During free time, particularly during the spring and fall, the grounds seemed to be the most popular place during free times. Something that the fifth year understood, considering that's where he was looking for a spot to hang out as well, but also a minor annoyance considering how difficult it was to find a spot somewhat secluded from the rest of the student body. The only spot that came to his mind, was out near the Winged Boars. The gates were locked and secured, and considering the speech had made it sound like Hogwarts was locked away from the outside world (in a good way this time), this spot would have been as safe as any of the others.

His cat padded along at his feet as Evan found a spot to sit, pulling out his charms textbook and his wand as well as an assortment of cat toys. "Let's see if we can't find some charms to put to good use for you, shall we?" He reached out to scratch Padme behind the ear, before throwing a mouse her direction and pulling his book open while she wrestled with the toy.

Blake was wandering, tossing his football between his fingers as he looked around. He was a little on edge, as one was. It was his 5th year and he managed to lose two of his closest friends in the past few months. Everything was... ... was. Everything was. He was fine.

"Avoiding someone?" he asked spotting a familiar person. He made his way over to his fellow fifth year.

Maybe it was best to just start from the basics and work his way through his text on anything that might make the toys more interesting to the kitten. Though... truthfully, now over a year old she could hardly be considered that. He raised his wand, pointing it at a mouse. "Locomotor." It hovered a bit of the ground, and he used a lazy flick of his wrist to push the mouse back and forth, quickly engaging his pet.

Until a familiar voice surprised him and he dropped the mouse, which only gave Pads opportunity to successfully pounce. Head turned to look over at Blake, giving a small smile. "Hey. Avoiding pretty much everyone. What brings you out here this way?"

Blake completely missed the mouse thing. He was busy doing whatever Blakes do with quiet moments. He wasn't quite sure what that was. He zoned off pretty easily.

"Same, actually. Just looking for a spot away from Margaret and Lumi..." he said, the second sentence much slower. It was still a little much to be around them and a little space seemed like a good idea. The end result -- him being on the edge of school grounds.

"Why are you avoiding?"

It was actually rather nice he now had distraction in the form of company, because there was no way he was getting that toy back. He left his cat to it's play and turned attention fully towards Blake.

A spot away from Margaret and Lumi? For the former, Evan did not need to question why. Though he still felt a pang for both of his friends, and put a mental reminder to check on Margaret later at some point. But the latter.. "What happened with Lumi?" Ev did not know the Gryffindor girl much, other than by name and sight, but he thought he remembered seeing her around with Blake. "I thought you guys were friends?"

Why was he avoiding? A lot of reasons. But for the biggest reason currently was sometimes small talk with strangers was just too exhausting. "Didn't see anyone I knew, so I figured would have been better to be alone for a bit." Phrased that way to make sure it was known Blake's presence was welcome, not an annoyance.

Blake shrugged. "Same thing that happened with Lumi." he said. That was the short story anyway. They had a thing, she decided he wasn't enough, she snogged someone else and now he was there... holding a football. Football would never break his heart.

"We were. Are? Trying to be? I don't know. I hate all this girl stuff. I wish it would stop." Maybe when he actually started dating someone again he wouldn't have to worry about these fragile female friendships. Did new relationships make things hurt less?

Of course, that would mean Blake had to find someone new to feel things for. (Which probably wouldn't be hard, lets be honest, he was a feelings boy.)

"You feeling alright?" he asked. That was a very long winded answer that concerned the gryffindor.

Eyebrows rose at that answer. Same thing? Evan wondered how literal to take that question. Did he mean the situation? Or did he mean the same other boy involved? Though as that thought entered his head, he wondered why he'd even assume that was also part of it.

The girl stuff did seem complicated. But.. he supposed feelings always were, with any parties. He certainly couldn't blame the Gryffindor for being fed up. "It has to be hard too when it seems like so many WANT your attention." It was not said in a jealous way, but Evan actually meant it. It did seem difficult, especially with how it seemed like Blake was being played. Or... at least circumstances were going to where Blake felt like he was being played, which was really the important part.

