Angel had decided to go and relax for a bit without her sister AJ around, she really needed to try and get her head around things. Did Ben like her, like her or had he kissed her as a brother would kiss her. This was getting very complicated and well Angel was totally at a lost as to what Ben meant with that kiss in Diagon Alley and now he had got her a plant.

Angel looked around and giggled as she realised she had walked somewhere but where that was the question when she had left the Gryffindor Common Room she had been heading for the Great Hall but at the minute she was somewhere else.

O_____________o

She looked up and giggled, she knew this place but how was she still only on the seventh floor. It felt like she had been walking for ages but anyway she would get where she wanted eventually.

Cartography, was a very Ravenclaw activity to participate in... for fun. The way he saw it though, was that he wasn't simply MAPPING, he was EXPLORING, which was a very Gryffindor thing to do, or so he'd been told. And so here he was, quill in hand, ink bottle in pocket, and a parchment in his hand, meandering along the seventh floor corridor. It was as good a place as any to start, seeing as it was essentially outside his front-door step. Mmhhhmmm.

Brows furrowed and tongue sticking out the side of his mouth, Zeke scrawled -- as neatly as he could, a series of lines to represent the space he was in, making annotations in the margins of the 'walls' as to what occupied that space. He was awful at this, the whole writing/drawing and walking thing, but there was little that could keep him still.

Up a short way, he realised he wasn't alone.

"Hi Angel," he beamed at his housemate, and that's when he saw it. The tapestry. BAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH.... a troll in a tutu!!!
"OHMYGOD THAT'S HILARIOUS!" he stated through his LOUD laughter.

Angel looked up as someone spoke to her. "Hey Zeke!" Angel beamed as she looked at the picture he was laughing at. "I know right." Angel wondered what it would have been like. "If that is a really picture of a troll I wish I could go back in time to see it." Angel giggled. "Serious I would pay to go back in time if it was." Angel would love to see a Troll dancing around in a tutu.

"How are you today?" Angel suddenly asked Zeke as she suddenly turned back around to him. "What you doing?" Angel had no idea what to do and it might be fun if she joined him.

He could barely take his eyes off it. THE TROOOOOLLLLLLLL..s.... in TUUTTTUUUUU... s. Yeah, hilarious. His gaze was trained on one, because it was simply so ludicrous, and then, because he thought it was amusing, instead of annotating his makeshift map with WORDS to describe the art work thing... he drew a stick figure troll in a tutu. HEHEHEHE.

"Tapestry," he corrected with an instinct he didn't know existed. "It's not a PICTURE per se," he clarified, swishing the feather end of his quill over its surface as if tickling it. But there was a more pressing aspect to point out, one that only improved his mood. "Why go back in time when we could just find a troll and a tutu?" Duuuuuuuhhhhh. Nothing better than the real deal right here and now, no? But of course, going BACK in time would have its perks too... so long as they didn't step on butterflies which would result in people having toasters for heads. Awkward.

"Eeehhh, I'm 'kay," he mused, shrugging, "just doing a bit of mapping and exploring and stuff." You know, USUAL Gryffindor stuff. Or so he thought. "How bout you? You 'kay?" he asked.

Angel blushed. "Yeah I know.. I was just so excited." Angel knew it was a Tapestry but for some strange reason had called it a picture. "Oh I just thought if this troll was up for it... it would be best for us to go and see this particular troll." Angel looked at Zeke at his next suggestions. "Oh would be cool to see what the troll would say if we asked it nicely if it would actually sit still whilst we put the tutu on." Angel giggled.

"Oh awesome. I'm doing the same thing." Angel said, she loved doing Gryffindor stuff and was glad to hang out and just explore the castle. "Oh I'm better than I was at the feast." Angel sighed as she thought about a few things that had happened.

She was excited, of course she was... it was a girl thing right? Any girl would be interested to see a troll in a tutu... .... yeah, no, he'd NEVER understand girls, except for Ashley, but she was different. It had only occurred to him, Avery might like the tapestry, she did ballet so it was only natural for her to appreciate this, right? He'd have to owl her soon. "Fair enough," he decided, shrugging. He couldn't though, agree with the rest of the girls logic. THAT particular troll? Noooooo... and as for ASKING trolls... that was a no too. Surely. "I think we'd have to FORCE them into it," he thought out loud. "Or you know, imperio them or something." As illegal as it was, he was sure Emily would let him off the hook somehow, she was the head boss lady of law stuff, so, ner.

