December 2nd: 'Tis The Season - Lake (Open)

[Charlotte Fudge]

"Nothing too exciting on my end either," she admitted, feeling like the dullest girl on the Hogwarts grounds. "I was mainly up in the dormitory with Daisy today, reading and catching up with her." And being convinced that coming here wasn't an atrocious idea. "I'll have to steal Lily for a chat soon myself, it's been much too long since I've spent any significant time with her." She returned his smile and stepped up in the line, narcissistically wondering if she had been a topic of conversation between the two friends today, just as Remus had been between Daisy and herself. If so, then Lily surely would want an update from her as well, to get the full story of what was going on. It warmed her heart to imagine Remus talking to the Head Girl about her, though - perhaps seeking advice or support on whatever it was they had.

Soon she was being assisted with her skates, and Char didn't hold her curiosity back as she and Remus left the pair of Head Students. She carefully sat as Remus did, switching into her skates as quickly as she could, and unfortunately having to take her unwieldy mittens off to do so. She gave a nod to his assessment of James' odd silence, which she could now understand a bit better - things were changing, then, between him and Lily, and maybe he was trying for some better behavior? The cold hit her as she sat on the snow finishing up, and it was with relief that she had her mittens back on, readying herself to stand when Remus held a hand out to her. She smiled up at him, surprised at the gesture (Now, why would you be surprised? He's been nothing but kind, just because we're out here doesn't mean he'll be any different.), but took his hand and let him help her up.

"Thanks," she said as she found her footing, taking her first gliding step or two - still holding his hand - before answering him fully. "Yes, I'd like that - it should be a bit warmer than out here, wouldn't you think?" It would also give them time to be out of the public eye - Oh, that sounds like I'm plotting something! I just mean that we could forget about everyone else... Because, while she'd never been on one, this felt...like a date. More-so than their study sessions in the library, even though they hadn't exactly arranged to be at this together. And, for all her self-consciousness about it, it felt good to hold his hand as they skated, to laugh with him at any of their stumbles, to be so caught up as to forget about the cold almost entirely. I'm glad I came, Charlotte wanted to blurt out, but couldn't gain the courage to. "What are you getting up to over the holidays?" she asked after a time of quiet, hoping that wasn't too invasive. Not like I'm trying to get myself invited to anything - just - making conversation -

[Willa Robbins]

Willa didn't miss the fall of his smile as she told him about Benji, and as she usually prided herself on giving Sirius smiles, this was an exquisitely uncomfortable moment for her. He's hurt you didn't tell him sooner, that's all. It couldn't be anything else, right?

Sirius gently took his arm out from around her, and she shifted against the hay that wasn't nearly as comfortable now, eyeing him nervously. You should've told him, he's one of your best friends, was rude not to keep him up-to-date. But relationships, and anything on the cusp, wasn't something that the two of them had ever really spoken about. She hadn't ever had much to say - she'd let him know about Hugo, but he was all there ever had been to her lovelife (besides the imaginary relationship with him her eleven-year-old self had conjured) - and hadn't wanted to get into murky territory hearing about his. That could get back to his and Marlene's betrothal and the explosive end of that relationship, and hashing up old wounds wasn't what she wanted to do to either of her friends - You just don't want to hear about him and Guin.

    That's because I could never be in a relationship like that!

Why does that matter? It's not like you're going after him!

"Just a few weeks," Willa admitted replied, trying to shove her distracting and distressing thoughts away. "Really we've just - " snogged " - spent time in the greenhouses and the forest. He's really nice, though, I'm sure you'd like him." She gave him a smile she couldn't kid herself into thinking wasn't forced, and frantically tried to think of something else for them to talk about. The weather, exams, anything would do! But all she could think about was her date with Benji where they'd wound up in the forest, and he'd brought so many things for them to entertain themselves with, and how he'd kissed her under the moonlight...but from the look on his face, Sirius wasn't wanting to hear about any of that. 

[Arnie Peasegood]

At hearing that Guin would be in attendance as well, and that it wasn't as fancy as he was picturing, Arnie was starting to feel more reassured about the prospect of the Potters' holiday party. Guin was a laugh and approved of him and his relationship with Dora (as much as he could tell), so with her and his girlfriend there, maybe he could make a better impression on the blokes. Because surely all four "marauders" would be in attendance...Daisy as well then, shite, best make sure we don't come up as conversation. He'd "dated" the Gryffindor in - what? - first year? Second? In the days when puppy love was all you could both imagine and make into reality, the pair had been "an item" briefly. He couldn't imagine that news going over well if it came out in front of Peter or anyone - that is, if they didn't already know. Is that why they don't like me?

