Journey from the second floor to the seventh floor with her own vacuum cleaner was exhausting.

Now she is in one of the corridors on the seventh floor on the right is a statue that was covered by dust.

Okay, one more time,

"Vacavus,"

she tapped her wand into the vacuum cleaner that she'd been brought and she saw the statue of Lachlan the Lanky is all clean, with no dust at all. Due to less fatigue, Aphrodite decides to go back to the Gryffindor Common Room to rest. One really long day ..

Isobel was wandering around the seventh floor and brandishing her vacuum, determined to find places to dust before returning to the common room. She was disappointed to find that the statue wasn't nearly as dusty as she'd expected it to be, given the state of the rest of the castle. It seemed like someone had already been here with a vacuum and a desire to clean, but that wasn't going to stop her by any means.

"Vacuvus!" Isobel said, tapping the blue vacuum with her wand. A moment passed, and then another, and eventually the vacuum made a few sputtering sounds. "Vacavus?" she said, coming out more like a question, and this time, to her surprise, it worked. The vacuum came to life with a whirring sound and began to suck in air.

She moved it around and navigated into the odd corners of the statue as best as she could, collecting dust. As she did so, Isobel wondered why the spell was 'vacavus' and not 'vacuvus'. Vacuvus sounded a lot better, not to mention made more sense (vacUUm, after all). Before long, the statue was squeaky clean (well, not really squeaky, it didn't make any noise at all) and Isobel continued on her way, looking for more places to vacuum.

Anya, wearing one of her many aprons, walked down the corridor holding her vacuum hose much like she was a spy in a movie. When she turned the corner, she made sure to do it hose first.

Beware DUST! Anya Phillips was on the case!

Coming across the statue of ... some guy. Or girl. She didn't really know. (Did these come with plaques?) Anyway. She decided it was a good place to start her vacuuming adventure.

She tapped the hose with her wand and said a firm "Vacavus." She then watched as the dust sucked up and out of the way. Brilliant. Now. On to the next dusty thing!

And with that, she hummed a cleaning song to herself and skipped off down the hall.

She had finally made it to Lachlan the Lanky’s portrait when she finally placed her little gargoyle back down on the ground. Five minutes was a good enough break right? She thought it was at least as she decided what she wanted it to try to do. Then it hit her, rock walls. The school had rock walls.

“Piertotum Locomotor” she pointed her wand at the little guy and smirked as she watched it break back to life. “Now, walk over to the wall and climb up the wall, when you can’t reach a place I want you to wiggle and flap your wings and jump and try to reach the next rock above you.” She smiled at the guy. “you can do it” she spoke encouragingly and watched it as it began to walk over to the wall.

It stood at the wall for a moment before reaching its hand up and pulling its rock body up to the next rock. His other hand fitting into the little crevasse of the rocks as it pulled itself up – the next one though was a little tough. She wanted fear in her heart as it began to flap its wings and jumped to the next one. Now, it was at window level and she gave it the next command, “now, climb onto the window ledge and sit there” she commanded as she finished speaking it pulled itself up onto the nearby window and sat down. There, she just smirked at it as she realized she had officially taught it how to scale a wall. “Finite” she finished the spell and placed her gargoyle back inside of her bag.

Dusty. Dusty. Amara had actually been on her way to the common room when she had spotted this...dusty place. She'd went and brought back the muggle cleaner. Might as well clean this place, I just can't stand it.

She tapped the cleaner with her wand. "VACAVUS!" The cleaner buzzed as usual.

"Let's get some cleaning done, shall we" she said, as she started to clean the place. The cleaner sucked in the age-old dust. Wait, don't people ever clean the place? When did the house-elves stop cleaning service?

She had to put extra time at some spots than the others. The cleaner just sucked in the dust particles easily, but some were adamant.

CHARGEEE!

After 15 minutes, she walked back to the common room with a smug face. And the place, nice and shiny.

And there he saw it.