"You're drawing a map too?" he asked, confused. Where was her map-making STUFF then huh? "Wanna compare notes? I think I'm fairly accurate in the width-length-generalspacemeasuring stuff..." mmhhmmm. He failed at numbers, but guestimating was a skill he was well practiced with. The feast? The feast? What happened at the feast?..... OOOHHH! He remembered there being SOMETHING happening, and there had been crying involved, but he payed it no attention at the time. "That's good, I 'spose."

Up the stairs, down the stairs, back up the stairs, back down the stairs. Merlin, this was a workout.

Thornton sighed and dropped his bag, taking a moment to lean against the wall. He'd been carrying the vast majority of his books everywhere he went, so that he would not have to run back up the stairs if he found himself with a moment to study in the library, or between classes on, say, the first floor.

"This is ridiculous," he mumbled, staring at the bag practically bursting. Rubbing his left shoulder, he looked up the hall toward the common room, then down the corridor back toward the stairs.

"You'd think someone would have figured out how to make this easier," he grumbled, kicking his bag, assuming that no one was paying much attention to him. Books spilled out of the bag and across the floor. Sighing, Thornton bent down to begin picking them up.

Dante had heard from the only normal girl he has met yet, Lotus. Tat the Room of Requirements should be around here somewhere. Talk about a work out. Walking all the stairs up to the Seventh Floor. It did not matter if the staircases moved. It was still a workout. So now he was looking for that the thing with Barnabus and place to sit down. Maybe both. He could sit down at the base of the thing. Yeah, that could work. But he did not expect it to be a tapestry.

An awesome tapestry at that.

But he was sidetrack by the dude he met on the boats over here. Thornton was it. He remembered because he was a proper gentleman, he was. So Dante decided to help him instead of walk by and laugh internally. "You need some help Thornton?"

Looked like he could use some help relaxing as well.

Thornton looked up, startled that someone was addressing him. Internally, he scolded himself for such an impolite display. What was happening to him, here?

Crouched on the ground, he looked up. "Hi, Dante," he said sheepishly. "I'm alright. Just got a little frustrated." He grabbed the loose books and quills, hastily shoving them into his bag. "I think the bag weighs more than I do."

Dragging it over to the wall, Thornton finally stood up straight, but not before brushing some unseen dust off his knees. "It's a horribly inefficient system, living in a tower, eating all the way down on the ground level, classes everywhere in between. You're lucky, having been sorted into a house that lives nearer the ground." He paused. "What are you doing all the way up here?"

Well he could see that, with all the books all over the place. Why did he have so many books. Was he a typical ravenclaw, unlike his brother. Could be, probably. "You sure and yeah it looks like that. Why you caring around so many books?" There were no classes right now. Well none Dante had to be at. Maybe he was one of those studious people that liked to study and read big books. It was possible.

"Well, you are right. But it is a good work out. I'll give it that. I'm out of breath walking up here. Though living in a Tower sounds cool. Oh, i was looking for The Room of Requirements. Might have gotten lost."

He was definitely lost.

It was that time of day again. Although there really was no set time of day in which he took Pebbles for a walk. It was more a spur of the moment sort of decision made when he was feeling especially idle and needed something to occupy his time.

Pink leash tied around her body just below the googly eyes, the astronomer held her ceremoniously in his right hand as he walked down the corridor. He would put her down and drag her along walk her once they got outside.

"You ought to have someone place an Extension Charm on your bag," he said casually as he walked past the two boys, offering them an enthusiastic salute and grin as he did. "Two fwoopers with one stone. Won't weigh as much as you AND you can use it to stuff extra treats into from the kitchen or feast to make one less trip down to from the Ravenclaw Tower."

As for the map topic of conversation, well, he had little to say on it and preferred to live by the immortal words of 'not all those who wander are lost'. Especially first years. They should get lost in Hogwarts to help them learn. Unlike Mr. Bay who should have known better.

Thornton shrugged. "If I carry them, I'll have them whenever I need them without having to come all the way back up here to the tower. Even if the view is really cool." But maybe walking up and down the stairs wouldn't be so HARD if he didn't carry all of his books all of the time. For being a Ravenclaw, the common sense things were not exactly a skill.

