(T.Broomsticks) Study Breaks

[Mark Alméida]

It would seem as though the two tired from studying before they had even begun, and what better thing to do when you tire of something, then go into Hogsmeade for a couple of butterbeers? Or just for a walk around. Though it had become really cold for just walking around lately.

Mark entered the Three Broomsticks with Ari on his arm and was met by the usual chattering, smokey and full atmosphere of one of the most favoured pubs in Hogsmeade. A lot of people were already half drunk from their firewhiskys, some were just relaxing on tables. Mark let go of her arm and grabbed her hand so he wouldnt lose her in the crowd, it was pretty intimidating the first time you came in here and it wasnt a place you could be comfortably lost in. Even though it was friendly. Pulling her through the crowds, though not to hard, he found a table with cushioned seats by the window and sat down. Seconds later a waitress came over and Mark ordered two butterbeers. "The best drink known to man, or to me in anycase" he laughed.

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella let him take her hand once they entered the pub and she was actually quite happy he did. Not just because of how crowded the place was but she like the way his hand felt in hers. Once they found a table, she took her scarf and jacket off and placed them down by her feet. She brought her hands to her mouth, hoping breathing on them would make them warmer.

She smiled once the waitress left to get their drinks, "I'm sure you're right," she said referring to the drinks. "I have to admit that I've never actually had one. I usually drink water," she said with a laugh.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

Mark smiled at her as they sat down, something he found himself doing a lot, it was a wonder his cheek bones werent hurting he smiled that much. He looked at her as she blew on her hands, "You cold?" he asked, putting his hands on hers and rubbing them, trying to make them a bit warmer. Her hands were cold and he suddenly felt bad that he had brought her outside in this weather.

The drinks arrived and Mark let go once more of her hands, pushing one to her, "Drink it, it warms you up" he said with a smile, "Oh my, you have been missing out" he smiled again. Butterbeer in his eyes was the greatest drink ever made.

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella smiled shyly as he took her hands to warm them up. When the drinks arrived and Mark let go of her hands, she quickly brought them back to herself and placed them on her lap. When he pushed hers toward her, she grabbed the cup and stared down at it's contents.

"Are you sure it wont kill me?" she asked jokingly as she smiled at him. She brought it to her mouth and sipped it first realizing that it was as good as he said it was and it did infact make her feel warmer.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

"See told you, best drink ever made. Not only does it taste good, it warms you up too" he said, picking up his own and downing a quarter of its contents. "So how are you enjoying the school so far?" he asked, a question he was asked only far too many times when he first started.

Mark looked out of the window, the streets were white, covered with snow. It was a picturesque landscape that was for sure. Mark loved snow, it reminded him a lot of France and things he used to get upto with Alexis and Belle when it snowed. Building snowmen and having snowball fights.

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella nodded and put the cup back on the table, "Um, I find it quite interesting actually and I'm starting to like it here, not that I didn't like it when I first arrived. It just seems to get better as the day goes on."

Ari followed his gaze out the window wondering what he was thinking. She looked at him and studied his facial features, trying to unmask his thoughts but found it almost as hard as figuring out her own, so instead, she just took another drink of her butterbeer. After silence for a few minutes, Arabella decided to strike up a conversation, "So besides Runes, are there anyother things your interested in?" she asked.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

"Of course it does, you have the company of myself" He laughed, to anyone this would seem like he was being overconfident, but he wasnt. He liked to make jokes, especially when it encircled himself. Nobody could take the mick out of Mark better than he could himself. "Its a nice place usually, but sometimes it can be pretty dull. Just like anyother place really"

Mark seemed to be lost in his thoughts about anything that he could think of in the short space of time. Snow reminded him of many things, what him and his sisters used to do. When his mother fell in the snow and looked like a giant ice pop. When the little french girl from across the street wrote 'I love Mark Alméida' and that really creeped him out. Though he found it fascinating. He was pulled out of his throughts by Ari when she spoke to him, suddenly feeling quite rude.

"I like to make jokes, but i think you have figured that one out by now. I also like to take risks, do something dangerous once in a while. If you mean lessons then i would say i miss learning the Dark Arts but thats starting up here in hogwarts now so thats probably another lesson i will attend"

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella smiled,"Well I happen to like your company as a matter of fact," she said glancing at him. Then feeling a little akward from saying that she took another sip.

"So you're one of the risk takers then." she said, "Tell me, what was the most risky things you've ever done?" she asked glancing back up at him.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

Mark couldnt help a smile, he was only jokin but it made him feel kind of good when she said she liked his company. He took another sip of his butterbeer and swirled the golden liquid in his glass.

"Most riskiest? Lately it would be setting a werewolf free when it was trapped underneath a tree" he said remembering that day. The creature had been trapped under a tree because of Mark, but he didnt release it because he felt bad, he released it because he was asked to. "Or it could be planting a pale of water of the headmasters office door in Durmstrang" he said with a shrug.

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella laughed, "Why would you do that to your old Headmaster?" she asked highly amused. She would never dream of doing that, not even in her wildest dreams.

Arabella couldn't help but look at Mark in shock when he mentioned werewolves, "I'm sorry, but I would probably die if I met a werewolf. I'm kinda afraid of them. Always have been, ever since I heard stories from my mother," she explained.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

"Because he was a pain" he told her with a shrug, "And it amused us both for a short while" He explained. His old headmaster had a love for getting Mark and Maxi in detention whenever possible, Mark landed himself in detention the night of their arrival, which was indeed a new school record.

"Yeah they are pretty nerveracking" he said glancing outside the window, "But theyre only ravenous dogs if you think about it, a small stunning spell or something and they cant exactly get you can they?"

[arabella]

<sup>Arabella nodded, "I suppose you're right, but that still doesn't rid my fear of them. Oh well, maybe one day i'll get over it," she said with a smile. Ari brought her butterbeer to her mouth again and stared at Mark over the rim of her glass. She glanced away for a second but found herself gazing into his eyes again.

She brought her cup back down and cleared her throat, "What's your favorite part about Christmas?" she asked.</sup>

[Mark Alméida]

Mark had noticed that Ari kept staring at him, but he just smiled at this. Though he had probably only noticed because he kept staring at her, something about her he couldnt keep his eyes off for too long. "Yeah, well if you know how to handle them, which i dont, you could say they are harmless"

"Definatly not the shopping part of it thats for sure" he said truthfully, "I dont know, i guess its being around everyone i care about"

[arabella]

^{Arabella smiled, "I like the shopping part, and of course spending time with my loved ones, though I decided not to go home for the holidays this year. I'm just gonna send the gifts to my family. I want to get more aqainted to the school," she explained. "Are you going home for Christmas?" she asked.}

[Mark Alméida]

"No im not, a christmas with my father again is certainly not what i want to do" He told her truthfully. He would have loved to spend christmas with his sisters but having another christmas with his dad was not going to be fun. Mark and his dad didnt get along and always ended up fighting over christmas which spoilt it for everyone so Mark had decided to give it a miss this year, "So you could spend it with me if you dont have any other plans" he said with a shrug.