[CR: H] Meeting a Seventh Year

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace was sitting in the common room, a book on her lap (The Marks Family Heritage), and the fire raging in the heath next to her.

The Marks Family Heritage is a long line of renowned witches and wizards and warlocks dating back to the 11th century. The Marks have always been known for their big families and there outrageous parties and family gatherings which-

But she was interrupted by the sound of someone coming into the common room...

[Thom Moen]

Thom was humming loudly, an out of season Christmas tune a passing ghost had been indulging in. He was stomping his feet loudly also, clogs or mud and grains of soil breaking loose all over the floor, the ground where he had just walked now resembling a trail of mole hills. "Sooo this iiiiiis Christmas- what have you doooone?!"

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace looked up from he book and scanned the room. There was a tall boy near by that she hadn't met before. "You know, make any more noise and you'll frighten way my darkest nightmares!" She smiled at the boy and waited for a responce.

[Thom Moen]

Thom stopped in mid-stomp, his worse than terrible singing dying also. There was a young girl sitting on one of the sofa with her legs up, the thickets, most worn looking book he had ever seen blanaced on the ends of her fingers as if it weighed nothing at all. Clearing his throat loudly, he turned to her. "Bit late for you, isn't it? I think you're nightmares are probably too tired to bother you by now - probably been waiting for you all night, I reckon." he flashed and roughish smile and winked at her.

Kicking his muddy boots off, he moved over to the sofa she was sat on and climbed over the back, sitting on the arm opposite her. "You got a name, nightwalker?"

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace smiled at the new arrival. "Certainly," she said, holding out her hand, "Marks, Grace Marks. And you are?"

[Thom Moen]

Thom linked their fingers. "The name's Thom, seconded by Mr Moen. What year you in, Grace Marks? You've got the youthful looks of a... fifth year I'd say..."

With his foot he reached forward and lifted up the front of Grace's book so as to read the title. "Bloody hell," mumbled. "Prestigious." he nodded his head respectively.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace smiled at Thom, "well, seconded by Mr Moen, you are spot on, fifth year is correct. And you look like a ... second year," she teased. She looked at the cover of her book, "family!" she said simply and shrugged her shoulders with a smile on her face.

[Thom Moen]

Thom tossed his head back in mock-arrogance. "Just my boyish good looks. By the time I'm eithty I might look thirty." he smiled.

"Good old family. And looks like I'm rubbing shoulders with the right Hufflepuffs!" he laughed as he slid down onto the sofa cufion, hitching his rather stinky feet upon to the coffe table - a makeshift one of books and parchment. "Pardon the intoxicating male musk," he said, wriggling his toes. "Was out for a strole by the lake when the squid decided to send a mini tidal wave".

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace laughed. "I didn't know there were the wrong sort of Huffies," she giggled, "I assumed they were all in Slytherin. And if I can survive living with my father, your male musk is like roses." She looked at her book and noted the page number, closing the book and stroking the golden lettering on it. "You know, I was quite surprised to find this book, I'm muggle born."

[Thom Moen]

Thom raised his eyebrows. "Muggle born you say? Stroke of luck managing to weedle your way into posessing that old thing. What's your story then - being a muggle born Marks and still managing to end up here? How did you end up being muggle born?"

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace smiled at her inquisitive new friend. "Well," she began, "according to this-" she held up the brown book, golden embossing shining in the light "-in about the 19th century, a wizard Marks fell in love with a muggle and so turned from magic to be with his true love. Quite romantic but it still doesn't explain how I got here. Though I think that's more a question for the Headmistress and not me." Grace smiled and looked at the fire, dancing in all it's radiance.

[Thom Moen]

Thom joined her and glanced into the warm orange flames. The light shimmered weakly of his reddish hair, casting it golden in parts. "Looks like the magic never really loves a true wizarding line then." he smiled encouragingly. "Looks like it's one puzzle you don't have to worry about. You're here, you're magical, and that's all that matters as far as I'm concerned!" he patted her knee.

The Hufflepuff suddenly began to think of his own parents, two people who he had not seen or spoken to since the beginning of the year.

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty could hear muffled noises. She groaned and shifted a bit more so her ear was poking out the bottom of the sofa, without giving away her position. She then heard Grace say something about her family. One part caught her attention and she wiggled her way from out underneath the sofa.

When she emerged her robes were covered in dust but she ignored that and carried on talking.
"Sounds a bit like my family Grace. Dad turned away from magic due to love of Mum. He is now a muggle doctor."
A wide grin filled her face as she looked at the other two.

[Thom Moen]

"What the bloody...?" Thom leaped off the sofa in shock, a mistake as his feet caught those of the resently hidden Girty. He swore loudly as he stumbled forward, only managing to gain his balance just before toppling into the seven foot tall fireplace.

"Hubbles?! Blimey!"

((Do greenhouses have fireplaces, Liz? ))

[Girty Hubbles]

"Sorry Thom. But i believe i have been under the sofa longer then you have been sitting on it."
She grinned and slid on her bum towards Grace, to have a look at her book.

((Hahaha, very good.))