Daisy knew that Noelle wasn't all that interested in Quidditch, so she wasn't all that upset when she forgot Daisy had made the team. Obviously, there was a part of her that was a teensy weensy upset but the Slytherin was quick to shoo those thoughts away. She was exhausted all of the time, these days; she could only imagine how much worse things must be for Noelle, who was a Prefect and an Auror in training.

"You say that like it isn't true." She replied with a chuckle to Noelle's teasing tone. Her Dad had told her time and time again that the only reason her Mum had endured countless Quidditch matches had been him; it wouldn't surprise Daisy one bit if Noelle turned out to be the same. "Don't worry. I'll let it pass this time." Especially if she kept the flattery coming.

The idea of wearing a dress OR a skirt had crossed her mind, but Daisy wasn't terribly comfortable with it. "Nah. It has to be something practical." She told her friend with a shake of her head, remembering the previous times she had met Matt. With a nonchalant shrug, she added. "We always end up .. swinging from trees or rolling about in the snow." Yes. Like that was perfectly normal. It did make her wonder what they would do in the actual date, though, so Daisy turned to face Noelle, curiosity on her face. "What did you and Noah did for your first date?" Was she being nosy?

Yeah, probably.

"Thinking aboooouuut?" he pressed further, smiling in a friendly manner. He held out his hand for another one...if she didn't mind. He turned back to the duel. "Who did you have to duel, m'dear? If you partake in the club, that is." Paul used to, but lately...he hadn't been up to it.

"You don't have to share, of course. But. I'm always here," he nodded and swung his legs in almost a childlike manner, crunching on a cucumber. Delicious. Weird with the lemon drops, sure, but eh. He had brought popcorn a few times to watch these things, and he now wondered why he hadn't done that. Popcorn was a muuuuuch better 'watching things' food. Damn muggle movie theaters training their brains that way...buttery goodness...mhmmm.

Horrible friend! And the horribleness just kept coming! "Oi! No teasing!! Noah says youre one of the best on the team!" Of course, Noelle would think that Noah was the best.... but she was just being biased... maybe? "Okay... next practice... bring me. Ill pretend its an auror match."

But away from that. She could help Daisy with this. "What about wearing jeans and a cute top?" Because thats pretty much what Noelle wore on the dates she went on with noah now... even though they only had dates sparingly now due to things. "Our first date though, I wore a pink flowery dress... it did blow in the wind and I may have flashed him.... " Because that had been embarrassing.

Can't say can't say can't saaaaaay. Hazel chewed on her lip at the question, because she thought it important to answer the questions that professors asked of her but if she did say then what might happen.

So for the moment, she skipped over the first and went right to the second. Her eyes were still transfixed on the duel, worrying. "I'm not in the club," she answered simply. "I wanted to focus on working in the stables instead..." except with everything going on... she was getting there far less than she'd want.

Boo.

Paul nodded. "Not really your thing, then?" Dueling, he meant. "I assume you do enjoy animals." Snidgets and all. "You know, I've never seen a snidget in person before. How big are they, really?" he asked with a smile. "They're cute little guys. Fast, right?" He wondered what sort of plant life Tiberius and Gabriel kept at the sanctuary.

He supposed Hazel was too distracted to give him more lemon heads. Which was completely FINE, he was just eyeing the bag now, that was all! That was all. His mind still was on popcorn. Perhaps maybe a good little container of nachos, too. There was all sorts of food places cropping up at Hogwarts--Merlin, where had they all come from?--and THIS was the only place Paul could think where one would make SENSE. Refreshments, please, while we watching dueling with anxious nervousness, please?

"You're welcome to explore the greenhouses as you wish, too, you know. If you're ever down in the barns, and think, 'hey, I'd like to get to know a flesh-eating-fir a little better,' yeah?" he winked.

Wait, whaaat? Daisy looked over at Noelle, one eyebrow cocked upwards. Noah said she was one of the best? Really? Noelle was probably exaggerating but Daisy still smiled softly at that. She might have even blushed. "I think he was just being nice, but I'll get there." It had only been her first year with the team and they were all insanely good. It was to be expected, it being a national team and everything but still, it was a whole new level when compared to the junior Falcons team. "Sometimes I still can't believe I made it into the team."

