Jaxon found himself strolling out into the stone courtyard after lunch was over. He had a free period after, and even though he really should have spent it up in the common room getting some actual work done, seeing as it was steadily piling up, he found himself wanting to enjoy what would probably end up being one of the very few sunny days they would see until spring came around. The Gryffindor didn't mind the winter. He would be having a ball with snowball fights and the like. But he couldn't pass up the chance to laze about in the sun for a bit.

That being said, the boy nodded with a grin to the few other students milling about who seemed to have the same idea as him as he dropped his book bag onto one of the hard benches carved out of stone. He reached up with one hand to loosen his tie, as he was in full school uniform for the day. He easily shrugged out of his school robes and tossed them over his book bag for safe keeping, and proceeded to roll up the sleeves of his white oxford to his forearms.

His brown eyes scanned the area, and he flashed his roguish grin at a pair of witches walking by, which had them giggling and him chuckling. Jax lifted his right leg to rest his foot on the stone bench, leaning down to tie his laces that had come undone. It was a relatively nice day for the time of year it was, and he fully intended to enjoy it while he could. Thus, the Gryffindor sprawled out over the bench, resting his head on his robe-covered book bag, using it as a pillow and closing his eyes with a grin. "Now this, is the life." He muttered to himself lazily, throwing an arm over his face to cover his eyes, making him look for all the world like he was napping. Which probably wouldn't be far off after a little while.

He supposed he could have gone a little out of his way to make sure he didn't fall asleep and risk either missing his next lesson or arriving to it rather late. He could have actually attempted the newest essay on whatever potion he had already forgotten they were working on in class that morning. He could have even wandered the corridors rather aimlessly as he was prone to do if only to find out how many witches he crossed paths with would blush and giggle at his grin. But this seemed much more satisfactory.

Right up until the clearing of a throat met his ears. He desperately tried not to grin as he let out a loud, over over-exaggerated fake snore, feigning sleep to whoever it was who was currently interrupting his relaxation. He hoped it wasn't a professor. Although, if it was McGonnagall, it might be worth the stern and exasperated look he would receive when his ruse was up.

They were hardly two months into the school year and already she was up to her ears in assignments. She welcomed it though as it kept her busy and though she knew she had taken a heavy class load this year it only served to advance her that much more ahead of her classmates. She wanted to be ready when she finished school, to take that next step into her adult life. She was a very odd sixteen year old girl but she was determined to make the most out of her life.

She wasn't lazy, and her hardheadedness would ensure that she didn't rest on her laurels while everyone else passed her by. The very same could not be said about the boy she loved. That was obvious from the very position she spotted him in across the courtyard.

Fallon had been on her way to the library to study during her free period, but she often took the long route so she could patrol even though it wasn't needed. The girl liked having the upper hand, doing more than was required. After all she had to compete with Granger and that was a feat all in its self.

Crossing the courtyard she smiled sweetly to a few other students as she crossed over to come up to Jax at his head. Rolling her eyes she cleared her throat trying to appear to be someone else. Holding back a laugh at his fake snore she shook her head again.

"If that is how you really snore Jaxon, when we are married I am going to refuse to sleep in the same room as you. I would have to go to work exhausted and then just how would I be able to earn any money to keep us in house and home."

Jaxon wanted to grin so bad it hurt trying to force himself not to. Who knew it was so hard to not grin? Made a bloke wonder how so many people went around without so much as a smile. But that wasn't important at the moment. What was important was that the puff prefect was the one who had interrupted what the lazy lion lounging in the sunshine had hoped to make nap time. That was a crime if he ever heard one. In Jax's book it was anyways.

Fallon's words had the boy very near laughter, but restrained himself in preference of continuing his ruse of being asleep. The fact that he knew that she probably knew he wasn't really asleep barely even mattered. Even though he could think of at least ten different responses to her comments that would have her blushing without even trying. Easy, that was. Making the witch blush. But even so, Jaxon considered himself an expert in the art of making witches blush, especially the Hufflepuff.

