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[Alexander Sowerby]

One of the many places that Alexander absolutely loved at Hogwarts was the Quad, or the Paved Courtyard as it was oft called. He loved sitting here, on either one of the benches or on the staircase itself. The Courtyard was large, and surrounded by the buildings and four towers of the school. A lot of students either played gob stones here or chatted up each other during the breaks between classes. He usually liked to sit here, read one of his textbooks or just watch the students as they walked around.

It was a cold grey overcast day, he sat on a blanket he had brought. Watching as students walked through the courtyard. He wore his leather gloves and a woollen cap, the Moste Potente Potion book propped up in his lap. The book he had taken with the help of Amelia from the library over a month ago.

He had placed a fake paper cover over the book, so that in case someone had seen the book, they wouldn't think anything of it. Alexander was however rather surprised that the book wasn't being sought. Considering how many dangerous potions were listed in this. He knew that he must return the book eventually, within the next couple of days. Keeping the book, would only likely bring him more trouble than it was worth and besides, he had already copied down many of the more interesting potions he thought he wanted to study.

Just as he closed the book and opened up his school bag, he saw a familiar face walking toward him. Fumbling with the catch of the bag, he accidentally dropped the book on the step. He lowered himself to grab it, but just at that moment, the girl had arrived. He felt his stomach drop and heat rising into his chest at the thought of what could happen next. He had half the mind to make up some excuse or perhaps just cast the body bind curse at her before she could find out what the book was or that it was from the Restricted Section of the Library.

Edited by Alexander Sowerby, 21 September 2011 - 10:36 PM.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Adelaine was headed to the Owlery to send her screech owl, Ilgre, with a letter she'd just written to her parents. She reread it several times before crossing the lonely courtyard, and stopped when she noticed Alexander Sowerby sitting alone on a blanket.

Walking over with a smile, she bent down to pick up the book he had dropped, noticing a tear on the rather conspicuous paper cover. Her eyes scanned over the page it had opened to when it fell. The Laxative Potion? It occurred to her then that this wasn't a regular book; that potion was only found in Moste Potente Potions. Her parents owned a copy of the same book, and she had a habit of flipping through pages when they weren't around.

"Interesting book, isn't it?" she said, handing it back to him.

There was, of course, no reason to beat around the bush, pretending she didn't know. She realized the Slytherin wasn't as impeccable and gentleman-like as he made himself out to be, since he had to have stolen the book from the Restricted Section.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 21 September 2011 - 10:40 PM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

He felt his face lose all it's colour as the girl picked up the book. He had changed his expression into a blank stare, as if to not give away anything at all. She noticed the badly made faux cover. She would quickly guess what it was, wondering whether he should hex her while he still had a chance, if he hexed her, or put the full body bind curse, he could run into the library. Lodge the book somewhere on a book shelf in the restricted section and act coyly when she'd turn him in. All he'd be punished for would be the fact that he had cursed her. Just as this crazy plan ran through his hea, the girl spoke.

"Interesting book, isn't it?" she said, handing it back to him. He took it gently out of her hand and quickly dropped it into his open book bag.

Was she going to turn him in? he thought, as he lowered the bag onto the step. Quick, think!. His eyes scrutinized her for a moment, doing some quick thinking. Alexander looked around to see whether any students where within ear shot. He was certain that if this girl was in league with Chancery he was likely to be sold down the river. He was sure the boy would rat him out the first chance he'd get.

Alexander watched her, the heat in his chest and the bottomless pit in his stomach vanished. His facial expression still blank, he felt himself calm down. He was no longer nervous, but he knew that he now had to do whatever was necessary to ensure that Adelaine would not tell anyone, whether it was a professor or a fellow student.

"What would you like me to do, for this to stay between us?" He spoke softly and slowly.

Edited by Alexander Sowerby, 21 September 2011 - 10:55 PM.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

The boy looked as if he could curse her for her finding his book, and she couldn't help but give a quick laugh at the look on his face. "What do I have to do" ? Did he think she was going to blackmail him? Such a thing was quite beneath her, more on Luka Chancery's level.

