Winter is Coming (Gage, James)

[Lily Evans]

There was a bitter chill in the air. Lily could tell that the first snow would be coming soon. Maybe even in time for the first challenge in the tournament. She shivered slightly and huddled into her cloak as she over her book. She knew she should probably be going inside where it was warm, but the little spot of sun that shone through the top of the courtyard was so pleasant, she just couldn't bring herself to go inside. Soon enough there'd be days when going outside would be impossible, even in the little courtyard. She didn't want to waste the last bit of autumn weather they had left.

Taking out her wand, she whispered a warming charm, to keep herself warm against the chilly wind. But as she did, the book slipped out of her other hand, which, she realized, was colder than she'd thought. Her fingertips were starting to feel numb, and she flexed them a few times before she bent down to pick up her book.

[Gage Oliver]

Gage was freezing. It was November, for goodness sakes, it shouldn't be THIS cold yet. Granted, Gage Oliver was a California boy, where the weather was always warm. Gage shivered and pulled his cloak tighter around him as he walked along in the little courtyard.

Up ahead, he saw someone walking just as he was. She had pulled out her wand, probably to perform a warming spell, and had then dropped her book. Gage walked ahead up to where the girl was standing and bent to get her book for her. When he looked up at the girl, he realized he knew her. "Oh, hello Lily," Gage said.

[Lily Evans]

Lily hadn't even noticed that anyone was there at first. She was about to pick up her book for herself when he appeared and bent down to get it for her. It had happened so quickly that she didn't even see who it was right away. So when he stood up again and said her name, she broke into a smile. She recognized him from several of her classes. "Hi... Gage, right?" she said. "Thanks for helping me... I guess I'm trying to balance too many things at once. I didn't realize it would be so cold out here today, you know?"

[Gage Oliver]

Gage nodded when Lily checked his name. "No problem," he said, handing Lily her book. A gust of wind blew and Gage shivered. "Yea, it's freezing. What are you doing out here, Lily?" Gage asked curiously.

[Lily Evans]

Lily laughed slightly. "Being an idiot, apparently," she said. "No... I like to get fresh air whenever I can. The castle is so damp and drafty sometimes, especially when it gets cold like this. So I like to come out here whenever possible, just to get some air, you know? It wouldn't have been so bad if I had thought to bring my cloak. What are you doing out here."

[Gage Oliver]

Gage had been by the lake when the snow began to fall. At first he was confused, seeing that this was his first snowfall. Then he was excited when he learned it was snowing. Then he got cold. "I was drawing the lake," Gage said, gesturing to his sketch book at his side. "The lake was just starting to freeze over, it looks really beautiful." Gage vaguely wondered if it would freeze enough to be able to skate on later in the winter.

[Lily Evans]

Lily smiled. "Really? I didn't know you could draw," she said. "I do love this time of year... I don't like being cold, but the ice and snow are always so pretty, especially when the sun is shining on them."

She shivered again. "Maybe we should head inside before we get sick, though. We could go sneak into the kitchens and see of the house elves will make us some hot cocoa."

Normally Lily wasn't the type to go sneaking around, but she had heard that a lot of students were able to go into the kitchens during off hours, and the house elves were always quick to offer them something to eat or drink. She'd overheard James talking about it once.

[Gage Oliver]

"This is actually the first year I've ever seen snow," Gage said in awe. The Claifornian town Gage had grown up in never had snow, it was always warm. "It was amazing watching the first snow fall," he smiled and shivered.

"Um, Yes, I agree, the Kitchen's do sound inviting, dont they?" Gage asked. He and Lily walked up to the doors to the castle and Gage opened them for Lily. "After you," he said politely, a smile across his face.

[Lily Evans]

"Really? You've never seen snow before?" Lily said, amazed. She had learned about weather patterns and climates briefly in muggle school, but it still seemed so strange to her that there were places where it never snowed. "Then I bet you don't even know how to make a decent snowball. I'll have to teach you sometime soon. Trust me, you're going to need it for self-defense around here. Not knowing how to make a snowball won't prevent you from being hit with one. And here, they use magic to be sure they don't miss!" She laughed.

As he opened the door for her, she smiled, even as she wondered silently to herself whether James would have held the door for her. "Thank you," she said. "Have you been to the kitchens before?"

[Gage Oliver]

Gage shivered at the thought of icy snowballs trickling down the back of his robes. He made a mental note to send a letter to his mother, asking for winter robes.