Of course, most other witches were more forgiving than Fallon was when he played his tricks on them. Not that that ever really stopped the boy. If there was anything more entertaining than her blushing, it was her anger. Unless she gave him the silent treatment, like she had back in fourth year when he had hand delivered her his valentine card in silk boxers with hearts on them and a sparkly pair of fake wings, a golden bow in hand like he was Cupid. The Gryffindor had thought it hilarious at the time. The following week of her not speaking one word to him wasn't so funny though.

In his defense, he thought she should have expected it. It was like a tradition for him. Every year since their first year, like clockwork, he would deliver her a card on Valentine's, and true to form it was always in some humorous way that had her blushing in embarrassment and everyone within sight laughing. Jax couldn't help it. He was a clown by nature and hardly had a too serious bone in his body. He really didn't think the week of silence was deserved, but he didn't really want to see a repeat either.

It never stopped him from playing his little jokes though, and as he picked up the sound footsteps falling he could easily tell a group of people were passing by. One couldn't imagine how hard it was for Jaxon not to grin as he gave another loud and fake snore, only this time it was followed by a groan and audible mumbled words he knew both Fallon and the groups of passerby would be able to hear.

"Mmm..Fallon..oh, so goood.." Jaxon knew his words and the way they came out would no doubt make it sound like he was having some wet dream about the puff who he knew stood there, and he could only imagine the look on her face as the giggling and snickering met his ears from those passing by close enough to hear it.

As Fallon stared down at the boy she could not help but notice the muscles on his face twitch. She knew all too well that it was taking every thing that he had inside of him to not break out in a grin and laughter. He was light hearted and kind and rare was a mean spirited bone in his body. It was just one of the reasons why they remained such good friends over the years. He was the jokester to her seriousness and they complimented each other in a way that very few understood.

That did not mean however that over the years that they did not have their fair share of arguments. All friends did and they of course were no different. Most of theirs though stemmed from her not taking his jokes the way that he expected. Which happened more often than they both could count.

She didn't mean to be so serious and so often he tried to break her out of it but it just did not work. Fallon was getting better, or at least she was trying to. Life wasn't so fun when you were so uptight and it would get downright boring and with everything else that she needed to focus on it was time to start living a little.

Fallon knew that the boy should be off studying and was about to tell him as such when he gave another snore. Rolling her eyes she recrossed her arms over her chest as a group of students started to pass by. She would have never expected what came next though in a million years. The words that left his lips had her frozen in place, unable to speak even after the giggles burst forth from those who still lingered. She could feel the heat in her cheeks which only meant that she was close to the shade of a lobster.

Finally she turned on the group of students and pointed back towards the castle. "Back to the castle all of you or see a loss of house points at dinner tonight." Of course she would never do something as petty as taking house points for something like this, she just didn't want anyone else to see.

Leaning down she whispered in his ear, "Too bad you will never see what I can really do." Kissing his cheek she stood back up and started across the courtyard towards her original destination of the library.

Jaxon found that the only thing better than sleeping, which he did whenever he wasn't eating, playing Quidditch, in lessons, or otherwise had his time engaged, was embarrassing Fallon. The Gryffindor couldn't see the results of his handiwork, of course, because he still had his eyes closed with his arm thrown over them carelessly as he feigned sleep. But having known the Hufflepuff witch for years, he knew her face would be a bright red right about then. The need to grin had never been so strong before as the corners of his lips twitched ever so slightly against the restraint it was taking for him to keep his face schooled.

It was rather pointless though, to try and keep pretending to be asleep, when he knew that she knew he wasn't. Even more so, he knew, that she knew, that he knew, that she knew he wasn't. It sounded more complicated in the head than it really was when in action. Either way though, his fake slumber in the sun had been up the moment she had happened upon him, and Jax couldn't have been more thrilled with the situation. There were few people who entertained the lion even half as much as Fallon did, and that was most likely because she never fell for his charming ways or words.

