Josh was relaxing in the courtyard, having solved the problem of who to take to the Yule Ball.  He had had enough of sitting by the lake, so was now relaxing on the courtyard, thinking about the Yule Ball. He wondered who his fellow Champions woudl be taking. None were really immediately obvious, although Fig would likely take Sophie.m He was pretty sure people would be surprised at who he was taking, though, not to mention probably not realize he was taking them as a friend.

Teagan was strolling along in the courtyard, her eyes fixed on the pages of the book she was currently reading.  Her novel was getting exciting and her eyes scrolled the book feverishly as she walked.  Suddenly, bang!  She slammed into a tree in the courtyard.  She didn't really get hurt, but her cheeks reddened slightly in embarassment.  She looked around to see if anyone had seen her crash and noticed a Griffindor student relaxing next to the tree.  She giggled at her clumsiness, saying, "Oh..hi!  I guess I should watch where I'm going."  Teagan figured that maybe walking while reading wasn't the best of ideas.  "..Do you mind if I sit beside you to read my book?"     

Josh had zoned out, not really looking at anything, when he heard someone walk into a tree.the things people do around here he thought to himself, looking over to see Teagan Bell, a classmate of his. "Hi Teagan.You OK?" Josh said, then heard her asking if she could sit next to him "Sure, no problem."

Teagan plopped down beside Josh, taking in a breath of the fresh air.  "So, what's new, Josh?" she asked him, deciding to be a little social despite her fingers itching to read through the pages of her novel.  "You look pretty satisfied about something," she said, nudging him playfully.  She flattened out her skirt, making herself comfortable on the grass, leaning her back against the tree.       

"Nothing really with me, just Professor McGonagall retaking the Headmistress position, and a new Head Boy." Josh said, shrugging. it had been fairly quiet recently. "I'm satisfied because I've sorted out someone to go to the Yule Ball with. Its especially important because the Champions open the dancing. It'd be kinda embarrassing if I didn't have anyone to dance with." Josh said, smiling slightly.

"A date!  Good for you!" Teagan said with a smile.  "So, who's the lucky girl?" she said, nudging him playfully.  Teagan didn't have a date yet for the Yule ball, but neither did she worry about it.  It wouldn't be the end of the world if she showed up dateless.  If there was dancing, Teagan would have fun regardless.  Besides, she felt comfortable with her solitude.  It wasn't something that she felt she needed to change, at least not yet.   
"So..is being a champion all you dreamed it to be?" she asked, smiling.  She was curious to hear his point of view on the tournament, what it was like for one of the champion. For a spectator, it was rivetting and just a joy to watch.

"Sky O'Connor, though we are just going as friends." Josh said. "It's a lot of hard work, even for just one Task. The hard work, then, at the task, you have to deal with fear, pain, and even then aren't always awarded a decent score" Josh said, he had been distinctly unhappy at his score, but did appreciate most of what he did would have been invisible. "I prefer being a spectator, to be honest, though I'll still put my name down for the other tasks." Josh added.

"Oh, Sky, huh?" Teagan grinned.  "That should make for a fun evening," she said.  Teagan was a friend of Sky's, although the girl's fiery personality tended to contribute to making their relationship somewhat rocky at times.  "I don't know yet if I'll ask anybody," Teagan said. 
"Do you know if Shade has a date?" Teagan asked, curious.  She liked that boy a lot, as a friend of course.  She respected and admired the love and devotion he had for his sister.  That was something she could relate to, Teagan having two younger sisters of her own.  "I look forward to the dancing.  It isn't everyday we get a ball here at Hogwarts," she said, smiling happily, her eyes twinkling.
Teagan listened intently as Josh expressed how he felt about the tournament.  "What motivated you to join?" she asked.  "I don't know, I guess I don't have that kind of competitiveness in me."  Teagan shrugged her shoulders.  "Going to class and studying at the library is already fun enough for me," she said, giggling at her nerdiness.
"It must be a real test of bravery to join, facing your fears and pain.. and all the hard work," she said.  "I admire your courage!" 

Josh gave a low chuckle at Teagan saying it would make for a fun evening. "More than you know. Sky... she'll probably be the center of attention." Josh said, deciding he had come close enough to revealing what Sky had told him. "Well, when I asked Sky, Shade didn't have a date to her knowledge. I sympathize with any date he does have, they'll have a tough time getting his mind off of worrying about Sky." Josh commented, he though Shade could be a bit too protective.  "I wanted to have a chance to truly test myself; to prove to myself that I can defend myself against a serious threat." Josh said. "Courage or stupidity. Both could apply to that damn tournament." Josh added, face serious suddenly.

"More than I know?" Teagan asked curiously, her eyes pleading for Josh to say more.  "Anyway, Sky is quite a character," she said, giggling.  She had a rocky friendship with Sky, as Teagan sometimes got offended and easily hurt by her out-spoken and sometimes rude attitude.  "Hehe..yeah, Shade goes a bit over board," Teagan said softly.  "I don't know, I might ask him.  But..I have a couple of other people in mind as well," Teagan confessed to Josh.  "It's too bad Shade is like that.  He's such a great guy, but it does put girls off to feel like they are only second to him after his sister."   

