Out on a day like this [open]

[Lucy Weasley]

Classes were done, Lucy was glad because today seemed to be a hard day at least for her. It was like non-stop work and she was just tired and perhaps a bit cranky. Lucy didn't like to be cooped up all day and she was so she was sort of chomping at the bit to get out and see the last rays of sunlight. Running from the classroom and heading straight for the Great Hall Lucy just grabbed some food she could take outside with her. Several of her friends called to her but Lucy just smiled and waved goodbye at them as she walked right back out of the Great Hall.

Walking toward the oak front doors she threw them open. The sunlight was not as bright as it had been earlier, but it was still up and that's all Lucy needed. So she walked toward the courtyards which was her favorite place to hang out. Lucy sat on the edge of an opening and started to munch on some of her food. The grounds were pretty empty since most students were eating their dinner. This was the best time to be outside, it was as if she had the grounds all to herself.

That's the way she liked it, she managed to sit back and relax, while trying to let the bad day just disappear from her mind. There was just something about being outside that seemed to calm her like nothing else did. Anytime she was having a horrible day she would just come outside for a little while and the bad mood would lift like it had never even existed.

Lucy was just happy to have this time out there to herself, but that was short lived because someone else decided to come outside. Lucy had to sigh just a little because she wasn't ready to give up her alone time but the grounds didn't belong to her so it's not as if she could stop someone from coming out there if they wanted to. Lucy didn't really look around for the source of the intrusion, instead she simply kept quiet and continued on eating her food, but then she heard footsteps approaching her. So much for that alone time.

[Ashley O'Neill]

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.

[Lucy Weasley]

Lucy looked up in time to see a boy walking toward her. He was a Hufflepuff if she wasn't much mistaken. She wasn't too sure of his name for some reason it eluded her at the moment. She felt bad she didn't know it but there wasn't much she could do. So far though he did seem nice as most of the Hufflepuffs were. So when he said hello Lucy couldn't help but smile at him. "Oh hello there how are you?" came her cheeriest voice. Granted when she had come out there she wanted to be alone but seeing as there was someone out there who looked like maybe he could use someone to chat with. Lucy was pretty out going so she could easily conversate with almost anyone. If Lucy didn't like you she wasn't really going to make time for you but if she did then she had all the time in the world.

"Do you want to hang out?" she asked politely wondering if he would, or just say move on. Lucy sort of sat there and watched waiting taking a bite of the fool she still had the food she snagged from the Great Hall. A nice breeze passes over them and Lucy shivered just a little bit but it didn't matter because she was outside not cooped up inside the castle.

[Ashley O'Neill]

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.

[Lucy Weasley]

"Oh yes please feel free to join me I was out here opting for an evening alone, but then I realized alone isn't always best." Lucy was happy with some company just not a lot of it. She took a few more bites if her food thinking how much better it tasted when one wasn't surrounded by a table full of students. Just one person would be cool. Looking over at him she smiled then started to wonder why he was out there. Oh well she probably wasn't the only person who needed a break sometimes. The boy introduced himself to her. Lucy stretched out her hand to shake his. "It's nice to meet you Ashley."

Lucy didn't mind getting to know knew people and he seemed sort if nice so far so what did Lucy have to lose either they would get along or they wouldn't. "So tell me how do you like the school so far. I love it here my whole family has pretty much been here," she mused.

[Markus O'Keefe]

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”

[Lucy Weasley]

Lucy thought that she and Ashley had been having an interesting conversation, but then just as suddenly as he appeared at her side he was telling her that he had to go and began to wheel away. Lucy cocked her head to the side wondering if she might have said something to cause him to leave. Thinking back on their conversation she couldn't really think of anything. All she could do was shrug her shoulders and hope that he was OK. At this point Lucy didn't think there was any reason to sit out there all alone. Granted when she started her journey to the grounds she wanted the alone time, but after chatting with Ashley she didn't mind company.

Just as she was about to turn and head back to the castle she caught sight of a fellow Gryffindor walking toward her. Lucy wasn't one to be rude to someone just because she didn't really know them. She was all ready to give him a rather cheerful hello when he spoke first. What he said did not amuse her very much in fact it was rather rude.

The slight curving of her lips in an upward position halted immediately as her lips suddenly turned down turning into a frown. Trying her best not to fly off the handle and start screaming right then and there she simply looked at him took a deep breath and said "Why hello there Rude One. By the way if you don't know it's Weasley not Weaselette it would serve you well to remember that."