Was it surprising to Jaxon? Not especially. Did it bruise his ego? Only mildly. It was just humorous to him really. He could pull the same trick of charm on ten different witches and get the same blush and giggle reactions. He could pull that very same trick on Fallon and get a glare in return for his efforts. Along with the blush. And that always had him grinning like the fool he really was. No matter how much she may deny it, it was always apparent in the way she blushed that she was not unaffected by him, and that made up for whatever bruising his ego suffered any day. If it suffered any at all. It wasn't that the boy had such an inflated ego as it was that he was much too good-natured to take much to heart. Or take much seriously, for that matter.

So it became extra hard to keep his face straight when the witch snapped at the giggling passerby, actually threatening to take points that Jaxon knew she wouldn't take regardless of whether they scattered as she demanded them to or not. It served to have his amusement at the situation growing even more, his lips twitching again as he tried to cover up a snort with another loud and fake snore. But it became even more apparent just why he was such good friends with the Hufflepuff when she whispered in is ear, going so far as to kiss his cheek with those soft and luscious lips of hers.

Nothing could have his eyes flying open or his ruse breaking as fast or as easily as that simple action and those breathy words in his ear. Jax was sure his heart skipped a beat at her implications, even as a roguish grin spread over his lips. Yes, he stuck close to Fallon for plenty of reasons, but it was the fact that even through whatever embarrassment he served her she always came back with something to try and put him in place that always had him coming back for more. She never sat by and let herself be overcome with giggles, as many a witch were prone to do around him, and instead always tried to give him a taste of his own medicine. He said tried, because it rarely worked, but it was amusing enough to always have him pushing his luck with her. It was a good thing patience was a virtue she possessed, otherwise he never would've lasted so long in the game.

He wasted no time in sitting up, watching her walk away for a moment as the grin grew on his face, brown eyes lighting up. The Gryffindor easily snatched his book bag and robes with one hand before bounding over to catch up to her with a swagger all his own, throwing his free arm over her shoulders in a move that suggested he had done it at least a million times before while flashing her a dashing grin. "Now, now Fallon. Let's not go getting ahead of ourselves there. You're not going to hold a few fake snores against me are you? Besides, if anyone should see what you can really do it should be me. All these years of putting up with your serious, studious self.." Jaxon trailed off with a false exasperated shake of his head that might have been convincing if it wasn't for his grin.

"So where are you headed m'lady? And would you care for a dashing gentleman such as myself to escort you?" The Gryffindor gave her his best and most charming smile, as he matched her pace with his longer legs. He had no intention of really giving her the choice, because he was going to escort her either way, but he supposed it was good manners to offer her the choice anyways.

Even as the group of students near them continued to laugh she tapped her foot trying to look more terrifying than she really was. It didn't really achieve the goal she was shooting for but it rarely did.  While she was a bit small in stature she could usually count on her sometimes smart mouth to drive a point home.  That day however it was proving pointless as they eventually just walked away laughing and shaking their heads at her.  Great, she thought to herself, now they will never respect me.

Frowning a slight scowl overcame her face as she turned and followed after them only to get roughly five steps before she felt an arm slinging over her shoulder and pulling her in closer. Looking up at him she shook her head slightly causing her hair to fall in front of her eyes which she promptly reached up and pushed back again.

"Oh I just might, be proper payback you see for all the times you have tormented me and teased me.  After all someone who hasn't been so mean to me might deserve to see what I can do more than you." Looking towards the entrance hall she smiled sweetly, "But maybe if you are a good boy I will show you later."

Pulling her bag up she adjusted it as she continued to walk with him, "To the library of course, we have a test coming up in herbology that I need to study for.  There were some things I did not quite understand this week and I just want to make sure I am prepared. You could always stay and help quiz me on things?  Make sure I will not utterly fail on this test." She knew he had much better things to do than to help her study so she was already prepared for the answer he would give her.

Jaxon put on a completely appalled look in return to her words, clutching the hand that held his bag and robes over his heart as if wounded. "Why I have never!" He replied theatrically, showing his true jester colors with his antics. "Torment she says! Torment!" He went out of his way to shake his head almost mournfully, his lips settling into a deep, sad, yet completely false frown. "Oh how you wound me Fallon Bourne. I believe I just may die."

