Gaia grinned "Yeah I figured you would enjoy seeing them grow! They are good. They go out for runs and help watch the owl and their babies. This holiday was hard work!" () petting Chase Gaia looked at Magnus "I see you are a prefect..." with a serious gaze and then burst out laughing. "I am sure you will be great. It will also be amazing for us since you won't be able to play pranks all the time!" Gaia winked at Magnus and grabbed an acid pop from her bag. ()

“Tell me about it. I never want to set foot in another airport ever again.” He smirked and turned to Magnus. () “Yeah man, what about you? I got like twelve sketchbooks so I think I’m set for the term.” There had been lots of traveling involved, and his mother insisted on taking airplanes between their destinations making it much more of a hassle than Fade would have preferred. But he knew his dad preferred muggle travel versus portkeys and such, and his mom had an aversion to magical means despite being the witch in the family so there wasn’t much the teenager could do.

Noticing the badge pinned to Magnus’s shirt Fade beamed. “Wow, look at you. All fancy and rule following. Congrats on that!” Sure he was a little let down, with his best friend having prefect responsibilities he highly doubted they would both be breaking into the restricted section any time soon.

Magnus frowned. "Gone off their 'inges they 'ave, making me a prefect." He clearly didn't seem that thrilled about it. "Mum an' Dad were dead pleased though, both were prefects in their time. Both where 'ead girl and boy for Ravenclaw too. He sighed. "Still don't mean I 'ave to be good all the time... I'm sure there's some wiggle room. Break was nice, I also got a lot of art supplies and Dad bought me a few new plants for the dorm. Part of me didn't wanna come back."

Gaia smirked "I have a feeling you were made prefect to avoid any more incidents. It also makes my job easier. You know finding you sometimes can be difficult." Gaia laughed "It was a very smart choice to have you be less mischievous in your actions outside the classrooms!" Gaia threw a cushion at Magnus and laughed.

( )

"You're a seer, you know where I am most of the time," Magnus said crinkling his nose. "I know that's why they did it. That don't mean I 'ave to be a law abiding citizen though... I mean there's always loopholes..." The cushion hit him lightly as the boy was sulking and not paying attention.

(( tackleglomp heyyy~

flailing))

Kat gasped at the present. "You -- really, I don't mind that it's late. I mean...yours is a bit late too, but I think it'll be worth...the...." Her sentence trailed off as she pulled the paper from the dragon, and squeaked. "It's so cute~ Aww! And...wait, to match...?" The girl had no words when she saw the painting. She stared at it, mouth slightly open, and after a long moment, she set it carefully down and threw her arms around Magnus. "I really don't know what to say," she murmured in his ear. It was unusually demonstrative for her, and she pulled away quickly, looking embarrassed. "Here, let me get your gift, okay? I'll be right back."

Magnus smiled shyly as she opened and then outright beamed when she hugged him. "Your welcome," he managed before she disappeared to get her gift for him.

() Gaia laughed "just because I can see doesn't mean I can see you all the time. It doesn't work that way!" shaking her head she waved and grinned at Kat () "How are you?"

"Why would you need to know where I am?" Magnus asked.

Everil's smiled genuinely as she basked in the ebb and flow of conversation happening around her. Before she knew it, countless other students had joined her and Magnus at the chairs next to the arched windows. She listened in, trying to learn a bit of the people that would be her family during this term. So far, Magnus had been joined by Mac, the foreign exchange student from America; Fade, who seemingly loved to sketch; Katsumi, who Everil believed to be Magnus' girlfriend; and Gaia, the Ravenclaw Head Girl, who was also a Seer. They all sat downtogether, Mac stroking Kippers' back while the orange cat purred. Deciding to introduce herself, Everil jumped into the conversation, answering Magnus' question. "Well, it's always good to know where our friends are, right ?"
Everil smiled at the Seer, knowing she surely already knew who she was. "My name is Everil." She said regardless and to the group at large. "It's nice to meet all of you." She extended her hand to each person in turn and, smiling, told herself that this term was starting to look like it would be an unforgettable one.

Kat smiled at Gaia. "Doing well, thank you. Hope you are too. Stick around, I'm about to get Magnus his Christmas present." True to her word, she returned shortly, with a rather large and somewhat lumpy package. "It took us longer than expected to finish. Sorry about that," she said, setting it in front of Magnus. The card attached said simply "from all of us", though it was Katsumi's handwriting. Inside was a quilt, but clearly a very special one. The young Ravenclaw, with help from Magnus's family as well as the Freemans, had distributed quilt squares and fabric markers to everyone who'd wanted to make one for him. She and his family had each done one, and the Freemans (though the young twins had needed help). Most of the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, and a good number of students from other houses, as well as various Hogwarts staff, and healers from St. Mungo's where Magnus had stayed for a year between being bitten by a werewolf and getting adopted. A few squares were embroidered, some had artwork of varying skill levels, and some had a message. but the whole thing had turned out quite lovely, with a border and backing of muted orange.

