Not even two years ago, just the thought of entering a maze would've made Gabriel Banner double over and vomit. Literally. No, like LITERALLY. It'd done so in Care of Magical Creatures that once. But NOW, however, it seemed to be all he wanted to do. Getting lost. Just himself and some books.....and maybe a notebook or two.

So, that's exactly what he was planning to do.

Hitching his school bag higher up on his shoulder, Gabe proceeded inside.....not slowing his pace until he'd taken several odd turns. For this to work, he had to feel lost...He'd even closed his eyes at one point, continuing to take different paths.

Finally stopping, the Ravenclaw took a seat and began removing things from his bag. Pumpkin snacks, an old Potions textbook, an ingredient dictionary...and two notebooks.

There. Alone with just himself and his thoughts.

ZOOOOMMMGGGG.... this was, aMAZEing. Yep. Totally. He 100% approved.

Unfortunately for him, he wasn't equipped for adventure, all he had on his person was his compass - that didn't work, his wand, a scrap of parchment and some lint in his pocket. Excellent.

BUT, because this WAS an adventure, he'd make do without anything and just use what he could get his hands on. Speaking of, was this corn stuff ripe? could he pick it and eat it? Without even thinking of where he was going, Zeke entered the maze, took a turn... and another... and another... and continued along his merry way, dragging his hand against the crop as he went.

He had assumed he was alone, but very suddenly he discovered he wasn't. AND THERE WAS FOOD!


...

"Hi." Yeah, HELLO DUDE OVER HERE. "You're not waiting for a girl are you? They might not find you here."

.

.

Whut.

Gabe had just dipped his quill and began to write when a voice sounded nearby. He froze accordingly, leaking quill hovering over the page. It didn't sound like someone that had been actively seeking him out...So, that was a small comfort.

Glancing in that direction, he relaxed somewhat. Zeke Rodgers. He'd seen the small Gryffindor around last term. Yes....and he wasn't so terrible. Less annoying than others. Even if his question was....what it had been. Gabe imagined it'd have made sense had he been anyone else.

"No, I'm not." In fact, 'girls' were one of the things he'd been trying to avoid...buuuut that didn't need to be said out loud. "......I'm trying to stay off the grid for a while." Not that Gabe needed to explain himself...but there it was.

Another pause..."Are you finding your way well enough?" He went about lifting his wand to clear away the ink mess.

Prefect dude seemed startled. Was he startled? He didn't mean to be startling, it just happened sometimes, and really, what with EVERYTHING that happened last school yeah, he should've had his wits about him.

A response was nice, even if it wasn't what he expected, in fact, that's what made it more pleasing. "Oh good, you're not one of those guys then," he stated, relieved. He still didn't understand why some guys liked to be alone with girls and locking lips and exchanging saliva... cooties grew in saliva, didn't they know? It was just gross.

Staying off the grid was something he could understand, a little too well. Nodding, he took a few steps toward his new adventure companion. "I can give you some tips if you like, I spend a lot off time trying to go off the grid." He seldom succeeded, but it wasn't for a lack of skill, he just possessed less skill than the man-hunters that watched him.

As for finding his way... meh. Zeke shrugged, "I don't try to find my way, I am my way." Wherever his feet lead him was where he'd go, and he was a little too tempted to immerse himself into the wall of this weird crop maze.

Corrrrrrn was something absoloutely delicious so naturally Adi was hanging around the Maze. Too bad you couldn't eat the thing raw when they were being grown. *sigh* But at least he could have a bit of adventure in the Maze! All he needed to do was to find the entrance...

...

Oh, entrance! Where art though? Adi walked this way and jogged that way looking for the darn thing but he could not find it until... oh! Would you look at that? It had been right there all along. Just some inches away from him. Heh. Was he loosing his eye sight?!

Anywayyy, now that the entrance was found... it was time to dive in! The Puffer disappeared into it.

Natalia could barely she was here. Hogwarts. Her new school.

Of course, the very first thing to do at a new place is to explore! By yourself! Without telling anyone! Because if you get lost, no one will be able to find you - which is the best part! Right?!

