#13 - A Badger in Need

Ah, Caleb wasn't making this easy for Martha at all.

And neither were the numerous other Badgers who decided to take advantage of the beginning of spring. She shook her head with a smile as she started to walk around the Lake. She warned some younger students to be careful near the water and said hello to some Hufflepuffs who she recognised from the common room (though they were not in her year group).

Martha continued her walk and realised she was heading in the direction of the Forest Path... If she didn't find Caleb soon, she'd have to double back and walk in the other direction around the Lake.

Not that she really minded that since the walk was enjoyable. She thought about the fudge in her bag, wondered if Lucky had passed Sophia her piece and where the two of them could be. Hopefully they were having fun and doing something nice together.

Sophia deserved to have some fun after the past few months.

She finally drew herself out of her thoughts when she spotted Caleb Bradley. Martha stopped so she could fully observe him before heading over. He had clearly done something in the lake, with his damp hair as evidence and his picnic blanket looked very cosy. This was clearly someone who had experience when it came to hanging out at the Great Lake, she thought to herself.

With a small smile playing on her lips, Martha headed over, "Caleb Bradley, well there you are finally. You know, you were kind of hard to find."

Martha wasn't used to being her playful self around people who weren't her family or Sophia and Lucky but hopefully Caleb would notice the light tone she used and the smile on her face (it was wider and brighter now) to know that she wasn't actually annoyed at having to seek him out.

She approached his blanket but didn't presume she'd be allowed to join him just yet, "Looks like you're busy-- An experiment or checking something?"

A nod towards his many jars and wriggly things. She noted he had his cactus along and a few other plants. Maybe if she had a greater interest in Herbology she'd know what they were. The packets of seeds he was poking through didn't seem to be the kind ordered through Owl Mail... Hmmm...

Caleb was still very much a mystery to Martha so she was intrigued to learn more about him, beyond the basics. Below the surface. She hoped he would let her in, even if it was just a little peek.