The great statue. His next target victim of dust.

A child is never tired of games, and here Forrest was examining, circling the statue with narrowed eyes, the armours long forgotten. His circles got narrower and narrower until he was eyeing the statue nose-to-nose.

"Want a bath, Mr. Great?"

Tipping the hose with his wand again as he spoke the word, he sweeped the face of him first because he looked like he could do with a face-wash. Hehe. Next he went onto the body and sweeped it thoroughly--that was when he found the hiding place.

He gasped and grinned vastly and got inside--almost. He didn't, though, at least not immediately. Because this was Hogwarts, and it might well be a trap to lock him up there. So, instead of getting himself inside, he would put an object first and see what would happen.

He looked around to spot a dispensible thing, but he couldn't find any. He made a face and looked down--that was when he noticed his shoes. And inside his shoes were his socks.

Dropping the vacuum cleaner again (it wouldn't break, would it?) he shoved his wand inside his pocket once more and sat down, taking his left shoe off. His sock followed it afterwards, and he trew it inside the little opening as he was sat right in front of it, watching what would happen.

...
......

.........nothing. Seemingly, nothing happened.

He contemplated entering there for a full minute, eyeing the spot suspiciously through narrowed eyes. He decided at last that it was safe, despite the fresh armour incident, and entered the small place backwards, so that he could get out easily if his claustrophobia showed up. Nothing happened again.

"Cool!" he muttered to himself as he got out and retrieved his sock, wore it and bent down with the vacuum cleaner to clean there more thoroughly than ever, because it might be useful in the future.

Once he was pleased with his work, he grabbed his vacuum cleaner and went forward to discover the rest of the corridor.

Daichi checked his watch and noted that it was nearly time for him to do his patrolling rounds. So this was why he began to hurry through the corridors, looking for a place to vacuum where the other students hadn’t been yet.

A yawn suddenly escaped his mouth and he had to rub his eyes with his free hand. Being a Prefect was exhausting. Keeping up with classes and homework and friends and Prefect duties themselves. MERLINS BEARD! That reminded him! He had NEWTs this year. Mweeeh guess he needed to put his nose in the books again soon.

But first, cleaning. The Slytherin wasn’t grumbling at all anymore because he was tired. He found himself on the seventh floor and saw that other students had probably already been here before to clean. Not that it mattered to Daichi because now he didn’t have to do so much.

“Vacavus!” he said and while holding the hose of the cleaner he dragged the muggle device to the armor in the corridor and began to clean it. Dusting it off was more like it.

The snake was bored. Nothing new for the fourteen-year old. She got bored very often which would motivate her to drop whatever homework was the cause of that then head out. Out sometimes meant the grounds and other times meant just wander around the castle and see where her feet got her. Cassia always liked to hope that she'd run into one of her friends. You know, not literally, though. She had learned to look where she was stepping and not get lost in thought. Unfortunately, she had learned the hard way but at least she had.

Walking all the way from the dungeons to the seventh floor alone wasn't something enjoyable. And she had almost suspected that everyone had left or something. Though she did come across students but none of them her friends. Talk about luck. Feeling both tired and hopeless, the fourth-year stopped by the Lachlan statue after having ascended the staircase.

She hadn't been here for a long time. Was it always very dusty like this? Or it probably was a consequence of the house-elves absence. Cassia walked around the statue and grinned finding the small place she used to settle in when she was a firstie. Good days they were. Good days. She crouched and inched closer. Could she still fit here? Hmmm....

A try wouldn't hurt. Unless of course she got stuck. She'd try not to.

Forrest hadn't forgotten about the seventh floor of course. It had been on his mind since the first good ol' Astro HW--the best one he had yet to do at this school. He could find time to come visit this floor now though. He had wandered in the corridor only once--the other times had been only for Astro, but he had memorised the corridor well. He had two destinations to go anyway: the statue-thing, and Ravenclaw door. He decided to visit the statue-thing first since he figured Ravenclaw door would take longer, so... the statue-thing, over there, to see whether he had grown up since he had come here. Getting taller was important, especially now that he suffered from malnutrition.

