outfit
4:30 pm

The days were becoming shorter, and colder as winter began to take its toll on Hogwarts. This would be felt by the students up until the Christmas holidays arrive. After that point, most students would be off celebrating the holidays, rather than complaining on how cold it was during this time of the year. Despite how cold it actually got, the students of Hogwarts still managed to have fun outside.

So, with a backdrop of light snow falling, Megan exited the castle, and followed the pathway that led to the entrance courtyard. The soft crunch of snow beneath her boots was the only audible sound that she could hear. While winters at Hogwarts could be harsh at times, it wasn't that bad yet since it was only just the beginning of winter knocking at their doorsteps. However, the fifth year had her OWL exams later in the year, and knew that she would be taking up most of her time studying by that point. So, she should cherish every opportunity that she had to just lounge around, and do what she wanted.

Besides, Megan already finished her homework that she received from her Professors, and she got no other really hard assignments from History of Magic. So, it wasn't as if she had really anything else better to do. Well, she could probably think of other things to do, but they weren't really needed at that time. That was why she decided to venture out of the castle, and into the snow-covered grounds. But, she didn't travel too far onto the grounds. Rather, she stayed in the entrance courtyard.

After entering the courtyard, Meg looked around at everything covered with the pure snow. It was always a peaceful environment, and it allowed her time to reflect on her own life. For that matter, it was simply beautiful. If it wasn't snowing, she might have even brought her sketchpad out with her. But, she didn't want to destroy her artwork in the snow. Taking one of her gloved hands, she wiped off some of the snow off of a bench. She sat down, and stared up into the sky and the snow falling on her face. It was simply magical. She let her mind drift off to what exactly she wanted to do upon graduation from Hogwarts.

An Irish brogue was lightly laced into the young man's voice who called forth to Megan from behind.

"Now that's the face of a girl duckin' 'er studies!"

Chance Ryker cast a sideways smirk as he clutched a snow covered branch up above his head.  He shook the branch a bit, letting some snow trickle down as he leaned his head out of the descent path.  Chance was wearing a black hoodie with a few white, gray, and red X's and stars spread about it.  A thin, black, leather jacket was over the hoodie.  He was wearing a pair of gray, denim jeans which were cut and worn a bit, along with a pair of tall, black, leather boots.

"How's it goin' Meggarooni?"

Chance may have not known Megan well, but it didn't take much for him to be outgoing and friendly to someone else.

Megan's mind continued to swirl around in her own thoughts as she sat there on the bench. She probably should have been concentrating on the Qudditch match that was coming up in a few days, or even the midterms before the break. Either rate, she really should have been doing work. Yet, why would you always expect every Ravenclaw to be working constantly? Ravenclaw housed slackers...just not permanent ones.

When she heard a voice from behind her, Meg quickly turned around and stopped her train of thought. "That makes two of us slacking then," she grinned. While she didn't know Chance well, she saw him around the castle every now and then. But, it was only a matter of time before their outgoing personalities came together.

"Every thing's fine with me, just a lot on my plate for now," Meg chuckled, "Hopefully nothing else pops up. How have you been?" she asked him back. While she had her own priorities to work on, she knew that it never hurt to slack off a little. She had no problem staying up in her dorm, studying or reading. But, she liked to have fun every now and then too.

When it came to slacking...Chance Ryker was close to holding the Gryffindor title.  He had a great deal of potential, but hated studying overall.  Chance only forced himself to do the bare minimum scholastically, despite his potential to become a great wizard one day.  The 17 year old Irishman could teach Megan a thing or three about slacking full time!

"And here I thought I was all off in m'own lit'l world slackin' all by m'lonesome!"

Yikes!  The Irish accent came off quite clearly through that sentence.  At least he managed not to call her "lass." 

"Seriously...slackin's good fer ya.  People're stressin' out here somethin' awful.  Gonna be a buncha 30 year olds with heart murmurs or strokin' out."

Chance wandered closer to the bench Megan was seated on and hopped up to it, his boots munching the snow as he balanced and peered down at her, then allowed his unnaturally green eyes to wander the white surroundings.

"Sometimes ya just haveta slide things off yer plate t'keep yer sanity, I think."

Ryker paused and bobbed his head from side to side, as if mulling over her question.

"Fair enough.  An' yerself?"

While she would love to prove otherwise, slacking wasn't something Megan knew how to do too well. It wasn't even the fact that she was a Ravenclaw that contradicted any definition that she tried to declare herself as a slacker. Mainly, it was the fact that nearly all of her free time, she was doing something, or thinking something that would eventually help her in one of her many things that she had to do. It was very rare that she did something that had absolutely nothing to do with anything that she had to complete.

When at the Qudditch pitch, Megan was either flying or practicing Qudditch, which would help during the matches for the year. She liked to draw and doodle, which helped with her artwork, and even possibly the art club. When she read, it was usually a book dealing with one of her classes, Qudditch, or maybe even art. Even her reading, including those muggle books (those could help with the muggle appreciation club), didn't stray too much from these activities! Heck, even while she was sitting there undisturbed a few moments ago, she was thinking about what to do when she graduated school.

