[Courtyard] Buy a Map

[Brandon Rosenberg]

Day two, and Brandon still had no idea of the basic layout of the castle. The moving staircases were enough to confuse him. It seemed that the mere thought of going up the stairs horrified him. How the hell were you meant to get to places on time with them moving constantly? Brandon shook his head at whoever came up with a moving stack of staircases. What an unintelligent idea. ‘Okay, so back to where I started. This tour is going well’ he thought to himself as he sighed dramatically when he reappeared in the main entrance hall for the third time in a row. It seemed every turn he took lead him back to here. He needed a map, and he needed it now. It seemed like the creator of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry liked to play pranks on the students.
‘Who has a place like this and doesn’t signpost it? It’s just madness!’

Facing the Great hall once again, he decided to find the door to the outside, at least he wouldn’t get as lost out there, besides a breather would be good from the however many miles hike he had just done on the stairs never mind the rest of the castle. Pushing open the door to the courtyard, the fresh cold air hit him before the actual warmth of the breeze was felt on his skin. Pulling up his scarf so it covered his mouth, he plunged his hands into his zipped up black jacket pockets and stood on the top step for a moment, viewing over the land. Hearing the random voices of other students gossiping and giggling, he gave a small smile and hoped he’d be like that again soon. One person so far had the guts to speak to him so far, and that was it. He was rather disappointed in the welcome he received, and he seemed to of been thrown in at the deep end, with no armbands, and no stick up a certain creek. Still, at least here they weren’t as strict and routinely as Durmstrang. Sure he missed his friends there, but life goes on, and they all mostly lived in England anyway, so it’s not like he’d never see them again. Anna-monique, what a girl, but a bit of a crazy one too. He reminisced of the times they had spent together, and was glad they left things on good terms. Still, she would probably be going out with one of his friends now, just like she wanted to in the first place.
Getting nudged out the way by a group of boisterous boys made him lose focus.
“Oi, watch it will you?!” he shouted after them, to receive the bow finger in return. He just raised his eyebrows and shook his head from side to side slightly, unbelieving of their rudeness.
“Jerks” he said to himself, and he slid his foot off the step onto the floor and began to walk slowly. Looking down at his feet as he walked, he put one foot in front of the other in a straight line playing a sort of game with himself. It was clear no exploring of the castle would be going on for him today, so might as well waste it away following his own footsteps outside.

As the concentration grew on his feet, he came into contact with another pair stood in front of him. Looking up quickly, ready to apologize, he couldn’t help but grin.
“Well well”

[Max Hennerdale]

The rumours of a new kid spread like wildfire over the school, yet he doubted anybody had had the decency to talk to the poor blighter yet. Max remembered what it was like all too well, leaving a school when you were so used to it, to come to a completly new one. Though he did get to know a few people pretty quickly, the first one being Ashton, but after everything the two of them had gone through you couldnt really expect them to be friends anymore. Though Max was way past that now and it didnt even bother him anymore, but he knew he had to put up with him because of the fact Max was now with his sister. Yet, Max had stayed with Mark a lot when he came here, of course the change was obviously bad for Mark as this place was far to relaxed for him and he soon swanned off back to Durmstrang and his sisters went back to Beauxbatons. To be honest, Max hadnt even been that bothered about his best friends departure, he had learnt to grow up by now and he didnt really have anyone, asides from Lane, who he classed as a friend. Too much strife between the old crowd for the patches to ever heal up properly. So much had happened here in the past three years, Max couldnt really believe everything everyone had been through. Though in a way, it had made them all stronger people. Well. Some more than others of course.

When you were a new kid, it was scary as everything was so different. Though you meet people and start new friendships, and in some cases rekindle the old ones. A new day brings new corners and a new place brings new opportunities. It was down to you whether you chose to take those opportunities. Max hadnt, and he payed the price for it later on down the line. The grass blades curled beneath his feet, the scarf around his neck hiding the bite mark that was so obvious, thankfully he had a scarf he could pass off as fashionable and it went with his outfit. Just because he wasnt entirely gay anymore didnt mean he couldnt dress smartly did it? Tell you what, being Gay obviously had its advantages, especially when it comes to the clothes area. The wind rustled his hair, this time three years ago he was have yelled like a baby and clutched onto his hair as though it was the most important thing to him, he would never wear a hat and resented wearing the ones the school made you wear occasionally. He wasnt too fussed about his hair these days but he liked to look, well decent.

