((bwahahaha yay plotting xD ))

Magnus cheered up a little at getting Katsumi to snicker. He loved that he could get that response. And since he'd never knitted before he was fairly sure any jumper he made would start out horrible. His eyes shinned brighter. He was also warmed as she called Paul a friend and tried to cheer him up. "Yeah, Paul," Magnus said, "I think of ya as me brother and friend."

"Old habits, and all," Paul started but then he actually looked away from them both for a moment. The normally composed adult took a moment before looking back at them. It was evident that he was touched. He liked the kids too. "Thank you," he said to Katsumi in Japanese as he bowed slightly, "Katsumi-san. I think of you as a friend as well." He ruffled Magnus' hair, "and you know already know I think of you as my little brother or kid. Guess we adopted each other, huh Gus?"

Magnus beamed then. He might not have liked Paul's nickname but he wouldn't ever complain about it. It was just Paul--who to him was really hard not too like. Paul was cool.

(( D'aww, Paul's adorable~ <3 Also bedtime for shy. z.z))

The Ravenclaw felt even more self-conscious when she realized she had contributed to Paul's loss of composure, and she ducked her head. But it snapped up again at the sound of her other native language, and her eyes were even wider, if that was possible. The reserved and articulate girl was openly shocked into silence, and it took several moments for her to shut her mouth and kick her thoughts back into motion. Questions piled up in her head, and she managed, just barely, to make some polite acknowledgement and return the bow automatically before they came spilling out. "You speak Japanese? When'd you study it? For how long? Do you use it often? Your pronunciation is superb!" Maybe she was rather biased, but Katsumi hadn't expected to encounter anyone that spoke Japanese at Hogwarts, much less someone who did so fluently.

((I know right? lol I need to find more ways/places to rp him. I like getting to know him lol. He's a man of mystery who likes to share tidbits that I didn't know lol. and sleep well, be going soon meself))

Paul's grin was pretty wide at Katsumi's compliment. "I volunteered to be part of an auror exchange program shortly after I became an aurur. Spent a year living with a family there, so I learned pretty quickly since I was totally immersed. My host and I tracked a group of vampires that were traipsing across the country on a killing spree. Every year since, my wife and I visit Japan and the family. My kids even know a few words in Japanese. It was very an invaluable experience, one I greatly enjoyed."

Magnus' eyes lit up. This was new information to him. "Man, I'd love to see vampires!" Paul chuckled, "No way. Your parents would flip."

(( How long ago were the vampires? Trying to figure if Katsumi would have been alive at the time and remember it, or if she might've heard about it happening from her parents if it wasn't too long before she was born.

I may have lied about sleeping...or at least the last bit of writing I had to do took longer than anticipated. ^.^;; AND YES YOU DO BECAUSE HE IS AWESOME. Most of your chars are awesome, to be honest, but yeah, I want more Paul. ^.^;; My chars do the sharing tidbits thing too -- I start out with something rough, and the more I play them, the more I get to know them. <3))

(( He became an full aurur in er... does maths... 1996 so 2 years before the battle at hogwarts.
lol I'm so bad about that... go to sleep but... more to write lol. XD its a lot of fun getting to know them xD))

"A foreign exchange program? Neat! My Poppy told me about vampires that came through where he, Oba-chan, and Oka-san were living, back when Oka-san was little, I wonder if it was the same ones," Katsumi mused. She had to raise an eyebrow at Magnus. "Really? I'll pass, thanks. No need to go inviting trouble. Besides, I bet you'll be too busy taking in a different country when you come to visit to ever miss them." Okay, so maybe she'd not asked her parents if he could visit yet, but she knew they'd be more than happy to host one of her friends!

The girl's expression turned abashed as she realized they'd gotten way off-topic. "We should probably get back to practicing," she said softly, summoning her dragon patronus again. It was still lamentably dim compared to the others'. Was that because she kept her emotions in so much that when she wanted to show them it was awkward? Would something of that nature affect a spell that relied on feelings?

