*Matt again turns to Cait and wraps his arms around her reassuringly*

"Don't worry, I won't let anything bad happen to you, I promise" *he smiles to her, he then casts Jelly Legs on him self in an effort to cheer her up*

_________________
Matthew Pace - Post 6th Year Ravenclaw

Despite herself being scared, she looks at the blue light and then starts to giggle at Matt's Jelly Legs. As the spell progresses she starts laughing more and more. Slowly the candles are all re-lit and the hall is back to being illuminated as it was. It seems things are getting better, though outside its still leaving hail-balls and gusting a little.

_________________

Caitlyn Rosewood: 5th Year
Aurora Gardner: 4thYear

_________________

Mai Roarke Willow Moran Evelyn Grant Eien Hansen Ashlee Gardner

Caitlyn smiles and leans into Mai listening to the song and staring into the blue flame after Matt's Jelly Legs dance is done. "It's getting further away.." Sure enough, the storm is ebbing, the wind seems not as harsh, and the hail has stopped, now only a medium rain is heard on the roof. Having the whole hall again lit up helps a lot, she takes a deep breath and smiles. "I'm just scared of storms.." She blushes just a little to admit her fear. "Especially big ones like these."

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Caitlyn Rosewood: 5th Year
Aurora Gardner: 4thYear

"I am tempted to go outside and have a word or two with this storm. However, with my fortunes, the storm would answer back. In Gaelic. Or Swahili. Either way, I would not understand it, and my valiant and vibrant cursing would be in vain. Regardless, the hail is outside and we are inside. The still frozen rain will not get at you here, little one. Of that I am fairly certain of."

He sighs once, looking at the doors again.

"It seems what I fear never matches up with what normal people are afraid of. Snakes, spiders, storms, silly putty... None of those bother me. Maybe it's just the way I grew up, Caitlyn. And there's nothing wrong with being afraid of a little lightning and thunder, to be completely honest with you. It gives Matthew there a legitimate reason to hug you that I can't snarl at him for."

The half-smile he gives to Caitlyn is genuine. It is amazing how vicious weather brings out a more peaceful side of the Hufflepuff Hardcase. Not to mention though the smile does not reach his eyes, there is no sorrow or rage there as normal. It is as if he's sleeping awake.

"And as the storm is finally abating, I may need to collect more branches and saplings struck by lightning. These ones I have now will definitely do, but it is always good to have a few more available. After all, I am not going to start stormchasing just for sticks that were zapped, now am I?"

_________________
One character thus far:
Ares Richard Keeferson, Hufflepuff Hardcase
Redefining "user-unfriendly" since 1976.

*Feargus chuckles, leaving his blue flames lit*

"Not if ye'd rather keep from being zapped yourself, big guy. I think we'd all much rather have our Keeferson unfried, if at all possible."

*he grins*

"And while Swahili meyght be a bit of a stretch for me, I think I might be able te translate just a touch of the Gaelic if ye'd like te go have a word with that storm."

_________________
"They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me" -Nathaniel Lee

Shifty are the eyes of the gambler...

*Scruffles howls sorrowfully outside, obviously upset at how wet he is.*

_________________

Patrick Quigley, Seventh Year Hufflepuff.
Reuben Pumpkin, First Year Gryffindor.

_________________

Mai Roarke Willow Moran Evelyn Grant Eien Hansen Ashlee Gardner

Caitlyn sits and watches the blue flames, smiling a bit at their conversation and nods to Keef. "Of course no one can be as brave as you are, Keef!" Watching him quietly a moment and tilting her head a bit. "Sounds like the thunder's stopped but it's still raining out."

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Caitlyn Rosewood: 5th Year
Aurora Gardner: 4thYear

"I am not brave, Caitlyn. It is simply a lack of appropriate fear. Bravery and courage come from facing your fears. I simply do not fear the storm to begin with, so I cannot be brave to withstand it. Wait... I hear a wailing sound... not a keening... definitely not a banshee..."

Listening again, he then makes a mad dash for the door. Slamming his fist against the door once, his wand in his other hand, he says something in Mandarin. You see a small flash of light cut down the center of the doors as if breaking a seal. At that, Keeferson opens the doors wide but slowly.

"OYE! What goes there?!?"

_________________
One character thus far:
Ares Richard Keeferson, Hufflepuff Hardcase
Redefining "user-unfriendly" since 1976.

*Scruffles stops howling and lays down, taking a submissive stance. He sees Keeferson and wags his tail once, remembering Keef from before. His fur is wet and not poofy, so his size seems reduced, too. The stare he gives Keef would break the heart of most people. Probably not Keef.*

_________________

Patrick Quigley, Seventh Year Hufflepuff.
Reuben Pumpkin, First Year Gryffindor.

"Gah!"

Storms over.
Picks up Scruffles.
Storms inside.
Kicks doors closed.
Uses wand and seals the doors again.
All this in front of a live studio audience. (read: everyone in the hallway just saw Keeferson "rescue" a soggy dog from the great outdoors.)

"Scruffles! How in blazes did you get outside to begin with? Blast, now I need a towel and a few charms..."

Reaching into his bag, he locates a few long strips of turkey jerky for Scruffles to mow down on while he starts working on drying the drenched dog. Keeferson drags out another towel (of which nobody has any idea how many he has in there) and sets Scruffles on top of it. Using the "blow drying" charm they've recently learned, Keeferson sits down and slowly starts working on getting Scruffles back to his puffy self again.

_________________
One character thus far:
Ares Richard Keeferson, Hufflepuff Hardcase
Redefining "user-unfriendly" since 1976.

Caitlyn watches the dog and Keef with an amused look on her face, she seems to be thinking about what Keef said.

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Caitlyn Rosewood: 5th Year
Aurora Gardner: 4thYear

*Feargus settles his hand easily over Mai's stomach, letting her huddle into him. He looks over the other three by his pillar with a smile, before watching Keef and the dog with interest, as Keef seems to be the current attraction in the Hogwarts Entrance Hall Theater*

"That your pup, Keef?" he says with a lopsided grin. "Didn't know ye had a pet."

_________________
"They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me" -Nathaniel Lee

Shifty are the eyes of the gambler...

An incantation is uttered outside the massive front doors of the school, the voice muffled by the thick wood and the raging storm. The door swings open and two figures enter, one slender and dark, the other tall and commanding.

Joki pushes back the wet strands of hair that are plastered to her forehead and cheeks by the rain, two bright spots of color on her cheekbones contrasting with her usual pallor. "Lovely day for a walk, Beast." She murmurs to the boy at her side with a brief smile, a smile that morphs rapidly into irritation as she looks at the small band of students and the wet dog.

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"We are not bound forever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory."