Basement Corridor

[Zoe]

To get to the basement level of Hogwarts, you need only go through the door located on the right-hand side of the marble staircase in the Entrance Hall. After doing so, you will find yourself in a broad stone corridor that -- contrary to the cold, damp corridors of the dungeons -- is warm and brightly lit with numerous torches. The atmosphere in this part of the castle is inviting, so feel free to stroll around aimlessly.

Though there are suits of armour scattered about here and there, it is the cheerful pictures placed on the walls that capture your attention. Rather than depicting famous witches and wizards, on display is a rather tasteful spread that will get your mouth watering instantaneously. Within each frame are paintings of food, from pots of soup, gourmet meals on silver plates, bowls of ice cream, boxes of glazed doughnuts, and more. If you weren't hungry before, you likely are now. It's a good thing that the kitchen is somewhere around here, right?

[The Narrator]

An expected occurrence each and every day, Scrimgeour's low and rough voice booms from the school loudspeakers on the hour without fail. Certain events that transpired throughout October and early November brought with it a number of new school rules, whether you are in favour of them or not. It is better best that you not tune out the headmaster if you wish to avoid point loss, detention, or worse.

"Removal of food and drink from the Great Hall and Kitchen is prohibited. Food and beverages are allowed only in these designated areas. Water is the only exception."

Hopefully you will be able to keep these rules straight ... or, if you dare, you'll choose not to. The choice is yours.

[Suziella]

For some reason, when Tristan didn't want to be in his hut or outside, he would come and hang out in the basement corridor. Currently, he was grading the homework assignment he had given out a couple days ago, on the floor, his legs crossed, and the parchments in two separate piles in front of him: graded and not graded.

He was so laser focused that the booming voice of the Headmaster coming on the loudspeakers made him jump, spilling a bit of his ink on the floor. He swore under his breath, quickly pulling out his wand to clean up the mess before it reached the students' papers.

"More ridiculous rules, Scrimgeour?" He said quietly to himself. It was starting to feel like a prison around here with what the students were and weren't allowed to do. Now thoroughly annoyed, Tristan stood, collecting his papers, ink, and quill and headed back to his hut. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could stand.

[MadMadamMalfoy]

Gaston was in a fairly good mood, considering the circumstances in the school, as he wandered down the basement corridor toward the kitchens. He needed to have a word with the house elves about the refreshments for his next class. He almost smiled to himself as a delicious smell wafted through the air. Whatever the house elves were making, it smelled mouth-watering! Maybe they'd let him have some?

Suddenly the all too familiar voice of the headmaster blasted through the intercom, and Gaston's mood instantly deteriorated. What? No food outside the kitchens or great hall? Was he hearing that right? Nononononono.... he couldn't go along with this! He'd put up with plenty of Scrimgeour's stupid rules, but this one went against everything he stood for. He always offered the students food and drink. It was like an unspoken promise between them. If they came to class and showed him respect, he would show them kindness and generosity in return by offering refreshments. Now with this rule, the headmaster was asking him to hide that part of himself.

Well, so much for talking to the elves. Gaston turned on his heel, mumbling a few choice words in French. "You're only telling us this now?!" he grumbled through clenched teeth. Granted, this rule was nothing short of lunacy whenever it happened, but now he had to scramble to remodel half the charms classroom before Taskmaster Headmaster Scrimgeour used it as an excuse to fire him... the mini fridge had to be taken out of the practice room, the coffee bar out of the seating area, and his treasured bistro... he didn't want to think about it!

He was noticeably trembling with rage as he went. I might've guessed... Merlin forbid anyone show kindness and generosity in this school! he thought bitterly. Apparently having a heart is grounds for punishment now... His hands balled into fists, anger mounting with each passing second, and... Suddenly all the torches went out, and the corridor was plunged in total darkness. Huh... that was odd. With a wave of his wand and an exasperated sigh, Gaston reignited the torches, and it was only then that he saw Tristan, no doubt heading back to his hut to escape these ridiculous rules. He gave the other professor a nod of acknowledgement, though he wasn't sure he'd see it.

[Schmoop]

Eeeeeeeeeeek! Schmoop was being a bad elf! Very very bad elf!!

After baking another stash of fresh chocolate chips cookies, Schmoop stood at the kitchen door because he hopes studentsies will come and eat some cookies but no studentsies came...