And by sometimes, read every single day.

"I think jeans and a cute top is the best option." She nodded at Noelle's suggestion. She had a few options in mind already. The last thing she wanted was to end up climbing trees with Matt, or something, and -- yup, exactly that. She tried not to laugh, out of respect for Noelle and the duellers, but it was impossible. "Aaah, Noelle." She chuckled with one hand infront of her mouth, trying to reel it in. "You've got no chill." Sure, it hadn't been on purpose but it was still hilarious.

Noelle turned back to the duellers for a moment and made a few notes that she could work on. She'd never thought about taunting her opponent but that seemed to work sometimes.

Now back to Miss Daisy.

She grinned when Daisy smiled. The smile was a good one "He did. Said you had a bright future too." Noelle said giving her a smile of her own. "Im not very good at Quidditch but... maybe... I was hoping you'd be able to help me? I tried getting help from Henry before but I think he gave up on me. I dont blame him though." She said with a giggle. "Im really bad at Quidditch/"

Hahaha. Yeah, flashing Noah on their first date had not been on Noeles bucket list, but it had happened. "Hey, it makes for a good story." She said with another giggle. "So what are you thinking of wearing? And what about your hair?"

Hazel shrugged. "I dunno. It might be. But I'm not very good with my wand so it didn't seem like a good idea this year." There was also the small thing about having been told about the time Dad had been forced to duel and there may be been just the teeniest association with it.

But then he asked a question that absolutely piqued her interest. She turned to him, keeping the duel in the corner of her eye. "Their about thiiiiis big when they hatch," she made a small circle with her thumbs and pointers, "and this big when they're grown." She expanded the circle as she nodded. "Very fast."

It was his next statement, though, that had her all pale once more, and her gaze once again full on her friend. "Fl..flesh-eating?"

Not very good with her wand? Paul turned to face her briefly. "Well. You'll get better. It's only your first year even owning one." He reassured her, just in case she needed it. Maybe she didn't! But then...well...Paul could remember snippets of his first year, or rather his feelings of complete and utter shame of being so far behind all of the older kids, who seemed to hold their wands with such POISE and say their incantations with such CONFIDENCE.

Ohhhhooo! It seemed Paul knew how to get her to talk now. Like, really talk. With excitement. Hmm. "Oh my. That is...they must be adorable. Does your sanctuary take visitors often, Miss Hazel?" he asked gently.

And instead of an OHOOOO this time, Paul though, OHNNOOO! "Flesh eating firs only eat other plants," he winked. "They are cannibals. But like..that means..they eat their own kind." Not humans. "They like to tickle us, of course, just to make sure. But they will never harm a human." He said with a nod, and he turned back to the duel.

People had always told her that she was good at Quidditch, even when she had only been learning how to get around on a broomstick. Back then she would grin proudly and take it all in. These days, however, everything was more serious. She wanted to play Quidditch professionally, there was no doubt in her mind, so she'd take the compliments with a pinch of salt.

Yes, she was good. But she still had to work hard at it.

"Thanks." She finally replied. She started chuckling and shook her head lightly. "Noah is amazing. I couldn't do that." Chasers had pressure, of course they did, but the mental strength Keepers had to had was possibly only surpassed by Seekers. But what was that? Daisy looked at Noelle with a grin, head now nodding excitedly. Of course would help Noelle with Quidditch, that would be amazing. "Of course I will! We can do it here, I'll ask Mr. McLeod!" And over the summer Noelle could go to Falmouth and she'd get her Dad on it too.

Maybe that would convince him to take the coaching job.

A good story. Yeah, that sounded just about right. Daisy laughed happily at the image in her head. Yes, jeans would probably be the best option. Her hair, though. "Brush it? She joked and shrugged her shoulders. "I might do a braid, but honestly I'm not that bothered." That wasn't a lie, either. Most days she got out of bed and didn't pay any attention to her hair.