"Lord, am I that old?" Paul gave a hearty laugh. "It was about a year and half or so before the Battle at Hogwarts. So it is likely they were the same."

He gave her a lazy smile. "'Ey don't 'ave to be the same visit do it? We could go visit Vlad the Impaler's 'ome in Transylvania." Magnus' eyes twinkled. "I mean, dude vampires! Blood sucking, un-dead, non-sparkley, sexy, bespelling vampires. I mean, what's not to like?" He let his eyes go a little crossed eyes as he put his hands up as if to try to catch her, "Come 'ere me pretty, I vant to suck your blood."

Paul rolled his eyes but it was clear he was amused. Though he tried to cover his laugh with a cough, "Yes, get back to practising Magnus, we'll be moving on to the simulated part soon enough."

"There's not much concrete evidence to support Vlad as a vampire, you know," Katsumi pointed out. "I mean, he was called 'the Impaler' because he stuck people on pikes and stuff, not because he bit them." She seems amused despite the contradiction. "Besides, if someone wanted to suck my blood, I don't think I'd be worrying about how attractive they are. I'd be more concerned with whether I'm sufficiently Stunning."

"Course I do, but I mean its dead interesting, ain't it? Ain't got nofing but the gravest respect for vampires." Magus gave her an impish smile to go along with his bad puns. "I'm not sayin' I wanna join up or be nibbled on, but you know... seeing some o' 'em up close and personal... Skulking 'round crypts lookin' for 'em and watchin' 'em bespell people... it'd be fascinating."

(( To be fair, Kat totally started the puns. =P))

"You're bloody awful, and those puns suck." Her retort was swift and delivered utterly deadpan. It was the laughing sparkle in her eyes that betrayed her. "'Sides, why not just use a camera and an RC car or something, and get a good look that way? I bet they'd give you a /great/ shot, picking it up to see what the heck it is." (Short because Magnus probably has more puns, or at least a retort))

(( i love puns lol))

Magnus laughed deeply. "Eh, there's nothing nofing funny about exsanguinations, its a dry subject. But seriously, I don't think I'd stake out a vampire with a remote control car... it seems weird." ((short for same reasons lol))

The girl's eyes gleamed as shot back another round of puns, only for Magnus to counter in turn, but it only took a acouple exchanges before Kat's composure shattered completely and she dissolved into laughter. "Ahaha, you're good!" Yes, it was silly, not to mention a painful sort of humor, but the lowly pun required a sharp wit and a way with words, and she enjoyed them thoroughly.

There was a considerable pause before she had herself together again, and a smile still lingered on her face as she turned to Paul. "I think I'm as ready as I'm going to be," Katsumi told him, though her grip on her wand tightened. Fear wouldn't stop her, it /wouldn't/, she wouldn't let it make her helpless.

Magnus loved puns and Kat proved to be a good opponent. It was a little sad when the mini pun war ended.

Paul had been listening to the interaction and had an amused look on his face--a look that slipped away when Katsumi expressed readiness for the next part. He nodded. "Alright," he said, "Darlin, here we go." He waved his wand at the device and the room seemed to get darker as a dementor shot out. It floated towards Katsumi.

Katsumi nearly took a few steps back, but caught herself just in time. No, she could do this. Her expression blanked as she struggled with herself. In her mind, she dug herself in, clinging to the details of the award ceremony where she'd met Liz. The chill radiating from the fake dementor dragged at her, but the witch lifted her wand and cast. "Expecto Patronum!"

A tiny wisp of light and then -- nothing. No dragon, not even the veil she'd mastered a few years before. It was much harder with her fear, and the despairing listlessness the wraith brought. She tried again, and was rewarded with something a little more substantial, but still sadly lacking. And now she was falling back, giving ground as her heart pounded in her ears.

((Magnus could totally rescue Kat -- and she'd appreciate it. pets her Poor girl. She really doesn't handle her fears so well.))