The first thing Natalia realized about this school was that...it was HUUUUUGE. Not only was the castle enormous in size, the grounds and fields were probably took more land than the castle itself! There was a lake! The forest! Everything! GAHHH!

Natalia loved it.

Natalia loved puzzles too. Puzzles, riddles, mazes.

Hmm... Natalia looked around at the entrance of the corn maze. If it wasn't too late, she could hang out here for a while. EXPLORE! BY HERSELF. Maybe that was why Nat was place in Gryffindor. She was mindblown.

Natalia made up her mind and stepped into the maze. Well, too late, if she considered otherwise. And look! Was that..was that Adi? AdiTyA tHe GrEAt HuFFlePufF pReFEcT!

"Hey, what are you doing here!" Natalia posed that more as an exclamation than a question. Although smiling, she was unsure whether she felt glad or disappointed to find someone else in the maze, exactly where she was. Nat sort of hoped that...maybe she could explore, alone? "Yeah, what are you doing here?' An actual question. It was a friendly one, sorta.

Of course the moment he stepped into the maze there had to be a fork... one which led to the right and the other led to the left. It shouldn't have been much to think on yet Adi find himself trying to make up his mind in which direction he should go.

"Eenie, meenie, miney, moe?'' he thought, for a moment considering to use that to solve his present dilemma but there was someone interrupting him. What are you doing here? he mouthed to himself? Who was this person? "I'm looking for the Giant Squid,'' he replied sarcastically and now looking around at the person who had spoken. Oh! It was Natalia! He broke into a smile. "Heya, Nats the Awesome! I can also say I'm looking for some corn.'' Hehe.

"Nah, I'm just trying to find my way through the maze. Left or right?" The sixth year gestured towards the fork which lay before them. "What do you reckon?"

Natalia raised her eyebrows at the response. Giant Squid? In the CORN MAZE? Natalia was not that stupid. No, she took that back. She wasn't stupid AT ALL.

So now Adi turned around and saw he was talking to, because no one simply talked to Natalia the Awesome that way. NO ONE. Hurhur. Just kidding. c:

"Yes, hello Adi the Great Hufflepuff Prefect...or should I say..." Natalia glanced around the maze to search for an inspirational nickname. "...Adi the Amaze-ing..." Natalia's voice slowly trailed off when she spoke the last syllables, regretting using the amazing name on someone else! NOW SHE WANTED TO CHANGE HER ALIAS TO NATALIA THE AMAZING. *sigh* Oh well...

"Cool! I'm looking for corn too." Natalia went along, flashing a smile of amusement. JUST looking for corn now. Finishing the maze was too MAINSTREAM. "Go whichever way leads to corn." Hurhur. "So, right." Yeah, that didn't make any logical sense whatsoever. Natalia just chose a random route. "You go first." *SMIRK*

One of those guys...Gabriel blinked before cracking the smallest of smiles. Even if he wasn't completely sure what type of guys young Zeke was referring to...the context was amusing enough. And because the Ravenclaw tended to get embarrassed about that sort of thing, he wasn't going to ask for clarification.

.

.

"Did you want to join me, then?" It hadn't been the plan...but he wasn't one of the people Gabe had been avoiding. So...it could be okay. Maybe. Nbd.

Also, it appeared Zeke Rodgers was a philosopher of sorts. Their conversation could be enlightening.

Adi laughed at Nats's raised eyebrow. "I wonder if Bartholomew likes corn,'' he said. Nats knew he was kidding about looking for the Squid in the maze.

Oooh! A pun! Adi LIKED that! "I saw what you did there, Nats.'' MAZE and aMAZing. Yes, yes! Adi did see that indeed. "So I'm now Adi the Great Amazing Hufflepuff Prefect.'' Mhmm, that was quite a name for him. "I'll think of a good word to join the 'Awesome' in your name,'' he assured her. "But for now that one word suits you just fine.''

The sixth year bobbed his head. "I bet I can pick more corn than you in a minute." Hehe. Adi would just use magic. Wheee!