"Don't look so distressed," she grinned. "I'm not going to turn you in, but I am curious as to how you came about this book."

She considered changing her letter quickly to request her parents send her their copy. Absolutely not, she decided. Adele hated potions, what would she do with a book full of the darkest and most dangerous potions ever invented? This brought her back to the Slytherin, and she raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"More importantly, what did you want the book for?" she questioned.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 22 September 2011 - 10:20 AM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

The girl laughed, undoubtedly at his odd facial expression. She spoke with calmness in her voice and a grin spreading across her lips. "Don't look so distressed," she added "I'm not going to turn you in, but I am curious as to how you came about this book."

He considered what he ought to say, and decided that it would be best to just say the truth. After all, if she wasn't going to turn him in, he might as well as be honest.

However, before he could answer her, she had inquired "More importantly, what did you want the book for?"

Alexander looked at her and than motioned for her to sit down on the blanket.

"The book is from the library," he said slowly and quietly as not to be overheard. "I've heard about it somewhere." he didn't want to seem pretentious or a pédant; it didn't really matter that he had read about the book in another book. "There was never really any plan to make a potion, just more so learn them, write a few down and when I was able to do so, perhaps do them, to prove to myself that I could."

He wasn't sure whether Adelaine would think he was being honest but he was. However, the ulterior motive of learning and undertaking these potions would be the ability to stay ahead of the curve, and perhaps become a Prefect, a Head Boy and gain entry into the top positions in the Ministry of Magic. While perhaps his ambition may have seemed a bit unrealistic, Alexander was not pompous by any means. Nor was he about to spill his feelings about his ambitions. Nor, did he want to share the reasons why he wanted to become all of these things in the first place.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Adelaine didn't have much reason to accuse another reader of the book of having dark aims (her having read the book herself), but Alexander didn't strike her as one who was just fascinated with all the advancements of the wizarding world. Not wishing to cause a fuss, she sat down across from him on the blanket and listened.

"I suppose they may be handy concoctions to know," she said, playing along. "I've flipped through it once or twice myself."

Through the years, Adele had gathered that most people, when lying or hiding something, tended to over-talk things. Since Alexander didn't seem to be the talkative type, she couldn't help but assume he had something else in mind.

"What do you think you'd ever need one of these for?"

Perhaps if she went along with it, he'd end up letting something slip. Not that she'd ever turn him in, but it was always good to know who's on what side of things.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 24 September 2011 - 06:40 PM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander watched as the girl spoke, she seemed to be trying to pry information out of him by playing coy. He wasn't going to slip up. He would give her enough information to satisfy her, so that she wouldn't go running off to a teacher but at the same time, he didn't think that it would be necessary to tell her everything.

He heard her voice in a long distance as he thought about this and as if suddenly someone had turned on his hearing, a rush of noise came to him. " ... flipped through it once or twice myself."

He smiled at this, his charming, genuine smile. So it's not like she was completely innocent of whatever undoubted rules she broke to check the book out.

"What do you think you'd ever need one of these for?"

He wondered how he should word himself, and than he began "Well, you never know what situation arises that it might become necessary to suddenly be aware of these potions. I mean, it's very similar to classes where one feels that they might not be useful at the time we are learning them, however they're good to know." He was being honest and while he couldn't be certain as to whether the blonde would believe him, he wasn't about to persuade her otherwise. "A Ravenclaw like you probably understands, that sometimes learning things for the sake of learning them is in itself not just satisfying but also an experience in itself."

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

Alistair was rather perplexed; his robes were too short. His laundry had never come back damaged in any way before and he took it to mean that he had perhaps offended the house elves as his name was still clearly stitched into the tag. But in going through his trunk he realized that in fact all of his trousers and robes were hanging near his ankles. He could then only assume that he was growing at an alarming rate and would need entirely new robes. After sending a letter off to his father, Alistair walked back to the school, tugging at the fabric to stretch it out as he went. Hopefully he wouldn’t grow any more this year.

