Past the enormous, double-oak doors, past the castle courtyard, down the hills, and to the right of the school's front entrance lays the vast Black Lake. It's placid yet dark demeanor makes it a peculiar yet relaxing place to enjoy off days. Every once and a while, a large tentacle raises from the lake; this is the Giant Squid that resides there. On nice, hot days, it always feels nice to take a dip into the cool lake.

James walked down the only too familiar path down to the giant lake. His long, midnight blue cloak slithered behind him, leaving odd markings in the dirty path. He inhaled deeply before turning toward a tall beach tree. He walked toward the tree and leaned his shoulder against it, staring off into the vast lake. He setting sun splattered orange, yellow, and pink across the placid lake. He sighed deeply, taking in the beauty of Hogwarts.

Brittany watched what she thought to be her friend James walk down the path towards the black lake. She sqinted, attempting to make out the figure. Once she was sure that it was in fact James, she walked out from behind a nearby tree, having been admiring the view, and leaned up against the same tree he was leaning against. She smiled up at him.

"It's gorgeous isn't it?"

James' head turned, a smile stretched across his face. He stared back at his old friend, Brittany. Thinking he had had enough beauty, he turned to her.
"Yeah, but I've seen it for the past fifteen years." he smiled again.

She nodded, shrugging slightly.

"That's true, but it still never seems to get old... I mean, I look out on these grounds and I still think to this day... how amazing it is that we have the opportunity to be here, you know?"

She chuckled.

"Maybe I'm just being deep, who knows. How are you doing? I feel like I haven't saw you in... well- about a year! How is everything?"

ooc: What? I was with Cecilia....:blink:


James nodded.
"No, I know what you mean. I guess I'm just being weird today, I dunno." he chuckled too. A slow breeze flew past them, his cloak flying up behind him. He reached back and pulled it off. He pulled out his wand and gave it a small flick- the cloak disappeared. As the sun finally fell behind the mountains, darkness crept over them.
"Lumos," he muttered, lighting his wand.

OOC- Oh, crap. I'll fix it. lmao.

As the light emitted from James' wand, Brittany put her hand over her eyes, allowing them to adjust to the light. She had been sitting there for quite some time in the dark. She was glad someone else had decided to come out as well.

"It's okay... I've been kind of weird today too... I guess it's just different being back, you know? It's been a long time... how are you and Cecilia doing?"

She shivered slightly, rubbing her hands up and down her arms.

Ultimater walked down a dark path to the lake in a trance-like state.
He bent down to pick up a rock and gave it a toss.
Skip... skip... skip... skip... plunk!
He crossed his arms in disapproval as he fell to the ground in a sitting position.
He stared blankly into the lake with his hands on his knees and shifted his gaze away from the lake down to the ground as he sighed.

Vipera wasn't the most social witch in the world. She pushed her dark hair out of her face and sighed, letting her head lean back as the sun hit her face. She had been sitting here for awhile- just watching the sun's light bounce off the waters- the reflection of it making the waves sparkle like moving silver fish. The Giant squid stretched out of the water to bathe in the sun and Vipera pulled her green robe closer as she closed her emerald eyes.

Grasses bent and twigs snapped as James soon followed by Brittany- walked out. She knew who they were, but she paid them no mind- as stated before, Vipera wasn't the most social witch... but today she felt very- well.... alone. Thus the reason for retreating to the lake. why would anyone want to stay in an empty castle?

She ran her fingers through her hair and leaned back on the grass for a bit- a silver necklace slipping out from underneath her robes- glinting harshly in the light. She tucked it away and opened her eyes, casting a small curious look at the others.

Fleur, having finished her classes for the day somehow found herself aimlessly walking the halls of the school. Quickly bored of this, she decided to head out of the castle for a walk. She wasn't in the best of moods, everyone seemed to be doing other things. She sort of felt abandoned, but it wasn't her fault that everyone seemed to have a girlfriend or a boyfriend. They always wanted to be alone, or do other things with other couples. As she tripped down the great hall steps, she quickly picked herself up. It wasn't unusual for her to do this, so she didn't even bother trying to hid it anymore. Her book bag had toppled down the steps, skattering her books, quils, and ink everywhere.

