[Lawns] Running From Lions (open)

[Girty Hubbles]

Christmas was just around the corner and the castle was full of festive cheer, students making wild plans for the holidays and everyday they wished for the snow to fall and lo and behold today was the day when they got their wish. The cold white fluff fell from the sky and covered the land in a thick white blanket, although the perfect surface was soon disturbed by screaming students running about like headless chickens throwing snowballs and building snowmen. It was on days like this you doubted that some people would ever grow up, so it would then have been no real surprise to have seen Girty Hubbles laughing madly as she ran across the castle grounds trying to get away from the bombardments of snowballs from a gang of Gryffindors.

Bending down she scooped up a handful of snow in her gloved hands, compacting it into a ball like shape and with a quick flick of her wand one snow ball turned into five which were soon rallied off in quick succession towards the gang on popular Gryffindors. “Have that Greg! I will get you next Adams!” Girty shouted over the grass banks only to get a few more snowballs thrown at her. With an excited squeak she started to run down the embankment towards the lake only to stumble in the tricky conditions and fall head first, however when it was snowing the whole process of falling over was simple made more fun!

Sitting up the Hufflepuff sat giggling to herself as the world spun around her as she tried to regain control of her senses. Slowly the world became steady once again and she was just pushing herself up from the ground when a snowball hit her square in the back of the head. “OW!” She cried out spinning on the spot ready to start a fresh fight with her attacker and that was when she saw who it was…

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash had been on his way up from Hogsmeade to visit who else? Maeve. Entering the grounds he smiled at the carefree air about the school. It was snowing, Christmas was almost here and everyone seemed to be taking advantage of the holiday cheer.

Walking down the sloping lawns, who should he see chasing a couple of Gryffindors, but his old friend, Girty. Who then, in classic Girty fashion, promptly fell on her face in the snow. Ash laughed quietly. Deciding that he needed a little fun himself, he snickered quietly and scooped up a bit of snow. Packing it tightly into a ball he lobbed it at Girty. He waited anxiously... bam! Right in the back of the head! Ash burst out in giggles as Girty turned with an indignant 'OW!'

"Oops. Sorry Girty. Didn't see you there." he said innocently. A bit too innocently. Plus there was that evil gleam in his eyes. He smirked as he waited for his old friend to react.

[Girty Hubbles]

Out of everyone in the school Girty would have never guessed that the person to have thrown the snowball would have been Ashton. The snowball that was in her hand ready to be thrown in his direction was held back; instead the Hufflepuff listened to his vain attempt of acting innocent. Not only did common sense over rule that fact that it was an accident but over the many years of knowing Ashton she knew the signs to look for and that mischievous glint in his sapphire eyes just gave it away.

“Then pray tell me Mr Laurent who you were throwing that snowball at?” She started to lightly throw her snowball up into the air and catching it again just to show that she was ready to throw it in his face, and after years of playing Quidditch she had a good aim. Cocking her eyebrow she grinned cunningly over at the ex-Ravenclaw, her arm raised as she ready to throw the lump of snow at him. “Tick tick Ash I want answers.”

She maybe a Hufflepuff and harming a friend was not something that came naturally to her, although she was sure that if you did a survey of all her friends they might argue something different, she would be quiet willing to throw the snowball at Ashton…after all he did start it.