Generally Alistair didn’t lounge in the courtyard. As pretty as it was, his time spent outside usually involved running or quidditch. However he paused for a moment when he noticed his second year Ravenclaw friend sitting off to the side with a Slytherin boy. Alistair and Adelaine weren’t the best of friends, but he was certain he had made an impression on her their first meeting and liked to check in on her from time to time.

The two seemed to just be talking, surprising since Alistair generally had arguments with Slytherins as opposed to private outings. A suddenly gleeful look overtook Alistair’s face as he walked over to the duo. “Greetings Adelaine,” he said, squatting down and resting his elbows on his bent knees. “I didn’t know Ravenclaws went on dates outside of the library.” He shot a cheeky grin toward Adelaine and nodded at the Slytherin. Truthfully, he didn’t know one thing from another when it came to dates, but he could identify that it was a stereotypical assumption and would live with the knowledge that it may not be entirely accurate.

Hopefully her Slytherin counterpart had a sense of humor; it wasn’t common among the snakes, but Alistair was always more hopeful with the youngest ones. He supposed they would either laugh or shoo him away from their blanket. He rather hoped it was the first, as he didn’t have really anywhere to go this afternoon and the courtyard seemed more and more inviting with each passing minute.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Alexander's words puzzled her. She didn't know whether to be offended or flattered at his assumption that she'd understand because she was a Ravenclaw. Eyeing him a bit suspiciously, she was dying to change the subject, and pulled out her wand.

"Repairo," she chanted, directing her wand at the tear on the paper covering the book.

Immediately, the two torn edges seemed to sew themselves back together as if with an invisible string. Adele looked around, desperate for a distraction. Finally, Alistair sauntered over and crouched down on the blanket. Though his habits were somewhat odd, she welcomed the sight of him, hoping he'd draw the conversation away from the potion book.

"Alistair, sit!" she said, rather forcefully. She realized it may have sounded quite rude, so she grinned hesitantly. "I mean, because..now we can be a triangle."

She sketched out a triangle with her index finger, then went red in the face. How foolish could I possibly be? By this time tomorrow, the whole school would be talking about her being obsessed with geometrical shapes.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 25 September 2011 - 02:40 PM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander watched as Adelaine fixed the ripped cover of the book. Just as she had done so, a Hufflepuff boy he had seen at dinner a few nights ago was walking toward them. Placing the book as casually as he could back in the bag, he closed the bag and hoped that he had not noticed anything.

“Greetings Adelaine,” the boy said as he squad down beside them. “I didn’t know Ravenclaws went on dates outside of the library.” Giving the girl a cheeky grin and nodding at him Slytherin. Alexander smiled bemused by the few well chosen words, surely this was not a date considering that they had met by chance.

Before Alexander could introduce himself, Adelaine spoke with a tinge of forcefulness in her voice. She undoubtedly had wanted to change the subject of the book, it was awkward enough for her let alone him. "Alistair, sit!" just before anyone could answer or say anything she added in a rather awkward voice. "I mean, because..now we can be a triangle."

At the mention of a triangle and the deepening red glow of Adelaine's face, Alexander grinned slightly. He didn't mean any offense of course, but choice of words and her facial expression seemed rather humorous.

Looking at the boy with a smile on his face he extanded his hand. "I'm Alexander by the way."

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

This was certainly the company to keep. Alistair loved any group he could join and not offend in the first few minutes. He crossed his legs and took a seat as instructed. He again noticed the legs of his pants ride up to the lower part of his shins and he quickly tried to remedy the problem. The fabric stretched and then sprung back up. Dissatisfied, he gave up the plight and focused on the shape Adelaine was drawing. He decided not to mention that if they had a fourth person, they would become a square.

“Good to meet you, I’m Alistair.” He took the boy’s hand and shook it for an acceptable moment before letting it go; shaking hands while sitting down felt slightly odd. “Are you a second year as well?” Alistair didn’t want to assume, but it was hard for him to even keep track of students in his own year. Only occasionally did he remember that Adelaine was actually a second year.

