Outfit Not Found During the dark time at Hogwarts Nicola Stomwing stayed at Hogwarts and kept her head down trying to lessen the suffering of the other students with hugs, baked goods, stuffed animals, and a gentle shoulder to cry on. If some of the comforting also passed on messages, so be it. It was a tough thing to do, and hard on Nicola and her parents, but they felt it was worth it.

Apple chips please?

"WOAH!" Jona moved to stand but Duncan growled lazily at the jostling so he remained seated. "Britain and Japan, huh? That's pretty freaking cool!" Jona looked at Toru then, with their fun hair and shy demeanor that reminded him of another Hogwarts friend. Why was he always drawn to befriending the shy kids when he, himself was generally the loudest one in the room. Jona shrugged it off, not interested in thinking too deeply about it and said, "So, Toru, wanna be friends?" Jona poked at Duncan, making her move off him and closed the few feet of space between him and Toru to hold out his hand for a shake.

Millie smiled at her friend (). "That's so wonderful! I guess I was so busy with school work and studying for my OWLS, I wasn't paying attention. Maybe once Emmett moves to London and gets settled, the four of us can meet up for butterbeers at The Three Broomsticks. If you two are comfortable, of course. And don't worry, anything you tell me will be kept between us. I promise"

Millie heard a mention of snacks and looked at the choices. "Ohh, I'll have to go with the bag of crisps , please. And thank you."

[img align=left]https://sapi.subeta.net/shared/560785.png[/img] Sauvage blushed at the prospect of a double date with Fade. They had only just established their relationship over the summer and he was so socially awkward...but, he had mentioned hoping their relationship would open him up more. Nodding absent-mindedly to Millie, she reached for some apple chips and said, "I weel talk wiv 'im. But enough of me. 'ow are you? 'ow is Emmett? Oh, and we should study togezer for our ze OWLS!" [img align=left]https://sapi.subeta.net/shared/553748.png[/img] Jona patiently sat back down, well aware that the shy Toru would need a moment to recollect themselves. Laughing to himself, Jona thought it was weird how he was now so used to the demeanor of the quiet kids. It seemed he did a lot of growing during the break. He winced, self-consciously touching his fingers to his head where he'd shaved it. Not all the growing was positive, though, maybe? Sighing, he went back to petting Duncan, who surely approved, and watched Toru draw something on the sketchpad in front of them.

"Yeah?" Jona perked up, thinking on how Toru offered, it must be something he didn't do often, which made Jona feel honored. "Of course! I'd love to check out your work." And with that, Jona scooped up Duncan, who made a squeaking noise at the surprise lift, and took a seat next to Toru. "What do you normally like to draw?"

Millie smiled, "of course. Only if you both are comfortable." she dropped the subject. "I'm doing well. We went to Iceland for our family holiday. It was really fun. Then I visited my grams and gramps at their new flat in South-End-On-Sea. It's really pretty there. Emmett is well. He is excited to finish his schooling. He is ready to get out of Durmstrang for good. He is really excited to move to London."

"And yes, we should study for our OWLS together. I'd like some extra help in potions. I'm doing well but I'd like to do better."

They scooted over enough to give Jona and Duncan enough room to sit close but not touch. This was going to be a slow process and physical contact was not something they thought they could do yet. Toru was pretty sure they cleared a big hurtle of talking to someone tonight -- and even made a friend! They gently handed the boy beside them their sketchbook. "I prefer waterscapes..." It was true, most of their doodles were pretty waterfront views. One was very lovely of a koi pond in a garden. Of course there were other doodles too, pictures of people doing daily things, none of whom Jona would recognize. There was a small doodle of Duncan basking on a pillow from last semester though on the corner of a page.

Aurora moved closer to Toru and Jona to check out Toru's sketches, most of which depicted nature scenes - a particular passion of Aurora's. I'd love to get to know Toru... we seem to have things in common, she thought to herself. "These are lovely!" she indicated at the drawings.

Jona seemed rather taken by the drawings also... Perhaps finding a like-minded friend group wouldn't be so hard after all.

"Have you guys explored much outside the castle?"

Jona thumbed through the sketches thoughtfully, enjoying the pictures but not really knowing enough about art to properly admire the skill. He caught sight of a drawn Duncan, sleeping on a pillow by the window. "Aww! Duncan!" He nudged the pup in the tummy and she wriggled under his touch. "Hey! Hey, it's you, girl!" She scooted closer to Toru curiously and sniffed at their hand; finally coming to some conclusion that they were friendly -or perhaps to show her gratitude of the picture's likeness, she licked the ends of their fingers then rolled herself back into a ball on Jona's lap, not at all bothered when Jona jumped in his seat at the sound of someone talking behind him.

