Winter was in the air and there was no way you could miss it. The air was crisp and the lake was starting to freeze over, the morning dew turned to morning frost. Snow had also made itself known once or twice already this December.

December. Wow. Already?

Time just decided to fly by at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. People had been wrapped up in their studies, it seemed as if friends hardly saw each other anymore. Bella, too, even. She couldn't remember the last time she saw Ana or Ais, or even, Katie, Aiya, and Molly. Jean and Peter were gone, as well as the Weasley twins. Leo was now working at the Ministry, like Peter, though Bell had never really gotten the chance to know him. Slowly but surely, Ms. Meyer seemed to be slipping into her child-hood anti-social slump.

For her birthday last month, where she turned seventeen, Bella hadn't mentioned it to anyone. Only her close friends remembered and gave her gifts. And, quite honestly, she hadn't opened any of them. Cal had given her something, too, which was the only thing she brought herself to open. It was a small box, but held a beautiful necklace to match the bracelet he had gotten her last year for Christmas. She wore it everywhere now, along with that bracelet and her engagement ring.

Within the few months that Bella had lost contact with people because of her studies, she had changed in appearance as well as personality. She had grown a fourth of an inch, bringing her to a full Five-feet, three-and-one-fourth inches. Her hair, which she had decided to cut this summer because of the warm weather, had grown out to her shoulders. It was layered and choppy, something it usually wasn't. Alright, so maybe she didn't change a whole lot, but it was something.

I suppose, in a way, you couldn't call her personality a change, either. She was still the smiley, happy Bella that everyone knew and loved. She just had a bit of a shell right now. And if she were to see someone soon, that would surely turn her back into her old self.

With no classes today and no homework to be done for once, Bella had taken liberty to pull one of her old books from her trunk and head to the Castle's common room. When she got there, only a few second year Ravenclaws were inside playing cards by the fire. She gave a brief greeting before sitting in one of the many stuffed arm chairs - this one by the window- and curling up. The whole concept of relaxing was rather refreshing, in her mind. In seconds, Bell was so absorbed in her book, she probably wouldn't hear anyone even enter the room.

What was the book, you ask? Oh, just some muggle thing Aine had gotten her. It was, in a way, disturbing, but intriguing all the same. It was fiction, but based off of stuff that could really happen: a "school shooting". Did people in the non-magical world really find life that bad to go on a while rampage and kill their classmates? The thought was horrifying to the pacifist Bella, but she couldn't seem to shut the book. She wanted to, desperately, but Ms. Picult had such an interesting way of using the english language in her book.

In some part of her conscious mind -in the far corner I suppose - Bella was vaguely aware that someone else had entered the room. She didn't bother to look up, though, contrary to what she would've usually done. The book, now talking about Josie, the main character's release from the hospital. It was so intriguing, fascinating, and scary at the same time that Bella did not realize the new comer had strided right over to her chair and stood before her before it was too late.

"Oof!" Bella huffed, as an unexpected amount of weight plopped into her lap. It wasn't that the weight was heavy, just as stated, unexpected. The Hufflepuff prefect finally looked up from her book to see what was her best friend, The Hufflepuff Head Girl, sitting comfortably on her. After a moment of blind confusion, Bella realized that Ais had asked her something.

"So I was thinking that this whole 'avoiding' thing isn't going to work out. Truce?"

For a few seconds, only blinking eyes were her response. Was she avoiding people? What was there to 'truce' about? Then, looking back, it must've been at least summer time the last time she had actually seen and talked to Ais. A large, lopsided grin took over Bella's face as she let her book close and fall to the floor.

"Why, I have no clue what you're talking about Ms. O'Keeffe. Me? Avoid you? I think the Apocalypse might happen if it ever came to that!" Grinning still, the younger of the two reached up to poke the other on the tip of the nose. "Truce, either way. How have you been?"

Perhaps this was a miracle, from more than one stand point. In all, complete honesty, Bella probably wouldn't have gone looking for anyone. Not today at least. She was perfectly not-so-content with her subject of reading, but she felt too lazy to actually get up and do something. Maybe with Ais here, she would feel up to go and have some fun. See ol' friends, play a few jokes, talk. Despite how nice it had felt to relax just now, all of that seemed appealing now as well.