[Markus O'Keefe]

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.

[Lucy Weasley]

Lucy simply glared at him for a moment. She hated when people messed up her name especially when they did it just as a joke. Having a name like Weasley was hard enough without people mocking it all the time. Lucy could have a bit of a temper and right now she was trying desperately to keep it in check even though this boy had annoyed her. When he spoke to her once more Lucy looked at him as he spoke and despite herself she couldn't help but laugh at his reply. "That was an original reason I will give you that. But I'll let it slide just this once." A smile appeared on her face. At least she knew he wasn't being mean spirited just comical.

Next thing she knew he was taking a seat next to her and she wondered when she had asked him to occupy the seat. Granted, she knew she bad no right to tell him not to but still it would have been respectful if he had at least asked. None the less as long as he didn't get on her nerves they would be good. As he spoke again giving her his name Lucy shook her head at him this time throwing her head back laughing raucously. "Oh boy cocky aren't you." Of all the people she could have run into she didn't mind it being him.

S

[Markus O'Keefe]

"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."

[Lucy Weasley]

Lucy couldn't suppress a smile try as she might. He did com across arrogant and perhaps a wee bit cocky but it didn't seem to bother her much in fact now it seemed to make him somewhat endearing to her. That is until he did something stupid to piss her off, which he probably would at some point or another. When he mentioned his family being well known as well Lucy didn't really respond to the comment simply because she did know a little bit about them but they weren't really good things. Why bring that up as long as he wasn't anything like them it was fine. "Ah well having people know about your family isn't all it's cracked up to be, too many assumptions and questions. People think your life should be some sort of open book or something." People were always asking her things like what happened between her father and his family so many years ago, incessant questions about Harry. When she didn't answer they made her feel as if she were wit holding information they had a right to know. Being unknown was probably better.

As she stood there contemplating he began to speak once more, this time about her hair and again she laughed it was true she didn't fit the look of a typical Weasley, her skin wasn't as fair as her father's and she was clearly lacking the trademark red hair. "The better not to be recognized, plus I think I look good with dark hair and it seems to appeal to you too so that's a good thing." Winking at him before giving him a huge grin

[Markus O'Keefe]

"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."

[Lucy Weasley]

After they got past their little argument session, it seemed as if things were going pretty well. Markus wasn't as bad as he had first thought, the whole name thing did annoy her. She was used to people butchering her name because they thought it was funny, but she still didn't like it. At least he didn't continue on like some people so for that she was pretty grateful. That and the fact that he was sort of cute kind of helped.

"Maybe their so interested in out lives because their lives are so uninteresting, Their families have probably never done anything worth talking about and ours have so we're topic for discussion in their mundane little lives" She giggled a bit, but in the back of her mind she really did mean that. Most kids families were pretty much a bore apparently. It was nice to know that someone else was having the same issues she was.

It was also nice to know that he wasn't so obtuse he wouldn't know when someone was flirting with him. Lucy smiled as he spoke. "Oh I'm not asking you to fall at my feet, it's just nice to know that you're aware I'm flirting with you. What you choose to do with that information is entirely up to you." Winking she turned her head a little acting as if she didn't really care one way or the other.

[Markus O'Keefe]

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.

[Lucy Weasley]

Lucy almost laughed out loud when he made that comment about seducing him. He caught on quick, OK she wasn't necessarily seducing more like flirting, but she was most certainly doing something to get his attention. That's nice to know he wasn't a total moron without a clue because Lucy hated guys like that. One that could match wits with her would do so far Markus was proving to be a good match, he was cocky, funny, and he didn't back down from her which was a good think though she wasn't about to admit it. "Wow I'm that unattractive you need drinks to be seduced by me huh." Winking she shook her head in mock anger, but she couldn't help but smile.

"Oh it's class you're after is it then. Well I'm one class lady and you should be lucky to have a go with me" she said joking, but only half joking. She wouldn't mind finding out if Markus was interesting in other ways besides mental. She grabbed one of the shot glasses he offered. "That was a nice bit of magic, seems you have talent after all."

At least she was enjoying herself, before she thought this might just be another boring day, but so far she was getting lucky and it was turning out to be more interesting then she could have hoped. Hopefully it would stay that way, the thought of getting drunk should assure that, but one never knew. All in all it should be cool Markus was proving to be really good company so far.