Julia smiled sadly,"That's really kind of you guys." She said,"Olivia was conflicted about it last night. I told her we could always go to the beach another day. She was looking forward to going too..."

"Morning," Amira said, joining them. Her long dark hair was pulled up in a bun to keep it off her back. She wore a cute red and gold tank top and some jean shorts," Olivia will be joining us soon. She seems to be in a good mood. Maybe the beach is calling to her too." She smiled,"It's been calling me since we arrived." She giggled.

"That settles it then! To the beach!" Aren grinned before pulling out a piece of parchment and scribbling a few lines on it. He folded it and placed it on the counter with the side showing 'To Malfoy' in elegant script. "So I was thinking: Breakfast along the road then beach the rest of the day. What do you think?"

"Should we really spend the whole day under the sun?" Frank pouted.

"Not my fault that you easily fry under the sun. Muggles have made sunscreen, you know?"

"Sunscreen?"

Aren simply stared at his friend before sharing a look with the girls then back to Frank. "We're going to put so much sunscreen on you that you'll look like you're covered in glue."

"... Glue?"

Julia and Amira blinked at how clueless Frank was about some muggle things.

"Sunscreen is lotion muggles put on their skin before going out in the sun to keep them from getting sunburned." A new voice said. Olivia had finally joined them in a cute blue and silver one piece and some shorts,"Glue is used to stick things together." She smiled at Frank,"But I'm sure you at least knew what glue was." She went over to everyone," Sorry it took so long to get ready." She said.

Julia nodded and hugged her friend gently.

"Oh, so it was the muggle equivalent of sticking charms …" Frank mumbled to himself as he stared into the void before looking back to the girls. "Can I have some of this sunscreen?" He asked with wide and innocent eyes.

Aren chuckled before slapping Frank on the shoulder. "Already got it covered. So let's get going! Have you guys packed for the beach?" he asked as he hauled a bag over his shoulder. "I've got swim rings and towels."

Julia nodded,"I have extra sunscreen and some snacks i made for us." She said wth a smile. She pulled out her sunscreen and started putting some on, a she burned easy if she wasn't careful. Olivia helped her before putting some on herself.

Amira smiled,"I have sunblock too. But it doubles as tanning lotion." She said, putting some on,"So i can tan without getting burned."

(( So so sorry for the late reply. I've been really busy with all the reports and home work I needed to do T_T ))

"Welcome, my friends, to the wonderful Arienzo!" Aren grinned as he pulled into a parking spot along a stretch between a flight of steps. "The beach is just down there." He pointed to the steps that seemed to go down forever.

"Why did you have to pick the one with stairs?" Frank complained as he pulled a beach bag from the trunk.

"Because it's the least populated one. You'll be surprised at how 300 steps beach frighten the tourists away with just it's name. Now come on."

Frank pouted and fixed the glasses on the bridge of his nose and secured the beach bag over his shoulders. He made sure that Aren would go down the steps first. If he were to fall down the stairs, then he'd at least bring the Italian brat down with him.

---

Caelum strode down the dim halls of Malfoy Manor with chin held high but his eyes were filled with a vacant gaze as hidden thoughts coursed through his mind. The sunlight from outside were blocked by thick curtains in a rich emerald green and the stone walls were illuminated by gubraithian fires in sconces that lined the hallway. Pale faces and dark eyes watched him in muted silence as his unhurried steps produced an echo over the stone floors making the atmosphere even more eerie. His father had sent Twilly, their house elf, to call him to the drawing room where they were to discuss … business with their recent guest.

Caelum knocked on the doors that opened a second after and stepped inside. He looked at his father who was sitting in front of the fireplace, his silhouette was framed by the glowing embers underneath the marble mantlepiece. He was sitting at the end of the long table as he called for his son to move closer.

"Father-"

"Ah, so this is the young Malfoy heir." A grim voice echoed throughout the room as a pale hand descended onto Caelum's shoulder causing the young Slytherin to tense up. "I have been looking forward to meeting you."

