Lenore raised her glass to Bran (), Corvus and Elizabeth (), joining in the toast.

"To friendship." she smiled and sipped the wine. Corvus was right, it could be better, but now wasn't the time to be picky. Not everyone was accustomed to the quality that she had been raised with.

When Bran made an offer of food he was bright red again and Lenore laughed softly, meeting his eyes. Up until now, she had been pretending not to notice how flustered he was but it seemed like a new tactic might work better. She wanted to help him to relax. After all, she had been raised attending parties and balls, being taught decorum and self-assurance. Bran didn't look like he was used to the atmosphere. Lenore wondered what that must be like, to be functioning naturally rather than in the way you were molded to?

She opened her mouth to say that food would be good but before she could, Bran was commenting on Ivy () and asking about going for a walk. The quick change in topic threw her for a moment but she went with it.

"Something to eat would be great. Dancing took more out of me than I thought!" She glanced at the table and found some savory hand-pies. "Why don't we take something portable and eat while we walk? I wouldn't mind seeing more of the grounds, I've spent way too much of my time here indoors." then she added to Bran in a whisper, "Besides, you look like you need some air."

She turned back to Corvus and Elizabeth.

"If you'll excuse us." she smiled. "I would love to catch up later if the evening permits." She nodded to the pair, noting with interest the way that Corvus was playing with Elizabeth's hair. He looked so relaxed and... happy. It was nice to see this side of him. Elizabeth hardly seemed to notice what he was doing and Lenore thought this must be a habit of his. It was really quite cute.

Lenore decided that she would need to make a stop under her tree to pick up her bag before leaving the party. The night was cooling down and she wanted to take her coffee with her.

(OOC: No worries on the late response! Deleted comments have a way of messing me up too :) )

Bran smiled at Lenore () and said, “I’d never want to be accused of allowing a lady to starve. Excuse us, please,” he added with a smile at Corvus and Elizabeth. () He went with Lenore to the table and nodded at her suggestion. “I recommend the apple turnovers for portability…and yumminess,” he grinned. “I tend to sneak a few to take with me on hikes this time of year. Of course the cherry turnovers are good too, and the peach, but apple is my favorite, especially in the fall. There’s something about munching on the sweetness and spice while the leaves are crunching as you walk that just feels right.” He shrugged and gave a sheepish grin. “Might have something to do with the fact that fall is my favorite season, but who’s to say.”

Taking an apple turnover, Bran waited for Lenore to make her selection and then led her toward the nearest path. “We won’t go far if you’d rather not,” he said. “You're right...I just needed to get away for a bit. Not that I don’t like dancing with you or hanging out with the others, but…well, like I said, this is my favorite time of year and the night is perfect for a walk. The woods seemed to be calling me to come for a walk.” He looked down at the young lady beside him and added quietly, “And I’d like to share it with you.”

"I might be awful at divination, but I see a bright future for Lynnie.", Elizabeth replied amused at Bran's words(). She lifted her glass as well, and so did Corvus, even though he didn't fancy the wine. "Oh, actually it was a pretty normal term.", Elizabeth explained to Lenore() when the other Slytherin girl asked her about Hogwarts. "Not much happened, I got a new pet, though...I'm sure they'll have a great welcome feast for our two champions", she added with a smile. "Sounds somewhat boring", Corvus remarked teasingly, "compared to what happened here." "So jealous of going to Hogwarts, huh?", Elizabeth replied with the same tone as Corvus before, who fell silent at her comment and bit his lip instead. He looked to Lenore and Bran, who just announced they would leave for a small walk. He nodded. "We'll see you later", he said and gave them a small smile. He was arguing with himself for a moment whether to get a snack as well because whatever the other couple had picked looked delicious, but then, he wasn't even hungry. And he didn't want to copy their every move. Corvus turned back to Elizabeth. "So, what about your new pet?", he asked. "Ah, I totally forgot. A snake-", she explained. "Obviously.", Corvus remarked and chuckled lightly. Elizabeth didn't allow herself to get irritated. "Well, his name is Neirin." "Did he tell you that?", he asked amused. "Of course not. I gave him this name...it's just a hatchling.", Elizabeth explained, "and I would like to get something to eat now." With that, she quickly disappeared to the buffet before she came back with two small bowls of pumpkin curry and handed one over to Corvus, who nodded thankfully at her.

(OOC; Sorry, life was pretty stressful and I was finishing some stuff for a upcoming convention! And the site was so messy and lagging. Hope I can catch up :) )

"A quiet term back home sounds nice." Lenore said in response to Elizabeth's () description of Hogwarts. "I've enjoyed the excitement and challenges of a new place but I miss home all the same." She smiled at the idea of a welcoming feast. There had been several feasts lately but thought of the next one she attended being in the Great Hall back at Hogwarts was a welcome one.

Bran's () suggestion of a turnover was an enticing one. They smelled delicious and would be perfect in the cool night. But Lenore had already had some pie and no real food since the evening began.

"Peach sounds divine." she said, her eyes lighting up at the crisp golden crust of the hand pies. "I think I'll take one of the Cornish pasties too. I could use a taste of home."

She picked up one of each and placed them neatly into a cloth napkin. She also conjured a thermos, large enough for the both of them, and filled it with the hot spiced cider. The cinnamon smell that wafted up was amazing.