Proving just how much of a clown the boy could be, he fell to the ground unceremoniously, laying at her feet while making what might have been moans and groans of pain if they weren't broken by the large grin splitting his handsome face as he continued to clutch his chest. Jax couldn't help himself. He was good at making scenes, and didn't mind when it was at his own expense. The Gryffindor was well known for his antics, and the way he would do just about anything to pull a laugh and smile from people. Especially from Fallon.

Of course, the added positive of the entire scene was that the Hufflepuff detested any kind of scene, especially ones such as the ones Jaxon was well known for creating. Which meant he would most likely have her flustered, and bordering the line between being amused and being angry, which was pretty much the line he was sure he constantly had her straddling for the past five years of knowing each other. What could he say though? It was just how he was. Besides, Fallon was more than serious enough for the both of them combined, which meant it was his duty to be the jokester. That's what he told himself anyway. He could be serious too. It just wasn't often it was rendered necessary of him to be.

Like now, for instance, she was going on about studying for some Herbology test they were going to have, and while he knew she was completely serious, Jax looked up at her with a look of disbelief. "Study for Herbology?" The boy groaned up at her. "Aw c'mon Fallon! It's bloody Herbology! What do you have to study for? You take the pot, you throw some dirt and stuff in it, toss in the plant, then water it a few times a week. Voila! Studying done. Now can we do something else?"

By this time, Jaxon all but forgot he was on the ground. Either that, or he was so used to it that he was completely comfortable where he was. Either way, he grinned charmingly up at her, hoping she might change her mind about the library. He still was rather wary about going in there when Granger was in it. Which was prett much always. So one could see his issue.

As she neared the door to go inside she could not have been prepared for what he did next. It was always something, some new way of bringing attention to them. But this she did not expect, especially as he fell to the ground clutching his heart like a man wounded. As her hands moved to her hips she stood there staring down at him, wondering just what she had gotten herself into this time.

"Yes, torment, just like this, embarrassing me in front of people," she said in a rushed whisper. Glancing up she began to turn a light shade of red as a group of first years passed them giggling. Fallon hated to be in the center of attention, but she found herself there more and more over the recent years. Slowly she was growing use to it but it didn't mean she liked it.

"Yes study for Herbology, it is more complex than you make it sound and you know that Jax. Its more than just dirt, plants and water." Continuing to stare down at the boy as he pleaded his case she crossed her arms over her chest wondering just how she was going to to get him up off of the floor when he gave her just the out that she needed.

"Fine we can do whatever you want, just get up off of the ground and stop making a scene. Please, for me?" I will just go to the library later after dinner and before I have to patrol." Uncrossing her arms she extended her hand to him to help him up off of the floor.

Jaxon tried hard not to grin and to look as chastised as possible when she gave him the old 'hand on the hips' mother impression, but in the end he looked like a kid who knew his mother wanted to laugh just as badly as he did. What a pair they made, him and Fallon. There he was, rolling around on the ground just to pull a laugh from her usually way too serious self, and there she was doing everything in her power to not give him one.

It was a rather fun game they had going between them, and it was one the Gryffindor male never got tired of playing. Mostly because he knew that secretly the Hufflepuff enjoyed it more than she let on, or would ever admit. Why else would she put up with him for so long? Besides, it was generally him people were laughing at when he did things like what he was doing then, not her. And even then, they didn't laugh at him, but at the things he did. And he did them to make people laugh. So it was a successful mission when a group of giggling first years passed them by.

"Hey hey munchkins. Don't mind me. I'm just here dying of a broken heart is all." Jax told them, his words completely at odds with the large grin and wink he sent them as he waved while they passed, only to let it fade into a would-be fearful expression as he spotted the look on Fallon's face as from the corner of his eye, and he immediately flashed her a charming and winning grin. "How many times do I have to tell you Fallon. It's not torment if you like it. Herbology. Now see that's torment."

