Scarlett sat upon a checkered tablecloth filched from Madam Padfoots’ spread under the shade of the beech tree down by the lake. The leaves of the tree blocked the sun’s hot glare, but it did nothing to block the humidity. Scarlett fanned herself with a page of notes she had taken from the two open books in front of her. One was the beautifully illustrated “Be-Witching Fashion through the Ages” and the other was a copy of “Hogwarts; A History.” She was early for a picnic she had planned with Michael and she brought out the books that lately accompanied her everywhere to peruse them while she waited.

Scarlett was looking from information on a pair of lovers that she had run into on a dark and stormy knight a few months past. She and Dream followed a ghostly knight that seemed to crackle with all the energy of the storm into the forbidden forest. Then a ghostly maiden had appeared to them. Suddenly the shade of a dark mage attacked them. Confusion ensued and the knight ended up killing the maiden and the mage. This peculiar turn of events had haunted Scarlett ever since and she had been combing the library for any information on the ghostly trio that she could find.

Remy was walking along the grounds with no destination in mind when he spotted the lake off in the distance. He looked up at the hot sun and knew a quick jump and swim in the lake would be just the right thing today. He began running towards the lake and spotted scarlett near a tree and went up to her side. "hey scar, watcha doing" he said as he flipped his hair.

“Hm? Oh hi Remy. I’m reading and waitin’ for Michael. Hey do you remember those ghosts we met up with durin’ that storm a couple months back? I just can’t stop thinkin’ about how sad their situation seemed. I’ve been tryin’ to find out who they were when they were alive.” Scarlett hesitated a moment because she was unsure whether to share how she was doing her research. She was afraid that Remy might laugh. But she remembered how he’d been the only one to think her ANWA power was cool. She turned “Be-Witching” around so Remy could see the pictures clearly. “I have marked three dresses that look like the one the Maiden’s ghost was wearin’ to try to figure out what time she lived. Also I have been lookin’ in ‘Hogwarts; A History’ for a dark mage and a pair of ill fated lovers. You’d be surprised to find how often that crops up.”

Michael had been detained in charms class as he had much to discuss with the professor about his recent findings and thoughts on how to simplify some of the complex spells. He was running late so he rushed down to the lake to meet Scarlett. He arrived shortly and saw Scarlett there with Remy.

"Sorry I'm late love, was detained in charms class", he said to her with a small grin sitting next to her, he then looked over to Remy. "Hey there Remy, nice to see you again".

Dream poked her head up through the water and took a deep breath. She'd almost run out of time underwater from staying too late in her visit. Her eyes squinted a little as they tried to adjust to the brightness of the sun again so she lifted her hand up over her eyes to block out some of the light. She looked towards shore and realized that she's forgotten to bring her towel. She gave a tiny growl of frustration and started swimming back to shore. That's when she saw Remy standing over by a tree. She grinned mischeviously and swam towards him. She ran out of the water and tackled him, using his warmth to dry off her soaking wet body. "Hi baby! You looked hot so I figured I'd cool you off." she said with an evil giggle. then she realized that there were two other people with him and her cheeks flushed. "Oh hi." she said, forcing herself to make eye contact and stop blushing like an idiot.

Scarlett had just finished explaining her theory to Remy when Michael came up. "Oh honey you're not that late," she assured him with a smile. "I came out early to read in peace. My dorm room is a mad house these days."

Suddenly she was sprayed as reddish/tannish blur hit Remy from behind. Scarlett instinctively moved so that the books wouldn't get wet. She didn't even here what Dream said to her husband, but it must have been good because Dream was blushing to beat the band.

"Good thing I packed a lot of food," Scarlett said patting the blanket to invite Remy and Dream to sit down. It never even occured to her to ask Michael how he felt about expanding thier date into a double. Scarlett knew that he didn't like crowds, but she didn't realize that they might have a different definition of crowd.

Remy watched the pictures scar was showing him and smiled politely but just before he could reply he saw another student walk up and greet him "Hey, michael right?" remy said as he held out his hand. He froze up as he felt someone hug him and felt himself soaking wet then smiled as he saw it was dream.