LOL! "Everywhere leads to corn,'' Adi said, spreading his arms in both directions to make his point. Right? "Sounds fine by me! Scared the corn boogeyman will get you, Nats?" With a smirk, the boy turned in the direction Nats suggested and trudged off. "Adi's here to save your skin so don't worry.''

No Benzi Rider, no.

Noel was not a runner; he was an insomniac and he certainly did not like mornings. Standing at the entrance of this maze, with hands on his hips and eyes squinting because a)he had barely slept and the light hurt his eyes and b) Nope. Noooooope.

"Do you really think I have the face of a healthy, excising person?" he asked his best friend and mentally checked the million reasons he didn't wanna do this. "I am a Hufflepuff, and I like to ... puff and not run" He may possibly be still ASLEEP in his head.

Benzi couldn't remember the last time he'd woken up this smug.

Oh, wait. Actually he could. But this was a DIFFERENT smug. Hehe.

He'd ignored his friend's protests when they'd visited the kitchens to grab some toast. He'd continue to ignore him all the way down to the maze and he was still going to firmly ignore him now.

"No, I don't, that's the point," really Noel? "You'll be huff'n'puffin' all right but that's also the point." It was five thirty in the morning Noel. He did not have MUCH patience. Just a little.

"Come on, we'll start with a light jog," he grinned, and headed into the maze. Why the maze? Because it made things interesting. Plus he'd run it a few times before, so only Noel would be lost.

"SOME FRIEND YOU ARE, RIDER!" Noel shouted after the annoying-healthy living best friend of his as he jogged forward. And then he groaneddddd and stomped his foot on the ground.

Why couldn't he just be a music writing, unhealthy living loser? People lived with or without jogging. He turned to look at HOW far the castle was and what drag that be to go all the way back. Sigh. You win, Rider. You win this time.

But he didn't jog. Nope. He walked.

His long legs could keep up with Benzi and walks were healthy too.

"SO HOW LONG DO WE DO THIS FOR?" he yelled from behind him and pulled at the corn all around him.

-.-

Really?

Turning to look at him, Benzi ROLLED HIS EYES and ran back to his idiot friend who really thought he'd let him get away with WALKING. "We do this until you can't breathe, and then for half an hour after that," he replied and doubled back, pushing him from behind.

"And we're going to jog. Not walk. If you can still talk while we're doing this, you're not doing it right." This was only going to help him, so he should suck it up and do it.

As Benzi PUSHED him from behind, Noel picked up speed but not jog worthy speed and said: "But humor me this, Benz. What will happen if I don't ever exercise in life? I will die young? But the good always die young, Benz." Noel had logic. Oh yes.

But Benzi was apparently not taking 'walk' for an answer. Eh. Fine. Noel jogged lightly because he knew his body. He would surely collapse if he put an effort so lets not. Alreaaaady he could feel his body not liking any of this. "this suuuuuu-" breathe "- uuuuucks"

"Yes. You will die young. And I think that's the stupidest thing you've ever said Wallace, well done," Benzi sighed, and continued shoving him to go faster. Good thing this guy could play and write songs. "Oh, also, you'll get more pimples and probably have a heart condition by the time you're thirty five. I've seen how you eat."

YES. FINALLY. "Theeeeere we go," he nodded and moved to jog at this...... snail pace thing. Fine. Better than nothing. "You learn to enjoy it. C'mon we're taking a right here," he said, and took the right path at the T section that he knew would lead them to a dead end. But Noel doesn't need to know that.

Bartholomew? "Is that the Giant Squid's name?" Why Bartholomew? It wasn't a very pleasant name to Natalia. Maybe she'll call him Mew-Mew for short, because that sounded a better than Bartholomew.

"Yes, you better think of a good one for me." Natalia pointed out. "I thought of such a good one for you! Now you should replay me." Yes, definitely. Repay Natalia the Awesome Name-Maker for her generous name-giving deeds!

Picking coooorn! Why, Natalia actually never collected corn before. So, this might be fun. "Pick corn by hand, okay?" This way, no cheating. Hurhur. "I think that's more fair. Using magic would be too easy, don't you think?"