Jaxon replied humorously as he made a show of getting comfortable on the ground, listening to her rant about how it was more work than he let on and how it wasn't just dirt and plants and water. He was pretty sure that's what she was saying anyway. It was a bit hard to concentrate on anything but the perfect set of lips he was looking at, set on that classic and timeless face of hers. Merlin, the witch got to him in ways she didn't even know, and she said he was torturing her. If only she knew the kind of torture she out him through. Oh but it was the best kind of torture there was, and he gladly suffered it.

"Well now your talking." He grinned handsomely up at her as she finally agreed to do whatever he wanted so long as he got up off the ground. Jaxon took her offered hand but made himself dead weight, laughing as she struggled to pull him to his feet before pushing himself up, which had him standing close enough to her that their personal spaces didn't exist anymore. He flashed her that roguish grin of his that made other witches swoon, and leaned down a bit to whisper in her ear.

"Tag. You're it." He said, letting his breath wash over her ear before he pulled away and started running slowly backwards, chuckling a bit before turning and taking off full speed towards the grounds and Hufflepuff's garden, a place he knew Fallon enjoyed, inspiration lighting his brown eyes as he ran before she could catch him. He kept himself at a good pace, making sure there was enough distance between them that she wouldn't catch him, but also that she would be able to tell where he was going.

When he finally reached the massive garden on the grounds, he quickly hid behind one of the statues until she came running and puffing by, jumping out behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, picking her clear up off the ground and spinning her around with a loud, "Boo!"

Fallon was ever aware of the odd couple that they had made over the years. She would not have changed it for all the galleons in the world though. He was her best friend, understanding her and putting up with her through all of her moods. Some might find it odd that her best friend was a guy but she could confide in him like no one else and she knew that he would never judge her like some of the girls in the castle. It was also why she despised almost every single girl her age. Mostly for how they behaved, but it was a very long list of things. Jax never bothered her though and that was probably the reason they got along so well.

Frowning she shook her head at the first years, "Please do not encourage him, it will only make it worse," she said with a motion of her hands to get them to move along. Turning back to him she brushed her hair from her eyes again. "And how many times do I have to tell you Herbology is not a torment, you know how much I love it so you ought to be used to it by now. After all I seriously doubt it is going to change from being my second favorite subject now is it." He always poked fun at her for being so studious but never minded the help he got when he needed it. Most of the time she was happy to give it to him, plus it allowed them to spend time together and hang out.

Continuing to hold her hand out to him she stumbled slightly as he decided to be a dead weight on her arm. After all not everyone had ridiculous muscles in their arms. It did not phase her at all until they were chest to chest and she raised a brow as he flashed her his trademark grin, the one that to that day always managed to make her blush, no matter how many times he had done it before.

With her other hand still firmly on her bag she dropped it onto the ground to chase after him knowing she could do much better without it. It did not matter though as his long legs could out run hers any day of the week. Still she chased him only to lose him at the last moment as he ducked out of sight. Coming to a stop she glanced around only to feel a pair of arms wrap around her waist and lift her off of the ground. She could not help but shriek as her feet left the ground. Soon enough though she was laughing happily, reaching down smack his hand.

"Come on Jax put me down like the good boy I know you are."

Jaxon couldn't help but have a good laugh at his friend's expense, though he did set her back on her feet and easily stepped away from her, walking in a way that made it seem like he had no clue where he was going, even though he knew exactly where he was headed. The Gryffindor also took the time to send the Hufflepuff a faux wounded look. "A good boy?! That is the most offensive thing I think anyone's ever called me." He had the good graces to look offended by just the idea. "A good boy. Tch."

He shook his head as he continued to walk, leading them through the maze of a garden, shooting the girl various looks of disbelief. A bloody good boy! Jaxon loved his best friend, he really did, but sometimes she got under his skin with her damn serious nature and the way she talked to him like she was his mother more than his friend. It irritated the boy. He already had a mother thank you, and even she joked and laughed more than Fallon.