He was about to say something about the Room of Requirement, but his thoughts were interrupted.

IT WAS THE MAN WHO JUMPED ON THE TABLE

Thornton looked up as the Astronomy professor, trying not to stare at the... what was that in his hand? A rock? With eyes?

"An extension charm, Professor?" Thornton thought about it for a moment. Yes. Yes that would do. "Um.. would you be able to do it? Unless of course you're on your way somewhere..." Thornton was trying not to stare at what he was now realizing was a rock, with eyes, and... felt ears? On a leash.

He looked at Dante quickly, so as not to be caught staring. "Oh, or maybe you could help Dante figure out where he was going?"

Well, he could just not need them or just have a time to read. It would make his shoulder/back feel a lot better. So the view was awesome. Dante wanted to get into that common room and see it for himself. He could do riddles. "Well, that is one logical reason for having so many books" Though it did not look like it was doing his health any favors.

Dante was about to offer to help with holding his back since he was now distracted with this and being nice. But this Professor was it, was here now. With a rock with googly eyes and ears. Well okay now that takes the cake for weirdest thing he has saw today. The Professor did look nice in his suit. He had to admit that.

Extension Charms. Sounded advanced and a nice charm to learn. Dante hoped he would learn how to do that in the future.

"Nice suit. Professor.....Couldn't you magically give your rock legs or something. Better than just dragging it and i was on my way to the Room of Requirements. But....yeah"

Gingerly setting Pebbles down on the ground - and pointing his finger firmly at her to stay - he reached into his enchanted breast pocket for his wand holster and nodded. "I certainly can, but it is also quite the handy little spell for you to have in your own spellwork arsenal. Assuming, of course, you would be willing to give it a go."

That went for both of them, by the way.

Although the Slytherin seemed to have other plans that did not involve impromptu spell lessons in the middle of a corridor in front of dancing trolls.

"One does not simply walk the corridors of Hogwarts looking for the Room of Requirement and expect it to appear," Airey chuckled. "It only appears to those in great need of it. I personally found it during my Hogwarts days my 4th years when I was in desperate need of the loo." To the point where he could hardly walk, actually. Had been quite the relief to have that door appear before him. "You may want to give that a go. Walking around asking for the room to appear before you without a true need won't help you at all."

His blue eyes looked down to Pebbles, who was resting comfortably against the stone floor. "And alter her appearance for my own convenience? No thank you, young man. I quite like Pebbles just the way she is. Giving her legs I fear would cause quite the alarm. May think that there was a pogrebin following me and either kick her or blast her to smithereens!"

Thornton quirked his head to the side at Dante's response to the professor. Whhhhhy would you directly address the fact that the man was carrying a rock as if it were a pet. As for the Room of Requirement, Thornton didn't care very much. If he truly had need, then the room would find him. And if he didn't, well, then he didn't need to find it.

But it was the Professor's reply to Dante that had Thornton really looking at them both with wide eyes. How was this even a conversation? Pebbles? What even?

Thornton, however, had a need. Stepping forward, he cleared his throat. "I'm.. I'm sure that he didn't mean to imply that, uh, Pebbles was lacking in any way or meant to suggest something that would cause her harm..." He paused, hoping that he'd adequately interceded on Dante's behalf.

"But, back to the extension charm," he said hopefully. "Do you think it's something a first year could manage? Or am I likely to accidentally extend my foot? Or blow up the bag?"

Because it was full of books. And that would be terribly sad.

"Well it would be cool to see the troll and see if it always worth strange things like that." Angel giggled, seriously what was going on with the troll in the tapestry.

O__________o

Angel looked shocked at what the boy said, why did things have to be like that she would never understand boys and their way of doing things. "Oh well maybe I could watch if we couldn't ask the troll nicely." Angel didn't think it would be nice been forced to do something you didn't want to do.

Angel went into her bag, I started it last year when we had snow in the grounds, it was really bad so we didn't get to go outside. Angel handed over the map to Zeke. "Hope you like it." Angel thought it would be cool if he did. "As you can see I've got most things down but I'm not sure I've got everything so I'm double checking. "What do you think?" Angel then heard what Zeke said. "Yeah it is." Angel beamed. "Want to have a walk around the school and see what we can find?"

