{TOBIE!} [walking along the SNOWY trail]

[Noah Dale]

The sound of snow crunching beneath his feet just brought a smile to his face. He had always enjoyed winter time, the smell of the bitter fresh air, the feeling of Christmas in the air, which brought much holiday cheer, and although the snow was hated by most, it seemed to bring out the best of people. He tightened his Hufflepuff scarf around his neck, trying to keep as warm as possible. It wasn't very often he would venture down to the Black Lake, but both he and Tobie had decided to meet there, maybe venture out onto the ice if they were brave enough. Noah didn't want Corliss near the ice, falling with a baby was not his idea of fun and Aiden was still being a bit of a sour puss, so he and Tobie decided to try for themselves.

It was an odd sort of thing, how he and Tobie bonded. After the incident with Aiden, Tobie had apologized over and over again for Aiden's actions. Noah waved it off, telling her it wasn't her fault, and the two began a small sort of friendship, since Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff's had a lot of classes together. Tobie would ask how Corliss was doing, which was a good break from the idiot who would tease him and talk about him behind his back. And it was also nice just to talk to someone, someone who wasn't his girlfriend. A friend. Noah smield at that fact. It was ahrd for Tobie as well, some of the DE had given her a hard time for the switch to Ravenclaw. Noah didn't see why that was a problem, after all he was in Hufflepuff, the most unlikely house to belong to the Death Eaters.

Noah stood at the edge of the lake, which was completely frozen over now. There was a few students walking around the lake, but none seemed interested on stepping out onto the ice. Noah smiled, taking his hands out of his pockets in case he needed to support himself in a fall as he looked behind him to see if Tobie was coming or not. He knew she be along in a moment, so he carefully lifted his foot and pressed the ball of his foot on the ice, his toes pressing down in different spots to see if it was safe.

[October Hemingway]

Snowflakes seemed to be falling by the hundreds as the newly-sorted Ravenclaw exited Castle, twirling about in her fur-lined boots. She was in very high spirits that day, enjoying the snow that began to blanket the grounds of Hogwarts. Now raised up a good four or five inches, the powder had managed to invade every space in sight; coating the trees, icing the rooftops, making the Black Lake glisten...

A soft smile curled Tobie's lips. She was supposed to meet Noah there to test the ice. It was something she had Corliss had done every year...but now that she was pregnant, the Slytherin wanted nothing to do with risky activities that could put her child in harm's way. It didn't bother Tobie to a certain degree; she and Cor hadn't been the same since the Avery incident and she doubted that the once-unbreakable friendship would ever fully recover.

Long brunette locks swirling down past her shoulders, October began to skip happily towards the Lake, occasionally sliding and then giggling like she was ten. Her eyes seemed to light up for the first time in weeks; for some reason, the snow did that to her. It gave her a sense of carelessness; a sense of being free. Absolutely free. Weightless, even. For once she was excited to be out and about, to hang out with her newly-formed friend. She and Noah Dale didn't seem like likely candidtes for a close friendship; in fact, some were surprised that it had happened at all. Some people thought it was rude that Corliss's best fiend was hanging around with her boyfriend, but so far...Corliss didn't seem to mind. Tobie had no intention of "stealing" Noah...she had Aiden.

Oh, Aiden. The poor guy hadnt been the same after the Whomping Willow encounter. He was ruthlessly trying to get his new wand to obey him, but with no such luck. Sure, it would cast his spells, but not with the accuracy or the speed of his now-broken wand. Ai had lied smoothly to everyone that he had broken it during a duel with her and it was an accident, but October knew all too well that it wasn't an accident. It had been broken to protect Kallie. To protect Noah.

Finally Tobie spotted the messy hair of the Hufflepuff she had been searching for. Sneakily she weaved around a few tree, then when Noah was concentrating on stay stable on the ice, she ran, jumped onto the surface of the Lake and slid a good three yards before falling on her back. "Hello Mr. Dale," she said in a strained tone, sitting up and rolling her shoulders. The back of her black peacoat was now coated with snow, as were her jeans. "Care to help a lady up?"

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[Noah Dale]

Noah found himself slowly stepping out onto the ice, slowly but surely, finding that it was indeed frozen over. He chuckled as he began stamping around, noticing a few stares he was getting. He had heard something move behind him, but took nothing of it, thinking it was only someone gone to do who knows what in the woods. Closets just weren't cutting it anymore. He wondered idly how Corliss was doing. She was nearly at the end of it all, ever since getting the doctor to work his magic on her Kallie had been growing at an exceptional pace, growing to a full size child in a matter of three months not nine. He promised her he'd take her up to the Room of Requirements when he returned, and she seemed fine with it. Which he found odd, since she didn't seem to like the idea of him hanging with another girl at first.