"I've been to the kitchens once or twice," Gage said. Though both times by accident, he added silently. "The house elves that work here are really nice, always offering food." He walked in after Lily and rubbed his numb hands together. "How about you?"

[Lily Evans]

Lily smiled. "I've been a couple of times, too. It's pretty nice down there, but it took me a while to figure out how to get in the first time. I mean, who thinks to tickle the pear on the portrait, you know? I guess maybe I still think like a muggle. Everything is still so new and different to me."

[Gage Oliver]

"Oh, you'll get used to it soon enough." Gage said with a smile. He was new as well, though it was different than Lily's situation. "I know moving from California to London isn't the same as changing from being muggle to being a witch, But if its any constallation, I'm having trouble getting used to Hogwarts as well." He thought to his dorm mates who constantly teased and mimicked his California-American accent. The two veered left, heading down a flight of stairs. "Sometimes, I forget I'm not home in California, and things will tend to slip out, like "dude" or "Hella" and people will just look at me as if i'm insane..."

[Lily Evans]

Lily grinned. "I think it's cool," she said. "It would be boring if we all talked the same way. It's not really that different from when I come home after being here a while, I'm always saying words that my family doesn't understand. My parents always laugh... but it bothers my sister, I think. I really wish she could have come here. We used to be so close, but since I got my letter and she didn't get one... we hardly seem to talk."

[Gage Oliver]

Gage smiled at the complement. "Thanks," he said. "It must be hard, not talking to your sister. I have three sisters and a brother, I write them almost everyday. I don't think I could handle it." He thought of what his life would be like if his relationship with his siblings, which was warm and comforting and fun, just suddenly turned like his relationship with his father, which was silent and distant. "I'm sure your sister will come around eventually Lily, just give her time."

[Lily Evans]

"Wow.. you have a big family!" Lily said with a laugh. "It seems like a lot of wizarding families are pretty large. As for me, it's just my sister and I. Petunia won't admit it, but I think she's jealous. But instead she calls me a freak. It's hard... I miss her, you know? But I think that's great that you write to your family all the time." They were getting close to the kitchens now; Lily could see the painting up ahead.

"Why did your family decide to move here from California? That's a pretty big move..."

[Gage Oliver]

"Yea, my family is huge and I'm right in the middle," Gage laughed, thinking of Lexi, Logan, Luka, and Lennie back home. "I actually don't know for sure why we moved. My dad needed to be here for something in the ministry, I'm not even sure what he does though. It's all very secretive. All I know is one day I came home and the house was all packed up and me and my family were moving to London."

[Lily Evans]

"That must have been weird," Lily said. "You didn't even get to say goodbye to your friends. Did you go to a magical school in America? I have to admit, I don't really know very much about America, or California. It sounds so very different from England." They had reached the kitchens by now, and Lily stepped forward to tickle the pear. "I hope this works!" she said. She'd heard James talking about how to get into the kitchens, but hadn't tried it herself.

[Gage Oliver]

"Well, I didn't really have many friends," Gage said. "And as for school, Logan and Lexi, my brother and sister, they went to Salem, the American school, didn't start until you turn 12, so this would have been my first year anyway," he shrugged. It wasn't really hard to catch up. "And California," Gage added. "Well, lets just say it was a lot warmer," Gage was still frozen from the chilly weather.

The painting of the fruit bowl swung open, revealing the door to the kitchens. "Oh that's how you do it!" Gage exclaimed. He looked at Lily sheepishly. "I always waited 'till one of the house elves exited," he smiled.

[Lily Evans]

Lily giggled. "Well, to be honest, I wasn't sure it would work. I've never tried it before tonight... I just overheard some boys talking about it. It's kind of cute, don't you think? More fun than having to remember a stupid password."

She looked around. The kitchens were even larger than she'd expected, with house elves running around, hard at work. One of them spotted the two children suddenly standing in their midst and came running over to them.

"Would the young miss and mister like something to eat or drink? Anything you like!"

"Well... some hot chocolate would be nice, if you don't mind, of course," Lily replied. "Gage, is there anything else you'd like?"

[Gage Oliver]

"Yea, some hot chocolate would be excelent, thank you," Gage said to the house elf. When the elf had scruuied off, Gage turned back to Lily.

"Yea, I'm not too good at remembering passwords," He agreed. "Tickling a pear sounds much easier to remember," he laughed.

The kitchens were a lot warmer than the courtyard, and Gage felt his numb fingers begin to regain feeling. He shivered as the last of the chill left his body. "It's barely winter and this is the weather?" he asked, refering to the cold. "I'm almost scared to see what it'll be like come Christmas."