and anyone else I've missed!

Niamh hadn't expected there to be such a wide range of critters where they were diving. Reaching out her hand to touch the sea anemone she jumped as the stingray swam closer. "Ok, I admit it," she said, "I like diving, but I'm not all that confident around stingrays."

Paddy beamed with delight as she finally got to grips with how to swim under the water. "I never realised there was so much life under the water," she said to Magnus as a fish swam past her, "I thought they'd maybe avoid us, but they don't seem to care that we're here."

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& anyone else~

Callista was quiet for a little while as she, Toru and the others explored the reef. It was so beautiful, and it was amazing that this could exist on the same planet as the muggle world and the wizarding world and the deserts and forests. It was like being on an alien world.

She found herself thinking briefly of some of the mermaid and seashore prints that she had seen on dresses. The world under the water would be more beautiful than some of those fantasies could ever be, and a part of her brain was making notes although she tried not to let it interfere with her enjoyment of the moment.

"Thanks, Toru," she said, watching as a school of tiny colourful fish swam through the corals. "This is a gorgeous place and I'm glad to be able to see it. And thanks for understanding."

She had been taught not to show weakness. But she had recently learned--with the flying lessons, and practising with some of the guys--that allowing herself to fail, and asking for help when she needed it, were important if she wanted to try and enjoy new things.

This was much more fun than sitting on the beach being admired. And also much more fun than trying to keep up with Camilla and Juliana!

"Y-You're welcome, I'm g-glad you're enjoying y-yourself... " Toru would occasionally glance at everyone to make sure they were having a good time and also to make sure nobody was struggling in the water. They were a Hufflepuff after all. "I-If anyone has any questions a-about fish or c-coral, I can a-answer to the best of my abilities..." If Toru ever pursued a Muggle career, it would be a marine biologist for sure. The group was slowly catching up to Magnus and Paddy in the water and Toru moved to wave at them. They were pleased to see how well Paddy had adapted to swimming with a wet suit.

Though something Callista had said earlier was curious to them, but wasn't sure they were close enough friends to ask. With bright pink cheeks they swam close to Callie and asked softly, "Y-You said there was a boy y-you think you like. W-Would it be r-rude to ask who?" Toru wasn't really one to gossip so the Slytherin's secret would be safe for sure.

(and all. I'm gonna post what I can. Migraine ))

“I know right? It’s so gorgeous here,” Zoe said as she began to relax. “It’s nice to share it with someone.” She started humming “Under the Sea.”

“Shells are everyone,” Magnus said, “Including the shops so you can ‘ave a large collection. I’ll buy you a big conch if you’d like? If you put it up to your ear, it sounds like the ocean.”

“Don’t worry, the ray isn’t coming near us,” Blade said confidently. “And if it does, I’ll use magic to get us to the suface.”

“Ain’t it great?” Magnus said, “Its so peaceful.” He waved to everyone who was now around them. “Ey guys, nice to see you join us.”

Millie smiled and returned the nod to Zoe ().

She made her way to the coral reef. She knew that's where the more color fish would be hiding. As she swam, a stingray brushed against her leg. She stopped and up righted herself and stuck her arm out. The stingray allowed her to gently run her fingers down it's back several times before swimming away. She waved good bye to her new friend and continued her way to the coral reef to join up the the group

Once she arrived, she gave a smile and a wave to everyone. "Hey guys. Sorry I was lagging behind. I've been enjoying the beautiful things down here." She noticed several little clown fish and smiled with delight.

As she explored more of the reef, she came face to face with an octopus. Before she could react and back away, it inked in her face and scurried away. She scrunched her face up and slowly backed up into clear water and took a deep breath.

Jona smiled and was going to say something to Zoe when he notied something happening out of the corner of his eye.

"AHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Jona doubled over laughing at Millie as he watched her get inked by an nearby octopus. He quickly swam up to her and asked, "Where'd it go? I wanna give it a try! What's it like?" He was frantically searching for another octopus to get the experience of being inked.

