There was no Astronomy class this evening so AJ decided to make the climb and visit one of the most famous spots on Hogwarts grounds. A handful of years ago Dumbledore was killed here, of course it was planned, the famous Harry Potter made sure we all knew that. Still, AJ couldn't help feel something while he was up there. A connection. The battle here was deadly, yet everyone romanticised this area. Couples came here to cuddle, others came here for the view.

Looking out AJ wouldn't mind jumping off, transforming and flying in the cool night air. He knew it wouldn't be safe. There were others out tonight, it seemed there was a party in the courtyard. He wrapped his cloak tighter around him, seeing his breath form in front of him he thought about the ghosts of Hogwarts. The history.

AJ felt at peace, yet he seemed like he wasn't alone. Perhaps a ghost was around. Or perhaps another student. He did not know.

Vero climbed the Astronomy Tower stairs in deep thought, Vero had never been up here, someone had told her that is was a great place for students to come and cuddle or think. Kind of like a lovers lane in the muggle world. Vero was not here to cuddle with that special someone, Vero was here to enjoy the view and think about the life her Grandfather had lived.

Vero still could not believe that a man of that power and intelligence had wasted away in a muggle hospital because there was no cure for him in the wizarding world. Vero know that there was something that we witches and Wizards could not do, but curing the sick could be one of them Vero knows that bones can be regrown and burns vanish in seconds. But a simple infection to the life of her Grandfather because they did not know where it came from.

Vero cried silent tears as she topped the Astronomy Tower. When she seen another student there, she quickly wiped her tears and sniffed as she tried to cover up the fact that she had been crying.

AJ heard crying. His head perked up and he turned around the corner to see a girl who was trying to hide her tears. "Hullo," he said, sitting next to the girl He was worried an NDE professor had harmed her.

"Is everything okay?"

Recently he had been worried every student was being attacked by these 'professors'. He was sickened by the thought of Raynes harming a student because he or she was muggleborn. Or even Half-blood for that matter. AJ felt himself growing angrier by the second, but when he looked at the girl, he felt horrible for her. Whatever was on her mind.

Vero gave a sad little smile as the boy asked if she was okay. " Yeah, i will be." Vero replied has she continued to wipe the tears from her eyes. Vero smiled and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, if i ruined your evening." Vero said has she calmed down a little.

Vero's teared up a little more as she thought of her grandfather and took a deep breath to will them at bay for the moment. "Hi, I'm Vero." Vero said when she could speak without her voice cracking to much.

He felt bad for her. "No, no. Not at all." he said. He pushed his hair out of his face. He was thinking it was time to cut it again. He hadn't for months.

"Hi Vero, nice to meet you. I'm AJ. Ravenclaw." he extended his hand for her to shake it.

AJ had been meeting quite a bit of new people these past few days. Florent told him he need not to shut himself out, but to meet people to not be friends, but to network. 'You never know when you're going to need help,' he reminded AJ.

"What were you crying about?" he asked Vero. "You don't have to say of course."

Vero was glad she had not ruined his evening, she had to tendency of doing that to many people whens she was sad or upset, Vero's mother always said it was because of her magic.

"Well, I'm glad i did not ruin your evening. Please to meet you, AJ. Gryffindor." Vero got a little teary eyed over that, her grandfather had been in gryffindor, many years ago.

"What are you crying about? You don't have to say, of course."

Vero smiled has AJ was trying is best to comfort and find out what happened to her at the same time. Vero looked down. "My grandfather died, and my parents want me to continue my studies instead of coming home to morn. " Vero said in a choked voice has she tried to control the crying.

AJ listened as she told him about her loss. His grandparents all died before he turned seven. He never realized how much longer others lived. He was jealous she could feel this, he had long since accepted their deaths. "Ah," he said. Not knowing what to say. If it were AJ he would do it anyways. But I suppose being of age and a risk taker was different than being a younger student.

"Perhaps they'll change there mind? They seem like reasonable people." He said the second part even though he had no clue if they were or were not reasonable.

Vero gave a sarcastic laugh. "I'm the only girl in the family, i have better grades then all of brothers had when they where here, and I'm pretty." Vero said without a hint of ego. "They think that if i go back, i will want to stay and not finish school because i would stay there to help my grandmother.".Vero smiled abit, "And of course they are right."

Vero cleared her throat a little and turned to AJ when she was done wiping her eyes, "So tell me a little about herself AJ? I mean you know of my family now." Vero said teasingly.

Her family was nothing like his. "I was born in Poland, moved to Bristol very young. I was a muggle until I was eleven. Found out I was a wizard. They just want me to be happy." He smiled. They had recently moved back to Poland leaving him a house in Kennington, London.

"I guess we're all smart." he added, not really knowing what else to say. "Is there anything you want to know in particular?" he added.

Vero listened to AJ talk about his family. It most be nice to have parents that did not set the whole family thing on your shoulder. Vero's parents are very superficial. "Poland? Really? " Vero asked amazed he no accent, well everyone had a accent but you would think he was London born and raised.

"I guess were all smart."

"You would not think so if you met my younger brother his goal in life is to be a couch potato and he is not even special, or mentally handicapped at all." Vero said amazed that a person could want to dot hat all their life, Vero could not stay still to long she had to be doing something. Vero swung her legs back and forth.

"Well, i don't know really. Social life, classes. teachers, people you despise and people who like that sort of thing. Oh, and favor it color." Vero said very seriously with a smile on her face.

As she rattled off a series of questions AJ couldnt help notice an owl fly off in the distance. He would give enything to be flying tonight.

"Oh, um." he said, thinking quickly. "I enjoy transfiguration. Love it actually. My social life is more of a study life."

He thought more. "I hate NDE supporters" bold move saying that for all he knew she was one. "And my favourite colour is...brown I suppose."

He looked back to the sky. "How about you? All of those things"

Occ: sorry AJ, rough week

Vero listened to AJ's responses.

"Trans? I cant stand that class so far, at first it seemed interesting but i am not very good at it." Vero said with a smile on her face." Oh, your social life is very much like mine, a match made in heaven." Vero said with a twinkle in her eye and humor in her voice.

"NDE? Death eaters right?" Vero asked because she had never heard of that one because, she had heard kill squid, satan's army, Merlins saggy left-. opps, stop. "Brown? I love the color purple, even thought it clashes with my hair." Vero said. Vero was amazed that anyone could like the color brown, it was so........boring,

"Yeah, brown. Blends in with the world. I don't like flashy. I try to blend in. It's hard though. Being my size. Can spot me from a town away."

He chuckled. He was taller than most at Hogwarts and was often mistaked for a half-giant. But he always assured everyone that he was muggleborn.

"Well purples not flash is it?" Vero said as she unzipped her hoodie to look at her purple t-shirt."Whats wrong with your size you just look like a very, very tall person. " Vero said as she cracker her neck looking at him.

"So AJ, uuummmm, whats up?" Vero said with a laugh she had no idea what to talk about next hoping AJ would come up with something.