"Well look at you!" Arnie called after her as Dora sped away with a twirl, chuckling as he tried to, in his ungainly way, catch up with the girl who was graceful as a ballerina out here on the ice. "Skating lessons growing up, eh? Or just a natural aptitude?" He grinned, as ever wanting to know more bits of her life, and nodded at her next."Oh yeah, up for anything!" Truth be told, Arnie was ready to snuggle up with her in a carriage, and head straight to the kitchens with her after to warm up with a cup of tea and a snog. It was getting crowded on the lake, and he veered towards the carriage line. At least you've not fallen yet, he gave himself some encouragement, although the skates were biting in to the heels of his feet even if they hadn't given him a fall.

[Deleted]

Her hypothetical jab at the possibility of far more scandalous magazines than Quittitch Quarterly was turned completely on its head. Whereas sixth year Lily would have hit James or scolded him for using Betram as collateral damage, it was now all the Head Girl could do to keep a grin off of her face. She made brief eye contact with their classmate making it even worse when it was written on his face that the joke was reality. “Come now James” she attempted to scold over the giggle that wanted to erupt. She hoped that Betram heard her, albeit weak, effort.

The shack quieted down to the chit chat of James with students and the scampering of Lily around to find matching skates. Yesterday began to press in on her in a way it hadn’t before. James’ quiet knowledge of her situation was like a cushion of light between her and the darkness of the possibilities running on loop in Lily’s head. Remus had been an utter comfort in the library, but his friendship was no longer her first line of emotional (not to mention magical) support. Awkward as it was to think about, that duty rested with Potter. After finding a particularly tricky set of skates Lily turned around to hand them to their renter, and found herself pausing ever so momentarily and staring at James’ back. She had been numb with tears and fright the last time she had done such, but there was no excuse now for the warmth that coursed through her at glancing at his silhouette.

The student who was waiting for his skates, a fifth year Slytherin seemingly frazzled from midyear O.W.L.S. prep and in need of the endorphins exercise would afford him, cocked an eyebrow at the Head Girl. His mouth parted, no doubt to say something sassy, and Lily shoved the skates at him, tripping a bit in her hast “Enjoy.” She said curtly, catching herself on James’ arm. After righting herself, she was faced with a gaggle of giggling second year Hufflepuffs. She beamed at them, not quite as sincerely as she might without the combination of worry over her family and shakiness over… well over James. “Sizes?” she inquired and turned to the work ahead of her.

She was blessedly saved by Doe. Her joke was silly and meaningless yes, but it had lightened her mood. James rose to the occasion, a more natural thing than all this nervousness over caring for each other. “Yes I would have. At eleven nothing seemed too trivial to criticize you for.” He mouth twisted into a smirk, “Come to think of it that hasn’t really changed in six years.” She stood up straight to hand him the skates he needed. “My hair does seem more ink free of late though…” He had sometimes tried to play his pranks off as her own clumsiness. She had fallen for that all of once before rescinding the “benefit of the doubt.”

Lily shrugged off the comment of her own weakness. Brash pride drove her to say “That would imply you’ve found that which doesn’t exist.” Of course she had faults and weaknesses, she was human, but she had been sorted into Gryffindor for a reason. Just like her peers she was slow to admit them to the world around her. Much less her mortal enemy inexplicably turned closest comrade. As he inched closer after Willa’s departure Lily became hyper aware

James’ interrogation on Willa was a single question, but it still had Lily up in arms. His tone was conspiratorial, but conspiracies often meant betraying trust. Lily couldn’t do that to Willa. She gathered her composure, looked him straight in the eye, and said quite frankly “Absolutely not.” It was a half-truth. Yes, Lily had the sense that there was more to Willa’s story. No, they should definitely not meddle. Lily hoped that her stamp of disapproval was enough to deter antics from breaking out on the ice…. When they finally got out there.

Answering James’ question of what she (i.e. they) wanted to do would do it. It would set something into motion. It reminded Lily briefly of Icaras and his wings. They could move forward and face the possibility of flying too close to the sun, or stay imprisoned in the well-established and mundane rituals of a strained friendship. Strained, now, because of an exciting sort of electricity between them.

An electricity that was being channeled rather than resisted, as it once had been. An electricity that seemed calmed only through touch. The crook of James’ shoulder seemed just right to cup her chin, even though she was on tip toes to be able to peer over it, as their latest customer collected their things. “Mmm? What would that be?” She chuckled at his answer but found no retort readily available. At his movement Lily lowered the heels of her feet to the ground. They had been close in that moment, but now he was facing her… raising the stakes.