Dream saw Remy smile down at her and instantly felt better. Then she heard Scarlett saying that she had food and inviting them to sit with her. She grinned at Michael cheerfully and said "Sorry about crashing the date but if she's got food then I'm sticking around!" She was hoping that she might get lucky and find some fresh cinnamon rolls but she didnt hold her breath. "Gimme just a sec guys." she said as she pointed her wand towards the castle. In a moment a large bundle flew up to Dream and she walked over to a small group of bushes that were almost as tall as her. She stepped into the small circle in the middle of them and then draped Remy's invisibility cloak over the top of them, completely disappearing from sight. After a few minutes passed she emerged completely dried off and dressed in a long brown skirt that stopped just above her barefeet, and a black Pink Floyd tank top. She sent back the bundle to the castle, keeping the invisibilty cloak with her and she walked back over to the others, twisting her long red hair up into a ponytail. She plopped herself down next to Scarlett and said "Sorry to rain on your parade, O'Hara."

"Well you alway did know how to make an intrance," Scarlett said, laughter playing in her voice. "And since you didn't get the books wet you are forgiven."

While Dream had been changing Scarlett had laid out the food. Fried chicken, bar-b-qued pork, potatoe salad, cold slaw, and fried ocra. There was also apple and cherry pie for dessert. And in the center of it all Scarlett set a loaf of Alfie's cinnamon raisen bread.

Michael looked at Dream and Remy and grinned.

"I'm happy you could join us", Michael said. He generally didn't like crowds and was used to being alone but for some reason Scarlett made everything more simple, her sole presence made him feel more comfortable.

Michael then looked at all the food and smiled.

"That definitely looks delicious", Michael said.

"Well don't just sit there lookin' at it Darlin'. The plates are here," Scarlett said as she handed Michael a plate her eyes twinkled in high humor. "And here's yours Remy," Scarlett handed Remy his plate. "And here's yours Dream. I know the rule is generally ladies first, but I don't have to stand on ceremony when there's hungry men about." Scarlett smiled at Remy, remembering the picnic nearly turned eating contest that they had once shared. Before picking up her own plate Scarlett marked the pages in her books and put them carfully out of spilling range of food or the lemonaid and iced tea that she put out as well.

Remy looked at michael and smiled "your glad we could join you? im glad i could join you" he laughed a bit. Trying to keep his mouth from watering was very hard for remy to do but somehow he managed to do so and his eyes lit up when scarlett handed him a plate. He sat down but instead of gobbling his food down like he normally did in the great hall he waited.

Dream smiled at the spread of food that Scarlett was offering. There were no cinnamon rolls but she saw some of Alfie's raisen bread which was definitely the next best thing. She wasn't a fan of ocra at all so she avoided it like the plague, helping herself to the rest of the food and filling up her plate. Then she waited for Scarlett and Michael to fill up their own plates before starting to eat her own. She noticed that Scarlett was still messing around with a book that she had and she found herself really curious about it. "What's with the book Scar? Is it made out of gold?" she asked jokingly because of how carefully Scarlett was treating it.

Scarlett had taken a bit of everything and had begun to eat when she heard Dream’s question about book. She chewed her chicken and said, “I think the one about fashion through the ages has some gold leafing in the illustrations, but that is not what makes them valuable. Do you remember those ghosts we met in the Forbidden Forest that stormy night that I almost got hit by lightening? I have been tryin’ to figure out who they were. Did you know that Hogwarts was originally built as a castle to defend a boarder between two rival Wizarding factions in the Middle Ages?”

Remy looked at scarlett and just smiled "are you for reals that there book is all about fashion and stuff" he gasped. He grabbed a piece of potato salad and ate it happily. He loved potato salad and the okra's were just hte right size to make him think they were chicken nuggets.

"Well of course there is a whole book about fashion. It's a good thing fashions haven't always changed as quickly as they do now, otherwise I wouldn't even be able to lift a book called fashion through the ages." Scarlett was just finishing her little bit of everything saving room for what she still had hidden in the basket.

Michael took his plate and helped himself to some of the chicken and the salad. He was really enjoying the food. He then looked at Scarlett and her fashion book.

"I might have to read that to see what I can give you as a present. Don't wanna be giving you something out of season", Michael said.

Dream listened in amusement to Remy and Michael's reactions to the book on fashion. Guys and fashion were always a great source of amusement for most girls. She stayed silent as she munched on some of Alfie's raisen bread. She was much more curious about what Scarlett had found on the ghosts, but she didn't want to interupt when Michael and Remy might actually learn something important. :P

If Michael was making fun of her Scarlett didn't notice, which was probably best for all those involved. "Sadly it doesn't update itself. It stops about mid 1960's. I believe one of the last entries has to do with how it was quite in fashion to wear a nearly obscene amount of diamonds. I would would be happy to find the page for you." Scarlett face was perfectly straight though her eyes glittered like the jewels she had mentioned.

