Howling Invite pv Willow Finished

"Eh? Really?" be looked, eyes widening a bit in surprise. He knew that there were lots of fundraisers and the like but he'd never heard of the same group doing it on a daily basis like she made it sound. "Wow, you must get a lot of money for whatever charity you do then. I'm surprised you can do that though...you must have a lot of people who care."

Then again he figured maybe her family worked with multiple charities for it. That made sense with how much she seemed to like nature so it was totally plausible her family worked a lot with it.

He eyed the grass between his fingers before watching as she gestured to the area around them, giving a small shrug, "the money does still go to helping with nature but...it's still sad. I bet over half the people that go don't even care about what the moneys going into. They just like being able to say they helped." It was one of the reasons he hated going these days. The last time he'd gone...he didn't even want to think about it. The way his older cousins had acted. Even Matilde had stuck up her nose just because she didn't want to get dirt on her precious gown.

He could just feel a scowl coming on as the memory washed over him though he schooled it once Willow had looked back at him. It wasn't even worth thinking about.

"Spring festival?" he tilted his chin up thinking for a moment before shaking his head, "no, I don't think so. I've only seen the autumn and winter arrival festival back home but I wasn't even allowed to go. Are they fun?" he asked looking honestly curious, "I can't imagine they're anything like winter or autumn festivals."

Interacting with @Elsian Cox

A look of confusion came over her face as Elsian mentioned her family making a lot of money, and then it clicked how she had misspoken. "Oh no, I meant that my family gardens everyday basically. We don't make any money off of it. We do it as a way to self-sustain for food and be more environmentally friendly. It's a family activity for me, but my family contains just myself, my mom, and my dad right now. We care, that's enough for us right now" A sad smile appeared on her face, not that it wasn't a genuine smile like Elsian might believe.

She was starting to wonder what it'd be like to have aunts and uncles, extended family to laugh and joke with. She didn't realize just how different her family was, how limited and small it was. It had always been enough for her, having a small set of three, well now two, people that she knew she could always go to. Hearing about other people's extended families left her craving to know the rest of her family even though she had only heard bad things.

"Isn't it pretty hard to say you helped when you don't even know what it's for?" She sat up to imitate someone she imagined was the ultimate height of society. Voice becoming lilted and elegant, nose upturned. "Ah yes, I too have helped nature. How, you ask? Oh you know... with money for the plants." She laughed, dropping back to the ground with Elsian. "That's a little ridiculous. I could list ten different organizations off of the top of my head and all of their missions to help with different aspects of preserving and protecting different elements of nature. I feel like if you're donating somewhere to something, you should know where it's going." Her family often did volunteer work throughout the year for different organizations and community gardens around their area. It was another part of life she ached to go back to.

Willow's mouth fell open when Elsian said he'd never gone to a spring festival. "How is you you've been to an autumn and winter one, but not spring or summer? The best times to be outside? Spring there's generally flower displays, a whole bunch of new baby animals, oh! Sometimes you can pet them! That's the best. There's roller coasters, and amazing food. It's just a fun time. Especially when you're with a friend." She really wanted to experience a gala, and didn't know how hard she would have to hint to get Elsian to invite her. If there was a bonus of a spring festival, she would do whatever she had to at that gala. Even if it meant formal dancing.

"Oh," he supposed that made more sense although he couldn't help the small bit of disappointment at the thought. She had been right after all, nature could always use more help and the fact was he'd been happy at the thought of her family doing so much. Reminded him of what the gala had originally been for when his great grandparents had started it.

"That still sounds nice," he replied, though he couldn't even imagine gardening with his parents.

Moving along to follow her as she sat up he accepted his fate when his neck protested the movement, instead forcing himself to sit up and keep himself upright by leaning back on his hands. "It is, but that doesn't stop them from doing just that."


It was annoying just to think about but luckily for him Willow seemed to move on quickly, forcing his attention onto something else entirely as she began to speak in a voice that he was absolutely sure Matilde would faint at. Eyebrow raised and eyes narrowing he watched as her stature twisted into something mocking, his own face looking very much like he was silently judging her acting with a scrutinizing gaze if not for the delighted smirk that betrayed just how much he was enjoying the act. "Amazing," he mocked, clapping his own hands in appreciation, "you've done it, you've saved nature single handedly..." he paused in his clapping, getting a thoughtful look on his face before giving a small laugh, "until the next fundraiser that is. Same time next year yeah?"

He was slightly taken aback by the pure joy the other seemed to have at the simple thought of the festival. Joking forgotten as he listened.


"Well...been to isn't quite right. I've seen them around," he defended weakly, "so of course I haven't been to a spring one." he brought his knees up to rest his chin atop them, wrapping his arms lazily around his legs, "besides, I've always preferred the cold," he admitted, "rains the best."