Schmoop then decided to -GULP- take some cookies out of the kitchen!!!!!!! And look for studentsies that wanted cookies!!!

SCHMOOP WAS SCARED of most of the staff now but he wants to make studentsies happy.

Holding the tray of warm cookies in front of him, Schmoop is now trembling in the basement corridor hoping it's studentsies and not mean staffers that find him there!

[Birchwoodmom]

He was on yet another walk through the castle. Professor Davis felt as if he had set the world record for laps around Hogwarts, and was becoming more of a glorified hall monitor than a professor. As he rounded the corner, he thought he smelled cookies. Delicious, wonderful cookies. His stomach grumbled and his mouth instinctively started to water.

The further he traveled down the corridor, the stronger the glorious order became. Then, he noticed the little house elf. "Schmoop? Is that you?" He asked as he approached. It was Schmoop and he appeared to be trembling. Foster's eyes landed on the cookies. "Oh, those smell wonderful. May I have one?" He quickly glanced around to make sure none of the "those" professors were near by. The whole no food outside the Great Hall rule was ridiculous and he wasn't about to pass up fresh baked cookies.

[Schmoop]

Schmoop was waiting, Schmoop was going to wait as long as needed until one of the studentsies came and ate some of his cookies no matter what!

Holdings onto the tray as if holdings on for dear life, Schmoop took a step back when he heards footsteps. It was a professor and Schmoop's eyes went big and his shoulders and big big ears sloped. No studentsies to eat cookies and now Schmoop was in trouble!!!

Schmoop was ready to pops out of sight and back into the kitchen when professor Davis spoke to him. "Professor Davis sir!!" Schmoop sighs a sigh of relief because he's not in trouble! "Yes yes, have a cookie, professor sir, please! As many as professor wants!" Schmoop said gleefully, lifting the tray as high as he could!! Schmoop was only a little elf but his arms reached high! Ish! "Professor Davis sir, Schmoop is happy to bake cookies for everyone and Schmoop wants to give out cookies but the rules say Schmoop cannot do that! But Schmoop wants to help! Schmoop is here to serve the studentsies and nice professors!"

[Birchwoodmom]

It broke his heart to see such a sweet house elf so worried. “Well, thank you very much, Schmoop. If these cookies taste half as good as they smell, I’m in for quite a treat.” He reached out and took one, paused, gave a little grin, then took two more. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take a few for later.” After slipping a handkerchief around two of the cookies and placing them in his pocket, he took a bite out of the third.

“These are very good, Schmoop. You did an excellent job.” Foster glanced around once again, hoping to catch site of anyone that might be coming their way. “Now, while I don’t agree with the no food rule, and I do very much so appreciate your service to the students and professors, I want you to be very careful outside of the kitchen with food. Not all of the professors or students will overlook the Headmasters rules.” He shook his head and hoped Schmoop knew just how sad he was about the rule and how much he didn’t want the little elf to get into trouble. "Now, will you promise me that if you see the Headmaster, or any of his...special helpers, you will get back to the kitchens as quickly as possible?"

[Schmoop]

Schmoop's ears fluttered some when professor Davis took cookies and complimented them! It made Schmoop very happy when othera liked his cookies as much as he did! "It's Schmoop's pleasure, professor Davis, sir, Schmoop is happy professor Davis likes his cookies! Schmoop said bowing as low as his holding the tray allowed without dropping any cookies!!

Schmoop listens to what professor Davis said and blinks his big round eyes. "Yes, Schmoop knows the rules, but Schmoop couldn't help himself and neededs to bring cookies to studentsies and nice professors!! The cookies were getting cold, professor sir!" Schmoop's big round eyes blinked at professor Davis. "Schmoop promises to be a good elf!!"

[Goblinfrog]

Alice was on one of her usual patrols. She did these patrols five times a day. It used to be nine times a day, but it had been awhile since she'd caught any students breaking rules. Perhaps by now they all knew better than to defy the headmaster and his ever expanding set of rules. Which was good, because by now she was tired of giving detentions and taking away points. Privately, she believed some of these rules went too far 0 but there was no way she was about to challenge the one who could fire her.

Today she was wearing long white robes, the robes she used to meditate and do karate. Being an obedient teacher, she didn't have to follow the same dress rules as the students.

"Hello, Foster," she greeted her colleague politely as she approached he and the house elf. It took her a moment to register that there were cookies outside the kitchen. "Er...Schmoop? What are those chocolate cookies doing? Foster, what are they doing?"