Michael then grinned at Scarlett.

"No diamond could possibly be more beautiful than you", Michael said to Scarlett. "Although if you want to wear an obscene amount of diamonds then I better start saving".

Michael's accounts were not empty, infact all the time he spent away from hogwarts usually turned a lot of profit. Besides, to him Scarlett meant more than anything in the world.

Remy leaned closer to michael and whispered "hey micheal why dont you just get her some cubik zirconia diamonds, just look at her clothes - she obviously dont know what good stuff looks like anyways" he said teasingly. He quickly looked away to hide his face from scarlett so she wouldn't see that he had been joking.

Scarlett smiled at Michael's comment about saving. She was going to reach out and pat his hand, but she was stopped in mid reach by the unbelieveably tender expression in Michael's eyes.

The moment was broken by Remy's whisper. Scarlett narrowed her eyes at him. She had about had it with his commentary on her wardrobe. "Remy you are takin' far too much notice of my attire for a married gentleman." Scarlett thought that should do the trick.

Remy looked at scarlett in confusion for a second "attire? he thought to himself wondering where she saw a tire?? the only tire he could see at the moment was the one around her stomach but he was certain that was not what she had meant. "umm one moment please" he said as he scrambled behind a tree and took out a dictionary to look up what attire meant. After reading what it meant he understood hte whole sentence and came back from behind the tree "so i notice your attire and im a bad person? but who was the one who not only bid on me but had to borrow money to win me for a day" he smirked then looked at michael "you dodged a bullet that night" he whispered to him.

Scarlett laughed at Remy's puzzlement. It didn't really matter to her whether he knew what the word meant because Scarlett knew that Dream knew what it meant and she had been the person the comment at. Scarlett's face fell a bit when she saw that Remy was the oppertunity to educate himself.

By his speech when he immurged from behind his makeshift classroom Remy was looking to turn the tables on her. Scarlett, calmly armed with her best manners favored him with a cold little smile, "Since your wife was both auctioneer and money lender, I think it safe to say that there was nothin' inappropriate about that date. Michael knows that sometimes I get caught up in a compettion and do silly things, like bidding on you."

Scarlett was not about to tell Remy that it had really been a bit of conspiracy between herself and Dream to keep him safe from one him more ardent admirers. Scarlett was quite sensitive about her pride and she wouldn't want to hurt Remy's, well not too much anyway.

Michael smiled at Scarlett for her comment on the bid.

"I don't know all the details of that but I trust Scarlett wouldn't do anything inapropriate", Michael said.

He then took a zip of his drink and placed the glass beside him.

"So then tell me what about these ghosts and stuff that you were talking about?", Michael asked, he found it interesting.

Scarlett was very relieved when Michael changed the subject. Trust was such a wonderful thing. She had nothing to be ashamed about from her date with Remy, but she still didn’t like to think about what had happened after that date. Carefully avoiding Dreams eyes Scarlett retrieved her books and began to explain the ghostly adventure to Michael. “Well you see,” Scarlett said opening the book on Witching fashion to a page she had marked, “the ghost of the maiden was wearing a dress very similar to this one.” Scarlett pointed out a lovely spring green frock with an empire waist and big fluffy sleeves that appeared to tie onto the gown. “Hers was a silvery white color though all of the ghosts and the things they were wearing were a silvery white color, except for the robes the dark mage wore. They were black. Anyway if you match the dates when this type of dress was fashionable to Hogwarts, A History, it was back when the castle was really for defense not a school. Apparently at the time there were two factions trying to get control of the Wizarding World. It was before Wizards had with drawn from muggles and muggles were actually used as foot soldiers in Wizard struggles.”

Michael looked at all the pictures that Scarlett showed him but he was still puzzled as to when all this had actually happened.

"And you found these ghosts where? When?", Michael asked her. He was intrigued about this, it was so amazing how much stuff you could run into in the forbidden forest.

"Well it was a dark and stormy night..." Scarlett launched into the tail of how a couple of months ago she and Dream had been out at the lake. They had seen some strange lights that looked like lightening on the loose, so they had followed. the streak of light seemed to the ghost of a knight. A ghost maiden had appeared to them. And then a dark mage had attacked. Remy showed up. Scarlett led the knight to tree where the maiden seem rooted. to everyone's surprise the knight ran the maiden through. the he slew the mage. "Dream told him to leave and then she grew the most amazin' flowers over the maiden's tree." Scarlett finished a little sadly. But she brightened a bit. "We could go look at it," she suggested.