....... ........... why would trolls wear anything, let alone strange things all the time? Zeke smiled, nodded and refrained from laughing out loud. Angel had some strange ideas indeed, but of course, she was a girl. XD

This was also made evident with her not wanting to... force? trolls into things? So she'd be a spectator? BORRRRIIIINNNGGG. "I don't think trolls are the type of creatures to be nice, let alone do things because you ask nicely," he mused, wondering if maybe it said something in his Creatures textbook. But ehhhh, no biggie.

She hadn't said yes or no, but considering she was rifling through her bag, that had to mean SOMETHING. Of course it all became clear when she started going on about being trapped in the castle last year, he could see how that might lead to mapping. Yep. "Oh cool," he murmured, taking the map she held out to him. He inspected it, running his eyes over the lines of the places he was still yet to visit. Made his map look like chicken scratch. "You should finish it one day," he encouraged, confirming this with a nod. The invitation to explore the castle with her was well received, Zeke's face split into a wide grin. "That'd be cool, you'd know all the cool places to go, right?"

AJ had said they could explore together too, it was a shame she wasn't here... they could make a party of it, but either way, Angel's company would be appreciated.

Angel looked at Zeke, "Maybe you are right." Angel would try but if she had to she'd jinx the troll. She would take on an army of people if she had too but well that would be a last resort. Angel always thought that the first thing was to try and get out of things without getting into an argument because that was weird.

Angel smiled as she looked at the map. "Oh I intend to finish the map." Angel really wanted to have the best map possible. "I just wish AJ would get involved too, but I'm not sure that she wants to help with the map, I haven't shown her it yet." Angel looked at Zeke as she tried to think about a great place. "Oh I know a few great places, there's the portraits and then there's the old secret passage on the fifth floor, oh and the Fred and George swamp monument." Angel showed Zeke the places on her map.

Well Dante did know where it was. He was just a little lost now. He was on the right floor. Just had to find it simple enough. "Hmm...well i do need to find it. Just want to make my own skate park or a place that has a book of awesome puns." Both would be awesome. And yes he was implying that his pet rock was lacking in the way of legs. Who has a pet rock, really. Dragging it around seemed undignified. and looked lazy. Plus that was a pretty big word there.

Undignified. Makes you sound smart if you say it.

"Well i guess since it is a rock. It does not matter and could you mistakenly expanded your head with that charm? It would be awesome to see. If not my head"

This extension charm sounded awesome.

Maybe he was right. OF COURSE HE WAS RIGHT! Trolls were all smelly and dirty and gnarly and cool and they did not do girly things like ballet without being forced into it, and even then they'd likely try to kill you first. At any rate, he didn't need to comment further.

What would be nice though, would be seeing the map complete. "Promise to show me when it's finished?" he asked. It was a shame to hear that AJ wasn't involved though, she was awesome. "You should, she might want to help," he encouraged with a shrug. He wasn't about to assume things that girls thought, but it sounded legit. But alas, adventure was on the cards, and Angel had some neat ideas. "Secret passage you say?" he asked, a grin forming. He didn't much care for swamps or portraits, but SECRET or FORMERLY SECRET places sounded cool.

SPOILER!!: my boys! *woot woot*

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmbiguouslyMe

Thornton quirked his head to the side at Dante's response to the professor. Whhhhhy would you directly address the fact that the man was carrying a rock as if it were a pet. As for the Room of Requirement, Thornton didn't care very much. If he truly had need, then the room would find him. And if he didn't, well, then he didn't need to find it.

But it was the Professor's reply to Dante that had Thornton really looking at them both with wide eyes. How was this even a conversation? Pebbles? What even?

Thornton, however, had a need. Stepping forward, he cleared his throat. "I'm.. I'm sure that he didn't mean to imply that, uh, Pebbles was lacking in any way or meant to suggest something that would cause her harm..." He paused, hoping that he'd adequately interceded on Dante's behalf.

"But, back to the extension charm," he said hopefully. "Do you think it's something a first year could manage? Or am I likely to accidentally extend my foot? Or blow up the bag?"