He hadn't wanted to go. He couldn't remember the last time he'd ever wanted to go to one of his families parties but...Listening to the other describe a spring festival, being able to easily mock the adults of the gala. He found himself wondering if it'd really be all that bad.

"The festival probably goes on the day after the gala. Or maybe during and after..." he hummed, mind wandering to the letter.

It wasn't like they'd have to suffer through being near the adults the whole time anyways. He knew where to go, and the gardens were always fun. Nobody ever bothered him there before.

"Would you want to come?" he asked, "Auntie could talk to your parents if you do..."

Interacting with @Elsian Cox

Willow nodded in agreement, thinking about the warm hazy days she would spend with her family tending to the garden. Especially at the beginning and end of the seasons. She couldn't wait to get back home and help with the transition to summer plants. "It is nice. It always brings us together as a family. If you ever wanted to visit, I'm sure we would love to have you frolic in our garden."

As she glanced over to him in his attempt to sit up she rolled her eyes when he couldn't even get all the way up. He truly was the laziest lion she had ever met. For a second she was worried that she had gone to far, basically directly insulting his family with the act that she was doing. But, his wide smile seemed to dissolve the nervousness she felt. With his response she did a fake awkward sitting down curtsy, small giggles betraying the otherwise flawless act. "Mm, yes. Sounds perfect. I'm sure Mother Nature will personally thank us once again." She couldn't hold the act anymore and burst into a fit of giggles as she laid back down.

A small frown made its way on her face as Elsian revealed that he had never been to one of the festivals. What kid didn't have their family whisk them off to a day of fun and laughter? Apparently Elsian's family, that's who. "Every season has it's benefits honestly. The winter festivals are always warm and cozy. While the summer ones are more light and fun. I quite enjoy dancing in the rain. It just feels so... amazing. Although the cold of walking back to my dorm isn't always a pleasant experience." A small shiver ran through her body just thinking about it.

Finally he extended the invitation to her. "Yes! Absolutely yes! I would love to go. My parents will definitely let me attend. This is so exciting!" She bolted back up, the little badger suddenly overcome with energy. "I don't know the first thing about galas though so you'll have to help me when it comes to all the... dancing... and fancy dresses." She smiled shyly, she'd have to have her mother take her to Diagon Alley or London to get proper clothing for it. As much as she loved pants, she understood that a dress is probably the expectation for this event.

"Mm, you're pretty lucky. My father can't even stand dirt and mother kills everything she tries to grow." He perked up slightly at the offer, a small "huh," leaving him at the idea. It felt odd really to imagine, but it made sense that they'd meet outside of school.


Elsian didn't miss the others expression. Simply offered a cheeky look and slumped his posture even more at her eyeroll after his mock applause, as if her exasperation was a challenge on just how lazy he could act, body looking like it could literally be that of a limp noodle for a moment before the other continued on her act playing along to his own words. He snorted, shaking his head with a laugh as her own giggles filled the air.

"I personally expect a nice thank you card," he snarked, sassily bumping his own foot against hers when her smile turned into a frown. Why frown when they'd just been having fun? She'd been excited about the festival before and well, it'd be a lie to say he wasn't liking the idea of going more and more as she spoke. Listening to Willows words he could practically imagine the festivals she'd gone to simply with how expressive she was. It sounded fun when she described it and now he was actually starting to feel a bit, dare he say, excited for the gala to come. Something that he would have laughed at the very idea of if brought up before now.

"I think I'd prefer the autumn fairs," he admitted, before grinning sharply at the image of her soaked and dragging herself back to her dorm after foolishly dancing in the rain in her robes. "And that's why you wear a rain coat when you go dancing." he snorted, wrapping his hands around his knees to rest his chin atop them, "how'd you not twist your ankle? Dancing's already so tiring even without slippery rain..."

And oh what a troublesome thought that was. At least with rooftops you were just sitting and not jumping and twirling all over the place! Ugh, the very idea of a twisted ankle was enough to make him shudder at the very thought.

Romantic in theory sure but the walk back with wet shoes and socks? Hardly.



Eyes half lidded and trailing over the edges of the grass Elsian hadn't been quite ready for Willows excitement at the invite, a bit pessimistic really in his hopes. So when the other sat up as if she'd just drank lightning in a bottle he'd been a bit surprised, flinching back simply with how quick she'd sat up and eyes widening a smidge simply with the disbelief of it all because really that's not how he'd expected it to go.

Yet in the moment could only bring himself to offer a weak "really?" before quickly shaking off the surprise when she began to trail off. He couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out at her sudden shyness, a small but genuine smile that wasn't anything like his usual mocking at the realization he wouldn't have to go alone.

Another part of him, tiny as the hope might be, couldn't help but feel pleased about being with someone who wasn't there to throw around money. Who might actually enjoy what the Gala was supposed to be.