Clumsy should have been her middle name. As she bent down to pick up her things, she noticed there were people out by the lake. She wasn't sure who it was...she turned back to her books frusterated and started piling them back into her book bag...hopefully no one would notice her.

Smirking slightly, her eyes swirling to a peaceful dark blue, she turned towards the direction that Vipera was occupying.

"You can join us, you know... we won't bite."

Vipera flashed Britt a smirk. "You may not bite, but I do." She laughed a little- the sound quite soft. Vipera looked back down at the lake and stood, slipping off her shoes and pulling up her robes- her bare feet finally guiding her into the waters, the sand sifting between her toes.

Just like everything else: moving, sifting, changing. There were a lot of things changing- and she supposed that was good. Or bad, but whatever- when had she ever worried about silly shit like that?

"So- this place sure is hopping" she said, more to herself than the others- since it was getting rather crowded. This was way too many people for Vipera's taste, but- what could she do? She wanted to be out here- and God-dammit- She would be.

"I'd think the Squid was handing out chocolate frogs the way everyone is flocking. Mmmm. Vipera loved chocolate frogs.

Brittany laughed at her comment, scanning her eyes across the grounds. Just moments before she had been the only person out there, or so she thought. She smiled warmly, reminiscing on better times. She watched Vipera glide into the water. She shivered. I'd join you, but it's way too damn cold.

Sighing and removing her shoes, she walked towards the bank of the lake and sat, straightening her robes. She grabbed a blade of grass absently and began dismantling it.

"You know, you claim to be so anti-social, but secretly- I think you like the attention."

She smirked, then grinned, throwing the blade into the water.

The water was cold, but when had Vipera ever had problems with cold? She didn't. In fact, she preferred the cold. Her favorite season was winter. God, how she loved the snow.

She smirked at Britt's comment, her white teeth flashing wickedly.
"Everyone loves attention," she replied, laughing a little bit. For a Gryffyndor- Britt was okay.

She felt something bite at her toes and looked down to see a few little fish swimming around her white feet- she wiggled her toes and a fish bit. She laughed.
"Stupid fish." They didn't bit hard at all, but it was annoying.
She reached down in the water and caught one, picking it up by it's fins to examine it, the scales changing colors as she stared. She'd never seen a fish like that before.

Brittany smiled, looking down, draping her arms over her knees. She looked up after a moment, seeing what had been annoying Vipera and saw the abnormal looking fish. She stood up, walking over, her eyes swirling to a light green with her curiosity.

"I've never saw a fish like that in this lake... that's pretty interesting."

ooc: hey, Britt, weren't we Werewolves?

James took note of all the people who were arriving. He noticed Brittany wander over to the lakeside with Vipera. He turned and saw Ultimater sitting a few yards away. Shrugging, he held his lit wand up as he made his way to him. He sat down in the same way Ultimater was and placed his wand on the ground in front of him-his wand still lit. He felt that saying a greeting to him was unnecessary at that time. Thus, he just stared off into the lake, mimicking his friend.

Shawn faked a limp to go with his staff, as he walked out into the cool night. It's sure as hell wierd to be back here, not a student... He stepped out of the forest as the lake came into view. He saw a bunch of people out, and thinking it was weird since it was getting late out. He noticed Brittany, James, and Vipera.

Some familiar faces.... finally! he thought, as he limped over to the group.

"Well howdy there strangers." He said, smirking. His black leather duster floating in the wind, with his long hair whisping with it.

"Yeah, it is." She smiled as Britt approached, her smile growing wider as she noticed James moving over to a boy she didn't know. They sat- as if in a trance, eyeing the water like two statues. How convenient. She frowned for a second and laughed softly, biting her lower lip.
"Wanna see something funny?" she whispered to Britt before stepping out of the water, picking up a few fish and slipping them into her pocket as she made her way back away from the lake, twisting around a tree- moving slow enough not to draw James and the boy's attention.