“May you what?” shot out of her mouth as her heart rate elevated. James made exactly “what” clear in asking her to turn around. She lifted an eyebrow at him and glanced at the first years who were waiting patiently for the Heads to finish talking. Her eyes met James’ again and she found him to be quite serious, if not sincere. Her right hand lifted instinctually to her sore left shoulder. An uncomfortable, yet not unwelcome smile pulled at her lips when she met James’ eyes again. “Maybe later.” Lily compromised, her voice sounding alien and hollow in her ear. She nodded in the direction of the line in explanation.

Charlotte’s smile and all around politeness broke into the awkwardness in the hut. Lily met Charlotte’s smile with one of her own, nodded and, finally used to James’ system, found Charlotte’s skates almost right away. “Nice night to be outside, isn’t it?” she said making small talk, and poking at Remus a bit for his previous anxiety. The two Marauders were in a bit of a stare-down. James was swallowing all the jokes he might have said and Remus was staring at him, trying to decode the suspicious behavior. The former’s silence was notable, if not laughable. The latter’s mock compliment was stuttered out, as if the Marauders could communicate with nothing other than quip. Remus’ comment seemed laced with something far deeper than a jab at James’ seasonal obsession with reindeer sweaters. As she handed over the skates, Lily could hardly keep herself from gloating and met Remus’ eye knowing that hers’ twinkled with mischief. She gave him a brief wink and answered Charlotte with “Thanks – we will!” in unison with James.

Answering in tandem with him caused Lily to turn abruptly to straighten the skates. As he whipped around, Lily could hear footsteps crunching in the snow right outside of the opening to the hut. “Yes, in fact, I am” a tinkling laugh she had not heard in quite a while escaped her lips. Lily picked up a pair of skates for her. “Shoe size?” she asked and grabbed the appropriate pair. She let the rest of his comment slide until she had finished instructing the prefects who had come to relieve them. When the two were situated, Lily exited the hut and hovered right outside its entrance.

“I’m sure the deluge of James Potter wit is much more tolerable out on the lake. Actually… It just so happens I know that to be true. “She beamed, briefly remembering the last time they had been out on the lake together. Lily held out his skates in invitation.

[James Potter]

Their Hufflepuff comrade was caught in the middle of their conversation, and quite uncomfortably so. But James couldn't feel bad about it, not when Lily was trying so hard not to laugh. He wasn't even being that funny... Was something actually...happening? He knew he could be a laugh, but his until-recently unwilling counterpart generally went for admonishment of a comment like that rather than find it amusing. But - one of the tells when a girl actually started liking you was that she found your not-so-entertaining quips much more entertaining than they deserved, wasn't it? The shift was subtle, seeing as they'd been gaining ground these last few months, but - Merlin's sake - she could barely get her "scold" out! "Couldn't resist," he admitted, giving her a knowing grin fueled by notice of the shift, as Bertram blundered off into the snow. "You set me up too perfectly."

Talk between the two Heads rather halted as the line of students to be greeted and helped continued on. While James was enjoying getting face-time with the student body like this, his attention was split so many ways it was difficult to get the kids the right skates. He wanted to be out on the lake, or start a snowball fight, or commandeer one of the sleighs - and as they moved around each other in the conveniently tiny shack, distraction in the form of Lily Evans was the worst of all for his focus. Flecks of snow were catching on her hair and coat, and her winter pale face was turning the perfect shade of rosy from the cold. The constant maneuvering about each other and bending down to get skates wasn't doing anything to keep his hormones in check either.

He was just greeting a group of young badgers when Lily was all of a sudden clinging to his arm, her motion causing him to act on reflex. Or so he would use as an excuse for his hand shooting to her hip. To steady her. Turning a bemused smile down at her, James hardly heard the girls' sizes, murmuring as the two went to fetch them, "All right, Evans?" The Hufflepuffs were shortly on their giggling way, and James was glad to see a friend at the head of the line next. Doe's presence helped him regain the normalcy of banter-with-Evans, although she and Peasegood had to suffer through it before getting their attire. While he was mainly bluffing - honestly, listing her flaws would be like rattling off "weaknesses" in an interview (I work too hard, I care too much.) - he perked up, letting out a loud laugh, as she spoke of her ink-free hair. And there's been much less criticism as of late, don't try and play it off like you're still gunning for me. "What can I say? I was mad to try and change the color, don't know what I was thinking meddling with - " Something so perfect. He'd caught her eye, the words stuck at the back of his throat, and felt color rise up from his neck. F*ck's sake, get it together. "Ah - meddling with you," he finished rather lamely, hand flying to the back of his neck as he wished he had a scarf to cover up the blush.