Chocolate? Ew!!!

[Birchwoodmom]

The smile spread across his face from the joy he saw in Schmoop. "You are very kind, Schmoop." Before he could take another bite, he heard footsteps coming and turned to see who was approaching. "Ah, Alice. Hello to you as well."

At her question as to what the chocolate cookies were doing, he positioned himself between Schmoop and Professor O'Hara and gave her a mischievous grin. "Why, Alice, you can clearly see those cookies are sitting on a tray. That's all they are doing. Were you hoping they would dance for you?" His hope was to give Schmoop the chance to get out of there, if he chose to do so, and leave him to deal with any consequences. He really didn't know where the professor stood in her loyalty to the headmaster.

[Goblinfrog]

An incredulous expression came over her features. Really, Foster? "Oh, funny. Foster is trying to be funny. Ha ha ha! Actually, dancing chocolate is more horrifying than funny." Her tone wasn't really that angry, it was more sarcastic - a fact that was punctuated by the eye roll that followed her words. She took a step closer towards him, her face serious again. "Now please tell me you're not breaking Julian's rules. I really like you, Foster, I don't want to see you punished. Not over something as gross as chocolate."

She turned to regard the house elf. "Don't worry, I'm not mad at you. I'm sure you were just following Foster's orders."

[Schmoop]

Schmoop couldn't talk to professor Davis anymore because there was another professor coming and talking to them. Schmoop lookeds up and watched the two talks and Schmoop wasn't sure what to do now!

Schmoop was very confused because professor O'Hara asked what the cookies were doing. Schmoop didn't knows cookies did anything except be cookies and be eatens but they said they could dance and Schmoop was more confused! Professor O'Hara askeds if rules were being broken! Schmoop starteds trembling some again because Schmoop was very very scared and thought about popping back into the kitchen, but professor O'Hara said Schmoop was just following professor Davis' orders and Schmoop wondered if he had gotten professor Davis in trouble!!!!!

"Bad Schmoop!! Bad!!" Schmoop exclaimeds, shaking his head violently causing his big big ears to flap flap flap. "Schmoop not following the rules, Schmoop has cookies outside the kitchen! Schmoop is a bad elf! But tasty cookies must be eaten, professor O'Hara missus, Schmoop couldn't eat them himself!" BAD SCHMOOP BAD BAD SCHMOOP!!!

[Birchwoodmom]

He tried his best to not crack a smile. The entire situation was rather ridiculous as there was no need for so much fuss to be made over food outside of the kitchens. When Julian had made the rule, Foster was positive the man had lost his marbles. Every witch and wizard in their right mind knew that growing children were far happier and far more productive when they were well fed.

Without looking back at Schmoop, he raised his voice plenty loud for the sweet house elf to hear. "Don't you worry yourself one bit, Schmoop. In fact, why don't you go and deliver cookies to the house common rooms, by my approval. If Professor O'Hara feels the need to tell the headmaster, I'm sure she will let him know that I am the one that approved it." He was beyond finished with the Azkaban style leadership.

He stood taller and adjusted the front of his robes as he continued with Alice. "Do you take take issue with the students being fed after all they have put up with this year?" He shook his head, disappointed in himself for letting his temper get the better of him. After a slow, calming breath he continued. "You must know that all these rules are wrong. Somewhere deep inside, you must feel it. How can this be healthy or helpful for the students?" He took a slight step forward. "Please, Alice, take a moment and consider what this year has done to them."

[MadMadamMalfoy]

Gaston was beyond exhausted! These days, it felt as if his life had been reduced to an act, always faking and fawning, pretending to be okay with the things that were demanded of him and his students. The strain of putting on the facade (and the devastating news he'd received over the Easter holiday) took a lot out of him, so coffee breaks had become a regular occurrence to replenish his rapidly draining energy. He turned down the basement corridor, grumbling to himself about the stupid food rules. Now instead of walking down the hall for a cup of coffee, he had to go down four flights of stairs. Thanks a lot, Scrimgeour!

He stopped suddenly as he heard voices rising and looked up to find Alice, Foster, and one of the house elves with... was that a tray of cookies? He didn't catch all of what was being said, but he did not like the sarcastic way Alice was talking to Foster. Good Godric Gryffindor, what was going on here?! Bright blue eyes darted from Foster's face to Alice's and then to Schmoop... who was now saying he was a bad elf.