Vipera held her breath as she walked up behind the two boys, their eyes still on the water. And, quick as a flash- Vipera had slipped at least two fish into both of their robes. As soon as the wiggly creatures had left her fingers and wormed their way under the robes- Vipera ran back to Britt, not bothering to be sneaky anymore- looking back to see if they'd even notice the squirming in their shirts.

Ultimater took out his wand and summoned the rock which he previously tossed and handed it to James.
"I beat you a gallon you can't skip it more than four times."
"Miss on purpose," he whispers, "so the girls will give it a shot and check us out".
He winks at Vipera.

Brittany laughed at Vipera, but before she could comment on her prank, as well as scold her for taking the fish out of the water- she noticed Shawn. She grinned excitedly and ran over to him, giving him a huge hug, practically tackling him.

"Shawn! It's been so long! How are you? Is your leg hurt? I saw you limping..." she bent down to examine it.

"Eh eh, don't try to kill me here," Shawn said smiling. "It's good to see you Britt. I can't believe I'm actually back here.." He added, leaning on his staff.

"Oh Shawn's not hurt at all." A voice said smugly from his staff.

"Shut it Mer, but yeah nah I'm not hurt, I just wanted to be lazy and walk with this stupid stick here."

"Shawn!"

She laughed, almost wanting to hug Merlin, though how odd would that have looked? She smiled warmly at him, sighing, her eyes swirling back to a peaceful dark blue.

"I can't believe how much you've changed! It's been what- a year almost? I just can't get over it... still trekking through the forests I see. You'll never change in that department at least..."

"Yeah some things just never change... So what're you doing back here? We graduated like last year!" Shawn said smirking.

"Hey Vipera, how're you?" He added, smiling. It really was good to be back in this damn castle again. Even if he was a professor. This place was his home, and he will continue to keep it that way.

She shrugged, talking modestly.

"Actually, they asked me to come back- I'm going to be the new Flying Professor, starting June 26th, as well as the Groundskeeper and... well, I guess Deputy Headmistress... a lot has changed, I guess- after the attack on the castle..."

Vipera pouted at the results of her attempt to scare the boys with the fish. Shit. She frowned and pushed her bottom lip out as she walked over to Shawn.
"They must usually have things crawling under their robes..." Vipera muttered. Maybe they were inhuman. She was kinda hoping they'd freak out. She didn't even notice the other boy's wink.

"Oh- I'm fine how are you?" she asked, eyeing Britt with suspicion. She was not a huggy person. Hell, if anyone hugged her- she'd probably melt.... or burst into flames. maybe....

"Woah, we're going to be professors together?!? I'm back as the Charms teachey. Flitwick gave me a huge recommendation after he retired and i got the job. I guess since I'm just the epitome of badass they thought I'd bring in some numbers. Now if I had my tail and ears like a couple years ago, The parents wouldn't have wanted me teaching. But they don't know now because I look like a human now." Shawn said to Britt smiling. alot has changed... Hogwart's really isn't the same, but we have to bring it back to its rightful place of power...

"Well thats good, Vipera. I'm doing good, I'm doing better now that I'm out of my damn castle back at the homefront... It was so... Well lets just say, sometimes it's good being king.. Sometimes, not so much."

She shrugged.

"I guess we will be teaching together. I'm glad they landed on you as the new Charms Professor, you're very experienced. Try not to be too modest about it though, Shawn."

She said this sarcastically, turning to Vipera.

"I heard that you're now Slytherin Prefect, is that true?"

"King?" Vipera arched an eyebrow before deciding to sit down on the grass. She thought for a moment that the stick talked. She must be going crazy. Too much sun, she told herself. Too much sun.

"hahah yeah. I am a prefect. It's cool- power is always great.

Lizz walked with her son Lee aroudn the lake, Lee's children Sky and Lukas running ahead of them playing. Lizz carried William asleep in her arms, she smiled talking with him looking aroudn to see who else was around.

