Out on a day like this [open]

Ashley had lingered outside after his last class, not really feeling all that hungry. He'd been a little sad lately, having a tough time without his parents and his aunt to keep the memories alive. So he'd focused on physical therapy, trying his best to get back on track, to learn how to walk again. So far, it hadn't been working, and the footsteps Lucy heard was him trying to put his feet on the ground while sitting in his chair. He kept hoping that if he just tried, if he put enough pressure on his feet, he'd be able to stand, but what was really happening was that he almost slid out of his chair time and again.

Eventually he gave up and sighed, running fingers through his blonde hair as he wheeled himself towards one of the stone benches, determined not to let this sad mood get to him. He was going to have a fun evening, somehow. It was made easier by the figure of the girl sitting on one of the benches, and Ashleys usual cheerful demeanor came out as he greeted her with a friendly "Hello", hoping that she might be in the mood to keep his mind off of things for a while. If not, well he'd find his way inside towards the dinner table, maybe hang out with Gale if the other wasn't busy with his boyfriend.

Ashley smiled at her as she greeted him in response and offered him exactly what he needed - someone to talk to. "Yeah that'd be great if you wouldn't mind" He wheeled himself closer until he was sat next to her, extending his hand. "I'm Ashley, it's nice to meet you." Coming from America he didn't know about the Weasleys and Potters, just that they'd been important in the war. So he wasn´t the kind of boy that would ogle at them, whisper to his friends and follow them in the hallway. If anything this was what happened to him these days.

Putting his hands back in his lap after she'd shook his, he looked around at the school, smiling a little. It looked so beautiful and peaceful, and he was thankful for having another shot, despite having to do this without his parents. He missed them more than he could stand sometimes, but he was glad to be alive and at this school, with new friends. Gale was someone he could tell everything to, and Jake was someone he started to get close to as well. There were some girls as well, such as Reese Mackenzie, one of the many sweet girls in this school. Maybe this would be someone new to hang out with.

Markus wasn’t in the mood for a fun evening right now. He was pissed that someone had managed to ruin the potion they’d been working on together, which had caused him another failing grade. As much as he enjoyed partying it up, his father had been livid with him for failing his OWL year before and had threatened to kick him out of the house – without money – if he repeated the stunt in his final year. Something that was highly likely to happen, though he wasn’t about to admit it to anyone.

Heading out of the castle, he saw a girl sitting with a wheelchaired boy, one that made him curl his lip in disgust. Of course someone like him would get all the sympathy and help in the world, but no one gave a rats ass about the Gryffindor. Yeah, whoever wanted to sleep with him, but more often than not they were a bother.

He approached the two with an insult on his tongue when the blonde suddenly waved goodbye, wheeling himself away to leave Markus with the brunette, someone he noticed was quite attractive. Not that she’d be kind to him most likely, she was a Weasley do-gooder after all. Still, she might make for an entertaining evening. ”Hello Weaselette”

Markus couldn't help smirking as she mouthed off at him. Not many people dared to as he was quite intimidating looking, and the fact that she wasn't scared to snap at him pleased him more than he let on. "I did remember, but I figured enough people called you Weasley already. I prefer to be memorable." He sat himself down on the bench she was occupying, not asking for her permission as he felt he didn't need to. It was a free country and a free school, and unless it had her name written on it - which was possible with the many Weasleys that had roamed around the castle - he wouldn't need to ask her if he was allowed to sit down.

Not in the mood for an actual fight, though he wouldn't back down from one, Markus turned towards her with one hand extended. "My name is Markus, though I'm sure you've heard of me. Most people have." It was said rather cockily, his head tilted to one side as to gauge her reaction. Most people knew his last name, whispered it fearfully to each other in the hallway, just like they would have at Durmstrang. He liked it this way, liked that no one knew that he needed tutoring and was close to failing Hogwarts.

"Cocky? Well, I suppose that's true, but I'm just about as well known as the Weasleys, though I have to admit, not for all those wonderful reasons." His family was one of the Pureblood families that had wreaked much havoc in older days. He didn't mind coming from that family, but he wasn't really one of those boys that loathed Muggleborns. Were they inferior to him? Not because of their blood, maybe if they were really annoying and all. But he knew that there were plenty of non pureblooded kids a lot smarter than him, so what did that say about the all powerful value of blood? Not a damn lot.

Then again, technically he wasn't a Pureblood, but of course he wasn't about to tell anyone in the castle this secret. His 'mother' had paid for the secret with her life, and if he ever told anyone, he wasn't sure if his grandparents wouldn't seal the deal on his true birth mother, no matter how much his father tried to protect her. "So, Lucy is it? I have to admit, it's nice seeing one of you lot without the trademark hair." He took in her face and laughed a little, apologetically. "Not saying there's anything wrong with redheads, they just don't take my fancy as much as brunettes do."

"Ah, now there's a definite truth. It always feels like people feel they have the right to know everything. Like just because our parents did something to make them famous, they are allowed to shove us in the spotlight and know every detail about their lives and ours." Markus smiled, a genuine one this time, as he understood what she was trying to say.

He got why she felt offended by his introduction, and actually liked that she was somewhat of a spitfire. Most of the girls here were either too shy or too stuck up to give him any attention - except those that wanted to bed him - and he liked coming across someone who wasn't afraid to give him a bit of lip in the less than literal sense.

As she winked at him, he couldn't help chuckling, a bit of that grin turning cocky as he tilted his head to look at her. "Flirting now, are we? I have to warn you, even if brunettes are my weakness, it doesn't mean I'll fall helplessly at your feet. I have more dignity than that." He paused for a moment, eyes twinkling a little. "Usually anyway."

She was a smart one, and interesting to boot. Markus couldn't see himself falling for her, but she was nice enough to spend an afternoon with, and perhaps an evening or two. He wasn't thinking that it might lead somewhere, wasn't expecting to bed her, but she was interesting enough to carry on a conversation with, and he wouldn't mind talking to her another time or two. "I'm thinking, Miss Weasley, that if you plan to seduce me, I'd like to accompany that with a drink or two." He grinned, looking at her mischieviously before taking a flask out of his jacket. It was one with a spell on it, so the flask refilled itself with whatever he'd poured into it.

"Not that I wouldn't be susceptible to your advances otherwise, but let's give it a bit of class, shall we?" One casual flick of his wand later and two shotglasses were in his hand, one of which he offered to the girl sitting next to him. This could definitely turn into an interesting afternoon, and he was glad for the company, because this meant his bad mood was fading away pretty damn quickly.