Yes, clearly slacking didn't come easy to Megan. She looked over at Chance, and shrugged, "slacking is always more fun with others." There were other students in her house that slack off a little too, and it seemed easier for her to slack off when she was with them. Well, at least her version of slacking off, which was still doing work in a different fashion. "Doing no work isn't too good either," she teased jokingly. She noticed that he jumped on the bench, and she moved over more on the side that she was on to allow for more room. "Putting more on my plate's easier than taking them off. I've been good," she responded.

If the eyes were truly the window to a person's innermost thoughts, Megan's never stopped.  As Chance peered down at her, it seemed her mind was always racing.  This actually made Chance's lips take on a slightly downward slant.  He then lifted the corner of his mouth somewhat with his next statement.

"Y'don't get much downtime...do ya, Megs?"

However...he did agree with her statement.  While Chance enjoyed a little alone time every now and then, he knew that too much was simply overwhelming. 

"True true.  Well...if y'need a slackin' partner-I'm available fer slackin'.  Though...I think y'might need a lit'l trainin' in that department, honestly."

Chance couldn't help but smirk down at Megan now.  However...when Megan stated  "Doing no work isn't too good either" Chance was actually given pause.  It wasn't a statement aimed in a corrective fashion at him, so it didn't outright offend him...yet it did make him stop and think.

"Well I'm glad yer good...but personally, I think y'need t'go on a...stress diet!"

He grinned, but hoped she took his jest in the playful nature it was intended.

"C'mon seriously!  Whadda ya wanna do...that y'never have time fer...cuz yer always so ruddy busy?"

While Megan would barely slack off while at Hogwarts, it would be a complete surprise to note that she could slack off while living as a muggle. There was a lot of distractions to keep her from doing her work. There were distractions at Hogwarts, but it clearly didn't help her fit in if she was unable to perform, or know, the simplest pieces of information or spells. Her artwork could help her slack off at Hogwarts, but that mainly depended on what she chose to actually draw.

Tilting her head slightly, Megan looked up at Chance. "No, not too much," she confessed. Maybe it was the stigma of being a Ravenclaw, but she didn't find herself to be in too many situations where she actually had any downtime. School work, Qudditch, and the various clubs that she was involved in could take up a good portion of her time. While this was a variety of activities to partake in, it didn't really give her that much time to actually goof off with.

Megan couldn't help, but chuckle a little at Chance's offer. Even she knew that she needed help with that, although she probably wouldn't admit that to him. "Thanks for the offer. It's harder to get off stress," she responded with a nod. Chance didn't strike her as the person who would get stressed nearly as easily as she was. So, he probably didn't know how hard it was to get rid of the stress, yet it was completely easy to gain stress.

At Chance's question, Meg shrugged. "I dunno." She tried to think for a few seconds, but didn't really come up with anything. "Well, Mr. Slacking King, what would you suggest?" she questioned playfully.

It would have been more than simply surprising to witness Megan slacking off in the Muggle world; it would have been shocking!  Chance Ryker on the other hand, lived quite consistently.  When he was at home, he was being scolded and lectured by his mother and when he was at Hogwart's he was being lectured and scolded by his professors.

"That's a shame."

Chance shook his head and watched her.  Mercy her thoughts were constantly running, just as her life itself was! 

"I know yer goin' places in yer life Megs...but ya don't have t'get there all at once.  Slow it down a lit'l...stop an' smell th' roses...if ya can find any underneath the snow?"

Chance began to glance around, realizing that the metaphor wasn't exactly in season at the moment.

"I'd suggest a healthy dose o' winter fun!  Snow angels, snowball fights, hot cups o' cocoa in front uvva fireplace...all that good stuff!  But what izzit y'enjoy Ms.Megs?  Let's hear it...an' then let's quit talkin' about slackin' an' do it!"

Ever since she learned that she was a witch and that she was going to Hogwarts, Megan had been spending a lot less time with her family. With the Hogwarts school calender, and whatever else she was doing, she wasn't necessarily home during the school year, until it came time for one of the breaks during the year. Now in her fifth year, she would have to concentrate more on studying, that didn't mean that she would have to study all the time. Besides, since she was with her family, she would have to spend time with them.

As an overly worked, and stressed, Ravenclaw, Megan knew that it probably wasn't in her own best interest to be a constantly working zombie. Yet, that was how she appeared, although she wasn't working while she was asleep yet.

"When everything's moving all at once, it's kind of hard to do. When you find something that you like, wouldn't you want to pursue it?" She shrugged at his comment about roses. "I'm sure there is a way to find some," she responded with a laugh.

After hearing what Chance said, Megan moaned playfully, "Aw, but  talking's fun!" She couldn't help but laugh at her own stupidity. "Well, Mr. king, let's get at that list then."

((ooc: I apologize for the long wait, my muse left me for a while))

It was easy for Chance to recognize Megan's time was certainly occupied and her schedule was overflowing.  While Chance was beginning to get more active and involved just in life in general and at school functions and such...Megan seemed addicted to piling on too much!

