Originally Posted by Birchwoodmom

As she worked her way down the ever cooling staircase, Emmalyn couldn’t help but wonder if what she heard could really be true. She had just seen with her own eyes the Fat Friar, so she was sure ghosts were real. But, she wondered if there really was a ghost from her family at Hogwarts.

“Good gravy it’s cold down here” she mumbled as she made her way further down the icy corridor. Her mind ran over the events of the evening. She was sorted into Hufflepuff. There was no way her mother could have known what house she would be sorted into, so how did her mother happen to give her a bracelet that very morning that was in Hufflepuff house colors? Then she heard someone, although she couldn’t tell who said it, say there was a ghost with the last name of Walsh last seen in the dungeon corridor.

After deciding there was no harm in trying to call the ghost, Emmalyn gently cleared her throat and spoke “Excuse me, are there any ghosts down here?” She looked around for some sign of ghostly business. “Hello? Ghosts? Ghost Walsh? I’m looking for ghost Walsh?” The cold was starting to seep through her robes and down to her bones. She stood a moment more and called out louder through chattering teeth “Are there any ghosts down here?” She slowly walked forward, looking in every direction for a sign that a ghost was around.


Emmalyn continued down the corridor, rubbing her hands up and down her arms for warmth. She was thankful she had her wand, even though she had no idea whatsoever how to use it. If she happened to run into someone or something along the way, she figured they wouldn’t know she had no idea. That did make her feel a bit less nervous. She was also taking comfort in knowing she announced to a few fellow Hufflepuffs where she was headed. She was sure at least one of her housemates would come looking for her soon to help her find this Walsh ghost.

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Based on calculations, this was probably the last term she'd be able to gather rats from the dungeons. Given the average lifespan and her inability to take them with her when she left, Jessa tried to angle her study in such a way that the last of them would die just in time for her to board the Hogwarts express for the last time. Those that didn't, she would release back into the castle but after years of pampering, the Ravenclaw wasn't sure how well they would acclimatize to life back out in the "wild".

It was something to look into, in fact she already was. A few of her more seasoned rats had been re-released into the dungeons with little tags on them for easy identification. They knew her voice and she knew where they were likely to be. In theory, it should have been easy enough--but of course nothing ever worked quite the way theory intended leaving Jessa on her knees currently peering into a crevice along the wall with her wand illuminating the inside.

It was only at the sound of another person that she looked up, straightening to get a better look. "Who's ghost Walsh?" She asked, curious blue eyes set on the First Year. "I don't reckon many of the ghosts stick around down here. You could try the spirit room." She may have asked why that hadn't been the first place she checked but for two reasons she didn't; 1. it may very well HAVE been the first place she checked, 2. First Years seldom knew the right places to do anything. That sort of knowledge took some time around the castle, exploring and figuring it out.

And just like that, Jessa now found herself wondering why a First Year would be looking for a ghost. So many questions in truth. "Is he a friend of yours?" How curious.

Originally Posted by Birchwoodmom

Emmalyn crept further down the hall, even though every ounce of her wanted to run back to the warm comfort of the Hufflepuff common room. It was only out of sheer determination to find the ghost that kept her pushing forward on her journey.

"Oh, what's that?" she whispered when she spotted a bit of light near the ground just down the corridor. She gripped her wand tighter and headed towards the mysterious light. "Ghost Walsh?" she said just above a whisper. She was so new to magical things that she wasn't sure if a ghost could produce light. All of the ghosts at the opening feast were sort of transparent, but that was in the bright lights of the Great Hall.

Suddenly, the light holding figure rose before her and she let out an ear piercing scream "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!" Emmalyn was frozen in terror. At that very moment she had the silliest thought run through her mind. She had always wondered if she was more of a fight or flight type person. She instantly determined that she was a freeze in place and try not to pee your pants type.

Before heart attack level of panic could take over, the being before her spoke. It spoke in the most wonderful human tone. Emmalyn's brain quickly realized that it was not a ghost, not a life threatening situation, and not a reason to flip out.

"Oh, hello. Sorry about that. You scared me." She loosened the white knuckle grip on her wand and gently placed it in the pocket of her robe. "I am looking for a ghost. I overheard a few students talking about a ghost that lives around this part of Hogwarts." she said all of this as if she knew exactly what she was talking about. "They said it's last name was Walsh, and well, I'm Emmalyn Walsh." She considered what the spirit room might have and weather or not that would be a good second place to look. "I'm not sure about the Spirit Room. I'm fairly certain they said the ghost was down here."

Emmalyn glanced around to make sure she hadn't missed anything else during her conversation with the older girl. "What are you doing down here? I asked one of the older girls in my house to come and help when she could, maybe we can help you find what you are looking for while we look for my ghost?"