Daisy and Noelle were kindred spirits. Daisy thought the way of Quidditch, the way Noelle thought of auror training and animagi training. People said she was good but she didnt believe it until she proved it to herself.

"Noah is amazing though. Hes so natural at it." Noelle also knew he worked his butt off at it... but he didnt seem to have to try as hard at it like Daisy and Noelle seemed to have to. Maybe they were perfectionists when it came to those things.

Noelle giggled though when Daisy picked about what she was going to do with her hair. This was als another thing they had in common. Noelle mostly brushed hers straight or threw it up in a ponytail. There were times she had braided it for training, but that was more for practical reasons that cute reasons. "I dont think it matters honestly, the wind will just mess it up anyways. And if you and Matt do go rough play, there will probably be some leaves to get into it."

"Noah is brilliant." Daisy agreed with a grin. Yes, it was perfectly normal for Noelle to think and say that; it probably was written down somewhere in the Girlfriend Rulebook. But the truth was that the boy truly was an amazing Keeper. "It's ridiculous to think that he will get even better." Everybody on that team was absolutely fantastic, though. They had to be, they were the best in the country.

No, Daisy thought. We are the best in the country.

And with that the girl wiggled happily in her seat. Nope. Still didn't feel real. Best not to dwell on that for long or her head would explode. "Anyway, when do you want to start your Quidditch lessons?" She finally asked, looking over at the ongoing duels. EEK, she was probably distracting Noelle a whole lot. "Do you think you can fit them into your schedule or should we wait for summer?" Noelle had a whole lot going on and Daisy looked her friend over once more. Maybe summer would be the better time to do that.

The whole talk about rough play and leaves in her hair left Daisy blushing, much to her dismay. She knew what Noelle had meant but it had just .. sounded different for a second. Her brain had thought of things she did not want to think about at the moment because the single fact that she was going on a date was weird enough. She didn't need other things making her anxious. So she coughed nervously and nodded at her friend. "Yeah, I might just leave it as it is and take a hair band with me incase we end up chasing someone." Or running away from someone, most likely.

Noah is brilliant. Such ease. Such natural talent. "Oh, hes going to surprise everyone. Did you know hes really good at potions too?" Because he was. "Whens your next game?" She asked looking at Daisy. Her attention went back to the duels for a seconds before returning to look at her.

"The summer might be a little better." Because Noelle was busy most of the time. Studies, training, patrols, friends. It could get a little hectic sometimes. But she wanted to try to play Quidditch! Maybe even enjoy watching the games a little more.

Was Daisy blushing?? Noelle hadn't realized how her words could come across before she giggle!snorted. "You have nice hair anyways. And also.... " Another giggle escaped. "I didn't mean that way."

Daisy smiled softly at Noelle, watching her as she talked about Noah. Yup, the Gryffindor was completely smitten. It was cute to see. One could find it odd, especially considering Daisy's tendency to avoid talking about her own feelings, but she had no problem with other people's feelings. Or, you know, declarations of love. She knew love. Well, she knew what it looked like, at least. It was impossible not to, with parents like hers. "You're really good to him." She commented with a smile, not really making a big deal out of it. It was more of a fact, really.

After all, look at Noelle, hyping up her boyfriend.

"Summer works great. You can come to Falmouth!" Daisy wasn't completely sure of her summer plans yet but she was sure that she and her family would stick around home for at least part of it. Little Evangeline couldn't really travel by portkey yet, after all. The Slytherin silently -- out of respect for the duellers -- clapped her hands in excitement. "My Mum will love you! And Dad is brilliant at teaching people how to play, so you'll be double good!" Yeah, her Dad was a Quidditch star, you know?

Well, retired now.

"I know." Daisy stopped herself and shook her head, slightly embarrassed that she had been caught by Noelle. "I know you didn't. I just ... jumped to conclusions." Like really, really fast and without her permission too.

Stupid brain.