Of course, miracles were always double edged swords, in Bella's own opinion. The responsible part of her mind was warning her: would her studies go down the tubes if she was going to go back to having fun all the time? It wasn't a problem last year, in her fifth year, but now it seemed like workworkworkwork all the time. Could she handle both? Of course you can! she scolded mentally, her nose crinkling a bit.

Bella giggled while Ais began to clap. She mirrored her friend's wide grin until she was flicked, then stuck her tongue out at Ais. "Fine, fine! How about this then: if I started to avoid you, I'd probably start flunking my classes because I'd wonder what went wrong between our friendship!" Her hands came up and made a 'slap' sound as either one hit either of her cheeks. "That's scary enough in itself, and the world won't spontaneously combust because of me." Letting her hands fall to the arm rests and pursing her lips to keep from laughing, Bella gave a timid smile. "And here I am." she confirmed, clearly aware that Ais was not the only person she hadn't seen in forever. When her friend described a oddly familiar scheduel, Bella shrugged. "About the same. Wake up, go to class, eat, do homework, sleep. Repeat the next day." What else was there to do if everyone was off doing their own thing?

While Ais turned to wave to the Ravenclaw students, Bella glanced out the window. It was a little foggy with frost hanging around the edges. She wondered if her winter coat as a fox was white yet, but quickly dismissed the random train of thought when a head made itself comfortable on her shoulder. In return, Bella rested her head on Ais's. “What would you say to dumping Cal and running off with me to Nevada?” she had asked.

Giggling, in a failed attempt to keep with the serious track, Bella used a hand to tap her chin thoughtfully. "Are you sure Fred wouldn't come back and steal you away? I'd be afraid he'd jinx me or something. Or worse, make my teeth black. Or give me boils. Or something like that. Though, Nevada does sound better-"

A new voice chimed in, surprising Bell so much that she jumped just a little. Letting her brown eyes travel over to the doorway, she was surprised to see Mr. George Weasley. Or, so she assumed. If it we Fred, surely he would've intervened with something other than, "Aisling O'Keeffe and Isabella Meyer! How ya doing?"

A smile spreading on her face, Bella replied. "Well, here I was thinking you and your brother were pulling tricks on innocent bystanders. I'm doing alright, thanks." She had to smother more giggles as he went on to ask about Nevada. Woops. Had they been talking to loud? "George, I think you may need your hearing checked. Whats this about going to America without Cal and Fred?" She waved her hand back and fourth nonchalantly, eying Ais for some backup.

Then, her book came tunneling back towards her. With a squeak of surprise, Bella's hands shot up to catch the paperback before it hit either her, or her current lap-sitter.

Fred surveyed the wheezing knight in armor before him with utmost contempt. He had been in this position for over sixty seconds now, and he wasn't happy about it.

With gauntlets clutching its abdomen, the knight clanked and gasped out laughter. Fred glowered. "Shove it," he muttered in no uncertain terms, then yanked up the visor and indeed did shove his arm down the knight's gullet. After a few moments of strenuous searching, the redheaded twin emerged with almost less than he'd started off with, due to the mangy knight heartlessly trying to snap his visor shut again. Fred withdrew his arm with a growl, making the whiskers above his lips bristle. The knight dropped his spear as he once more descended into belly-shaking laughter.

"That's it," the Weasley entrepreneur hissed, pulling out his wand and pointing it in the direction of the offending knight. A few mutters later, and there was an old holey boot where the suit of armor had once stood. Without further adieu, Fred picked up the boot and tossed it out the nearest window. Wiping his hands of any traces of dust, he propped the spear up against the wall and continued on his quest, all the while whistling merrily.

Thirteen suits of armor later and still no cure, Fred's walk was a little less jaunty. A passing fifth year got the brunt of his anger, which was thankfully more annoyed than truly mean-spirited. The attitude behind the actions didn't much matter to Adrian Pucey, however, who now resembled his forefathers...from several billion years past. Fred figured that the burly Slytherin would someday come to appreciate the chance to walk in a caveman's shoes. Maybe he'd even write a book on the experience.

Just as he finished with the armor in the hallway of the moving staircases, Fred entered the main entrance to find a suspicious-looking black-dressed figure darting through the hallway...humming? One ginger eyebrow raised, Fred turned his feet to follow.

