stying ahead

[Duncan Mowbray]

"I guess I said that wrong." Duncan replied with a shrug. "I should have said all the magic people in my family are Ravenclaws. I'm a half blood. Dad is a wizard and does magic research for the ministry of magic and mom is a professor at a university called Oxford."

"Flying a hippogryph sounds great." Duncan said. "But I could never really get interested in quidditch. It's just a broom show. If the Hogwarts team rode nimbus 2008s and the world champions rode clean sweep 500s the hogwarts team would kill them, and that couldn't happen in a sport."

"I do like the idea of flying, but mostly to get from one place to another. I'm kinda a... explorer." Especially since dad's work has taken us to half a dozen contries."

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke thought about Duncan on a Hippogriff. He would enjoy it. "If we had Care of Magical Creature this term I would teach you how. If you ever come to my cabin, I'll introduce you to Penny." Brooke blushed again at these words. Maybe she had been to forward by inviting him to her house. How could she be so stupid?

At the words, "half a dozen countries," Brooke became so suddenly curious. Where were all of the places in the wizarding world that one cold travel.

"Where have you lived?" She asked excitedly. She was so curious to know as much as she could about the Wizarding World. "I've only ever lived with my Uncle. So I'm really interested. I'm also way too curious for my own good." Brooke smiled shyly, thinking again about how cute Duncan was.

[Duncan Mowbray]

"Well I can always ask my family if we could visit during the holidays. That is, if your family is OK with that."

The liked the curiousity she showed, it reminded him of himself. "Well we've lived in England,of course. We were also stationed in France, Brazil, Rumania, the United States and China."

"How about you ? Where have you been ?" he asked.

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke smiled shyly when Duncan spoke of the possiblility of him staying on the holidays. She couldn't believe how quickly she was making friends. She loved school.

"I don't see why Uncle Bryan wouldn't be okay with it." Brooke laughed, thinking of how excited her uncle would be. She couldn't wait to write him another letter.

"Oh," Brooke said, embarressed by the next question. "I haven't been anywhere, except my uncle's cottage. And I did live near London until I was eight." Brooke felt that she was so close to explaining her family's "abandonment" with her uncle. She didn't think she should tell Duncan though, unless he asked.

"So, what do you think your favourite class will be?" Brooke inquired. She wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible.

[Katie Carter]

Katie was walking in the library when she thought she ercognized a blonde fellow. As she approached she knew who it was, Duncan. She walked quitely up behind the boy and messed up his hair and laughed. "Hi Duncan." she said.

She looked at the girl sitting and smiled widely. "Another Hufflepuff ! I'm not the only one anymore ! yea !" she pretended to cheer loudly. "I'm Katie Carter. It's great to meet you."

She sat down and rubbed her cheek. There was a red mark on it. She had a red mark on her cheek and looked like she had been punched.

[Brooke Edwards]

Looking at Katie made Brooke's heart sink a little. She was so friendly with Duncan and she was so sweet. She seemed nice enough, but Brooke lost all hope of being with Duncan, because Katie was really close with him already. She hid all of this with a simple smile.

"Hi," She said, changing her hair to a bright neon purple and made it incredibly spiked. "My name is Brooke. Brooke Edwards. I'm happy to finally see another Hufflepuff girl too. I think you're the first Hufflepuff I've met actually." Brooke leaned on top a huge pile of books, trying to seem like less of a dork.

"So, you already know Duncan then?" She asked, watching them both carefully.

[Katie Carter]

"Yea, Duncan is great." Katie replied. "I've only known him about a week but he's already the brother I never had." Then she laughed and said "Maybe my folks could adopt you. Then you could be my bro for real, except we'd have to color your hair red."

Her smiled took on a bit of a sad shadow and her red hair fell over her eyes. "Duncan REALLY helped me out with this jerk of a guy. I'll always be greatful."

Katie sat up and smiled "And me and Duncan made a deal to be best freinds." and her face became serious and she said "And you BETTER NOT back out on it mister." Then she laughed about it.

[Duncan Mowbray]

"I don't back out on deal - old freind." he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "And I don't think I'm up for adoption. But maybe we could adopt you - bleach your hair and you could fit in fine."

Then he laughed "You could be 'the weird one' like me. I'm the first Gryfindor in forever and you could be the first Hufflepuff. Except it would be a bit confusing because I already have a little sister named Kate."

He looked at Brooke "If a guy named Hawkes shows up, avoid him. He was chasing Katie and a girl named Lilah at the same time. Really sleazey trick on his part."

[Katie Carter]

Katie stood up and, with a mischevous smile, said "yea, Hawkes is bad news. Run if ya see him."

She picked up her pack and said "And I gotta run." and she started to leave. When she was behind Duncan she reached over his head and messed up his hair. "See ya buddy."

From behind Duncan she winked at Brooke. She moevd her lips so they were easy to read. Her lips mouthed Duncan's great - go after him .

Then she left.

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke stared after Katie. Had she just mouthed what Brooke thought she'd mouthed. Brooke smiled to herself before looking back at Duncan and trying to seem inconspicious. She could feel herself blushing again and she hoped that Duncan wouldn't get confused.

"I've already heard a ton about that Hawkes guy. Boy does he sound like bad news." Brooke sighed, breaking the silence. "Mist told be all about him when I saw him in the Trophy Room. Apparently he's supposed to be dead or something? Oh well, who cares...I can't wait for classes to start! Which class are you most excited for, Duncan?" While talking Brooke tried to seem calm and cool, but she had little butterflies in her stomach as she watched Duncan's eyes. She didn't notice it at first, but her hair became the same colour as his sweet blue eyes.

[Duncan Mowbray]

"It's a shame you can't trach people how to do that." Duncan said. "You know, you might want to learn martial arts from Katie too. A lot of it is control and you're appearance" he smiled " You change like a kaledascope. Somebody that knew you well could read you like a book. You might need more control for your own safety."

"Hey, would you like to go to the kitchen for a snack ?" he asked. "I just gotta collect my books."

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke knew that what Duncan had said was right. She had been trying to fix that with her uncle for years. Her appearence changed with her emotion way too much. She hoped that Duncan wasn't trying to interpret her.

"A snack sounds great." Brooke blushed. "I'm getting pretty hungry. Just let me get out this one book," Brooke took her books to where the Librarians desk was and then came back with her book on Dragons.

"We can go now," She smiled.