(oops I've been gone for awhile) To Magus' eyelash comment, Kiara rolled her eyes, then added, "If I had my brother's eyelashes, I'd never feel the need to curl them. He has amazing eyelashes. It makes him embarrassed whenever anyone mentions it. I mean, what's so un-manly about having good eyelashes?"

She was glad everyone was finally headed out to sea, since, even though she was a strong swimmer, it was never a good idea to swim alone. She pulled herself along on the rocks on the bottom of the sea floor, watching the fish around her, as well as the people. She laughed at Jona's reaction to the octopus. "Good luck finding another one," she said, "They're good at blending in." She was also keeping an eye out for jellyfish; her cousin had gotten one wrapped around her arm a couple summers ago, and had gotten a nasty sting. She had no desire to tangle with one.

The Hufflepuff continued to lead the group, they saw Blade and Nimah ahead of them. A large stingray had left them behind and was gliding effortlessly toward their group. It was one of the largest stingrays they had ever seen, probably at least 8 feet across. "Wai!" Toru exclaimed excitedly and moved to swim toward it. They ran their fingers affectionately down it's back to let it know their group wouldn't harm it and gently spread their palms across it's pectoral fins, in a soothing manner. "Y-You can touch them on their tops, d-don't try and grab t-them and steer clear o-of their u-undersides to avoid g-getting stung." Most people thought their stingers were in their tail, and that was true but closer to the base of the tail as opposed to the tip.

They gave a small wave to Blade and Nimah to let them know the stingray wouldn't bother them and to keep exploring if they wanted. Nimah had seen tense as it swam by. Toru had noticed that Jona, Millie, and Zoe had drifted off, but so long as they remained in a group the Hufflepuff wouldn't be concerned with any danger. They did notice a cloud of ink in their direction and hoped that everyone was fine. Octopuses only inked when they felt endangered or extremely stressed, but also inking could be dangerous if it got into eyes, temporarily blinding the victim, it could also impair smell and taste.

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Callista felt fortunate that her complexion hid most of her blushes. "I'll tell you who he is," she told Toru, "but I'll tell you somewhere more private, maybe back at school when we're playing dress-up. Even in Japanese, people might catch the name. I think most of the girls in my House already know, but I don't want him to think I'm the sure thing until I'm sure he deserves me." She winked.

Then she saw the others coming toward them, and the stingray. "So cooollll..." she breathed. She'd have been afraid of it if she'd been by herself; usually with furry animals letting them smell you worked, but she had no idea how aquatic animals worked.

But she was with friends, and Toru knew how to handle this animal.

Very gently, she reached out to touch the stingray's back. It was smooth and pleasant and cool.

"You're so pretty," she cooed to the ray, even though she had no idea if it could hear and knew it would not understand.

(and I totally blanked on how to respond to the rest))

Zoe looked over at poor Millie who had been inked. It was amusing and scary at the same time. “Ye okay?” she asked.

Blade heard someone was inked in the eyes and swam over to Milie. “Come on, we needa go get one of the professors. It should be treated. They should have something,” he said in a professional voice.

Magnus smirked. “Well you know, Kiara, males are almost always prettier than females in nature. So you could tell ‘im being pretty is natural.” He giggled knowing the boy wouldn’t agree.

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"Toru...what's going on over there? Did someone upset a squid or an octopus?" Callista frowned, now that the cloud of ink was more visible. "Do you think everyone over there is okay?"

Millie shook her head while Jona () was laughing. "It was uh.. unpleasant. I'm not sure where he went. I wouldn't recommend it."

Blade () was urging her to go see a professor. "I'm okay. Really. Just kind of stunned. I wasn't expecting it. Thank you though." she gave him a warm smile.

Millie smiled at Zoe, "I'm good. I recommend not spooking an octopus."

Blade didn't seem convinced but didn't want to be too pushy either. "Very well. But if your eyes become blurry or sting, let me know and I'll get you to the professors," he said. He began to swim back, glancing over his head to Millie. He gave Toru a little wave as he returned to Niamh's side.