Noelle couldnt help but to brag about Noah. He was Noah. She blushed slightly when she said that. She didnt feel like such a great girlfriend these days so it was nice to hear. "Im supposed to go to Hawaii this summer." With Noah, again. But she didnt know if that was still happening. Things had been a little off lately since she had got the letter from her own grandma. "My grandma sent me a letter the other day... and... well basically... she accidentally told me my parents are getting a divorce." Her mouth formed a hard line. Her parents were like relationship royalty. Their love was a love like no other. And now... they were divorcing??? PLUS they haven't even let their daughter know. She had to find out through her grandmother.

Noelle had all sorts of different emotions there.

"So yeah, I dunno what I'm doing for summer yet. I do know I'm trailing an auror again." Like she'd done last year as well. That had been fun. "But we can definitely play. Or well... you can play and I'll just try to stay on my broom." She gave a forced giggle at that. Her parents divorce still playing with her mind.

Daisy was cute. Now Noelle was curious. "Have you ever kissed anyone?" And she didn't mean mom and dad kisses or cheek kisses either.

Daisy was ready to launch into a rant about how awesome Hawaii is and how brilliant it was that Noelle was spending the summer there when she dropped a bomb. Like, a really serious bomb that made the usually bubbly Slytherin stop her movements. She opened her mouth and then closed it immediately after, searching for something to say. That was ... rough. Properly rough. Real life rough, not 'oh, I have a lot of studying to do' rough. Finally, Daisy inhaled sharply and looked at her friend. "I'm sorry. That's ... awful." Not just the divorce part, although that was horrible, but also the finding out through her grandmother. She sort of wanted to ask why her parents hadn't told her but that probably was too private for her to ask.

Even Daisy could tell that and she usually wasn't one for tact.

"You always keep busy, don't you? Even during the summer." She commented with a soft smile, not really sure how to continue. She shifted in her seat and watched the Gryffindor closely. Did she want to talk about it or change the subject? Daisy was there either way, so throw some clues her way, Noelle. "Nah, you're playing too! Even if it's just a couple of weekends, then we can continue the lessons when we're back at Hogwarts." For their sixth year, Merlin help them.

And wow. Noelle was just throwing Bludgers around, wasn't she?

Daisy did chuckle lightly at that and nodded her head. "Yeah. Last summer. There was this guy on the team..." She stopped herself and wrinkled her nose. Best to be specific. "The Falcons team, I mean. He got sad when I left the team to join the U17." And Daisy had used him as an experiment. She wasn't that proud of it but hey, she had been curious.

The usual bubbly Slytherin perched next to her was now quiet. Did Noelle break her? She was jotting down notes, or pretending to so that she didnt have to look her in the eye. "Yeah.. i uh, I still havent talked to my mom about why they havent told me" She honestly wanted to push it aside and forget about it until after OWLs. She needed her head on straight. It was already crazy enough.

Noelle bit her lip as she glanced up at her friend. "I just like to have a plan." She really didnt, but she loved Hawaii. Plus, she had to work on things for auror training because they would be sixth years next term. Holy merlin.

"Yeah we could do weekends. Even at school." Maybe her dad could even come on the weekends to teach? Or was that too much?

Noelle grinned when she heard that Daisy had indeed had her first kiss. "And here I thought you had virgin lips."

Daisy had somewhat recovered from Noelle's news but she still wasn't quite sure what to say. It wasn't that she suddenly felt uncomfortable with the Gryffindor girl, or something like that; Daisy was just very painfully aware that she had a slight tendency to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Given her friend's predicament, that was something she wanted to avoid at all costs. Still, she had to say something. "Maybe they wanted to tell you face to face." Divorce was a serious thing. How did one even put the news in a letter? Yeah, Noelle's parents probably wanted to tell her when they next saw her.

How ironic that she would then discover in a letter.

Busy!Bee Noelle did seem to want to move on from the topic, though. "I think having a plan is good." Daisy finally offered in reply as she nodded towards Noelle's notes. "We're growing up and everyone is just so good. We can't really stop practising." At least she felt like that about her own life. Even if she didn't have half of Noelle's responsibilities or pressure. Take OWLs, for example. They were actually important for Noelle's future! For Daisy however, they were simply important for personal pride. After all, would a Quidditch team mind if she didn't pass her Ancient Runes OWL?

Probably not.