The question gave him pause. To brush off or not? Brushing off always insinuated lying, and he wasn't much comfortable with that, so he settled for vague as he reached out to pet Pads. "I've felt better, but it's not a big deal."

He'd certainly been a lot worse too.

Blake chuckled and shook his head. "No. That's the problem. They want any attention." There was nothing special about him other than the fact that he existed. And that was fine. Everything was fine.

He didn't even care that much.

Besides, there were other things going on. Like what was that answer? "Anything you want to talk about?" Because they were friends and friends talked. It was the only thing Blake was good at.

Evan considered that response, tilting his head thoughtfully as he did so. Was that true? It seemed to him that they did particularly like Blake, so didn't that mean it was about Blake and not just the attention? "Are you sure? There's certainly no one knocking down my door." It was not said in jealousy, frankly Evan was ill equipped to deal with that if someone did try. It was meant to be encouraging.

It was a hard thing for him to be, however. Never quite knew how to go about it.

The question gave the Ravenclaw pause, before he gave a small shrug. "I think I'm just being sensitive about things this year. Things at home aren't the best." With his sisters, yes. Not so much with his parents, though perhaps he was just building it up.

Blake just shrugged. "I thought it was different." And it wasn't. So that was that. "Sorry man, I think it's just the girls are age and how they are right now." Although Evan probably noticed how they all suddenly became boy crazy and attention needy. Is this what girl puberty looked like? It. Scared. Him.

"Oh..." he said with a frown. Here he was going off on something so inconsequential and Evan had actual problems. "I can listen. Or help, if you need any help with anything."

"Nothing for you to be sorry about." It's not like any of it was his fault, not how he felt and certainly not if it had been in reference to him saying there'd be no interest. Truthfully at this stage, he'd much rather cheer on his dorm mates. Which was good, considering Ig seemed to be interested in some. "I guess I just didn't really notice." Or if he did, he felt guilty pointing it out since majority of his friends were also female.

A thought occurred to him though, and he blanched for a moment. "If this is girls... is this what I have to look forward to with my younger sisters?" Because... no thank you. Would like to return hormones before they were sent, please.

Evan did not find anything that bothered his people as inconsequential. And truthfully, everything at home was his own doing in reality so he had no reason to be upset on that either. He offered a small smile and a nod, "I appreciate it. I just need to figure out how to have conversations with my parents is all. Anything you've got tip wise for that, I'll take."

Blake sighed hard and long before patting Evan's shoulder. "Sorry, mate. Puberty is going to strike them and it might not be pretty." Or it could be incredibly pretty and Blake would have to not comment on it. You didn't hit on friend's sisters after all. That wasn't good manners.

"I just... talk with my parents. They usually get it. Have you tried that?" Of course, that would mean he had as good of a relationship there.

Excuse the look of distress on the male Nam's face. The day of the girls' being boy crazy, or relationship crazy as it could be, was probably fast approaching given the fact Maya was only a year younger and Lisa only one year behind that. When had the drama for Blake started? Probably last year which meant... nothing good for him. "I suppose my concern is more that it might be to others. My youngest sister already seems to have a crowd of admirers." And while Maya was more private, it could be the same for her.

Just talk to them? It really should be that simple, and that was definitely the advise he'd gotten elsewhere too. "They always just seem to be pre-occupied with other things." But also he just expected them to not like what he wanted to say. So he didn't.

Blake nodded. He understood... sort of anyway. Older sisters and cousins were also causes for concern. "You want me to keep an eye out?" he offered helpfully. He could pretend to be intimating to other guys on Evan's behalf. (In fact, that seemed kind of fun.)

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Adult stuff. They seem to be always worried about something. But you're also something that's probably on their mind." he said reassuringly. Of course, he didn't know the Nam parents, he just assumed they were normal and loving. Blake could be completely off base here.