"Yeah it does nee look fun," Zoe said. "Glad ye are okay." She gave a reassuring smile. "Crossing off bucket list?"

Millie nodded at Blade (). "I will. I promise"

She turned her attention back to the reef, looking for more colorful fishes and watching for anymore octopi

Jona was miffed that everyone acted more hesitant about the octopus rather than feeling the excitement he felt. Maybe it was because he didn't know as much about the ocean? But still! He wanted something more to happen. He saw Zoe talking to Millie and decided it would be fine if he snuck away. He wasn't her only friend, even if it felt like she was his only friend sometimes.

While people lingered here and there to gawk, Jona swam on ahead to Toru, who was of course by Callista. It was weird, because Jona was pretty sure he'd never met her before - or maybe he had like once? He shook his head to focus on his mission. Poking Toru eagerly in the ribs, Jona said, "I wanna see something way cool." It was so much a statement as it was a request that Toru take Jona somewhere interesting.

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"Hey, Jona, is that girl okay?" Callista frowned. "I feel bad for her. As much sushi as I eat, it really should've been me I suppose, but... karma is sadly a Muggle illusion and not an actual magical law. You are Jona, right? I know you're friends with Zoe and Toru, who I consider to be friends."

“Great!” Drew grinned. “Wait here for a second, I’ll be right back.” He darted over to a nearby area with beach paraphernalia that had been set around for them to use and secured a sand pail. Carrying it back to Mallowsweet, he smiled and said, “Now we have somewhere to store our collection. All set?” He was happy to just stroll on the beach with his friend and enjoy looking for shells.

As the Jona () boy turned and walked away without another word, Flora frowned. What was his problem? She mentally went over what she had said. She’d politely told her name…she’d asked about a person he seemed to know and be friends with…okay so maybe she’d corrected him about Lena’s age, but that shouldn’t be a reason to just rudely leave should it? She looked at Lena () and voiced some of her thoughts, “What was that all about? He was very rude. Maybe Drew was right when he told me about him.”

Then before she knew it everyone was gone without so much as an invitation or a look back at Lena and Flora. The new Slytherin shook her head. “So much for making friends in other houses,” she half muttered. “I see now why Slytherins stick together. Well, I wasn’t that hyped about diving anyway.” Then looking around, she spotted her cousin with…a centaur?! Trust Drew to find a way to be near any sort of equine being, Flora thought.

Lena allowed herself to be pulled toward the water. The teen was familiar with ocean swimming though it had been years. The beaches in Spain were the best. They would go to visit for family vacations. Their home near Aberdeen was very near the water but no way would she go swimming there, too cold.

As she and Flora reached the water's edge, Lena paused watching the majority apply charms so they could dive underwater. Not against a good swim Lena readied to help Flora with the charm but before she could suggest it a young boy ran over, with a lot of enthusiasm, introducing himself as Jona. Flora spoke first but the boy evidently changed his mind turning and walking away.

"Well, maybe he didn't like that I wasn't a first year too." Lena shook her head to clear her thoughts. "So, no diving then." Looking around Lena noticed Drew hurrying back to meet with the friend he had been talking to with a bucket. That gave the teen an idea. "Hey, how about we grab some tools and make something. Bet we could get a pretty decent Hogwarts sandcastle going."

Toru eased a little when Blade waved at them assuming it meant Millie was okay, well okay enough. He hoped if she felt some irritation in her eyes or nose she went to seek medical attention.

Jona began swimming to join Toru and Callista. Toru let a small squeal and jumping a little when Jona poked them in the ribs. They were actually very ticklish, and glad it didn't spook the stingray. "Is a s-stingray cool?" They said softly petting the large creature again with a smile.

-- and everyone else

Flora grinned at the suggestion of making a sandcastle. As an only child she had done such things in the past to occupy herself on family vacations. “That sounds like fun,” she said. “Let’s see what size buckets they have. And we have to find just the right spot.” The girl eyed the area knowing they would need to be a reasonable distance away from the water but still close enough that the sand would be fairly moist and so they could get pails of water easily.