Ingerith nodded to Ryden. "There is always trouble." She felt a small sliver of anxiety, that was wedged between her shoulder blades, begin to loosen and unwind. His words reminded her that she did have [i]some[/i] allies within the walls of Hogwarts. "More trouble every year." She glanced toward the castle, where she suspected the headmaster was watching from, lurking in some shadowy window and scowling down at her. If the headmaster decided to banish all the muggle-born students, Ingerith was afraid that she would be the only one to protest such a decision. Ryden, the professor of magical creatures, seemed to consider things differently.

"It's never enough." She looked back into the throng of children. Then her eyes fell to the bandaged hand. "Are you finding enough trouble of your own, beast master?" Her eye glinted with a hint of amusement.

~~~

"The serpent will strike!" She smiled wickedly. "On the field we will see!" 

Eva arrived then, exchanging [i]sword talk[/i] with Issac. Avice rolled her eyes and glanced at Chandler, she preferred the wand herself. "I'm sure they are fun to play with, but the sword is a bit crude, don't you think? I mean... If you were in a [i]real[/i] wizards duel." She  was aiming to be contrary and locked eyes with Eva for a moment. "Without magic it's just fancy slab of mundane metal. [i]With [/i]magic it's a cumbersome wand!" She was trying to provoke Eva, and did not think about if she would land a bruise upon her cousin's ego, the one [i]actually [/i]holding a sword. Avice assumed that being her real family, he knew she was just being [i]funny[/i]. Right?

From the corner of her eye, She noticed a small girl with red hair and wide eyes staring at her... Or was she staring at Eva? Or Chandler or Issac? 

It had to be the twins, or one of them. The two always attracted attention, especially when they were together. Maybe she fancied one! Avice had to know! She wondered how the twins could ever part ways to be married. Avice hoped that one day they would meet another set of perfect female pure blood twins. It would make for a glorious double wedding. They would need an extra large castle for their two families. In her mind this outcome was ideal... Aunt Avice visiting and spoiling their many children...

Of course, Avice would be married then too. She wrinkled her nose.

"I'll catch up with you all later." She broke off from the twins with a smile and headed toward the staring girl... Avice recognized her classmate. "Aoife!" She waved, picking up the hem of her gown and scurrying over. She had, of course, noticed Aoife in their first and second year. They had not socialized much. Aoife was Irish, which was unusual, her accent was lovely and it made her voice like music, but it made Avice giggle when she said certain words of phrases. Avice told her mother about the funny-voiced Irish girl in one of her first letters back home. Her mother had cautioned her that though her family had a good reputation in Ireland, they were not exactly pure blooded, her mother suggested she be polite but focus on alliances with witches who had more in common, and encouraged her to get to know her [i]fiance[/i] better. [i]'If it were up to my mother I'd not have any friends!'[/i] she thought crossly after a few letters. There seemed to be something wrong with everyone except her fiance. Then she was too overwhelmed with schoolwork to think about friends or fiances. The second year she noticed Aiofe also, but, was studying with her cousins and playing quiddich in her free time.

"Hello! How was your summer?" Avice glanced back at the twins. She bit her lips, but could not contain the idea that was blooming in her head. "So, which one of them do you [i]like[/i]? Both of them? Can you tell the difference? Not everyone can so don't feel bad!" She giggled conspiratorially she laced her fingers together, anticipating the answer Aoife would give. "Don't play coy, I saw you looking at them!"