Because it was full of books. And that would be terribly sad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meizzner

Well Dante did know where it was. He was just a little lost now. He was on the right floor. Just had to find it simple enough. "Hmm...well i do need to find it. Just want to make my own skate park or a place that has a book of awesome puns." Both would be awesome. And yes he was implying that his pet rock was lacking in the way of legs. Who has a pet rock, really. Dragging it around seemed undignified. and looked lazy. Plus that was a pretty big word there.

Undignified. Makes you sound smart if you say it.

"Well i guess since it is a rock. It does not matter and could you mistakenly expanded your head with that charm? It would be awesome to see. If not my head"

This extension charm sounded awesome.

Airey's eyes drifted towards the Ravenclaw and a slight smug smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He could tell this first year was a Pebbles fan already. He could just see it in that little sparkle in his. That one right there that was quite possibly a figment of his imagination.

"Of course of course," he nodded, offering the Ravenclaw a salute before his attention was drawn away to the Slytherin and something in particular he said. "You know, I have quite the pun collection in my office. Handcrafted by a former student of mine," he half offered half reminisced. He wasn't sure if the library would hold something as 'un-academic' as a book of puns...but was quite possible.

Removing his suit jacket and conjuring himself a coat rack to hang it on, the professor rolled up his sleeves and looked back to the curious Ravenclaw. "I really ought to know the two of yous names," he chuckled. "Professor Flamsteed, or Professor Airey if you prefer. I teach Astronomy here at Hogwarts...aaaaaaand also impromptu spell lessons in corridors when the timing is right." They were already acquainted with Pebbles, so there was no need to do further introductions there.

"Now, as for this charm. It's quite advanced for a first year, but not impossible," he nodded. "And it's not THAT sort of an expansion charm. Be sure not to confuse it with the engorgement charm. Now THAT would make your head and foot grow on the exterior, but what the expansion charm will do is expand the inner dimensions of a thing." Which...he supposed you could do on a part of your body...although those consequences were rather frightening.

Best leaving it as something that couldn't be done. Yup.

And hold on a second...he needed to backtrack a bit and ask the Slytherin a question. "And what is a skate park?" Sounded exciting...whatever it was.

"Thornton Baines, sir," the young boy offered simply, his ears perking at Astronomy. Should the impromptu spell lesson not be a disaster, he may need to go visit the man in his office.

He breathed a sigh of relief when Flamsteed explained that it wasn't like an engorgement charm and only affected inner dimensions. Wait. What if he hit his foot? Would it end up hollow? What would happen to his bones if the INSIDE of his foot was expansive. How would he even know...

Stop it, Thornton. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his wand. Difficult, but not impossible. He'd give it a go. Hopefully, he wouldn't screw anything up too much. The wand felt awkward in his hand; too big almost. When he'd purchased it, it had certainly been a match, but it still was a bit much for his small hand. He let it roll across his palm, considering it.

His stomach flopped, as he waited for instruction, trying to convince himself that success or failure in this instant would not define him.

Oh, did this Professor like jokes too. That was pretty cool. He might even visit sometime to look at this book of his. It sounded pretty awesome.

So he was the Astrology...Astronomy Professor. Well that was one class Dante was going to be taking. Cool. Dante wished he could wear a suit like that. Fancy. Maybe with a fedora and cane. Would look like a boss wearing those things. Yeah, with those two things. "Dante Barrington, at your service" Dante said bowing. Even meeting a Professor was time to have some fun.

The Professor was using a lot of big words in his explaining of this expansion charm. Dante might have to come back to this when he was older and actually knew some awesome advanced spells. Though practicing it could be fun...So why not listen and learn something.

A skate park?

"Well it is a place with empty pools, ramps, and rails. To skateboard on and in. It is fun" If you knew how to skateboard that is.

Angel smiled at Zeke as she looked at the map. "I promise I'll show you." Angel then suddenly had another idea. "Unless you want to help me finish it." Angel thought that two heads would be better than one and they could get more done.

Angel listened to what Zeke had to say about her sister. "I'll think about it." Angel sighed, seriously her sister was better than her at everything and well she wanted to do something on her own that was amazing and she could be proud of. "Yeah... well it used to be, but in the Battle of Hogwarts something happened that sealed it up, so it doesn't go anywhere now. It's on the fifth floor behind a statue." Angel smiled