It was an interesting journey, with the person leaping into various crevices along the way to avoid other people. As each person passed, Fred would grin and raise a hand in greeting. "Hullo Professor Dumbledore, I heard they upgraded you from "dingy old bat" to "smarmy old codger" in the 'Daily Prophet' last week. Did it help the fan mail, or are they still sending you guano samples?" he'd greet the headmaster, or "¿Hola mi buen profesor, usted ha estado a España últimamente? no, conjeturo no. ¡adiós, cabeza del estiércol!" to various teachers. He even clapped a shaky first year on the back good-naturedly...also good-naturedly leaving a flashing sign that yelled "GERROFF ME YOU BUGGER" every third step on the young man's back.

Eventually, the figure in black skidded to a stop in the doorway of the common room and dove inside. Fred peeked around the corner. After a quick survey of the people inhabiting the room, he also followed with a grin. "Hello good friends and neighbors!" announcing his presence with a flourishing bow. He motioned to the figure in black, who had just revealed herself to be Jean Halliwell. "This fine lady just led me on a wild chase throughout the school." He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice to a stage whisper. "You wouldn't believe the escapades Miss Halliwell can getup to when she thinks no one's is watching!" He winked at her, then caught his brother's eye. He gave his twin a fleeting 'zero' motion with one hand to convey the lack of success, and finally caught sight of the one Miss Veela sitting on the couch.

With three bounds, he was on her lap. "Miss Veela! My love!" Great amounts of smooching was about to ensue.

George twirled the end of his mustache, much like the villians in old black and white Muggle movies would. He gave the girls in front of him another grin, before looking abashed. "Sorry about that ladies, I rather assumed that you, like my younger sister Ginevra, would be able to catch a book. Alas, that was my mistake, and I sincerely regret it," he said, standing up straighter and clutching at the lapels of his jacket as he spoke. He relaxed a moment later, before going to sit on the couch next to Ais and Bella. He put one arm around the back of it, before surveying the room and finding not many other people in it. Hadn't Hogwarts been a lot more busy when he and Fred had been there?

"So, how goes things with my brother?" he asked Ais, before asking Bella a similar question. "And how goes things with your fiancee, Miss Meyer? Obviously not well, if the two of you are planning to run away to an American state." George took a moment to scramble up on the couch, peering over the side of it, in the hopes that maybe what he and his twin were looking for would be behind it, but - no cigar. They had really outdone themselves in the hiding process this time if they themselves couldn't remember where they had put it. Well, one more corridor down, only about a million and a half more, he supposed.

Just then, George heard a familiar voice, and he nearly fell off the couch. Surely this wouldn't be one of the days that he would run into Katie Bell? He had been thinking about stopping by to see her, but he was always busy with his brother and their shenanigans. He stood up hurriedly, trying to smooth down his hair and appear casual, just before she stormed around the corner, looking rather unhappy. She must have had a run-in with those second years that had been bugging him and Fred earlier for help with their potions homework. Little buggers, couldn't they do their own work? Apparently not.

"Katie! How dare you not recognize me?" George bellowed, in mock outrage. He put his arms around her, returning the hug, and rolling his eyes. "Doesn't it, though? Fred is sporting an exact replica, so if you do see him at some point, tell him I'm planning on hexing his arse later. Bugger can't seem to remember where he left the potion to fix this." Actually, it had been his fault that they couldn't find the potion this time, but no one in the room really needed to know that just yet. "But, how are you?" he asked, pulling away from her and looking down. "Well, I trust?"

Just then, another person joined them in what was soon becoming a crowded section of the common room. George took one look at the person, clad in black from head to toe, and sprang into action. He released his hold on Katie, and leapt in front of the girls, wand aloft. "Reveal yourself!" he said, seconds before the person took off their hat, revealing it to be none other than Jean Halliwell. George grinned, lowering his wand. "Hello there, fellow graduated ginger! Long time, no see!"

A voice from behind him told him that his twin had followed Jean into the room. "Any luck, dear brother?" George asked, turning around, his face falling at the sight of his brother's empty hands and equally bushy facial hair. "We've really done ourselves a turn this time, Fred," he went on to say, before his twin practically launched himself at Ais. "Again with the kissing, Fred?" George said, making a face. Those two really did need to get a room.