Scared of the corn boogeyman? Who did he think she was?! Natalia was placed in Gryffindor by the Sorting Hat, you know. Scared? Not even in Natalia's dictionary. "Alright. Just don't pee your pants first." Natalia followed Adi to the route on the right, a mischievous grin on her face. "I think I'm more qualified to protect you. Being a Gryffindor and all..." Yeah, Natalia really didn't want to get into the debate. But just saying.

So now their mission was to pick corn and finish the maze without being scared to death. There was nothing to fear, right? It was just a corn maze, not a forest...

MAZE! Hayden had never been particularly good at mazes, but she wasn't bad at them either. She hadn't had many chances to go into mazes, because who did? The fact that there was a maze at Hogwarts this year was pretty exciting. She made her way down to the grounds with Norah, wearing comfortable clothes. Hayden also had some candy in her pocket, in case they got lost and trapped in the maze for days or something. They probably wouldn't, but it was always a possibility. That would be bad.

"Here's the entrance." Yes, captain obvious Hayden. In front of them was an opening in the corn, revealing the beginning of the maze. Hayden paused and turned to Norah. Last chance to back out if she was worried they might get hopelessly lost. But they probably wouldn't. Hopefully wouldn't. "Ready?"

Dude was smiling... and he didn't know what to make of it, but OKAY, WHATEVER.

Zeke shifted his weight from one foot to the other, content on excusing himself and continuing his exploration of the corn things. At least, he was content with that until he received the invitation to join the Prefect.

Awesome.

"Yeah, that'd be great," he nodded, closing the gap between them - though remaining a 'cool dude' distance from him. Mmhhmm. This was a nice enough spot he supposed. Out of the way, a good place for conspiring.

"So why are you trying to go off the grid?" There HAD to be a reason, right?

Noel jogged and contemplated the horryifying future Benzi tried to paint for him but no dice. "I don't see ... what's wrong in that" he said grinning. Of course he was just pulling Benzi's leg now. But still, Noel was the sort of person who would probably never care about his health and eat all he wanted.

Following the ravenclaw and taking a right, Noel yet again complained: "Ughh .. I wanna go shower. I feel gross and tired. HOW am I suppose to take any classes when my bones will be aching from this run?" Sorry Benzi.

A MAZE!!!

Lux wasn't sure where all this corn came from because she didn't remember seeing it before, but that didn't matter really because maze. She wasn't exactly amazing at them, but they were pretty fun and she had enjoyed the DADA practical. She had kicked some serious zombie butt.

Curiously, she stepped inside. If nothing else she had Chocolate Frogs in case she got lost and hungry which was a very real possibility when facing a corn maze. This should be fuuuuuuun.

This was such a bad idea Echo.... such a bad idea... what were you thinking...... Echo was in panic mode right now, she had no idea where she was and didn't know how to get out... "hogwarts why do you always have to be soo" she thought but she finished her sentence with a loud "ughhhhhh"

Thats when she saw the red hair..... not to many people had the red hair so she shouted at the girl "LUX" she had known her though her cousin an some how they were related now??? her "Uncle" Jaxson had married her sister... so they are kind of family right now aren't they???

"Im sooooooo lost" she yelled at Lux, well who she thought was Lux.

Heading further into the maze, Lux tried to keep her bearings so as to not get lost. That was a little difficult when corn all looked the same. No need to panic; she was in touch with her inner-Lion and being brave.

Hearing someone shout her name, the redhead jumped. Somehow it hadn't occurred to her that other people might be on here with her. That made things better because at least she wasn't alone. Oh, it was little Echo. Lux supposed they were family through marriage now since Willa was married to Jaxson, and she liked the adorable Snake. "I'm sure we can find our way out," she said with a smile.

They got this.

Thank goodness Echo had run into Lux... and of course she agreed to help her "THANK YOU!!!!" she squealed as she gave the red head a big hug... "do you know where we are in this thing or no?? its kind of freaking me out how this wasn't here last year and now POOF, its here" she felt like she could talk a mile a minute.

"they wont actually let us get lost....... *gulp* would they?" she asked as she followed Lux through the maze thing. Making sure not to take her eyes off of her because she did not want to be in here alone again.