He fell to his bottom as Tobie jumped and slid out onto the ice. "Jebus bloody hell! What the hell are you doing Tobie?" Noah laughed, standing up and brushing the snow off his butt before walking over to Tobie. He put out his hand. "Well I am a gentlemen, so I suppose I'll help you. This time." he joked, taking her hand and pulling her up with ease. He had gotten a lot stronger helping a pregnant girl around, and he didn't seem to mind. He didn't have Quidditch to make him stronger like the other guys. He mentally cringe. Even standing in the stands gave him a fright. He was a wimp like that.

"Your going to get yourself killed you know that right?" Noah chuckled as he slide backgrounds across the ice. "So how are you mate? How's Aiden's new wand treating him?" he asked. He felt sort of bad for that fight between Tobie and Aiden, since it was mostly directed at him, but of course Tobie got in the way. But at the same time it was necessary, no one would get near Kallie with a harmful plan in their head while Noah was around. He had fell into the roll of father very well in the past few weeks and he knew Corliss was glad it was finally showing from him.

[October Hemingway]

Tobie smirked when she saw how Noah fell; she hadn't expected that. Noah seemed like a pretty sturdy guy...kinda like a brick wall. To see him stumble was amusing...it made a smile appear on her features. He approached her, helping her up. Tobie stood, grabbing onto Noah's shoulder when she was finally up for a few moments to balance herself. She brushed the rest of the snow off herself and grinned at the Hufflepuff. "Why thank you Mr. Dale. You're oh-so chivalrous." she said sarcastically with a playful wink. She walked out farther onto the lake, twirling on her toes before beckoning him over with her finger. "You'd think five years of ballet would make me a little more graceful." she laughed.

"I'm fine, thanks." she said brightly. "And yourself? How's Corliss?" she asked politely. Biting her lip, she haved a sigh before answering Noah's next question. "Eh...It could be worse, I suppose. But then again...it could also be better." she looked at her toes guiltily. "I feel awful," she admitted. "I mean...I nly did it to protect Corliss and Kallie...and you." she looked up hopefully. "I mean...I figured I did it for the right reasons. And Zane told me once that--" she paused, looking away.

Smirking suddenly, Tobie leaned down, packing a snowball together tightly in her hands. "Watch yourself!" she shouted, pegging the snow at him before leaning over to make another one. She threw that one as well, running out farther onto the lake. She managed to slip and fall again, laughing hysterically until the cold air began to ting her lungs. "Whoops!" she giggled, sitting up again and rubbing the back of her head. "Probably...not the best idea." she admitted. Now her hands were stinging cold, glowing red from the severe temperatures. She flexed her fingers, hoping to jumpstart some of the warmth again. "Damn it's cold out here." she muttered, standing and trying to shake the flakes of snow from her hair.

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[Noah Dale]

His eyes rolled at her sarcasm, elbowing her in the side as she brushed the snow off herself. "No problem Ms. Tobie, although you wouldn't need to be thanking me if you didn't try to scare me." Noah chuckled, throwing his own playful wink into the mix. As she beckon him with one finger, he followed, sliding out onto the ice with grace this time, not falling once as he caught up to Tobie. For that he could proud of. He was surprised she didn't fall when she twirled on her toes, until she confessed she was in ballet for five years. He could only laugh. "Mm, somehow I can't picture you all dolled up in some classical tutu. It just won't come to mind." he laughed with her.

Noah smiled back at her bright smile. "I'm good. We're good. Corliss finds herself more tired now a days, what with Kallie being close to popping. We're not sure of the exact date, since she's growing at a faster pace, but we don't think she's too far off." Noah said, looking down at his feet as they walked across the ice. They were getting close to being in the middle of the lake now, about another 30 feet in front of them. He gave her a weak smile as she talked about Aiden getting used to her wand, but as she spoke about protecting his... well family now he supposed, he had to try and stop her. "Hey, I really appreciate that, you standing up for all us. I mean, I probably could do it myself.." he said this a smug tone, trying not to wound his male ego. "But I appreciate the help." he shot her a smug smile. "Besides, not a lot of people would stick up for me anyways..." Noah said, looking down at the ground.

As she mention the name of the New Order leader, Noah's head shot up. What was she doing talking to Zane? But before he could question it, she was packing a snowball together, and when she threw it, it hit him square in the chest. Noah grumbled, but with a wicked smile knelt down and packed his own snowball. She threw another at him, but he dodged that one, throwing his right in succession of hers. He laughed and chased after her as she ran across the ice but only looked worryingly at her as she fell to the ice once again. "Are you alright?" Noah asked, as she stood again. He looked at her hands. "This is why you wear gloves, you silly girl." he chuckled, taking her hands in his clothed ones and rubbed them back and forth between his own, trying to warm them.