Truthfully, he would never understand it. This seriousness business. What good was life without good laughs and good times? The Hufflepuff confused him more often than not. Most times it was as if she were determined to have as less fun as possible in her life, and try as he might, he couldn't make her actually enjoy her own life. Sure, he could pull a laugh or two and a few smiles from her, but that was about it.

It was the reason he never pushed things past friendship with her, despite his feelings. He didn't want to be in a relationship with someone he was constantly trying to have fun with, instead of just having fun. Though he always had a ball with it, the truth was it just shouldn't be that hard. That much work.

Eventually, he led them to a section of the garden filled with orchids, and a fountain in the middle that was pumping out sparkling water as coy fish swam around in it. Jaxon set his bag down on the edge of the fountain, which doubled as a seating place, and pulled out a couple of wrapped sandwiches and a couple of cans of pop, which he set in the fountain water to chill them. "Courtesy of mum and the good house elves of Hogwarts. A picnic for two!" The Gryffindor male grinned at his friend, offering her both a seat and a sandwich.

With her feet planted firmly back on the ground she shook her head looking at him as he walked away.   Upon his face was the look as if someone had taken away his favorite toy and she could not help but sigh. "Oh please Jax you know I did not mean it like that.  Spinning makes me dizzy and nauseous, remember that time first year.  The results were less than desirable."  She had gotten sick and then hid from him for a week because she was so embarrassed she could even bare to be in the same room as him.

Following after him she smoothed down her skirt as she walked down the path wondering just where he was leading her.  This was only her second trip into the gardens since coming back to school that year and she vowed to come down more before the weather turned colder.  It was absolutely her favorite place in the castle, besides the library of course.  "Stop giving me those looks and add it to the list of things that I apparently need to make up to you." she muttered as she trailed her fingers over the hedges lightly. 

As she continued to follow after him she could not help the smile that started to creep over her lips.  He was leading her towards the flower garden where she often spent entire Saturday's her first few years at school.  After breakfast she would make her way there and sit by the fountain, most of the time reading but sometimes just sitting and watching the fish swim here and there.  Then her studies got the better of her and she spent less and less time coming there, and more and more time holed up in the library focused on her studies.

Finally when he came to a stop, she did as well only she paused by the flowers reaching out to run her fingers over them gently.  Walking over to him she leaned in and kissed his cheek before taking the sandwich from him and settling down on the edge of the fountain next to him.  "Well thanks to them both. I have only been down here once this year and now thanks to you I have been reminded that I need to come more often."  It was true, she could study here just as well as she could study in the library.

Opening up the sandwich she took a bite and then leaned over to look at the fish swimming by.  "I remember how I once tried to convince my father we needed a fountain just like this in our backyard but it didn't go over so well, and then I tried to make one myself."  Smiling she chuckled softly at the memory.  "Maybe one day," she said as she took another bite of her sandwich.

Jaxon grinned at a job well done, clearly proud of himself for giving such a reminder, if his smug look was anything to go by. He did so like to remind people that laughs and good times could still be had, even in times as the ones they were in, where darkness and unsureness closed in on them from all sides. Especially Fallon, who was serious enough without adding extra things to be serious about. Then again, maybe that was why they were such close friends. They balanced each other out pretty well, he thought. Though the Gryffindor hardly needed to be told when to be serious. He was capable of that much forethought.

The dark-haired teen took a bite of his own sandwich, chuckling at the thought of her trying, and failing, to convince her father of the fact that they needed a fountain, and then going ahead and trying to make one herself. That was certainly one thing he would give his friend. She was stubborn, and when she set her mind on something hardly anything got in her way.

"You mean you actually tried to build one of these things Fallon? Bloody hell. I would've paid a pretty galleon to see that." He joked, chuckling some more and shaking his head, a grin splitting his face at the mental picture he got. "You know, I bet you sat there frustrated as hell with a scowl on your pretty face when it didn't go as well as planned. Or after you got sprayed in the face with water. Either one works." He teased, brown eyes alight with playful amusement as he ripped another piece of his sandwich off with his teeth, reaching around her to grab the soda's out of the fountain, the cold water having chilled them by that time.