"Weekends it is!" Any excuse to fly would work for her, really. However. Wrinkling her nose, she added. "Except weekends when I have a game, of course." Noelle would probably want to go support Noah at the game anyway, so no harm done there.

Virgin lips? The Slytherin gigglesnorted. "I'll have you know that was dealt with when I was eight years old." Although she had ended up punching Edward so that probably didn't count. Not that Daisy counted last summer's kiss either. That had been simple curiosity, nothing more.

Noelle sure hoped that that's what they planned to do. Because if not.... she was going to have WORDS. She already planned on sending her mom a howler. Though, she was expecting on any moment from her mom because Noelle hadn't answered the last 3 letters that had been sent. "Maybe" she mumbled but really wanted to get away from that subject. Noah and her seemed to be having problems ever since she mentioned her parents divorce. It was a sore subject. And Noelle was definitely willing to blame her parents.

"Yeah, we can practice weekends! It'll be fun. Mark it on your calendar." Did she have a calendar like Noelle?? Noelle had things mapped out so she fit in everything.

"And of course I'll be at any game if I can." she very much hoped to keep that promise. She nodded and gave Daisy a smile.

Whaaaaat??? "Your first kiss was at 8 years old???" Noelle asked, her mouth dropping open in surprise. She was happy for the happy convo change. "Mine was Noah. First year." Of course.... things had happened and her first boyfriend hadn't been Noah. which she regretted. "You definitely don't have virgin lips." She said with a giggle.

Well. Noelle had now said five more words on the subject which Daisy took as a clear sign she wanted to leave it alone. That was fine with this Slytherin right here. She was sure that Noelle knew that she could count with her for whatever was needed and even if the Prefect didn't ask for anything -- because Gryffindor. They were crazy proud -- Daisy was capable of offering some subtle support.

Well, subtle for her, anyway.

Mark it on her calendar? Daisy gigglesnorted at her friend's words. "Suuuure. I'll buy a calendar and then mark it on it." Honestly Noelle. Did she look like she kept a calendar? She was usually pretty good at remembering the important things and if she didn't remember stuff it was because it wasn't that important. That was her theory, anyway. Needless to say, she was pretty certain of when the Falmouth Falcons played but not so sure of the due date for that Potions essay.

Oops?

She smiled knowingly as Noelle confirmed her attendance of the team's matches but the girl's next words stopped her reply. Eeehhh. "Sort of? I mean - he sort of sprang that on me." Well, she had a lost of bet, hence the kiss, but anyway. "I might have hit him afterwards. Mum made me apologise." Dad had high-fived her so take a guess on who was her favourite. She shrugged. "I suppose it doesn't really count. Not like yours counts!" Noah had been her first kiss? That was adorable.

Noelle knew that her Slytherin friend would always be there for her. She would always be here for her too. She just wanted to drop the subject. It was a nasty one and would make her cry. Crying was a thing that Noelle didnt like to do in public.

"How about you buy a calendar and then Ill add myself in there every weekend. Plus maybe a day out of the week." She was kidding of course.... sorta. She giggled though. Then she looked back at the duels for a bit.

"So he just decided to kiss you??" Noelle had been on the end of a boy that had wanted to kiss her but she didnt want to kiss him back. It hadnt been as simple as that though. "That bugger. I hope you gave him a jelly slug up the nose." Because really. She blushed at Noah and hers kiss. "It was nice."

So Noelle was suggesting that Daisy buy herself a calendar -- which she did not need, thank you very much, her priorities were sorted -- and then allow the Gryffindor to take control of it? She raised one eyebrow inquisitively. "You're going to colour code it, aren't you?" Seriously, that would be just like the Gryffindor. Daisy had never seen her calendar but she could imagine it being perfectly organised with colours, stickers and probably magical highlighting.

Oh, if only she had the will power. Or the interest.

Did Noelle even know what she was walking herself into? "I understand that you're probably kidding, but we could do three days a week." Daisy shrugged, her face serious although there was a mischevious twinkle in her eyes. Yeah, right. Three days a week for Quidditch the year before NEWTs?

Actually, why was she thinking about NEWTs when she hadn't even taken her OWLs?