"Sure, sure...but 'ow can ya really pursue somethin' if ya got twelve other things tyin' ya down an' keepin' ya from gettin' 'round to it?"

He grinned and nodded his affirmation.  At least Megan seemed to be giving in now.

"Firstly, Hail t'th' King, baby!  An' secondly...let's get a ruddy move on, lass!"

The Irishman grasped Megan's hand and started encouraging her to dash from the bench at his side.

"Time t'slide!"

How would the slippery surface of ice treat these two runners?

Megan did enjoy some of the activities that she tended to slave over while at Hogwarts. That could be considered taking those activities too far, but where was the fun with just doing basic things with what she liked? Besides, the fact that midterms were coming up soon, nearly everyone at school would need to do well on them in order to be able to do well in their own classes. While it didn't surprise her that Chance slacked off, he had to at least study for some of his classes, especially since it was his choosing of what to continue.

Hearing Chance's question, Megan simply shrugged. "Why stop at one thing, when you could pursue more?" she retorted with a grin. How Ravenclawish of a statement to come out of her mouth!

After a while of the two of them talking, they seemed to finally start slacking off. Well, it wasn't really slacking off, but having a good time. At least, until grades start knocking on their doorsteps. She laughed at what Chance said to her. "I already praised your kingliness, your majesty," she bowed to him, unable to suppress her laughter.

Megan was slightly surprised when he suggested that they start sliding around on the ice. With a shrug, she ran, and immediately started to slide on the ice. Wobbling a bit, she tried to keep herself upright on the ice. She had no idea how long that would last as she glided over the ground.

Chance tried enjoyed himself...even when being forced to do something that wasn't considered fun.  The Irish Gryffindor tried to enforce a positive outlook whenever he found it possible.  It seemed like perhaps Megan really did enjoy her life, even as busy as it was.  Chance wasn't certain if this was genuine or if she was simply trying to convince herself.

"Gotta make sure ya don't bite off more than y'can chew!"

Chance grinned at her demeanor.  It was good to see her smiling at least.  When she was laughing, it was all the better.  Chance chuckled at her praise and shook his head.  He made sure to steady Megan as they slid about, grasping her at the elbow or forearm.

"Attagirl!  'at's th' spirit!"

Enjoyment could be felt, even from the most simplest things, or the most complex. Megan did manage to feel enjoyment out of some things, mainly Qudditch and the art club. While they were both part of her hectic lifestyle, that didn't mean that she was about to drop them to try to get herself less busy. For that matter, she never believed to drop any of her activities to make herself less busy. Whether or not that was a problem didn't really matter much to her. As long as she enjoyed the activities, she was less likely to drop them. Now, if they began to feel like a chore, she would then consider dropping it. But, she definitely didn't feel that way, at least not yet anyway.

With Chance's response, Megan tilted her head. "But you wouldn't have taken a bite in the first place if you didn't think you could chew," she responded with a grin at her typical Ravenclaw response. She could think of reasons to justify what she did, whether or not it flows logically.

While the two of them slid on the ice, Megan laughed. She didn't mind being assisted as they slid on the grounds. Heck, it was definitely better than falling on her arse.

Chance was glad that Megan was seizing life, while not letting it run her *too* ragged.  As the Irishman considered their conversation, he was realizing that perhaps the ideal lifestyle lay somewhere between his own and Megan's.  Not too lazy and laid back, but not too regimented and packed either.  Still...it would take getting used to and was certainly a process to change the way one normally conducted his one's entire life!

"So how're yer teeth farin' on what ya've bitten off, lass?"

Chance grinned at her.  She was very quick with an answer and a defense at all times.  Very Ravenclaw!  As the two slid, he was glad to hear her laugh.  Maybe she wasn't too swamped with work and responsibilities to kick back and have good, clean, silly fun!

"So what else is on yer list o' things ya never do, but wish ya had time t'do?"

Being busy always had a strange effect on her. When actually studying for exams, Megan found herself not staying up too late at night to study. While she would study a lot, she believed in getting a good night's rest, and wouldn't sacrifice it. Even her club activities didn't force her up too late. Most of those would be planned out during the day, or even during one of her classes if she was bored enough, especially in Astronomy. Qudditch was an entirely different story, as it usually made her tired at night, and lively during the day. So, she might seem busy during the day, but she wasn't some busy Ravenclaw that stayed up at all times of the night.

Megan couldn't help but grin at his response to her. He still seemed to question her ability to do her activities. "I'm here right now, and still intact, so I think that answers your question," she responded jokingly. While that wasn't an answer, it got her out of the question from the time being. Yet, at the same time, it opened it up to interpretation what she actually meant. Just like her artwork, her voice could have hidden meanings too.

Tilting her head to the side, Megan tried to think of anything that she wanted to do but never was able to do. There were naturally things that she wanted to do. After glancing at some trees, she looked back over at Chance. "How about tree climbing?" she asked.