She laughed.

"Very good. That's about how I feel. I almost feel reckless with all this power though, you know? I have a terrible god-complex... besides, Shawn- aren't we the youngest professors to have ever taught at Hogwarts?"

Ultimater decided to stretch and yawn and to his surprise a fish dropped to the ground from under his robes.
Someone pulled a prank on me, he thought.
He turned around and noticed Lizz.
"Hey hot stuff, you don't have to put fish down my pants to grab my attention.
You wanna skip rocks with me?"
He grabbed Lizz's hand, and put a rock in it.

"Yeahhh king... It's a really long story- with Mist and Avalon and me being the descendant of Merlin and the rightful heir of some castle and such. It's tough work, but i get a huge battalion of Magical Knights at my disposal, so that's cool." Shawn said to Vipera, He sighed. It's way to tough for me to do nowadays...

"I'd much rather be here.. And yeah, Britt. I had thought I was the youngest, but then again here you are." Shawn said smiling

"Well you left a good Steward in your place, Shawn, so just relax. You're top priorities are to Hogwarts now, not the kingdom"

"Merlin... That's probably the best thing you've ever said to me."

"Wait what? Did everyone hear that? Shawn actually said something nice to me, without being a complete dick! Where is Shawn and what did you do to him?"

Lizz turned to look at Ulitmater, "if i wanted your attention I wouldn't have used fish" she smirked at him before continuing to walk. She loved Hogwarts, things were allways interesting around her, never a dull moment but it was allways good.

First, Vipera heard the boy's comment to Lizz (shot downnnn) and she started to laugh... and then the stick started to talk.

The stick?
What the---?

"Shawn?" Vipera asked. She had to be crazy.
"Did that stick just talk to you?"

She rolled her eyes at Shawn, and laughed at Vipera's remark towards the stick, or who she became to know as Merlin.

"I'll let you two discuss this."

She walked over to Ultimater and smiled.

"Hi, I wouldn't mind skipping rocks with you. I have an awful lot on my mind, and I think that a little bit of rock throwing would do just the trick."

"I AM NOT A STICK! I am a staff, thank you very much. And since Shawn didn't introduce me, I shall. My name is Mer-"

"Yeah the damn stick talks, he never really shuts up. He's actually my... i don't want to say great alot of times, so he's my ancestor. His bound his soul into his staff, and I happened to get it a couple of years ago. Never realized what it was until I took my throne and it started to talk..." Shawn said looking down. Things like this must make me look crazy

"Well, as I was saying, My name is Merlin."

"Merlin."

"Yeah Shawn?"

"Shut up."

Vipera arched an eyebrow at Britt. Well, if she liked strange fish boys- then that guy was the one for her. personally, it took more than a wink and a witty remark to impress Vipera. She was a tough one to attract. Vipera turned towards Shawn and gave him a quizzical look.
"So the stick does talk....."

"Yeah and he gets rather annoying at times..." Shawn muttered under his breath.

"SHAWN! I heard that!"

"But you can't hear shut up, right?"

"Correct."

"You're an idiot, go back to the room." Shawn said. He slammed the staff on the ground hard and it dissappeared.

"Anyway... What have you been up to? It's been awhile since I've been around these parts, and its really... different..." He added, smiling at Vipera.

Vipera hid a smile behind her hand as the stick tried to protest.
"Yeah..." she sighed, "It is different." She shrugged and her dark hair fell over her shoulder.

"I've just been trying to perfect my Charms and Potion making- dunno really what I'm doing with that. I found a thestral colony yesterday... and My hair grew out longer... Ummm- I'm a prefect and I got a new broom via my uncle Bill. It's great actually. A Firebolt X."

Ultimater still recovering from the recent comment, punched his left leg.
To his surprise, a girl actually noticed him with no effort on his part.
"Women, I don't understand them. I tried picking those two last chicks up and they all be like sacred of me or something."
"Since when is flirting counter-productive?" he laughs.