Willa's fast appearance and disappearance gave James more questions than answers he was likely to get from her friend, but he couldn't help but ask. It was for the good of his best mate to know where the badger's head was at, after all; while Sirius hadn't admitted anything akin to feelings for her, it was bloody obvious to those close to him that he felt something. He'd deny it, surely, but he perked up around Willa the same way James knew he did around Lily. Give me something to go on, won't you? his eyes pleaded, but it was to no avail. Lily's stalwart refusal wasn't entirely unexpected, but that didn't stop him. "So there is something to not tell me." His brows waggled excitedly, and he became more determined to pick at this during their time together today and beyond.

Talk turned to their evening - which he was rather presumptuously declaring "theirs" - and Lily's challenge was something he couldn't resist accepting, especially with the way she'd gone about it. Can definitely keep touching me, he wanted to say as soon as she'd let go, which may have prompted him to read into her sore shoulder too much. He knew his offer wasn't within their usual realm of give-and-take, but he'd been feeling so close to her lately - especially after yesterday - that the words were out and not regretted. It was another challenge of sorts, and James felt they had to start pushing each other a little if anything more was going to happen. Given her delightful surprise, her smile, and that not-sounding-as-doubtful-as-she-may've-wanted maybe - James was all grins upon returning to duty, even with the admittedly heavy burden of keeping his mouth shut as Remus approached with Charlotte Fudge.

He eyed his mate as the girls chatted, hoping Remus wouldn't let the situation get the better of him. It was just skating, after all. The lake was getting so busy that James doubted anyone would note the "suspicious" activity of his housemates. Trying to keep him calm, or yourself? Remus took a jab at his sweater - as if he didn't love them just as much as James did - and was off. But James' first uttered words in a few minutes...weren't uttered alone?

Beaming, James spun around to find Lily with her back to him. Avoiding recognition of what had just happened, while he found it to be one of the best and funniest things to happen so far today. While it was a little thing, really, it was turning his excitement into giddiness. They were more alike than Lily would admit, and the more time they spent together, the more she had to be realizing it. If their corresponding patronuses weren't enough to get her seeing things how he did, maybe if enough little things like this added up...

She's warming to you, there's no doubt about that.

To not make a big deal out of their synchronisity was another challenge for the bloke, but he resisted, barreling on as if it hadn't happened. And the result? Her admitting she was happy, a genuine laugh even tumbling out of her with the recognition?

Above all, James wanted her to be happy. The smile he had at hearing that she was, it wasn't his usual you-can-count-my-teeth-if-you-tried smile. It had softened, and while he knew he likely looked like a lovesick goon, in that moment he wasn't going to cover it up. The girl getting skates for the pair of them had had hardships in her life that few knew of, and adding on current stresses to years of sisterly awkwardness and friends-turning-enemies was something he was working to alleviate. He'd expected today to be difficult - she'd have to put on a happy-Head-Girl face after a full day of classes, be cooped up with him of all people after sharing something so intimate (again, with him of all people).

But...this had been fun. And James felt that he had both the responsibility and the privilege to make her happy today. Nobody else truly could, could they? Not knowing what he did, that things were so wrong at home, that she was a few thin threads of determination away from going after Snape?

He was fully in these thoughts, and quite enjoyably so, as Lily directed their replacements. James followed her outside, chuckling at her delayed response to his prior words. His eyes flitted to hers at her unexpected last, catching that beaming smile as he took the pair of skates from her. "Tolerable? You wound up having fun, don't try to play it off like you didn't," he teasingly scolded, knowing full well that getting berated about that day could be coming his way...Enough's happened to look back and laugh about it, hasn't it? He set off towards the lake at a leisurely pace, careful to stay in reach of her in case she...needed to hold on to him again for balance. "Right, so - to keep the 'deluge of wit' internal until we're on the water, safer there - am I about to bear witness to a spectacular display of skating? Dunno if I'll be able to keep up with you, we never did skate too much growing up."