He was lucky the Nam siblings were the youngest of the group of cousins. The two girls were more than enough to give him early onset grays: he might not have been able to handle any others. The offer was both very appreciated, and filled the Ravenclaw with relief. "I'd be eternally grateful." And then a thought occurred to him, realizing he didn't actually know if Blake was an only child or not. "Do you have siblings?" and if so, sorry for being the worst friend ever.

"Maybe." He couldn't imagine it was anything good if they did think about him, their disappointment already having been very voiced in the case of one. But it really wasn't the end of the world. It was just getting to him. "It'll be fine." He was probably trying to reassure himself more than anything, but he'd just have to hope it was right. There wasn't much to do anyways until it came to Christmas break. So subject change. "I'm putting together a study group this term for OWLs. Do you want to come?" Margaret was going too, so if Blake was more comfortable studying at different times than the large group... He'd be fine with that too.

Blake grinned and nodded. "Yeah. It'll be my pleasure." he said with a nod. He did enjoy helping and was low key excited to be somewhat intimidating.

"Older sister." he said with a nod. "And lots of cousins." Which is where he got most of his advice from.

"Good luck then." he said as supportive as possible. He didn't really understand and Evan clearly didn't want to talk about it so it was really all he could offer.

He thought over the study group offer for a minute. "I appreciate the invite. I'll have to pass though." Things were weird with too many people for a group study session to sound appealing.

Officially speaking, Randall Bitterwood was not supposed to be here. Officially speaking, he was not here at all. Not on the grounds, that is, as... agreed, as much as anyone could be expected to agree with such a request.

He hadn't argued against it, it was wisest not to, and Randall was risking a lot, risking his Board of Governors vice presidency just being here. (Not here, not officially.) That, or it would work out in his favour, if he learned anything useful. Just in case a cluster of talkative students did not happen to walk by, he gave the grounds a cursory appraisal from his limited vantage point, doing his best to look important. Not difficult. He was important.

With the term dwindling down and his future no less solidified, Cooper had once again elected to take to the grounds with his cameras to use some of the film that was practically burning a hole in his trunk it yearned to be used to terribly. Feeling as though he had exhausted most of his usual locations, the seventh year veered towards the front gates. In all his days here, he realized, he had never actually photographed the winged board and it seemed like the sort of thing he should add to his collection of prints and negatives.

The crunch of leaves gone beneath his long strides as winter gave way to spring, he couldn't quite help himself but stop to take a picture of a butterfly that had just landed on a blade of grass with its wings still spread do he could admire its brownish-red coloring and eyespots...all while being careful to avoid any stinging nettles as he stepped off the path just a little.

Too engrossed, as usual, behind the lens...Cooper failed to note that the castle grounds had a visitor. At least...for now.

Ah! Here was one now. Randall straightened up, and waited to catch the boy's attention, arms folded and fingers tapping impatiently, almost in time with his foot. He waited about three more seconds, before his impatient driven nature took over.

"Hello there, young man," he called out, attempting to distract said young man from his photography endeavours, and just about refraining from adding a 'yoo-hoo'. "I'd like a quick word."

Finger on the button, he was just about to take the picture when the ripples of sound coming from the man Cooper had failed to notice disturbed the air and changed its flow. The butterfly too flight and fluttered away, leaving Cooper with a hushed plea to come back. Which obviously, did not work and soon the butterfly was nothing but a speck in the distance that faded in and out depending on how the light struck it.

Expelling all the air in his lungs in a huff, his hair tussling a bit from his breath and frustration, the seventh year turned back towards the gate and rolls his shoulders to release the chill of surprise that had shot up and down his spine. The butterfly hadn't been the only thing spooked.

"...um..." Glancing around, and seeing no one, Coopers thumb looped into the belt loop on his trousers casually. The tips of his fingers dipped slightly into his pocket were his wand was, just in case. It was, historically speaking, not great when random people showed up at Hogwarts unannounced. "...if you need the headmaster...I can sprint back to the castle to fetch him. Be back in a few ticks." Unless he got lucky and the man just so happened to be taking a stroll along the grounds. And Cooper was not a particularly lucky person, pretty sure not even Felix Felicis would do much to aid him, so it would probably be all the way to the office before he found Headmaster Kazmi.