He remembered exactly how well he had fit in the little place there, so it would sure be a healthy measurement. Arriving at the statue-thing, he didn't even see the girl until the last moment because really, who came here? But apparently she did. And she was trying to do exactly what he had on mind. He just blinked at her as he was at a loss for words.

Get out? Or shall I leave?

As Cassia crouched and tried to squeeze in, she thought that maybe it wasn't the best idea to try and shove herself into the small space. Like she obviously had grown, though she hadn't become that tall, she still had grown noticeably. And actually if really did fit in the space she'd be upset. It'd be a clear proof that she was shorter than the rest of her year-mate. So why bother and risk being upset when she already was bored. At last, the snake decided to get up and not try this. Whatever this was, anyway.

Still crouching, the fourth-year turned around and she silently gasped seeing someone. Her mouth forming a perfect shape of O, Cassia blinked at the little kid whom was standing almost nose to nose. Certainly a firstie or a really short second-year. Kinda reminded her of her own self. But aside from that, what was he doing and how come she didn't hear him approach her.More importantly how long have he been standing there? Because, she trying to squeeze in wasn't the perfect scene. Kinda looked silly.

The snake rose to her feet, feeling her thighs starting to burn since she had been crouching for a while. She crossed her arms across her chest and tilted her head at the boy, "Are you a spy, kid?" She asked watching the boy carefully. See she and Theo were spies, though not really spying lately, so she knew what spies do. Sort of what the kid did. Or didn't. Like not make a single sound. "And who sent you?" She always knew she had secret enemies. She KNEW IT!

Oh wow she was shocked too. But that didn't bring Forrest out of his shock. In fact, he didn't even realise she was shocked too. He just blinked at her and tried to get his brain to function again, because it had shut off completely in its endevours to come up with a witty reply. His eyes had recovered first and flew to where the house crest should be on her robes--oh, a Slytherin. A Slytherin indeed. His face took a more pathetic look. He didn't like Slytherins. They were evil.

She was speaking! Oh dear.

He gasped. "I--no!--I just--" He gulped. NOBODY SENT HIM!

Should he scream and run?

Looking at the boy's face, Cassia thought if this kid was really a spy. He sure sucked. No offense intended. And to be honest, he didn't really struck her as the spy-ish kind of person. So thinking it'd be better if she dropped the accusations, Cassia smiled at the boy and said. "Well, you don't look like a spy," Not a professional one anyway. "What were you doing here then?" She asked conversationally. She wasn't trying to interrogate him or anything. Just wanted to lighten the mood or something.

Was it working?

And trying to help doing that, she uncrossed her arms and brought them to her sides. Casually standing and all. "I'm Cassia by the way," Why not introduce herself as well.

It'd show that she only had good intentions. Mhhm.

Forrest blinked. With the fear that she could attack him like Sonea did, his brain was working much slower than usual. He still had that very scared look and he looked very pale, and now confusion accompanied them.

He remained silent even after she had finished speaking. He had to speak. Really. Or else she'd think he was an idiot or something. He blinked again and leaned forward to a normal posture. She didn't look like she meant harm. Ahem.

"I'm Forrest." His voice still tried to hide. Some more ahems. "I--I just--wanted to--" He went scarlet. When he had first planned it, it hadn't sounded silly at all; but now he realised it was the silliest thing in the world.

Who was he to lie on a whim? That was Slytherins' job. So... silence and avoiding eye-contact and trying to get paler again.

Why wasn't he running away?