Magnus looked in horror at the dementor and watching his friend struggle, so he jumped in front of her. It was like he was punched the stomach. He couldn't even so much as get the words out. Everything went bleak as all the happy thoughts seeped away leaving nothing but the coldness. The orpahange headmaster was holding some switches... a werewolf growled at him and lunched as he panicked--the healer at Saint Mungos stood over him... He was in a world of his own--a world of utter hell. He heard his name over and over again but he couldn't seem to do anything about it.

Paul caught Magnus before the boy fell. He waved his wand and the fake dementor vanished. "Accio chocolate," the exaurur said. Two large bars zoomed toward him and he handed one to Katsumi. "Magnus," Paul said trying to rouse the boy. Finally Magnus' eyes opened and he accepted the hug Paul gave him readily.
"So much for 'elping Kat," he said voice thick with torment. Paul pressed a piece of chocolate into his hand. "Eat, it'll help." he looked earnestly at Katsumi, "You did very well."

(( haha he tried to rescue her.))

Magnus shoved in front of her, and the girl was both flattered and ashamed. She needed to master her fear! But she forgot all about it when he froze. Anger blazed through her, burning away the cold dread. How dare that /thing/ make her friend hurt? Her friends meant the world to Katsumi, and his distress spurred her to action. Her mind cleared, and she focused on the memory she needed, the joy it brought. She moved up beside Magnus, her free hand resting on her shoulder as she pointed her wand. "Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum!" The first brought only a haze, but at the second her dragon burst from her wand to stream towards the dementor.

Paul was already moving by then, his spell hitting a mere instant after hers, and the phantom was gone. She was still just long enough to take a deep breath, and then she turned to join him, watching Magnus anxiously. "Why'd he pass out?" she demanded, the words slightly dulled by the bite of chocolate she'd just taken but no less forceful. She didn't look away once her housemate opened his eyes, and the concern took a moment to fade. Her dragon wove circles around the three, like a sentry.

Katsumi's dragon soared majestically around the room and Magnus focused on that as Paul bullied him into eating the candy he didn't want. The first bite did make him feel a bit better. Then Kat asked the same question that had been on his mind. Why had he passed out?

Paul sighed. "Well, I think the boggart dementor was slightly too far away to bother Magnus enough when we worked on boggarts. But he has some..." Paul paused searching for the best way to put it, "more traumatic memories. Dementors force you to relive your worst memories. I'm not sure what else he relived, but his attack was... well it was bad. One of the worst ones I had ever seen." Paul's face was a stone mask. Forced into rigidity, showing no expression.

Magnus forced himself upright, the world swirled around a little but he managed. He nibbled another piece of chocolate. His mind swirling with the images and feelings the dementor invoked. He barely even noticed the others.

"It was weaker, too," Kat added, trying and failing to hide a shudder. "Just as scary, but the effects weren't as pronounced." Something unreadable flitted through her eyes, and she hesitated, dropping her gaze for a moment. But only for a moment, and then she took a deliberate stepped closer and pulled Magnus into an awkward but tight hug. "You were brave," she told him softly, speaking next to his ear. "And you /did/ help, just by trying. I wouldn't have managed a proper Patronus if you hadn't."

Paul nodded. He was still really close to Magnus, concerned the boy might need more care. Chocolate was the best remedy but the adult couldn't help wonder if he should insist the ravenclaw go to the hospital wing--or maybe knock him out...

Magnus was surprised when Katsumi hugged him. Her words gave him some comfort and he managed a weak smile. "Its a beautiful patronus, Kat."

The girl gave him a smile in return, and hugged him closer as she flushed. The dragon circled once more and then faded. "You gonna be alright?" she asked him. Katsumi wasn't completely comfortable so close to people, but it was bearable. She knew that Magnus was the sort of person that relied on more contact in social situations, and it would help him feel better -- that was the important part. "If you want to talk, or...or anything, we're right here, okay?"