A wondrous Light will fill, Each dark, round drop; I hope the Sun shines brigh'; 'Twill be a lovely sigh'. "

Henry nodded as Nat said she was okay. He wasn't too worried as she appeared fine and was talking and stuff, but it was good to make sure. "That's good. Well, maybe not," he shrugged with a hint of a smile. "But I have gotten pretty strong and muscular. I could have pushed you down pretty hard." Could have happened. But seemed to have not.

He glanced up at the tree again, looking at it appraisingly. "It seems likely, I think. Probably a sign to move back some at any rate." And he slid back a bit further on the ground so he wouldn't almost get hit. He did wonder just how close he could get to it without getting hit though. Henry was distracted in this thought when he heard Nat talking about Australian weather and he glanced back to her with a nod. "Oh.. so never that cold?" That was interesting. "I guess I don't really mind it. I mean, I do like summer best, but winter has its perks too."

What brought him outside? Oh.. his eyes traveled to what was left of his sandwich, now on the ground after he had been pulled down. "Lunch," he chuckled.

Henry was getting eyes at his comment. Nat had noticed he had been gaining muscles and stuff, but knew he was training really hard for quidditch, but him saying it made her giggle. She wasn't sure why, but just hearing it from him sounded weird. He wasn't one to focus ever on his looks when she was around him. Reaching up and touching his arm she grinned, "Oh goodness yes, I can't believe you didn't knock me out. You are such a beast now with your quidditch arms." She wasn't trying to be mean just funny and well after she did touch his arm she was surprised and shocked that the fourth year had so many arm muscles.

Moving back seemed like effort and Nat kind of liked where she was sitting, but she didn't want to be a squashed snake either. They didn't slither as well and she was happily slithering around at the moment. So she scooted back as her eyes stayed on the rude tree. "It's cold for us, but believe me I will never complain about the cold there for the rest of my life. The winters here are so harsh. I can't deal with it." She stayed indoors the majority of the time and near a fire with five blankets.

"Oh no" Her eyes moved to the sandwich. "I'm sorry Henry, why don't we go to the kitchen and I'll make you a new lunch. I'm pretty good at making things." She made great meals and stuff so a new lunch would be super easy.

Was she making fun of him? Henry couldn't completely tell, but he gave her a knowing smirk when she touched his arm. He was more muscular than he was before, whether she knew that or not. "They don't just take anyone," he shrugged with a smile. "I had to put in a lot of hard work to make the team." And therefore muscular arms were a byproduct.

"Oh, I think you'll get used to it," he said, his eyes still watching the tree. Not cautiously still, but more curiously. "I mean, you'll have to if you live here, there are ways of dealing with it... Will you move away when you are done with school?" If she hated winters that much, it was the next thought that came naturally to him. Winters here weren't going to just magically get better.

"Oh, it's fine," he laughed a little about the fallen crust of his sandwich. "I was almost done with it anyway. It's not a big deal, really.." He had eaten most of it by the time he had gotten here anyway.