Amira smiled,"Oh wow! beautiful!." She said, her beach things in a cute summer themed backpack. She followed Frank and Aren down the stairs, wanting to get her spot on the beach set up. She was going to tan for a while and soak up the sun while she could.

Olivia went down with Frank, ready to help him if he were to trip and fall, her own bag of beach supplies at her side. She smiled at him as they worked their way down,"It might be a long way down but it's nearly deserted here." She said,"That would be great. It's like our own private beach."

Julia followed down last, smiling as she saw her friends with Aren and Frank. She sighed, surprised Caelum hadn't made it yet. She shook it off and hurried down after her friends, not wanting to get left begin.

Aren walked beside Amira as they descended the stairs, grateful that the weather was perfect for a beach outing. He snickered as he looked at the almost empty beach they were nearing as he thought of the many ways to make his blonde friend envious of their outing without him. Aside from the personnel and the life guards, there were a few groups of people lounging and playing by the stretch of sand. He spotted the jet skis floating on the side and made a mental note to challenge Frank to a race.

Frank flushed when he noticed Olivia staying beside him as he cautiously descended the steps. "A private beach. That'd make this whole trip worth it. I just worry about the climb back up." His hand never left the hand rail.

---

Aren jumped past the last two steps and landed on soft warm sand. "Come on! I saw the perfect spot!" He grabbed Amira's hand and hauled her away to the group of unclaimed beach umbrellas by the shore. Frank laughed as he followed after Aren and promptly set up the beach towels when he arrived.

"I'm going to get something to drink from the shop. Anyone need anything from there?"

---

"It was a simple thing, really, when a young Draco Malfoy repaired the vanishing cabinet inside Hogwarts." The man chuckled as if he was bathed in nostalgia. "And it was a sad thing when the ministry destroyed them all. How are we supposed to get through wards now? Ah, but that is a different tale from what we want right now. Let us go back to a very young Harry Potter who miraculously defeated a basilisk." His sickeningly innocent face morphed into a manic grin as he pulled a small notebook from his robes. It was bound in dark leather and the edges of the paper were discolored through years of use. "Tell me, Caelum, what do you know about the Chamber of Secrets?"

Olivia smiled and gently patted his back as they reached the bottom of the steps,"That part will be a little hard," She admitted,"But we can worry about it when we get to it. For now, let's just enjoy some fun in the sun and the water." She walked with him over to where Amira and Aren had been, watching Amira set up her beach towel and sit down to look at the ocean,"I'm alright for now, Aren. Thanks." She said.

Amira smiled and put on more sun tanning lotion, rubbing it up and down her arm and legs,"I'll take a water if you don't mind, Aren." She said to him with a smile. She was thankful he was kind enough to get them something.

Julia finally joined them, setting her things down as well,"Water for me too please." She said,"Thank you~"

(( Sorry for disappearing again. ))
(( Also, I hope you won't mind that I skipped again. If you want to cancel this skip, just tell me :) ))

Caelum paced in front of the mantlepiece, green sparks flittered upon the hearth below showing that it was connected to the Floo Network. His hands were folded across his chest and his pale eyebrows were scrunched together in deep thought. His chapped lips cracked as his frown grew deeper and the storm in his eyes billowed then died as he let out a defeated sigh.

He stepped into the hearth with unfocused eyes, not even noticing the ash and soot that stained his shoes. He gathered floo powder with his left hand, and with his right, a quick flick of his wand and his bag was accioed into his waiting palm. "Zabini Villa, Positano, Italy." He spoke clearly as he threw the powder and disappeared into the green flames.

---

"Head count! Is everyone in the car?" Aren looked over the group and nodded himself before giggling at Frank who was panting in the seat beside him. "Next time," the teen inhaled deeply, "choose the beach that doesn't have stairs, will you?"

"No promises." Aren grinned at his friend then pulled out of the parking space. "We're getting take out for dinner. Anyone want anything in particular?"