Kat watched him intently, her hands clasped so tightly her knuckles had turned white. She wasn't exactly /nervous/ -- she knew he'd like it -- but at the same time she was.

Everil's comment earned her a smile, "but with Gaia there's more to that, me thinks." He waited and his eyes bugged out when she brought the lumpy present out. Then he opened the wrapping and he stood there for several moments unable to speak. His mouth was agape. They did this... for him? It was a physical representation of love and Magnus was deeply moved. He would spend hours looking at the squares he knew, particularly on days he needed extra support. He spotted the Freeman twins squares and smiled. The baby blanket he was found with that had his name embroidered on it was even now one of the squares. "I," he started, but the rest of the words just didn't arrive. He stared at the quilt and the love it was made with and the boy was trying so very hard not to cry. They did this for him. Finally he managed a whispered, choked, "Thank you so much..." before he grabbed Katsumi and hugged her tightly. A tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped it away. When he pulled away he managed to add, "this is so... I don't...I can't think of any words. Thank you isn't enough. Its incredible." The background was even in orange, his favourite colour.

Kat just smiled as Magnus struggled to find words. She'd half-expected that he'd hug her, but was still taken off-guard and it took a fraction of a second for her to return it. She chuckled. "An American friend of mine said something that got me thinking. Beyond just reminding you how much you mean to everyone, I figured, well...you're the sort of person that likes physical contact. And since we can't always be around...this is a way you can have a hand on your shoulders no matter how far away people are." She took another look at the quilt. "REally, everyone was happy to participate. Jean sewed it all together. I couldn't have done it without her help. And Paul and your family -- without everyone, but particularly them. I'm so glad you like it."

Fade’s cheeks reddened when Everil () extended her hand. Tucking his pencil behind his ear and wiping his palm on his pant leg before shaking hers, he grinned nervously. “Nice to meet’cha, I’m Fade.” He pointed to the Bengal cat purring and rubbing all over Gaia and added. “That’s my cat, Chase.” He rolled his eyes at the cat who happily ignored his owner for the chance to gobble some more treats from Gaia’s hand.

Magnus chuckled. "Paul said something?" Guessing this was the American friend. "I don't like it, I love it! I wish I 'ad better words to say what I think of it and the thought behind it. Thank you."

Mac smiled at Gaia and said quietly "Momma thinks getting an education here might help me so I can remember what I see, and, of course you know your are right, I am a seer, but a seer who can't remember what she sees." *rueful grin.

Mac gave Everil an open and sunny smile. "I'm Immaculata Marie Laveau, but please, call me Mac" she shook Everil's hand and was charmed by the girl's confident handshake.

Then she stood back with the others admiring Magnus' Christmas quilt. It reminded her of the quilts her Momma and Tante had pieced back home. It was a beautiful and handsome gift, and Mac was glad that she got to witness the kind friendly boy receive such a memorable present.

Magnus was a little preoccupid still looking over the quilt. Fade was busy playing with Chase and talking, but since the boys shared the same dorm, it wasn't like they couldn't chat later. Magnus scaned the room with a smile, taking in the faces of his fellow Ravenclaws. Mac was near him and he smiled again. "See," he said, "you're gonna make so many friends 'ere you won't be able to write 'em all during the 'olidays."

() Fade looked over and caught Magnus’s eye. Quickly he crossed his own and stuck out his tongue for a split second before looking away and acting like nothing happened. The facade didn’t last long before a smirk crept in. But he made a futile attempt to rub his nose and hide it anyway.

"Paul? Oh! No, no, someone else. I doubt you'd know her -- she's about our age, and a Muggle. Apparently kids in her year are being given these for a coming-of-age ceremony they all have at thirteen, and I liked the idea." Kat was amused that he'd immediately thought of Paul. She didn't quite catch the funny face FAde made, since she only looked at him when Magnus's expression changed, but she did see the smirk before he hid it. Must have been some unspoken communication between the two boys. Katsumi didn't worry about it.

Magnus laughed heartily. He slipped his hand in his pocket and flicked his wand slightly, pulling Fade's ear so the boy turned around again. With another flick Magnus' hair changed to orange for a moment and then back to brown.

"Ah," he replied, "Sorry, Paul and 'is wife are the only Americans I know... though I guess Paul ain't fully an American...." he trailed off. "Its a brilliant idea. I love it! Thanks again.