"There's no need to stay too close. I'm used to going out with Pallas at night." she smiled and pointed toward a nearby tree. "I've left him over there but I'm sure he'll follow when we set off. He never lets me go out alone." she gave a half smile and sighed. "I think my father puts him up to it."

When Bran added that he wanted to share his evening adventure with her, Lenore met his eyes and took his hand again, giving it a light squeeze. For as flustered as he was, the boy did manage to speak his mind and she liked that. It was so much easier than trying to guess at what he might be thinking.

"Do you mind if we stop and get my bag first?" she asked the boy. "It's on my blanket under the tree."

((OOC: No worries! I just backtracked a little to finish the conversation. Have fun with your convention! ))

Bran listened quietly to Lenore’s () comments to Elizabeth as well as the words about needing a taste of home as she chose her food. He wondered how homesick he would be knowing that an ocean separated him from the familiar places. It had been strange enough to move from the southern part of the States to the north and adjust to the differences in weather. But to have to factor in accents and customs as well would be difficult. It would be a fun challenge to be sure, but Bran could understand the longing to be back home. It didn’t mean that he wasn’t sad at the thought of Lenore leaving, but he did understand her feelings.

Smiling as Lenore readied the thermos, Bran had to admire her preparedness. He grinned as she spoke about not needing to stay close. “Glad I’m with a fellow rambler,” he said. “And Pallas is more than welcome. Kit, my flying fox, will probably materialize too. Hope you don’t mind. I didn’t lock him and Scout, my squirrel, in my dorm tonight. Scout’s likely already asleep but Kit loves going on nighttime adventures with me.”

“I don’t mind stopping for your bag,” Bran told Lenore as they headed for the tree. When she took his hand, Bran didn’t hesitate this time. It was getting more and more familiar to him and beyond that it felt right to him to be holding hands. Of course that could have just been him, but then again Lenore hadn’t complained and it had been her making the first move this time. Bran smiled and once they retrieved the bag…tucking the blanket and Lenore’s cup inside first…he contentedly walked through the woods with her, hand in hand.

Pausing to point out a few things like certain trees or an unusual outcrop of rock, Bran chatted easily now that he was in his ‘natural habitat’. Just past a large elm tree, a flash of russet darted toward them and Bran laughed. “Come to join us, Kit?” he called to his fox friend. The animal gave a short yip and hurried over to nuzzle at Bran’s leg. With his free hand, the youth caressed the silky head. “Lenore, I don’t believe you’ve met Kit yet. He’s been my companion since we found a den with him and two of his siblings while camping one summer. The mother had been killed by a poacher and Mom took the other kits to a sanctuary. But Kit and I had adopted each other by that time and so she got permission for me to keep him. We’ve been together for five years now.” Kit was enjoying the attention and petting, but he regarded Lenore curiously.

Lenore was glad to get out for a while. The night was cool and perfect for a walk. She slung her bag over one shoulder and watched as Pallas took off into the night. For a moment she felt a strong desire to summon her broom and take off with him, but then she looked at Bran () and smiled. Having human companionship on a stroll would be nice tonight.

Bran pointed out some of the surrounding elements, knowing the names for the trees and plants. Lenore, though she loved to be out, had never bothered to learn the facts of what was around her. She just liked the way they made her feel. The whispered words of the wind in the leaves meant more to her than what the tree was called. But Bran's enthusiasm for the natural world, though different from her own, was fun to see. She liked the way his eyes lit up. Every once in a while she would ask question about certain flowers or small animals just to listen to him talk about them.

When a red-brown creature darted out of the bushes, Lenore instinctively grasped her wand with her free hand. She then realized that it was just a fox and relaxed, watching as it came to greet Bran.

"He's beautiful." she said softly, holding her hand out toward the animal's nose. The fox was truly gorgeous, it's movements caught somewhere between canine and feline. After a bit of sniffing, it allowed her to stroke it's fur as she listened to the story of how Bran had come to find him.

"You two seem like a good match." She smiled at the boy and felt the fur of Kit's tail.

"He's coarser than I expected." She touched the fox's ears and looked into his eyes. "You're a smart one, aren't you?"

Hearing a hoot from above, Lenore looked up to see Pallas land on an outcropping of rock. He had some sort of animal in his talons though she couldn't quite tell what it was. She hoped it wasn't a fox.

"Um...Pallas knows not to attack any student's pets." she told Bran, not wanting him to worry about Kit or Scout. "I think he can feel the magic on them. Animals can sense things like that that we can't."

Noticing that the outcropping Pallas was now eating his dinner on led to a cliff, Lenore stood up and sprinted to the top of it. The view of the stars was perfect. She sat down with her feet dangling over the edge and plopped her bag down next to her.

"Hey Bran, I think I found a good place to enjoy that cider!" she called back to the boy.

I'm good with whatever. Since we've moved back to Hogwarts now it makes sense to keep our OC's there.

So forgot about this one with the holiday stuff and the new term starting. I'm good with leaving it as is. Bran is with Lenore so he's happy :D

Sorry I forgot about things Bran hopes that he and Lenore can write to each other at least ❤

No worries, things got busy elsewhere. I'm sure a letter would make Lenore's day. For now at least we left them on a happy note :)

I'm good with closing it as well. c: It was fun. ^^