"I can do that much, since you're saving me from having to go through it alone again." he agreed immediately with a sure nod, looking possibly the most alert than he had the entire afternoon so far.


"Its not so hard though, you'll see. I can tell you anything you want to know and..." he hid a teasing smile between his arms as he rested his chin against his knees again, "even give you a crash course on dancing for the low low price of all your toes." He paused for a moment before uncurling to stretch out his legs in front of him, one hand bracing himself up and the other lazily moving to make a money gesture, rubbing his fingers together as he said with a completely straight face, "that or your soul. I'd prefer the toes but either works I guess."


Then he shrugged, dropping his hand with a smile, "Or I can just do it for free so you don't, y'know, accidentally step on my toes..."

Interacting with @Elsian Cox

Willow looked down at her hands that had spent so many hours gardening and sowing the seeds of gardens and familial relationships with the three people that mattered so much to her. An almost nostalgic smile graced her face, thinking about being with her family once more even though it hadn't been that long since she had seen them last. "Yeah, yeah I guess I am pretty lucky." Willow had grown to love her parents even more than she did, which she didn't even know was possible as she learned about some of the other, colder, family dynamics that existed within the halls of Hogwarts.

Her momentary frown quickly disappeared, not only from the gentle kick, but from the excitement of talking about the seasonal fairs that would come around for families and the general public to enjoy. "Honestly, the autumn fairs are the best for food. Especially with all the apples in season. Do you know how many foods you can make with apples? Fritters, cider, donuts, pie, honestly sometimes put it in like sandwiches, or even dinner dishes. Apples are probably like, top five fruits probably." Ah, what a rambler she was when it came to the delight of these festivals. It was something that she couldn't resist making seem as appealing as possible, especially when she was with someone who had never been.

A small laugh erupted as he mentioned a rain coat, "Ok but if I wear a raincoat how am I supposed to feel the rain on my skin? That's the whole point. And, who said I've never twisted my ankle? I've done it numerous times. But, it always healed back just fine. It hurts for a week tops, maybe. The feeling is unlike any other. Its my favorite thing to dance in." She failed to mention that dancing and crying in the rain at the same time was the ideal situation to wash away all of your worries and woes that plagued your mind. It made it feel like they were melting off of her, like the clouds were embracing them in it's own tear filled embrace.

The smile, although small, that came over Elsian's face delighted her. The sleepy lion seemed genuinely happy that she would attend with him. With how rough of a start, who knew that the two would end up planning for a night at the gala together. She simply nodded at his offer to help her, until a smirk replaced her own smile that matched his as he told her the price. It was a pretty reasonable price after all. Willow tapped her chin as if seriously considering his offer. "I mean, I do need my toes for I think balance or something. But, I can perhaps barter for my soul back from Cerberus who took it from me many years ago so I could pet two out of his three heads." The act quickly turned to a brief moment of distress, "But, if you do it for free I can throw in leaving at least three of your toes unscathed from the battle of dance and maybe... some tea." The young girl had quite the tea collection, and she was happy to share if he wanted a break from the same old teas and pumpkin juice served in the Great Hall.

"I guess you have a point, the raincoat would ruin that..." Truly, he could understand. Did he agree with it? Not entirely, he loved that sort of whether but if given the choice, he'd much prefer to experience it quietly, relaxed. The very thought of twisting his own ankle again made him want to wince, he'd already done that this year after the moving staircase incident and he did not want to do that again anytime soon. Living on the 5th floor made it a huge pain even when he didn't have classes. "I don't fancy twisting my ankle for a dance though, I'll leave rain dancing to the pros."

He nodded, faking a contemplative look at the others words, "Toes are good for balance," he agreed tapping a finger to his chin in thought. "And two out of three? No way, thats a hard bargain to even attempt at without losing a hand!" he gasped mockingly.

"But three toes...and tea?" He eyed her silently for a moment, unmoving before finally giving a small nod and holding out a hand as if making a serious deal.

"Make it 4 toes unscathed and we have a deal."


It was ridiculous really, and while he was able to keep up a impressive front for a moment it crumpled in favor of a peculiar look the moment the hand dropped. A mix between confusion and wariness as his gaze looked past her to lock onto the form of a Hufflepuff boy who seemed to be looking for someone....a very familiar pest.

"While I'd usually have no qualms staying here for a few more hours," he began, a small smile snaking it's way onto his face as he made to stand up, grabbing his bag and cloak while he continued, "it seems I've been found by a certain pest and I really don't want to be caught here."

He stood, giving Willow a quick wave as he started to move, walking backwards for a moment as he gave a mocking wave to the boy who'd finally caught sight of them. "See you! Promise to talk about the gala later." he hastily promised before rushing off at a speed that was almost impressive when compared to his usual laziness.