Cassia watched how the color was drained out of the boy's face. Was she that intimidating? Ehhh..Good to know? Or not? Somehow it made her proud that her Slytherin characteristics were showing and all, she had suffered days when she was mistaken for a hufflepuff. Horrible days she can't even bring herself to remember. Though it was only when she was a firstie. She kinda was perky and all. Still is but her Snake traits have surfaced or become more noticeable. Still, she never was a bully. Not if no one provoked her she wouldn't lash out. Except when she felt moody. She tried to keep to the dorms during her moody times. Point was, she had no idea why the boy looked freaked out. Was it her hair? Was it that horrible. She had her doubts about tying it that way.

"Umm..Nice to meet you Forrest," She said hesitantly. Not that he seemed to be pleased by meeting her. She tried not to take it personal. But hold on..His name sounded familiar. She couldn't pinpoint where she had heard it though. Probably during classes or so.

She waited for Forrest to say what he was doing but he just stuttered and blushed. Oookay. Her eyebrows rose questioningly. Did not this boy seem suspicious? What was he doing? She really was curious now. Seemed like a top secret thing.

Cassia took a step closer to him and bent her midsection so her head was level with Forrest's. "Here's a tip. If you are trying to hide something. Just make something up and don't stutter." She told him. No harm in sharing her experience with the youth. "Like let's practice now, just say anything. At the top of your head. Doesn't have to be true." Actually it'd be smarter if it wasn't true. That's the idea.

Talk about corrupting the youngsters.

She wasn't falling over nearly as often by the time that she got to this section of the seventh floor's corridor. Yeah her hands were still wobbling but this time it was more from being tired then a lack of balance.

Felix kept in step with her, watching her swaying a bit, close to falling a few times but she managed to stay up.

"Hey look! That Lanky statue thing!!!" Before she could logically think about it she moved one of her hands to point and went toppling immediately afterwards. "Oowwww...." This time there was no kneazle love. She watched him sit at a distance with those judging eyes of his.

"What? I didn't do it on purpose. I do try being careful, you know." She was about to push off the floor again but then she felt the strain in her hands and flopped to the floor again. Break time? Her hands seemed to think it was. Alright. A quick break then she'd get back to it. Lex only had to wait another minute for the kneazle to crawl onto her stomach and curl up.

"Oi! No! I might never get up if you do that. We're meant to be active. Get uuuuup." She shoved him off (but not too hard) and decided that was enough of a break. Too long and she would get lazy.

Back to hand walking. They had a bit further to go before she stopped and they went for ice-cream.

Yeah of course, a vulnerable Hufflepuff to bully. Of course it was nice to meet him. "Nice to meet you too," he managed to say despite his fear and prejudice, because he felt the necesity to return the compliment. Or else, what manice THIS Snake had?

He gulped when she leaned forward like that, and inclined backwards sliiiiightly. Was she going to cur--

Gulp gulp gulp.

"Y--yeah, um... ahem... I, uh, I'm here for... homework..."

Funny, wasn't it, how he was right fixed to the place whereas he should have run away long ago?

One thing Cassia learned right now, that she was an intimidating kind of person. Though she felt sorry for the boy, she still enjoyed being the Slytherin! But she was more curious of why this boy was frightened. Was something standing or towering behind her. Slowly, the fourth-year turned around and stared. Nope. Nothing here.

Back to the frightened boy who was here for homework. ""An ordinary response but not bad," She said encouragingly and reached out patting his head. See? She didn't bite!

Shoving her hand in her pocket, the fourteen-year old retrieved a chocolate frog. " Here." She offered him. He did like it right? ALL kids did.

Phew. His answer wasn't bad. Forrest was relieved visibly, though very shortly, because soon enough he was all tensed as if he was expecting a blow when she patted his head. Oh... well... she certainly didn't bite... he tried his best, really best, to smile, but he wasn't so sure about the outcome. He didn't have much time to remember how it was to smile anyway, as she offered him THAT, the f-word thing.

It really happened in slow-motion: she produced the object, his eyes grew to the size of the moon, he gasped, took one half step backwards, his face got its best/worst scared look. Then, the time started to run FASTER to catch up with the time it lost in slow motion: he started to scratch EVERYWHERE crazily.