He offered her one before popping the top of his own can, taking a nice gulp from it and smacking his lips in appreciation of the fizzy drink. "Ah. Good old vanilla coke. Nothing beats it. Just like nothing beats sharing a drink with you." With a charming grin, he tapped his can to hers in a 'cheers' sort of method before taking another long drink. "So how is the old man anyways? And your mom? She still freaking about all this you-know-who hoopla?" He questioned her, and though his tone was light, there was a serious look in his eyes for once. Fallon was the type to worry and stress about things, especially her family, and all the business about you-know-who being back in action had set off an epidemic of paranoia in their world. His own parents were taking precautions, though they tried to hide just how much it effected them, for his sake. It was irritating, but he had to commend their efforts. It wasn't like he didn't know what was going on at there in the real world, or like he ignored it. He was doing what he could to prepare for what was to come, the same as most others.

But Fallon...she was a lover, not a fighter. The worry alone would see her in the hospital wing if someone wasn't there to ease it, and that's what he was there for. It's what he would always be there for when it came to the Hufflepuff. And it was about time he reminded her of that too.

Fallon couldn't help but smile at how pleased he obviously was with himself.  He was a happy go lucky guy most of the time and it was rare to ever see him in a mood when he wasn't.  She however had her ups and downs, some of them easily concealed, and others not so much.  But he was always there for her just the same, a strong force in her life for the last six years now.  Fallon knew she wouldn't have it any other way, and if there was ever a day when he wasn't in her life, that would be a sad day indeed.  One that she had no desire to ever think about.

Shaking her head she glanced back up at his chuckle, getting the same image in her mind that he more than likely had.  "Oh yes, the summer after our first year. It did not go well. I practically flooded the backyard by the time I was done.  It was horrible." Shifting slightly she reached up to push her hair back out of her eyes.  "I'm sure I was a sight I will give you that.  Charming a garden hose while my parents were out was one of the worst things I have ever done.  Though I will blame my brother for making me think that I could actually do it and make it work."

So she was a bit naive when she was younger, and some of that lingered even now.  Taking another bite of her sandwich she gave him a smile as he teased her.  These were the times she enjoyed the best, actually coming out of her shell and enjoying life. Taking the pop from him she set her sandwich down and popped open the can taking a sip with a sigh.  "I will give you that, pumpkin juice is great and all but nothing beats an ice cold pop," she responded with a soft chuckle and a blush, tapping her can to his.

Taking another drink she set it down and then started to pick at the crust of her sandwich when he started to ask about her family. "He's good. I don't think he understands fully what is going on. But that's probably because mom doesn't tell him everything.  She writes me every day now, trying to persuade me to come home but I keep trying to tell her there is no place safer than here.  I just.. I hope I am right in telling her that.  That we really are safe here and that they are safe in London. I don't know what I would do if something ever happened to them." Reaching up she brushed her fingers over her cheeks wiping away the few tears that had trickled down over her cheeks.

Jaxon had the good graces to look at the Hufflepuff with a look that was somewhere between shock and disbelief, sputtering as he choked on his soda. "First year? And I'm just now hearing about it? That's bad form, that is Fallon. Shame on you witch." The boy remarked humorously, shaking his head and wagging a finger at her as if chastising a small child, in much the same way the witch did to him on numerous occasions. "Imagine, having such an adventure and not even telling me about it. First year..."

He grumbled in what would have been a disgruntled way if it weren't for the wide grin spreading across his face. Truthfully, it was nearly impossible for Jax to ever be truly disgruntled by his best friend. In the six years they had been running amuck together (well, he ran amuck, she just tried to reign him in), he had never been truly angry with the witch. Frustrated by her? Definitely. But angry with her? Never. Most might think it was simply because he was too good-natured a guy to be bothered enough to get angry, but that wasn't the case.