Gaston quickly realized what was happening. "No," he said, his tone calm despite the fire in his eyes. "Foster didn't order those cookies; I did." He shot the other man a look of sympathy and concern, a look that said, I can't let you take the fall for this.

As for Alice, he had some... thoughts about her, but he thought Foster had done a pretty good job getting the point across on his own. He had nothing to add for now (though if the situation escalated, all bets were off), so he turned his attention to Schmoop. "Schmoop?" he said, bending to the elf's level. "Schmoop... please stop; it's alright." All that head shaking he was doing couldn't be good for him! "You're not a bad elf. It's very kind and generous of you to want to give cookies to the students." He hoped the poor creature would calm down soon; it was brekaing his heart to see him like this!

[Goblinfrog]

Her eyes widened with indignation as Foster rebuked her for attempting to enforce Julian's rules. He was quickly joined by Gaston (and hopefully the fact that he heard didn't mean that any of Julian's staff were around and could hear, too), who surprised her even further by taking full responsibility for the cookies. He didn't look pleased.

"Now hold on, Foster, Gaston, you know I had nothing to do with making these rules!" she replied defensively, looking from one to the other. Being one fourth goblin, she was a little shorter than both of them. "You know, too, that if we are caught breaking rules we will be fired just like all the others. Are cookies really worth getting fired over?"

She took a small step backwards when Foster took a small step towards her. It was hard to tell whether this was meant to intimidate her or not, but she didn't like being so close to someone taller than her when in an argument - as it meant she had to look up when speaking. "And Foster, you said these rules weren't healthy for the students. Chocolate chip cookies aren't healthy for them either."

And she looked down at Schmoop, the only person in this conversation who she was thankfully taller than. "Schmoop, why don't you instead bring our students pears and lima beans? Those are healthy foods." And she looked back up at Foster and Gaston. "How about that for a compromise?"

[Schmoop]

Schmoop's eyeses widened more when Schmoop heard another set of steps and voice coming closer and he realized they weren't studentsies' either!!!! Eeeeerk, Schmoop was in triple trouble!!!!

Schmoop kept shaking his head although professor Davis and professor Marchand were being nice to him. "No no, Schmoop is a bad bad elf!! Schmoop is getting professors in trouble!! Schmoop is in trouble!! Schmoop is a bad bad bad elf!!!!" Schmoop's ears were flap flap flapping as he kept shaking his head violently.

Professor O'Hara told Schmoop to bring pears and beans instead? Schmoop stopped shaking his head and gives professor O'Hara a confused looks. "Schmoop does not understand. Is pears and lima beans allowed out of the kitchens but not cookies?" Schmoop wondered if the rules had changed but no one had told him!!! "Cookies make studentsies and professors happy!" Schmoop explains, offering professor O'Hara the tray. "Cookie, professor O'Hara missus?"

[Birchwoodmom]

No sooner than he had finished, he heard more footsteps. The normally quiet basement corridor had turned into quite the hot spot, most likely due to the glorious cookie smell luring them their way. Much to his relief, it was Gaston, who's kind heart was apparent by his immediate consoling of the overly upset Schmoop.

"Gaston is right, Schmoop. You are not a bad house elf. You are a very kind and caring house elf. Don't listen to anyone that suggests otherwise." He raked his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end. "My apologies, Alice. No, I don't believe you had any say in making the rules and I shouldn't be taking out my frustration on you. And, yes, I do realize that there could be serious consequences for breaking the rules, even though they are completely ridiculous." He took another deep breath and let it out slowly while counting down from ten in his head.

"Gaston, it's very kind of you to protect both Schmoop and me, but I'm tired of all of this. I can't do it anymore." He considered Alice's compromise. "It is true that cookies aren't the most healthy food choice. However, they do bring joy and that's very healthy. And yes, some fruit would be a nice treat." He looked back at Schmoop. "Schmoop, if Professor O'Hara agrees, would you be willing to deliver trays of fresh fruits, vegetables, and some of your delicious cookies to the common rooms?" He glanced towards Gaston and Alice. "A lot of healthy and just a few treats? Good for both the body and soul. I'm happy to take on any consequences that may arise." He was less sure if Gaston would go along with the plan than Alice, since Gaston's caring nature seemed to lead him to protecting others in detriment to his own well being.