"Hm? Outside? You mean like on the castle grounds? Sure, a bit here and there. Duncan likes to take her walks over by the womping willlow. I think she enjoys taunting it..." He grinned wildly at his dog's recklessness. "Oh, Eeceland is amazing. Did you go to ze Blue Lagoon per'aps? Zhough, it is not my favorite 'ot springs, it is certainly a good one. I do not remeber eef you 'ave told me, but...what is Emmett planning to do after school? Does he 'ave a career in mind?" She then rolled her eyes at the mention of OWLS. "Oh, yes, and I could use some 'elp wiv Arithmancy and Charms."

&

While sharing their drawings with Jona, Toru did not hear the girl from before approach. Her compliment almost caused them to shriek in surprise, instead they strangled it down to not cause a scene during the party. A deep crimson blush that not only reached their ears but partially past their collar spread as the compliment set in. "T-Thank y-you," they muttered softly while trying to contain the pounding in their chest from happiness and from the lingering surprise compliment.

Jona seemed happy with the drawing of Duncan from last semester and gently prodded her awake to glance at her portrait. Toru was deeply pleased at her small puppy kiss on their fingers. Though Toru was incredibly afraid of cats, they adored dogs. Especially cute small fluffy ones like Duncan.

Aurora's comment caught them off guard after their small moment with the tiny canine and responded more loudly than they intended. "The Lake!" The artist blushed again and covered their mouth a little, clearing their throat and responding quietly. "I-I l-like t-the l-lake."

(Sorry, I feel like I wrote a novel.)

"Looks like Duncan likes you - though," Jona scrunched up his face in skepticism. "To be honest, she likes most people. I think she's also a Hufflepuff in that regard. Oh, that and she is great at finding things!" He laughed at his own joke as he continued flipping through the sketchbook. He smiled at Toru's excitement when they mentioned the lake. "Yeah, I like the lake, too. What do you get up to around there?"

((please don't apologize! I love it when people write more. It gives everyone more details to picture and more to respond to. Really helps fill out the thread, too))

"Oh the lake!" Aurora's eyes lit up and her sentences suddenly turned to rapid babbling. "It is so fascinating around there, especially at night! Just last year I came across a pair of- " silence. Her eyes widened and mouth gaped at her mistake; Aurora's twilight expeditions in search of magical creatures (whilst rather innocent and good-natured) were technically not allowed at Hogwarts. Her gaze shifted from Jona to Toru, gauging their reaction to her accidental almost-confession.

Jona simply sat and waited for her to finish. He honestly didn't think it was that strange for a student to be perusing the grounds at night. He didn't do it often, but he also forgot it was against the rules. Generally because he was always late to the feasts at the start of the term where such rules were announced. And so, he impatiently said, "Well?? What'd ya find?"

"We did go to the Blue Lagoon. It was really fun. We spent two days there before moving on.

"He is going to be a curse breaker. He has been offered a position at Gringotts in London. They train in the banks before giving them assignments in the field. He is going to stay in my family's guest room until he can find a decent flat of his own. He is really looking forward to it."

"I'd be happy to help you with Arithmancy and Charms. I excel in those. I also have the highest marks in History of Magic and Ancient Runes."

"Ah, yes. My parents and I, we 'ave gone to ze Blue Lagoon several times. We love it zere, alzough it 'as become a leettle too touristy for me lately." She scrunched up her nose as if the unfortunate news came with a bad smell. "Emmett will be a curse-breaker?" Sauvage gasped and put her hands on Millie's forearm. "Zat is a beet dangerous, no? Are you worried? I mean, eet eez good if eet eez what 'e wants, but..." She let out a breath. "I would just be so worried if I were you. Still, I am sure zat ze job will come wiv some good stories, too. And it is so nice of your parents to let 'im stay in ze guest - but why not in your room, eh?" She winked when she said that last part, laughing as she pulled her arm back to her side. "Oh, sank goodness for zat. I 'ate aritmancy and I am no good at ze charms. 'owever, History of Magic eez not so bad and I actually enjoy Ancient Runes. Potions is, of course, my favoreet zhough."

"I agree, it was really touristy. We prefer places not well known.

"Actually I'm not worried. He has the highest marks in his Charms and Defense Against Dark Arts in his year. I know Durmstrang has trained him well. And actually... I'm going to be a curse breaker too.... We both love to travel and our we both love history. I don't think any job is 100% safe. I mean, my dad is a healer and can still catch a disease. He accidentally exposed me to dragon pox last year when he asked me to bring him some supper. He still feels terrible about it."

She blushed at the mention of Emmett being in her bedroom. She tried to think of something to say, but she blushed even more.

"I have a love hate relationship with aritmancy. There are times I have to force myself to like it. And charms is my favorite practical class"