Josh was, probably predictably, sitting by the lake. It was the Easter holiday, which meant Josh had a chance to relax. He had already done all the homework his teachers had set. Therefore, he was relaxing underneath his favourite tree. Unusually, however, he was in his animagus form. Now, this would be obvious to anybody with a brain, since cats, while among the more intelligent animals, generally do not read books. Yes, he had a book propped up in front of him. No, he wasn't studying- it was a fiction book.

It was the Easter holidays, her mother had wanted her to write at least, but Sky didn't want to write her mother - she left that task to her brother.  She slipped a light jacket[1] on and headed out of the castle.  It was nice outside and Sky hadn't felt like sitting in the confines of the castle.  Walking slowly down through the courtyard and across the grounds, she soon came to the edge of the lake.  She looked around and saw something under one of the many trees that surrounded the lake.

Sky walked closer, not wanting to scare off whatever it was, but as she got closer she realized it was a cat, reading a book.  She sat down in front of the cat and looked at it, "Well, what are you doing out here?" she asked the feline, she knew it wasn't an actual cat, but she felt like playing along.  She knew a couple people who were animagus' but she didn't know their forms, so she was just going to pretend like she was talking to a cat.

Feeling bold at the moment, she reached a hand out and gently scratched the cat behind one ear, "Who are you?  I know you aren't a normal feline as cats don't read books."

1.	http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=111873064

Josh hadn't noticed Sky approaching, so was startled when he felt someone scratching hm behind the ears. Then his feline instincts took over, and he started purring. Which was when Sky asked who he was. Getting up on his paws, he walked a short way away, since it wouldn't do to transform back while close to somebody. Then, Josh Transformed back. " It's me."

Sky leaned back on her hands and smiled as he reappeared, "Oh, hello Josh, how are you."  She didn't really know what else to say to him at the moment.  "You know your form is very adorable." she said and looked around their surroundings.   The weather wasn't that bad and there was a light breeze, "I didn't expect to find you outside, usually you are inside studying like my brother."

"I'm fine. you?" Josh replied to Sky's' question about how he was. "I'm done studying for a bit. It's not like I don't know the material, and I refused to make myself ill studying constantly. Besides, it's a nice day, and I'd rather not be cooped up inside on a  day like this. " Josh replied, looking out over the lake. " How is Shade recently, anyway? I see him in lessons, but we don't talk that much." Josh asked, curious.

Sky looked around for a bit and then replied, "Ah, he'd the same old brother, studying until his fingers bleed from papercuts and his eyes are bloodshot.  I honestly don't know how he could be inside on a day like this, it's far too nice to be inside.  Especially after all the horrible weather we've been having."

Of course, for Sky, horrible weather was any day that was cold or rainy, or anything that kept her from exploring outdoors.  "I think he needs a girlfriend, someone to drag him out of the library once in a while, teach him he can still have fun." 

" He's doing himself no favors, doing that. All he's achieving doing that is getting himself worked up." Josh commented. "I agree, even if he wanted to study, couldn't he study outdoors?" Josh added, wondering why Shade hadn't thought of it. It WAS a surprisingly nice day for April. " I dunno- would you like to be in a relationship with somebody who made you study more? It's more or less the same thing." Josh retorted. He doubted that Shade would put up with a girlfriend that tried to make him study less, any more than Sky would put up with a boyfriend that made her study more.

Sky looked at Josh, "I honestly think sometimes he enjoys getting worked up over nothing.  It's like it gives him an adrenaline rush to study really hard.  I know it sounds weird."  Shrugging her shoulders she continued, "And no, I would not like a boyfriend who tried to make me study more.  Suggestions would be alright, but downright forcing me to would be another issue altogether." she said with a smile.

"I don't think anyone in this school, save for a few Slytherins, have the guts to try and force me to do anything." She finally said, crossing her legs indian-style and staring up into the branches of the tree, "No one here has actually seen every spell I know, and I really don't think anyone wants to know."

"It's possible, I suppose... I can't see it myself, but it takes all kinds." Josh said. " Which is my point, you wouldn't put up with it. Shade, equally, would be unlikely to put up with a girlfriend that kept trying to get him to stop studying, I reckon. I'm pretty sure he only tolerates you doing it because you're his sister." Josh replied.

" Sky, I highly doubt you know spells worse than some of the ones I do. I very much doubt you want to know, either." His voice held an unusual note of warning.

"You are probably right about my brother," Sky began, she knew she pushed Shade to have fun, but it was like he didn't know how or simply didn't want to.  "He just needs to have more fun." She dropped the subject of her brother and moved on to what Josh had just said, "Josh, I may not know spells worse than yours, but I do know some pretty nasty pranking spells, ones that don't wear off." She narrowed her eyes, "I can do damage if I want to."

In truth it was a complete lie, Sky may have caused some damage with pranks but it was mostly to surroundings or inanimate objects, never to anything living.  She couldn't bring herself to do it, even though it would of made a prank more interesting. Other than the occasional changing of the sound of someone's voice, the 'redecoration' of all of their belongings, or turning them a color they despised, Sky rarely played a prank that would cause intentional harm to anyone.

Josh snorted. " I don't doubt- and if you didn't invent them yourself, the chances are surprisingly high they were invented by one of my ancestors. If not necessarily for pranking. But you might be able to damage, but I can probably do more. Not that I  expect it'll ever matter- we're more likely to be fighting side-by-side than agianst each other." Johs said, knowing that, ultimately, they were friends. even if her last prnak on him had irritated him slightly.[1]

1.	I hope you don't mind, but I figured Sky would have pranked Josh a few times. If not let me know and I'll change it

She could feel it, the temper her mother had grounded her for on several occasions was about to pop up, and since Josh was her friend, she felt it best to spare him the most of it, so she stood up and said in a eerily quiet voice - at least for her -  and said, "No, I didn't invent most of the spells I know how to use, and I don't bloody care who did, but if I was angry enough..." she let the thought trail off and turned away from Josh to look at the lake.  She didn't want to lose her temper in front of her friends, mostly saving those times for people she didn't like.

Josh recognized the warning signs. "I wasn't saying it mattered- just that my ancestors probably invented the spells you know. Specifically, there are a lot of spells my family invented that they have kept secret, that's all. It wasn't meant to be an insult." Josh said, hoping to calm Sky down. They really didn't need an argument out here, and t hadn't meant to be an insult.

Surprisingly Sky calmed down rather quickly, for some reason Josh had that effect on her sometimes... it was spooky.  The only other person who could calm her down fast was her twin brother.  "I know you weren't trying to insult me Josh, you know how things go with me, I bristle up with any confrontation."  She turned back to face him, "I do know quite a bit though." she told him as if stating the fact to herself rather than to him.

Josh didn't comment on Sky admitting she was quick to anger. Partly because he figured it would only get her angry again. " I know you do- I'm just saying that my ancestors have always been inventive, both in inventing new spells, and finding unusual applications of existing spells. That, and the majority of the spells the Harcroft family invented are too dangerous to reveal to the public." Josh said, hoping Sky wouldn't get angry again.