Jax was known to have a temper, when pushed far enough. But he was the type of bloke that didn't anger easily, and it took a lot to push him to that point where his temper flared. Fallon wasn't the type to push at such things that would trigger his temper. Him on the other hand, he pushed every single one of her buttons just to get the reactions that, even when she was angry, were comical to the Gryffindor. He might have been less inclined to do it if he didn't have a full proof way of stayin in her good graces, but as it was, the boy had his charming way of making her laugh even when she was angry with him, which ensured he could turn the tables around when her temper flared.

He couldn't help having a hearty laugh at he expense as she described to him what she had done and how she had gone about trying to build a fountain. Thinking on it, he was perfectly able to imagine the first year Fallon going about it. Merlin she had been a stickler back then! "And all these years you've been telling me off for breaking rules, and there you were first year, using magic during the holidays. Bloody little hypocrite you are Bourne."

Jaxon's words weren't in the least bit mean spirited, and instead he sounded and looked both pleased and impressed, grinning at her in that roguish way of his, quirking a dark brow, brown eyes shinning with pride at the witch. There were many things he would peg Fallon for, but breaking the law to make a bloody fountain certainly wasn't one of them. She certainly surprised him nearly as much as he knew he surprised her at times.

He nodded in agreement with her words regarding the pop. There certainly wasn't anything that beat the many flavors of soda the muggle world offered. It was too had they didn't serve the stuff at Hogwarts. But it was all good. That's what mothers were for. Care packages. Jax had made that joke a fair few times over the years to his own mother, who always got a chuckle out of it, especially when she was trying to remind him of things he was supposed to have packed and didn't. He never worried too much about that, because his mother always sent him whatever he forgot anyways. Of course, she would always tell him that she might as well just pack his trunk for him like back when he was a baby with a diaper bag. What could he say? A good sense of humor ran in the family.

Seeing her tears made his heart ache, and Jaxon wasted no time in finishing off his sandwich and slipping an arm over her shoulders, pulling her into his side in a gesture of comfort. "Of course we're safe here Fallon. Safe as can be. And if you don't believe that, believe this." The Gryffindor set his soda aside and used his free hand to lift her face so that he could look her in the eyes, using one finger under he chin to accomplish it. "As long as you're with me, you're safe. I promise." For once there was no playful spark in those dark brown eyes of his, and instead promise and devotion. Jax pressed a kiss to her forehead, before resting his chin on top of her head.

"I know you'll worry about your family no matter what I say, and that's natural. But let me worry about you, yea? And don't go worrying about me. You know I can joke my way out of anything." He joked lightly, but there was a serious undercurrent to his tone that made it clear he didn't want her worrying about things that Jaxon felt where the things it was his duty to shoulder.

Fallon had a fair number of things she hadn't told him over the years just as she was sure he had his. After all somethings just never had a way of coming about.

"Yes first year. Thomas had just graduated from Hogwarts and was home watching me while my parents were out and he convinced me to do it. After all, I was Miss Smarty Pants from the very beginning and I thought I could do it and get away with it. It was just supposed to be a teeny tiny spell."

It was the first and the last time she used magic at home and her wand was always properly stored away while she was home. Her mother saw to it to prevent any more accidents from happening. Needless to say she was grounded for a month and her brother of course saw no punishment whatsoever for his part in the misdeeds. Giving
Jax a smile as he grumbled she took another sip of her pop. Of course he could not believe she had ever done such a thing, but she had.

"Well I got in plenty of trouble for it so you can imagine why I was all for the rules from that point out. My mother was none to thrilled and my father spent days trying to figure it all out. Not my best, let me tell you. The next two summers after that my mother made sure my wand was locked up from the day I got home until the day I left."

Shrugging slightly as he pulled her into his side she tried to trust in his words. That they really were alright here. She could not help worry, especially now. Thomas was knee deep in things at the Ministry and she hated to think about just how much he had seen since starting there. Looking into his eye "s she could feel the warmth radiating from them and she trusted what he was saying.

Resting her head against his shoulder she let out a shaky breath as she reached up to brush away her tears. "Of course I am going to worry about you, how could I not? You know how important you are to me right?" She had no idea if he knew but she hoped that he did. Her life just wouldn't be the same without him.