The hot summer sun baked down upon Caitlyn as she tended the gardens outside the Hogwarts castle grounds. She wanted to help Professor Sprout, but she wasn't intending on helping by weeding. She hated weeding. Though sometimes little flowers would pop out. She felt bad for the clover, which just invaded everything. Their sturdy and happy green color suddenly diminished with the loss of contact to the rich soil made her feel sad for a moment.

But the flower pots next to her needed to be repotted. The violets, roses and pansies had to be transplanted. She had already tended to the herb garden, pocketing some lavender for her sleep pillow and lemon thyme to add to her omelettes. The herbs were growing fine there, the oregano and sage were nearly bursting out of their pots in jubilation of the full sun.

Wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, she continued in her toil. She didn't mind her gardening clothes were getting dirty, or the soil was accumulating underneath her fingernails. She was working with life, and that made her sing quietly to herself.

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Caitlyn Rosewood: 5th Year
Aurora Gardner: 4thYear

Dressed in her faded and dirty gardening robes, Evie Cromwell patiently toiled over another patch of flowers not far away. Her long blond dreadlocks were bound in a ponytail that hung over her shoulder, her feet were bare with toes happily wiggling in the rich black earth.

Humming a tune under her breath, cheery and always just a little off-key, she diligently separated weeds from flowers, uprooting the intruders and tossing them into a bucket. Distracted by sharp chattering, she leaned back on her heels to watch two squirrels playing in the weed bucket, rolling around and tumbling over each other. She grinned at the sight, her teeth white against the dirt-streaked tan of her skin.

It was then she spotted Caitlyn, surrounded by the bright potted flowers. Lifting her hand, she gave a friendly wave and another bright smile. "Hey there! Beautiful work!"

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

Caitlyn looked up towards the voice, and then grinned, her blue eyes shimmering for a moment. "Hey Evie, didn't know you were into gardening, too!"

She slowly rose, earthy clippings falling to the ground as she patted the soil and other things clinging to her lightly. A few locks of hair had fallen into her face again, not wanting to be tamed by the hair bauble.

"Thanks, for the compliment! I actually don't enjoy weeding. What brings you out here today?"

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Caitlyn Rosewood: 5th Year
Aurora Gardner: 4thYear

Evie stands and puts her hands on her lower back, leaning back to stretch. "Oh, this is one of my favorite places in the world. Dirt...growing things...animals..." Her blue eyes sparkle mischievously. "And I don't have to worry about harming someone with my potions and charms skills. Or...unskills."

She pushes a stray cord of matted hair back behind her ear. "I've seen you here before, but you always looked so busy I didn't want to bother you. Who else is working out here today, do you know?"

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

The warm, soggy air of the Greenhouse casts a faint glow from the sweat of Creed’s brow. He tugs frustratedly at the woolen collar of his work robes and stews for a moment, sitting on his heels in front of his small patch of monkshood.

He casts a brief yet sincere sneer at the stout Professor as she waddles curiously from student to student. Herbology under the hot, mid-afternoon sun in a humid greenhouse doesn’t top Creed’s list as favorite activities to fill his afternoon with.

His gaze then shifts around the large, rectangular classroom, scratching away some dried dirt from his cheek. His knitted brows, contorted into a squint, does little to shield his eyes from the persistent and nagging light that continues to beat down on him as he glances around to the rest of the students.

"Mmm.. I like it here too. It's peaceful. I'm not too great at charms or potions either. This is real.. muggle or wizard. This is where we all really begin."

She smiled to Evie, dirt right underneath her nose. She wriggled her nose as it itched. "looks like.. " *She squinted and looked into the greenhouse. "Creed ? Maybe it is. he's in the greenhouse."

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Caitlyn Rosewood: 5th Year
Aurora Gardner: 4thYear

Black and green brilliant robes and jet black hair fluttered in the wind which blew over the open area of the Garden. Rurian's silver eyes scanned down the page of his Expert Potion's book as he always did in his off periods. Sitting on a wooden bench next to a patch of red roses he had his Ebony Phoenix Talon wand twirling in his left hand. Every so often he'd lift a quill by his side and dip it in ink scribbling something down in his book. He always enjoyed the surrounding silent Garden, a sanctuary from the crowded corridors of the school. Perhaps he might also get a tan out here in sun, but it was doubtful as his skin always stayed ever pale.

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Life is at best a dream and at worst a nightmare from which you cannot escape.
- Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts

Lucian Vent - Living, Expelled, Location Unknown

Jacob Green - Living, Seventh Year, Hufflepuff

Rurian Blackwing - Living, Seventh Year, Slytherin

Cameron Slaine - Living, Second Year, Gryffindor

West sat outside the greenhouse, his head hung and laying on his knees as he hugged them. The dirt below him was wet as tears dropped down. He always had to sit outside in Herbology. He would always make up the classes after but the teasing got to him. "Did that plant just move? Oh wait that's West *giggle giggle*" Everyone hated him it seemed. Green boy...Hulk. He wanted to fight back. Show them who they messed with. He sat there muttering. "Your a better person West. Don't use it. Only on bad guys. Only on them" He always sounded so childish when he was mad. He rested there and enjoyed the sun shining on him. Lighting his green skin. The Scar that was still there tingled. His right bicep. But he ignored it. He was peaceful. He drew little pictures in the dirt with his wand as he sat. Waiting for class to be over.

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West Coltern:7th Year Ravenclaw EXPELLED
Steven Walker:7th Year Gryffindor

Evie chats with Caitlyn for a few more minutes before leaving with a smile and a wave, her thoughts obviously preoccupied as she leaves the gardens.

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