As he made his way past the lake, skipping a few rocks as he went, nearly sure he caught sight of a tentacle popping out of the water in the distance for a brief moment, he tilted his head to the side and furrowed his brow. Though almost as soon as he saw, whatever it was he saw, it had gone. With a shrug he continued on his trek, looking at the forbidden forest as he walked by it. The last time he had been in there, Fay had been attacked by Devils Snare and Ashton had foolishly tried to cut it loose, that put an end to their little adventure. Which was a shame, Max was rather enjoying winding Bray up. Even so, Fays safety came first, he had learnt that the hard way. How many times had that girl been hurt on Max's account? Twice? Three times? More? Who knows.

Walking up the hill and through a small bundle of tree's, trees no doubt belonging to the Forest itself, he found himself on the lawns, where giggles and whispers met his ear. Ever since people found out he was dating Laney, everyone seemed to think every girl stood a chance with him. Max wasnt sure what to make of this, parts of it were still new to him. Well, as Mark would say, "Cant hurt to try before you buy can it!" He ran over this area and up the hill, heading straight in for the courtyard, stopping for a moment to catch his breath, bent over, his hands on his knees and breathing steadily when he heard a voice. Looking up, his mouth dropped open and he almost fell back in surprise. Now that face was definatly a blast from his past. Strange how many of those he had gotten this year, well two this being the second but at least he liked Brandon, unlike that idiotic brother of his who he tolerated for the sake of others.

"Have you grown?" Max asked, looking at Brandon, it was a standing joke Max used to be one of the tallest boys in the year back in Durmstrang, and Don was one of the smallest, but he seemed to have shot up over these past three years. Though he still had some catching up to do as Max was still taller, "Or have I just shrunk a little."

[Brandon Rosenberg]

As he concentrated on walking, he didn't look up, not once. A rather foolish thing to do as he himself had just been knocked into by some younger years. Smirking slightly at his own dumbness, he wondered why he had been placed in the 'clever house'. Still, maybe it was because he learnt quickly. As his sight was rather focused on his feet, his hearing was his best sense right now. As it seemed to heighten, he listened intentely to the voices of the other students surrounding the courtyard. He would look rather odd walking at this pace, but until someone broke his concentration and talked to him, even to insult him, he would continue with his slow steps.

Hearing the voice of Maxi Hennerdale was not what he expected in the slightest. The dull day had suddenly become brighter and he felt like he wasn't a lost soul in this place they liked to call Hogwarts. Looking up, quite a way infact, as Maxi was still as tall as ever, memories of the last time they met and the last prank they pulled worked their way into his mind. His grin became wider as the replaying memories started, and he had to stifle back a laugh.

"No mate, I think you've shrunk!" he laughed, pushing himself onto his tiptoes to make himself taller. Falling back onto his heels after a moment of balancing, he gave Maxi a small friendly shove.
"So your the tall blonde i've been hearing about. I'd never of put the words 'Maxi' and 'cute' in the same sentence" he joked. He remember being called Shorty and Titch by Maxi because he didn't grow very quickly whereas Maxi grew at an alarming rate. He seemed to grown an inch a day. It was bad news for Brad as everyone seemed to grow and he stayed small. Then during fourth year he had a huge growth spurt and was not a little squirt anymore. He couldn't be more thankful.

Taking in the ever tall and blonde Maxi, he couldn't help but grin.
"Still gay I see?" pointing at his scarf. Of course he was joking as he himself was wearing a scarf, but he liked to have a laugh and they seemed to do their fair share of picking on one another back in the Durmstrang. As he pointed to his scarf, he flicked the end of Maxi's nose with his finger and gave him a cheeky look, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Dude, your not going to hurt me in front of witnesses, besides it's only my second day" he laughed. He was treading the waters now and testing his luck, Maxi would probably smack him round the back of the head, so Brandon would be on his toes to duck. Of course, he could just stay still and Max wouldn't hit him anyway, he was too tall.

"So hows life in the sky?" he joked. Something he always used to say to him because of his height, and the fact he used to wander off and daydream a lot.

[Max Hennerdale]

"Is me shrinking even possible?" Max asked as he looked at the size difference between him and Brad. At least one thing showed, Max and Brad hadnt changed in the sense of always nitpicking at each other. All in jest of course, since Brad was the third member of Max and Marks little group. Of course now it was just Max, Mark had hightailed it back to Durmstrang when he realised life at Hogwarts didnt accomadate for his playful nature. Max laughed when Brandon said about him being tall and blonde. Of course Max had brown hair when he was in Durmstrang, Mark had nearly had a heart attack when he saw Max again. "No, neither would I" Max said, smoothing down his scarf before adding, "Maxi and gorgeous would go better, dont you think?" Of course Max had always been known to be confident about the way he looked, most people saw it as arrogance, of course Max never did. He was happy with himself, with the way he looked and if that was a crime by all means he was guilty.

"Actually," Max said, rubbing his nose where Brad had flicked it, then pulling out a photo of him and Lane from over the Christmas holidays. He handed it to Brandon with a smile, "Thats my girlfriend." He smiled as he looked at Brandon. With a small shrug he looked over the courtyard and stuffed his hads back in his pockets. "Its a long story of how I went from suddenly being gay to suddenly being straight and believe me when I say it involved a hell load of confusion and drama for not just me and her, but everyone who was close to us. Safe to say its been a trying year or so, but hell, at least I know who my actual friends are." He shrugged, "Those who didnt stick by me at the time I needed friends, well they arent worth bothering with so I cut my losses and cut them out."

"Hurt you?" Max laughed, playfully punching Brandon on the shoulder, though because of the fight with Jase, as soon as he did this he recieved many sceptical looks off bystanders, making Maxi put his hands nervously back in his pockets. "Like I would ever do that anyway." Max looked around again, and all the looming eyes were off him, which made him feel a little better. There was a time Max used to like the attention and the looks but now he just felt uncomfortable about it all. Max didnt like everyone looking at him anymore.

"Well I dont get hit by birds but if it starts to rain im the first to know." Max laughed and he looked at the sky. "So what are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you or anything."

[Brandon Rosenberg]

"Gorgeous? I woudn't go that far! Sorry to say Maximus, but your not my type" he laughed. The fact that Maxi didn't even have an ounce of fat on him either didn't help in the height stakes. Being thinner made you seem much taller anyway, so compared to Brandon, Maxi was a giant, back in Durmstrang anyway, however Brad had caught up a little more so he was now at an acceptable level compared to Maxi. Maximum, another name he teased Maxi with, as in he had reached his maximum capacity and was virtually impossible to physically grow anymore, because if he did, he's have serious ducking issues to contend with.

The new blonde Maxi was strange to look at, not in an ugly kind of way, but for the fact that when Brandon had last laid eyes upon his head, which was a difficult position in itself, his hair had been brown. Now it was blonde, but it suited him better, and Brandon could not remember for the life of him what his brown hair used to be like. It was probably just a guy thing that he couldn't remember, still, it suited the BFG anyway.

As Maxi spoke about not being gay anymore, Brandon raised his eyebrows in shock. Not because he wasn't gay, but because he actually has seen the light in which Brandon and Mark had been trying to lead him into for years.
"Wahay! So you have seen the light mate, well done" he said, playfully slapping him on the arm as he pulled out a photo of his girlfriend and him, from what it looked like, it was christmas when the photo was taken. When Maxi spoke of her, you could hear the happiness in his voice, and when revealing the picture, his smile confirmed this new state of happiness in which Maxi seemed to be revelling in. Examining the picture slightly, the pair moved and looked at each other before looking at the camera and a flash on it before repeating itself. Glad that he had found a bit of happiness, he looked back up to Maxi.
"She's a stunner mate, how'd she turn you?" he laughed cheekily. It was strange. The local girls at the villages near Durmstrang would pretty much be goggle eyed at Maxi, some at Mark, and even fewer at Brandon. They were all 3 good looking lads, all in very different ways, but Maxi got the most girly attention. When Mark broke the news to a few of the local girls that Maxi was infact gay, rumours spread that you could hear the girls sobbing at night from the bell tower at Durmstrang. Of course, this was just a rumour Brandon and Mark made up to tease Maxi, but there was probably some truth behind the gossip.

"Well i'm here now, that's all that matters" he said in a smug sort of way. Of course he was only joking and he didn't really see himself as much of a friend since Maxi went away, but Maxi didn't seem to mind.
"Max, you are aware that your like, a gazillion feet tall? Of course you could hurt me! Stamping on heads hurts!" he smiled, shaking his head before muttering "Godzilla" to him. Maxi used to retaliate by calling Brandon 'King Mong'.

"What am I doing here? What am I... doing here?" he said in a mock italian mafia don leader voice. It was rough and sounded like he had been speaking non stop for the past thirteen centuries.
"I have come to get my drug money" he said, clasping his thumb, forefinger and next finger together in a sort of gesture that the mafia did. Of course they did it really, he had seen it in many muggle mafia movies. Cracking up laughing, he changed his voice back. Brandon loved doing impressions, he was pretty good at them, and it was always fun to impersonate someone, or something. 'You best impersonate a monkey, more like yourself' he recalled Maxi saying to him once.

"A change of scenery I suppose. Things at Durmstrang are going downhill. Besides, I thought i'd see what me old cracker was up too"