[Admin]

He seemed to be relaxing slightly at hearing that her best friend would be around for the party. She had been happy when she started noticing how well Guin and Arnie got along, if not a little jealous about it. They were both such great friends, and both of them had come to mean so much to her, that at first she hadn't understood why they wouldn't be interested in dating each other. Yet, even with her mind wandering all over the place, they didn't simultaneously leave her to be together

She skated along, letting her previous momentum push her along so that Arnie would have a chance to catch up, and she laughed as he did. "It was the only class with muggles my parents would let me attend." Her family had been walking around the park near their home when she was young, and upon seeing other children skating on the small rink, she had begged to join them. "It took more convincing than I'd like to admit." Months had gone by before they agreed, and even then she needed to be snuck over to make sure no Purebloods would notice. She couldn't even tell Meredith, and at the time they had been best friends.

They skated towards the carriages and she took his hand when they arrived. "How long do you think the wait is?" She smirked and gave his hand a squeeze, "There's no rush, or anything, I'm just excited to give you a proper snog. Not like us to go so long without."

[Deleted]

Well, that's awkward.

Here he was, more than ready to snog the girl, and she starts telling him about her new boyfriend. He didn't usually let it show that things were getting to him - usually was quick witted and could loo comfortable in any situation that came up - but Sirius had no clue how to come back from this. Or what to say. Didn't she know how into her he was?  Hadn't he shown his excitement earlier this year when he was sick? Didn't he take every opportunity to hug her, kiss her forehead, help her with classes? Willa didn't owe him anything, but it was just shocking to him that he had finally found someone he wanted to be with and she had no interest. 

He nodded and looked at the passing trees as she spoke about them only having been together for a short period of time, only returning her gaze when she said that he would like the bugger. Sirius scoffed, "Yeah, that's likely." If he didn't get on with Doe's new beau then he wasn't going to get on with this young Ravenclaw either. He made a mental note to tell James all about this - what was going on with these Ravenclaw 's that were younger than them dating all of their friends? It made no sense. 

The silence remained and he tried to come up with something to say about her new relationship, something to say about the lessons they had together, something about their friends, but he had no ideas. The carriage made it's final turn back to it's starting place and he nodded towards all of the people waiting for a turn. "Look at that line - who knew James and Evans would bring so many people out." His best mate was full of great ideas, but seeing one implemented in a way that reached out to the whole school was new for him, and he was damn proud of the guy.

[Arnie Peasegood]

Arnie watched with a bit of a bemused smile as his Dora spoke of how much she'd had to work to get her parents to agree to something that, to him, seemed like a no-brainer. Not that he and his brother and sister had been too involved in extracurriculars before going to Hogwarts, but there were never arguments against doing a little summer program at the library or the zoo. Well - hardly ever were there arguments. One year he'd had one too many spurts of accidental magic for his parents to think it a good idea, spending so much unsupervised (by wizards, the staff was always attentive) time with muggle children. What if he had accidentally let the monkeys loose, found himself inside the aquarium - it was a rather disappointing week at home with his books while Gracie and Wes had the adventures he wanted. But his family's reservations had been for the sake of the muggles - from Dora's tone, Arnie surmised that the same rationale hadn't been what held her parents back. From how fun and free she generally was, it was difficult sometimes for him to remember that she was pureblooded - not that it mattered to him, or to her it seemed, but she wasn't much like the ones in his House who would tout it as a measure of superiority.

"Well, it paid off," Arnie said with a chuckle as he slid into line with her. "What other classes did you want to try?"

With some maneuvering around other skaters as ungainly as he and as graceful as she, they began towards the carriages and enormous horses. Arnie was not about to complain about getting off his feet soon; he supposed he could try and charm the skates to give his feet a little more room, but he hardly wanted Potter tracking him down later for tampering with the essentials of his "perfectly executed affair." He slowed down for quite a while to make sure not to run into anyone in line, and was grateful for her grounding him with taking his hand at the perfect moment - stopped him from skidding any farther. He worked to keep himself from grinning like a fool, giving her hand a little tug so she'd skate into his arms. It was still dumbfounding that a girl this wonderful was excited to snog him...

"You're absolutely right," he said, as serious as when he was deep into a potions explanation, giving her his best thoughtful look. "Should probably fix that, eh? Looks like it could be a while until we get a carriage." The corner of his mouth quirked up and he laced his fingers together at the small of her back, grinning in full before he leaned down to meet her in a kiss while they waited. As he held her, Arnie was struck - not for the first time - with the inclination to...say something. Something big. He'd known it for a little while now, had been biding his time, trying to pick the right moment to share with her - but was he just overthinking it? Wasn't the "right" moment whenever he felt it? Which most definitely was now? And so he pulled back, still smiling, laughing a bit as he leaned his forehead to hers. "Dorcas, I - "

[Willa Robbins]

Christ's sake!

