TERM 7 - Beautiful Surroundings - The Gardens - Lauren Madley, Hunter VanDerberg

Lauren wandered the gardens, looking for something that would suit her interest. She didn't want to go back to the library, because that's where Ryan and Vanessa were.  Also, she wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasted. She sat on the grass, and read one of her books. Finally getting some fresh air was refreshing.

Hunter had been cooped up inside the castle for most of the day. And it was way too nice outside to spend his free hour in the library or the common room. So instead, Hunter stepped out into the now-familiar grounds of Hogwarts, a smile forming on his face as the breeze brushed past him. Now, where to go? He always spent his time by the lake, but he was in the mood to go somewhere that he didn't visit all the time.Without really meaning to, he steered himself toward the gardens. He rarely visited that part of the grounds - in fact, the last time he'd been there was last winter when he and Aoife had met Seren for the first time. And everything was covered in snow then. It looked much different without white fluff covering everything.

Hunter had only made it a few paces into the flowery area when he realized that he wasn't the only one there. Some girl was sitting on the ground a bit away, reading a book. Probably a Ravenclaw. But as he took another glance at her, he realized that he recognized her a bit. It was that girl who was sitting with that Ryan git in herbology. And she was a Ravenclaw. He thought about ignoring her, but she had seemed more sensible than her stupid first year friend, so Hunter decided to approach her.

"So, what is it with Ravenclaws and reading all the time?" Hunter joked, announcing his presence. He lowered himself to the ground a few feet away from her. "Don't worry, I come in peace," he added, unsure if she'd think he was there to cause trouble after the scene in herbology. "My name's Hunter, if you didn't know already."

"Oh, hi, I'm Lauren. I'm sorry about Ryan in herbology and all. He's been idiotic lately." She continued reading her book, sometimes forgetting that Hunter was in her presence. He seemed pretty cool, even though Ryan picked on him for no reason whatsoever.

Hunter raised an eyebrow as the first thing the girl said had to do with her stupid friend. "Believe me, I'm hardly worried about that git," Hunter told her, laughing lightly at her apology. "Besides, it isn't your fault, is it? He needs knocked down a few notches, though, if you ask me. Too much of a show off for his own good." Hunter remembered seeing the girl holding hands with him in Herbology.

"Anyway, you and him seem a bit too close for comfort, don't you think?" he said, ripping a few blades of grass from the ground to give himself something to do. "First he acts all lovesick with that Vanessa girl, and then you. You two both ought to realize while you're ahead that he's no good," Hunter told her, leaning back and bracing himself on his hands.

"What are you reading?" he asked her, deciding to change the subject. He didn't want to make this girl cry like he did to Vanessa - although Vanessa was obviously an oversensitive little girl.

"Just Hogwarts: A History. Nothing too interesting." She looked up and smiled at Hunter, the boy that Ryan didn't really know, but decided to mess with anyway.