...so more than a few ticks.

Sweet mother of Merlin.

"No, no need. Tight schedule, you see," Randall said, in a brave stab at a jovial tone, though he'd never in his life been accused of joviality. The very last thing he needed was for the Headmaster to come swooping in, overgrown flying squirrel that he was, but he knew also that to let that on would make him seem suspicious. Unnecessarily so, because Randall was not suspicious. Was only here with the best intentions. All he ever did was with the very best of intentions. "I'm on the Board of Governors, just stopping by to see that everything is shipshape. Anything to report from up in the school? Any more ... how to put this delicately ... situations?"

To put it indelicately: problems, due to poor management. He couldn't check for himself, you see, because there was a huge gate in his way, not to mention several complex security enchantments.

Cooper was not the sort to assume the worst in people, so while the man's sudden and unorthodox appearance was perplexing to say the least, he was hardly under the impression that this man may be here to cause harm and use whatever information may be collected from the Ravenclaw's lips against Hogwarts and its staff. Though the man's response was a curious one...

A tight schedule? Tight schedule for what exactly?

The mention of the Board of Governors sobered his curiosity up a fair bit as well and a certain protectiveness took over. He couldn't help it, it was in his blood thanks to Grannie Cassandra.

"If you mean to ask about any further situations regarding the Pharoh's Triumph...then I can say, with great confidence, that there has been none," Cooper smiled and drummed his fingers on the sides of his camera and in a split second decision decided to try and get a bit of information himself. "I hope the Board of Governors is doing all that they can to find out just how such a plant made its way to Hogwarts. The timing was quite unfortunate considering its appearance along with the Board's attempts to beautify the grounds and brought in all those beautiful flowers," he inquired innocently and with a calm smile on his face that betrayed his inner panic that was building and building by the second.

Randall pursed his lips and looked from the boy to the castle. Nothing at all? Or simply a student pretending otherwise? He had no basis for believing him or disbelieving him, other than perhaps a little wishful thinking.

"Not specifically about the plant, no, but that's very good. Less distractions. More time for learning." See: best intentions. With nothing else to go on, Randall's options were to wait around for a second opinion and risk a member of staff barrelling into this impromptu meeting (or was it market research?), or to take what information he had and get going. He was not here officially, of course, but some people did like to ignore technicalities in favour of getting all up in arms.

Eyes snapping to the boy again, Randall fixed him with a cool smile of his own, perfectly accustomed to such baiting and fishing. Seemed the flying squirrel hadn't opted to share all the details. "Most unfortunate, yes. And not something being handled internally, in the interests of full transparency." He'd just be taking that moral high ground now, thank you very much, as if it had been his decision and as if he had agreed with it from the start.

Violet had finally found where her magpie Mack had been nesting this year, in a scraggly nest built in an equally scraggly bush on the edge of the school grounds (not in the animal sanctuary area where it was supposed to be). And sure enough, he'd collected a wide range of stray objects that he'd stolen collected over the term, anything curiously coloured or, especially, bright and shiny. Including what looked like a quite nice ring. Violet tried to pick this out of the nest, hoping she could find out who it belonged to and return it before the theft became widely known and she got into trouble, but just as her fingers nearly snagged it, Mack deftly picked it up in his beak and flew away.

So here she was, chasing a stupid bird across the front grounds of the castle, all the way to the gates. As she got within eyesight of them, she saw a fellow student, Cooper with his camera, as usual, and nearly turned back (because Violet disliked having her picture taken), until she noticed that he was talking to a strange man standing just outside the gate. Violet was immediately suspicious of someone lurking around the castle and so she edged closer along the line of the bushes, trying to get near enough to catch some of what they were saying.