"Yeah. But we were eight years old." Daisy shrugged. You were still learning about consent at that age, right? One could argue that Daisy had taught him a little bit about that. "I did. He went home with a bloody nose. I had a twig in my hair." She smiled cheekily. Still, that blasted twig had been the reason her Mum had figured out she had been in a fight. That and the dirtied clothes. Clearly, Noelle's experience had been different and the Slytherin grinned. "Look at you all blushy. Must've been a nice kiss." She would've wiggled her eyebrows at that too. If it wasn't so creepy, anyway.

Color coding a calendar??? Pftttt... noooo. Noelle grinned and shook her head. "Nooo. I mean... not unless you want me to. By the way, what's your study schedule like??" Because that was important. Noelle wanted Daisy to succeed.

But that Quidditch schedule was just way too much. Noelle giggle!snorted when she said 3 days a week too. "Okay. Daisy babe... you do know I'm a prefect, doing auror training, and animagi training right?" She gave her a coy smile and a wink because Daisy was obviously kidding. .... Right?

Now back to the kissing. "So since that 8 year old kiss wasn't exactly consensual... who was your first consenting kiss??" She asked curiously. They had gotten off the topic of her date, but she didnt mind the kissing talk. "It was nice. Very shy but nice. My second kiss... that... was a mess." Literally.

Well, that had been a shot in the dark, granted. Yet, Daisy smiled knowingly. Yup, Noelle was still offering to organise her inexistent calendar. "Well, we're probably too late for this year." Sure, the term wasn't about to end, but at least half of it was gone. She really didn't need a calendar now. "Let's talk about this next year." She grinned at Noelle. Actually, she meant more like in their Seventh Year but even Daisy knew that she couldn't really slack off her sixth year.

Meh. So much work. And speaking of which.

The Slytherin shrugged. "I try to revise most afternoons, after doing the homework." Yes, she did her homework! And yes, try was the operative word there; sometimes she just ended up asleep or daydreaming about Quidditch moves. But at least she tried, right? She had trouble focusing, that's all. That actually gave her an idea and she looked at Noelle questioningly. "Do you think we should like ... form study groups? Specifically for the OWLs?"

Look at her, talking about study groups! Wooohoo!

HAH. Daisy tried not to laugh, honestly, but the twitching of her lips was a dead giveaway. "What? You mean you can't make time for Quidditch?" She feigned some shock and in the end, it was her own tone of voice that made her chuckle. "I was teasing. Weekends will be fine." And if Noelle couldn't do it every weekend, that was also fine by her!

First consenting kiss? "Last summer, Noelle." The Gryffindor seemed particularly forgetful today but that was to be expected, having just heard all the stuff she had to do. I mean, everyone would be exhausted after that. "Harry from the Falcons." He was nice and she liked him just fine but there was no doubt in the Slytherin's mind that the fuel behind that kiss had been curiosity more than anything else. Still, it had been "Nice. It was nice. We've known each other for a long time." Looking down at the arena, she shrugged lightly. Waiiit -- curiosity guided her actions once more and she looked at Noelle. "Why was it a mess?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Well, I was thinking I could do your calendar for next year." Noelle told Daisy, giving her a big smile. Noelle had her calendar fixed out but she'd never done someone else's. Well... she had scribbled her name on Noah's calendar a few times... but that wasnt exactly calendar planning.

Study groups.... now that was an idea. "yeah! Study groups! Make it... a little better with studying." Because believe me, Noelle did NOT like studying... but she forced herself too. Her mind drifted a lot more than it should when she was, but at least she studied. "We can get a group together. Who do you think would join?" Olly probably would.

As for Quidditch., "We can do it on weekends. Itll give me something to look forward to." Noelle told Daisy with a grin. She took a bite of her licorice wand and took a look back at the dueling for a moment.

"Well... I didnt know if youd kissed anyone between those times." She admitted with a grin, turning back to Daisy. "Well... my second kiss had been by my first boyfriend. He kissed me off guard and then I ran away..." She said with a giggle. "And no... we werent together at the time." Hence the running away.