Alistair hated this part of joining a group, or creating one. What did you talk about besides quidditch and classes? He had fully exhausted those topics with Adelaine. “Will you both be going home for Christmas?” He finally mused. That was a fair question, what with Halloween over and the weather turning especially chilly in the morning.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Although Alistair had taken the offer of a seat on the blanket, he almost immediately shot up, as if he had sat down on a porcupine. He had however guessed as to the reason why, the boy seemed to be a bit embarrassed by the fact that his trousers seemed a bit short. While he certainly attempted to keep them as low as possible without them falling off, the leg cuffs just barely covered the tops of his shoes.

After the boy had introduced himself, he asked him. "Are you a second year as well?”. Alexander smiled, and shook his head. "No, first year."

The boy seemed to search for a topic to discuss and settled on another question, this one had left Alexander pondering for a few moments before he answered. He wasn't certain whether or not his voice was full of a hint of emotion. “Will you both be going home for Christmas?”

Sitting there on the carpet he answered after a few more moments of silence. "Yes, I've decided that staying for Christmas at Hogwarts will be for the best." His sister and cousin like many other wizards and witches freshly graduated from Hogwarts had decided upon a learning experience, travelling around the continent. They wouldn't be home for Christmas, and Alexander knew that Christmas wouldn't be celebrated at his house anyway.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Adele welcomed the subject of Christmas, but it made her a bit uncomfortable. Seeing as her parents hadn't even written her yet, they certainly wouldn't be inviting her home for the holidays. But if some of her friends were to stay, it might actually be quite fun.

"I'm more than likely staying," she responded, not ruling out the possibility of an invitation from her parents. "Do you think we'll be doing the Secret Santa thing again?"

Last Christmas, the whole of the group staying at the castle had joined in on an anonymous gift exchange. Adele had found it somewhat difficult, not having ever even seen the recipient of her present. Though, last year was a bit of an off year for her all in all; she hadn't been very outgoing, but this year she had friends. Quite a few of them. It was sure to be a splendid holiday, no matter what.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 30 September 2011 - 12:31 AM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

"I'm more than likely staying," the girl said, her thoughts seemed to be miles away. Alexander knew that much like him, she wasn't likely to be going home for the holidays for one reason or another. Whether it was because her parents remembered about her existence was another matter altogether. Either way, he knew what she must be going through.

He smiled at her sympathetically, she decided to puncture any possible questions as to why she was more than likely staying instead of staying for certain, the girl added. "Do you think we'll be doing the Secret Santa thing again?"

Alexander wondered what it would be like to be somewhere else for Christmas, perhaps he'd enjoy the Holiday for once. There would be no gloom and doom, he wouldn't be forced to hope and be let down by the prospect of his parents, perhaps finally taking an interest in him and his siblings. He wouldn't also be forced to spent the Christmas dinner in the company of the family house elves. He'd miss his cousin and sister but he wouldn't be seeing them right now, even if he was home anyway.

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

Eventually Alistair decided that if he crossed his legs at just the right angle, his exposed ankles would be hidden under the opposite leg. It wasn’t a perfect solution to the problem he was suddenly fixated on, but it would do. He settled again, clasping his hands to keep them from fidgeting with the hem.

There wasn’t much Alistair had to say to first years, he had realized over the term. By now they knew certain tricks when it came to which professors actually collected homework and which ones would let you slide by. “How do you like it then?” There wasn’t a point to asking if the boy knew about Hogwarts before coming here, there was a bit of magical background required in order to be sorted into that particular house.

Adelaine brought up the Secret Santa festivities of the year before, which Alistair recalled fondly. He hadn’t attempted to work out his puzzle box in a while. Perhaps he would dig it out when he got back to his dormitory. “Do you think enough people will stay this year? I was under the impression that the professors were only trying to entertain us.” Cooping up several hundred children that wanted to go home must not have been an easy task.

A lonely stick was lying nearby, more of a twig, actually. Alistair swooped it up and twirled it in his fingers; some of the fragile bark came free. Snapping it in two with gentle pressure, he tossed the pieces aside and looked back at his two companions. Never before had he had so much difficulty creating conversation. “Are either of you in dance club?” He asked, muttering the next thing that came to mind.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

"I think quite a few people will be staying, really," she responded hopefully. The more people here to occupy her, the better.