Sirius seemed downright sullen at the news, avoiding her eye and everything, and when he saw fit to look at her again, it was with - with - with scorn. He couldn't, as her friend, be happy for her at all? It was with a muted huff of her own that Willa looked out the opposite window, both feeling the need to defend Benji and not wanting to speak in order to validate Sirius' opposition. It wasn't as if she ever had had a negative thing to say about his various pursuits over the years of their friendship, could he not return the favor? Her silence on the matter didn't mean she approved - she thought he deserved more of a relationship than what he and Guin had, anyway - but she wasn't rude about it!

Every so often her eyes darted back over to him, and the hay that had so recently been comfortable had become hard and scratchy, the distance between them feeling - for the first time in years - insurmountable. What was she supposed to say? Demand that he give Benji a chance to show how good of a guy he was, how well he treated her? She shouldn't have to do that! As her friend, shouldn't Sirius trust that she was trying to make the best choices for her happiness? It wasn't as if she went running into relationships on whims - she'd been waiting for someone nice to come along and notice her, and that had happened with Benji! As the minutes passed, the carriage slowly filled with disapproval and disappointment, and it was with an odd relief that Willa saw the line of carriage-going-hopefuls. It seemed that Sirius felt the same, bringing up Lily and James' success as a last-ditch effort to save their conversation.

"Yeah, they did a really nice job," Willa agreed tersely, not feeling up to hiding how let down she felt. The silence fell between them again until their carriage slowed to a stop, and she awkwardly maneuvered her way out of the carriage. For a moment it seemed like he was about to help, but...changed his mind? "I - I'd better get to the stand, relieve James and Lily so they can enjoy themselves." She gave him a tense smile, reaching out to brush a clinging bit of hay from his shoulder; while she'd first wanted to spend the whole of the evening with him if he'd let her, that now seemed...unrealistic, to say the least. He just...he needed to get used to the idea of her dating someone? And she needed...to apologize for the delay in telling him?

You know you have to.

Gathering up the courage she needed to say it - Usually isn't this hard to apologize, what's so different? - she skated closer to pick a few more stray bits of hay from his hair. "I should've told you sooner, I'm sorry," she quietly got out once she could meet his eye. "Have a good night, okay?" She gave him another little smile, not feeling much better, and skated off past a rather entangled Doe and Arnie, which didn't do anything to settle her mind. She'd just - she'd show up early for her shift helping with the skates, spend the evening helping instead of out on the ice, and that would be that. Helping always made her feel better, that would do it?

But as she neared the lake's edge, a small surprised smile lit her face. As Benji hadn't said anything about coming out to the event, she'd figured he had something else going on, or wasn't a fan of the festivities. But there he was, and narcissistically Willa thought that maybe he was here...to meet her.

[Remus Lupin]

He was glad to hear that she had spent some time with Daisy, the two had always been such good friends. Daisy had certainly talked about her enough to him, although looking back on it he did have to wonder if the red-head had intentions behind the stories she shared. Although often he was just there when she was looking for Peter. He was a good listener, and much too kind to tell her to leave him alone. Besides, she had earned her place among them a long time ago, he was happy to call her a friend. And Charlotte talking to Lily? A piece of him wondered if the two girls would talk about him, as he and Lily did. He was sure there were plenty of other things the two had to talk about, he shouldn't assume they would discuss this. Whatever this was.

And he was glad for her distraction with Lily, so perhaps she hadn’t picked up on the awkwardness with the silence between him and James. If she did she made no mention of it, and he watched as she had to remove her gloves. He was generally a warm person, but even he could feel the cold air. She had to be freezing, and he was glad that she took the hand that he offered, her words confirming his suspicious. He was even happier when she didn’t let go, and instead continued to hold his hand as they skated around the lake, helping each other to not fall and poking fun when the other started to slip. It was almost like a proper date, the kind of date he should have taken her on instead of asking her to study.

Her question was an innocent one that caught him off guard, causing him to slip. It was only a few seconds later Remus realized there was no hope, and so he let go of Charlotte’s hand so he didn't pull her down with him. Butt met ice and all he could do was laugh, only thinking of how he would never live this situation down with the guys. Falling on the ice while on a date, Classic Remus Lupin. ”Sorry, never was good at this. Ah, I’ll be at home with my parents, my mom..,” he trailed off, the old and over used lie not easily escaping his lips. Because he shouldn’t lie to her about that, but he certainly could not bring up his furry little problem to her. ”She’s getting sentimental about it being my last Christmas home from school and all, she acts like I’ll never be home for a holiday again.”