Teagan smiled as Josh talked about the tournament.  "Well..if something big happens..God forbid.. I'll have you protect me," she said, grinning.  Teagan wondered how she would be in a crisis.  After thinking a bit, she decided she would probably be good at helping out with the healing more than the defending.  "And I'll be your healer, how's that?" she said playfully.  Her face serious, she added, "I don't think it's stupidity.  I think you know you can tackle it and...you've got guts too.  As for me.. I recognize where my strengths lie and I don't think I'd be able to handle the pressure." 

She fumbled in her pockets and took out a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.  Showing it to Josh, she asked, "Want some?"  Popping one in her mouth, she asked, "Are champions allowed to get help from their friends?  If ever you need some assistance on a task, I'd love to help you out."  Teagan read constantly and she figured perhaps her extensive hours in the library reading over and beyond what was required could come in handy.  She shrugged.  "I'd do my best anyway," she said with a warm smile. 

"The only other thing i'll tell you is to try to bring a camera to the Ball. It'll be worth it, trust me." Josh said, smiling secretively. "Who've you got in mind?" Josh asked, curious.  "Not to mention it makes it frustrating at times being friends with Sky when seemingly at any minute Shade will come in and try to drag her off. It's ridiculous." Josh said, Shade irritated him at times. "If I'm anywhere nearby, sure I'll protect you. I'd never leave a friend in danger." Josh said, smiling. "No thanks, Teagan." Josh said to the offer of an every-flavoured bean. "The Champions are picked per task, so i doubt I'll need any help. As for if help is allowed, officially no. Unofficially, cheating's always been part of the tournament. So long as you're never caught..." Josh said, knowing Teagan would likely get the point.

"Will do!" Teagan said excitedly regarding bringing a camera.  Teagan had no idea what could possibly be going on, but she decided that from what Josh was saying, it was going to be well worth the wait.  "Right now..I'm thinking of Migs.  To be honest, I haven't actually talked to the guy.  I've just seen him around," she said timidly.  "Do you know him at all?  I don't know if he's taken."  Something about the American's calm complacence attracted Teagan. 

"Other than that..well, I imagine Walton's taken.  Maybe I'll just try to ask some random foreign student I don't know," she said, giggling a little at the thought.  Then taking a deep breath, she lowered her voice.  "Don't tell anyone yet, but I was kind of thinking of a 4th year.  But I don't if that would be weird, considering I'm two years his senior.  His name is Nick."  She had seen the boy around and he seemed interesting, even if it was just for a single date.             

Teagan nodded her head as Josh talked about Shade.  "I wonder why he's like that.." she said.  "There must be some reason.  It's not normal."  Teagan completely understood Josh's feelings, especially since he couldn't relate as much as Teagan to the desire of protecting a sibling.  But Teagan did tend to get along better with Shade than Sky, despite his strange over-protectiveness.

"I know you wouldn't," Teagan answered with a warm smile, when Josh said he would never leave a friend in danger.  Josh was a loyal friend - as loyal as they come - and she knew she could count on him if anything ever happened.  "Oh!  I see," Teagan said.  "Well, you're a smart guy.  You'll be great!!" she exclaimed, smiling in encouragement.  "I'll be cheering you on, anyway," she said happily. 

"I honestly don't know if Migs is single or not.  I don't really keep track f the foreigners." Josh said, "I just have one piece of advice. Whoever you ask, do it in private. That way, if they do say no, you don't embarrass yourself, at least publicly." Josh said.

"I've a few friends amongst the 4th years, they're a decent bunch. As for if it would be weird, probably not unless one of you makes an issue out of the age gap. " Josh said, he wasn't too sure... asking someone from a lower year frequently said you were desperate.

"I'm not sure, but I think it's a case of protectiveness going over the line. Shade essentially seems to think he has to protect Sky from anything that could hurt her, including, it seems, herself. specifically, Sky isn't studious, so Shade thinks he has to force her to study. Honestly, I suspect Sky would learn more from more practical work, not studying books." Josh said in reply to Teagan's musing about Shade.

"Well.. on the other hand, if I do get shot down public, it'll give people something to talk about," she said, giggling.  Teagan guessed it would be kind of embarassing, but she would worry about that when the time came. 

"Hmm.  Well, we'll see.  I might ask Migs.  How often would I have a chance to date a foreigner, anyway?" she said, smiling. 

Teagan then rolled her eyes at Josh's comments on Shade.  "It's just ridiculous.  I really don't believe in forcing people to be anything they are not.  And.. Sky doesn't like studying.  And..I think that's okay."  She then nodded her head at Josh's suggestion that Sky learned better from practical work.  "I think you're right.  My friend Derry is like that too." 

Teagan stood up and started picking wildflowers on the grass beside Josh.  "So..what are your plans for the holidays?"   

"Would you want to be talked about as the girl who got shot down though?" Josh replied. "Not to mention trying to force somebody to be someone they are not just causes issues. Sky resents her brother trying to forceh er to study, for instance." Josh added.  "Probably stay at Hogwarts, to be honest. I miss Mum and Dad, but I kind of want to see if the other countries celebrate alongside us or celebrate on their own." Josh said. "What're your plans?"