"Handling it," the fingers holding onto the paper clenched, crumbling the edges.  "That's all you got to say for yourself," the incredulous eighteen year old asked of no one.  Emily Flickwick should have known better then to try and read the Daily Prophet, but she couldn't very well stick her head in the sand.  Pretending it never happened was not going to make it change or make it feel any better.  After all, Emily never been the overly sensitive sort to begin with, why start now in the face of this tragedy?  The fact of the matter was that Ramona Flickwick was dead and even five days after the fact, the ministry could say nothing on the subject besides the horrible aftermath of something that gone terribly wrong, but not what.

It bothered the Ravenclaw to no end.  The fact that there was a puzzle to solve and no means to piece it together did not sit well.  Not without some sort of indication as to what caused these day time attacks.  Since it happened, it needed to make sense, otherwise it been a needless sacrifice.  Bold thoughts for someone still reeling in the wake of it herself.  It was all well and good to know there should be reason and logic behind an event, it was an entirely different one to deal with the consequences of it all.  The memorial only just happened, the migraine dulled, but not dissipated.  Condolences and kind words didn't bring solace as much as they served as reminders to what been lost.

Which might be why Emily came outside to read the news. There'd been whispers, and side glances in her direction and the very last thing she wanted was someone hugging her while she tried to contain any reaction it might provoke.  Annoyance?  Bitterness?  Maybe a touch of sadness to stir it all together? Her classes were over for the day, but she'd already decided trying to  get any studying done would be next to impossible inside.  Out here she could at least think and muse without being judged or pitied.   She plucked off her readers and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Improving weather meant Dax was spending considerably more time outdoors - NEWTs or not, he needed the sun and freedom. It helped him think, even if it made homework a tad hectic when he spent all day screwing around on the grounds.

He'd gone for a short stroll - still in uniform, he'd taken to casually power walking. Had he not still been carrying his bags from his previous class, he might have started jogging.

He spotted Emily out of the corner of his eye, and wandered over; hands stuffed in his pockets, walking with a familiar slouch to his step.  He looked over her shoulder - she had a Daily Prophet open. He stood looking over her shoulder for a few moments, quickly reading the headlines and part of the articles.

"Still haven't found anything, have they?" he asked, sighing.

Footsteps approached, but Emily didn't bother to stop her useless mental battle with the distant pressure mounting behind her eyes.  No, whoever it was could wait, or preferably, leave her alone entirely.  Especially if they were going to offer something in the way of kindness or condolence.  Delicate fingers ran practiced circles on the bridge of her nose.  She'd only just recovered from the last migraine, she didn't care for another so quickly. It wasn't until a familiar voice spoke behind her, did she drop her hand from her face. 

"Nothing," the word coming out in huff.  "Even if they had something they probably wouldn't report it," that bit of assumed logic didn't do much to soothe the mass of confusing emotions bubbling just beneath the surface.  She turned to face Dax, a lock of hair defiantly falling from it's place in her ponytail.  If he hadn't spoken, it have taken her a second to remember which was which.  They weren't completely identical, but since she wasn't particularly close to one or the other, knowing the differences hadn't become a priority.

"I'm..." lost, upset, angry, insecure, how did she end that sentence? "Sorry for snapping," she ended weakly.  She'd been doing a lot of apologizing over the past week.  "Here," she offered the crumpled paper to him, tucking her readers in her bag. "I'm done with it if you want it."

"Well, yeah, unless they know it's the actual cause reporting totally false information right now would be kind of dumb," Dax said, taking the paper as she handed it over. He crouched down, the knuckles of one hand pressed to the soil to balance himself as he scanned the crumpled paper. Admittedly, he doubted they really had any idea yet anyhow - all the 'direwolves' had gotten away, so how could they tell?

"S'okay, understandable. Thanks, I'll read it later," he said, speed-reading the front page before folding it up and sticking the paper into his schoolbag. "Surprised that's all you did, to be hones," he added, tilting his head to the side.

"How're the others? Haven't seen Sophie in a bit."

Sophie felt stifled being in the castle. Everyone had something "comforting" to say. She was still counting days; thinking of life in before and after moments. Ruby was a lost cause - no where to be found; but if Sophie knew her second oldest sister (and strangely enough she did) Emily would be in the gardens. Since their visit home...Sophie had been trying to forge a stronger connection to Em. It was hard because they were such vastly different people - but for all the years everyone thought Sophie wasn't paying attention; she was actually absorbing information from afar. Which was exactly why she was carrying a rather large tea cup in an enchanted cup. Maybe they could hide out alone together.

Of course when she found her sister she also found a familiar head of blonde spiky hair. She was almost disappointed. She had wanted a little time with her sister to herself. Such was the law of the land she supposed - though she did find it curious it was Dax and not Dion. Dax might have been the more emotional of the two but Dion seemed to have an innate understanding of the power of listening. Sure he was a hard ass but somehow Sophie thought there was far more to the story. Dax was more like her; loud and brash. She wondered what sort of comfort he thought he might offer. Overhearing the last snippet of conversation she decided to step in before Emily clawed his eyeballs out. It was a bit of a tactless comment, that bit about reporting false information.

The girls were just looking for answers - any kind of answers, her voice was slightly terse when she stepped into view, "Reporting to the public maybe; but the Ministry is being just as tight lipped with the surviving families," offering her older sister a smile, Sophie leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, handing over the cup; "I thought your headaches might be acting up again. It's just the way you like it; a dab of honey like mum. Honestly you can't even drink tea like a Brit," her voice was teasing as she carefully lowered herself to the ground, close to her sister, trying to decide if she was alright before turning her brown eyes on Dax, "The memorial was yesterday. We only got back this morning. Where did you think you'd be seeing me"?