[Charlotte Fudge]

Fine, Daisy, you were right. Charlotte could almost feel her friend’s smugness at hearing of how well the outing had gone. She and her roommate were bound to spend the night dissecting every little thing, Daisy hounding her - in the best intended manner - for details. So, really, she had to pay attention to just how many little snowflakes caught on his long lashes, and how warm and comfortable her hand was held in his, and how easily his momentum carried her along the ice with him, and how his eyes crinkled a bit when he grinned. And had her study partner always been so tall? When sitting in the library or walking back to the Tower, she’d hardly noticed his sizable height, but it was different being so close…

If she could get beyond her nerves about being caught out with him, it was nice to be out with the student body. It was a busier atmosphere than she usually gravitated towards, but there was something positive to be said about hearing snippets of laughing conversation, seeing everyone out and having a good time. Char was about to say as much when she lost her nerve, instead inquiring about his holiday - at the same time he tripped over an unstable bit of ice or something, for Remus was near immediately letting go of her hand, propelled forward until he toppled down!

Char quickly slid closer to where he’d fallen, wind whipping through her tweed skirt, and did her best to stop before running into him. Before she could even ask if he was all right, Remus was responding to her question like nothing had happened…

"That's awfully sweet of her - hopefully you can reassure her about that once you’re home," Char said, doing her best not to laugh at the whole thing. It was just so funny how he’d carried on, and she was glad he seemed just fine. "Here, let me help you up," she offered, holding her mittened hands out to him. The likelihood of this plan working wasn’t thoroughly thought out, but hopefully she would be steady enough to help him get back on his feet.

[Benji Fenwick]

Benji shifted restlessly from foot to foot, every now and again kicking the toe of his boot into the snow to watch the mini explosion it created. Willa had gotten into a carriage with her friend Sirius Black a while ago. He had just made it to the spot where people were gathering when he had seen it and irrationally he had been jealous. Who wouldn't be jealous if the girl they liked got in a cozy carriage with Sirius Black? He had turned and almost left, had made it half way to the castle and then turned back around. He had known she had male friends, he had known certain Gryffindors were counted among those friends. Besides he didn't have any sort of claim to her yet.

So he had come back, here to the edge of the frozen over Black Lake. To wait for her, as he had intended to do in the first place. She had said she would be here today, Arnie had confirmed it, and here they both were. Arnie with Doe - he could see them ice-skating, or rather not anymore - and Willa. Benji wanted to spend the day enjoying the festivities, he really did. But he was just too nervous around her still. There were too many people. Too many witnesses if he did something stupid. So he had let her go alone and told himself he would meet her later and steal her away. Where they could be alone.

Benji shivered, it was pretty chilly out, and he had been here for a few minutes. He searched the parade of carriages for Willa's but in his musings he had lost track of it. After another quick scan of the area he found her, not in a carriage at all, but standing out in the open. She was across from Sirius and they appeared to be having a serious conversation. Benji looked away, somehow feeling wrong for looking and thinking the things he was thinking. Willa doesn't belong to you!

When he looked up again the Hufflepuff was heading his way and looking right at him. The familiar heat filled his body as their gazes locked. She smiled, small and hesitant; he smiled with so much want inside him it hurt. Awkwardly he yanked his hand from his pocket to wave her over properly and even more awkwardly, when she arrived, a quick kiss on her cold cheek. “I'm sorry.” he said, a crack and true feeling in his voice. “I wanted to surprise you. Is that okay? I-I'm not interrupting your day by being here, am I?”

[Deleted]

He'd never felt as uncomfortable around Robbins as he was feeling right now. And from the tone of her voice, the Hufflepuff was feeling the same way. They got out of the carriage silently, and he looked off into the distance as she helped herself down. Could they fix this? He couldn't even really name what the problem was - why was he so bothered by the news of her getting with the younger Ravenclaw? The kid was annoying to him - all of his little friends were too - maybe it just came down to him feeling protective over her, like all of his other friends. He would feel just as weird if one of them started dated someone he didn't like, he was sure of it.

Sirius jolted a bit when she touched his shoulder, nodding to whatever she was saying, whatever excuse she was making for the situation they were now in. He finally met her eyes at her apology, but they weren't shining with the light in the way he usually looked at her, he was too busy closing himself off to show her how much she meant to him. He wanted to tell her she didn't need to say she was sorry - she could date whoever she liked, he had nothing to do with it - but his lips remained closed. The most he could do was offer her a little nod of the head, "You too Robbins - hope the shack treats you well." He watched her skate off, following her at a slower pace. Maybe he should go by the shack and talk to her? Tell her he was just as sorry for acting like a git?