In fast-forward.

He could do without seeing this girl EVER AGAIN.

See when someone gives someone a chocolate frog or any kind of candy, it usually indicates good intentions. In Cassia's rule book at least. Unless the person didn't like candy? Which was not usual. But the snake knew that those people existed. Like for example one of her besties, Blue, opposed to eat chocolate frogs. She wanted to free them and all.

As the boy started scratching and took a couple of steps backwards, Cassia pocketed the frog and just STARED at the boy. She had a theory about badgers you know. Part of it that they were weird. Yes. She was proven right. "Are you....... okay?" She finally asked finding her voice. He obviously wasn't.

This kid was weird.

A lot.

How do you deal with weird people?

Stoooooop! He had to stop! But his whole body was on fire and--

Clutching his left hand with the right, he pressed them on his stomach and cursed his luck. This encounter was going horribly, wasn't it. He had just made another bully from Slytherin. Now she would probably torture him with f-cards until she graduated or something. Would she tell Sonea? Did they know each other? How to keep her mouth shut?

"I am fine I just don't like f-cards but really other than that I am a good boy I'm not a weirdo I swear--"

Gaaaaasp.

Pathetic.

"Please don't hurt me."

O______O

The fourth-year stood, confusion written all over her face. She was missing something here with this boy. Why was he very frightened? Terrified, even! She blinked and opened her mouth to say something. But couldn't think of anything to say. Everything she said or did frightened him more.

What did he say? Oh he did't like them. "That's cool, my best friend doesn't like them either," She told the kid with a shrug. Good boy, he said? Not a weirdo. Can she laugh? Or will that make him feel bad.

Not being able to hold it back, Cassia grins down at the kid, "Worry not, kid," She starts. "I don't really do anything to people who don't share my opinions on candy," Did he think she would? This boy must have had a tough life in the castle.

Leaning on the wall next to her and folding her arms, the blond gives the boy a long look before asking, "If you don't mind me asking, are you always afraid of older students?" Don't mine the bluntness. She's always like this.

Oh? She didn't? Forrest breathed as he was a little relieved. He kept being pathetic, and she kept being nice, VERY nice to him. Never laughing at him and all. Wow. So she really was nice. This revelation relaxed him visibly and he even offered her a small, sheepish smile.

"Not older students." Pause. He was kinda afraid of older students, but only kinda. They were mostly nice. Should he say that Slytherins frigtened him? Would she be offended? With these questions, he had forgotten about scratching, and his hands fell limp to his both sides.

"It's just... the fear of bullies... and stuff." The word stuff was so vague and promised so much that he used it frequently with difficult situations. Hehe. He was definitely the most clever person for thinking that.

Well, he was breathing. That was a good sign, right? Eeeh..Though wasn't he breathing earlier? She didn't want to know. She tilted her head at him. He wasn't afraid of older student? She used to be annoyed by them. Before she figured them out. And nope, she wasn't one. She didn't consider herself.

Bullies? That caught her attention, "Had someone been mean to you?" She asked. Last time someone was mean to her, all her friends ganged up on that girl. And Cassia never saw her again. Or like, she just steered away, the girl was alive all right. Ahem. "You should be afraid of them, or even show them so," She shook her head disapprovingly. "You need to show them how fierce and strong you are." She said knowingly.

"Like, stand straight, puff your chest out and stuffs," She told him waving her hands around. It was all about impressions. And she was kind enough to share her four-year knowledge.

The boy looked a little bit like he needed it.

Forrest looked away in silence. Yeah, someone had been more than mean to him, but how could he tell it was a girl from her own house? In the end, he shook his head negatively. He wanted Sonea to suffer too, but something held him back. Maybe he could talk to Professor Old again...

But he was going to stand straight for her, because she was so kind and he had to at least try. He poked his chest out and held his head high. Maybe it really would help. She was Slytherin, so she definitely knew better than him.

"Like this?" he asked, trying to look as confident as he could.