Dance club. Now, there's an activity she could do without. Adelaine loved to learn in all aspects of the word, so she had decided to give the dance club a try. She made it through one lesson, and decided never to go back. There just wasn't enough time in the day to spend twirling and walking around in a circle.

"I was in it, yes," she muttered. "I wasn't very fond of constantly tripping over people's feet. I found it slightly boring.."

She considered the last statement and thought it may have sounded a bit rude. Alistair was a Hufflepuff and so was the instructor, so he may take the comment the wrong way. In fact, many people enjoyed it.

"I suppose it just isn't my style," she added hastily. "What did you think of it, Alistair?"

[Alexander Sowerby]

“How do you like it then?”

The question that the boy asked reverberated around in his mind until it sunk in. He wasn't really sure, he enjoyed lessons, teachers (for the most part) and the life of a student; but he felt incredibly alone in this huge castle. However, he wasn't about to start saying that for the fear of looking weak.

"It's a wonderful place" he said truthfully. Alexander wanted to add a but, but undoubtedly these two were not interested in his problems.

He sat there quietly, a peck of owls flew over the courtyard as the two began to discuss the dance club which Adelaine seemed to be indifferent more so dislike than anything.

[Alistair Bauldaugh]

Alistair was still up in the air about staying at Hogwarts. It was quite a lovely sight, the holiday feast and the castle aglow with decoration. At the same time, he always felt guilty leaving his father alone. As the years passed, the more he wanted to stay and the worse he felt. “I wish we could go home for only part of the season,” the boy mused. He kept his guilt to himself though.

Alexander spoke up but didn’t offer much of an explanation. Not wanting to pry, Alistair simply smiled and assured, “It’ll get even better as time goes on.” At least for him, the longer he was alive, the more the world seemed to open up before him.

When Adelaine said she wasn’t fond of the dance club, Alistair couldn’t believe his own ears. “A young lady not liking to dance? What a preposterous notion,” Alistair dismissed. As he recalled, all of the girls were falling over themselves with excitement. Though, if Adel wasn’t particularly good at it, he could see why she wouldn’t enjoy the hour or so of moving in time. “What will you ever do if there is a ball?” Perhaps he was being rude, putting her on the spot like that. He bit his tongue rather than suggest that she spend the evening near the food table.

[Adelaine Beaumont]

Adelaine blushed deeply at Alistair's pointed remark. She had heard it all her life, of course. All proper young ladies danced and liked it. But Adele wasn't quite a proper young lady. She saw no good reasoning in it. Why would one waste time learning to dance instead of spending it studying, making good grades, and putting their powers to good use? The chances of having to dance came once in a blue moon (or at every random ball certain families held), the chance of having to use your mind came everyday.

"I suppose it is outlandish," she responded slightly heatedly. "But I've never had any interest in balls."

She wasn't quite sure where the conversation was going to end up, but she had made enough of a fool of herself already to continue. Adele certainly didn't want this to turn into an argument; her temper got the best of her sometimes.

"I think I'd better be going, I have, er..studying to do," she announced hastily. She quickly gathered her things, stood up, and headed to the Owlery.

Edited by Adelaine Beaumont, 03 October 2011 - 05:36 PM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander watched as the two convered, thinking about the homework he had to do. Suddenly as if shot by a bolt of lightning he saw Adelaine stand up and making an excuse that seemed a bit weak.

"I think I'd better be going, I have, er..studying to do," the girl said as if she was unsure of it herself.

Alexander looked at the boy and before he realised what he was doing, he ran down the steps and faced her cutting off her escape.

"Why, are you leaving already?" he asked perplexed but with a warm undertone in his voice which she could undoubtedly pick up on. He wondered if she was uncomfortable with the idea of dancing or perhaps that she felt insulted by the aspect that Alistair had just said that all girls should like dancing, somehow made her less of a girl.