But his plans were forming too slowly, and he stopped himself from skating any further when he saw who she was looking at. 

Barnie. 

Watching them snog or some shite wasn't really on his list of things to do that night so he diverted his eyes and they happened to fall on another couple, one that was well in the midst of a snog already - but it was coming to an end, and if he couldn't ruin the night for Barnie then at least he could ruin it for one of his Ravenclaw friends. Quickly, Sirius skated over, spraying their legs with shards of snow and ice as he came to a halt next to them. "Doe! Happy you made it out - want to grab a carriage with me?"

[Admin]

Doe laughed lightly, grasping his hand so he wouldn't fall over. "I'm glad you think so...and I didn't know it back then, would just watch it from a distance, but now I know it's called footie? There's only one ball, and you need to use only your feet to score on the other team's net. It's fascinating." She had only come to learn what the real name of the game was last summer when she had been dating Tyler, and although he had found it odd that she didn't know the name of the muggle sport (being a muggle himself), he had let it pass easily, even going to far as to teach her how to play. Arnie didn't need to know any of this though...she didn't think he would appreciate her bringing up her ex during a romantic date.

She received the exact reaction she was hoping for when she suggested they have a kiss or two, and wasted no time in bringing his lips down to hers. Kissing Arnie was an experience she had difficulty explaining to her friends. She had kissed many boys before, and had even been intimate with some, but none of them held a candle to the warmth that she felt when she was in the Ravenclaw's arms. They fit together so well, and he knew all of the right ways to touch her, to make her want more...but they were in the middle of the school grounds, and it was absolutely freezing out, they couldn't start ripping each other's clothes off.

Slowly they pulled back from each other and he came close to her, oh how she wanted him to forget about the carriage ride and take her back to the castle for a proper snog. Doe met his dark eyes, heart filling up as he began to speak - 

She would never learn what he was about to say though, because at the precise moment, Sirius doused them in snow and she laughed as she skating backwards from Arnie a little in order to brush herself off. Seeing her friends coming out to school events always made her happy, but couldn't he see that she was occupied? It was no secret that he had no intention of becoming close with her boyfriend, and from the confused look on Arnie's face, he wasn't too fond of that idea either...but they were on a date.

She sighed through a smile, "Sirius..." Doe still wanted him to feel welcome, and she knew that everyone else was busy with other things so surely it couldn't hurt to offer..."Maybe you'd like to join both of us? Can't leave anyone behind at an event like this, can we?" She gave a pleading look to Arnie while her housemate was looking at the short line up. He's my friend, please be okay with this...

[Arnie Peasegood]

"Fascinating? I’m glad that’s your view on it - have you ever been to a professional match? Could be something to look into for the summer, I bet you’d really enjoy it." Arnie grinned, a bit bemused, at the girl’s description of football. He supposed - to an athlete used to doing things the magical way - the muggle sport would be extremely different. He hoped he wasn’t being too presumptuous, suggesting summer plans…but we’re good.

Dorcas, I love you, he thought, kissing her shortly after. I still can’t fathom why you’d want to be with me, but I seem to make you happy, and I’m going to do my best to keep doing that. Because you deserve that, to be happy and have someone trying to keep you that way. I just feel like we fit, so well, I feel better with you than I have with anybody else. I think we have something really special here, the something I’ve been trying to find…

She met his eyes as he came close again to tell her just that - perhaps wording it better than he’d been thinking it out - when they were doused in a spray of snow and ice. He coughed, wiping the splattered snow off of his face, and eyed the perpetrator. Probably better to tell her in private anyway, not out where anyone could hear…right?

The interruption was courtesy of Sirius Black, someone he definitely wouldn’t have wanted overhearing his profession, but Arnie wasn’t able to fully do away with his disappointment. He’d finally stopped worrying about “timing,” knowing that the right time was just when he felt it, and - and he’d been about to say it. He’d never told a girl he loved her before, this wasn’t something he’d wanted interrupted!

To make matters worse, Sirius was trying to butt in on their evening. Don’t you have other friends to harass? Arnie was internally debating the best way to tell the bloke to shove off, but Dora was trying to find a compromise, looking at him all doe-eyed, and he wasn’t going to be the difficult one tonight. Even though he really just wanted her to himself in that moment. "Yeah, right - I’m sure we’d all fit, it’ll be fine," he said shortly. He shot Dora a smile he attempted to make seem relaxed about this, holding his hand out to her before skating up the gap in the queue. "Doing all right, Sirius?"