Basement: Fruit Bowl

[Wilber Winterbottom]

Out of all of the paintings hanging on the walls of the basement corridor, the one depicting a silver fruit bowl is an easy favourite for some of those here at Hogwarts. While many may think that there is nothing special about this particular painting, those who are well-informed about its purpose know what lies beyond. Past this painting is where all of the food you stuff in your mouth three or more times a day is made.

If you're in the need of second breakfast, elevenses, or a mid-afternoon snack, then this is the place to be. If you are someone who knows this particular castle secret, you know those bananas and grapes aren't there just to make your mouth water and your stomach rumble. Simply reach out your hand and tickle the delicious-looking pear in the corner. After it has a squirming fit and laughs, it will transform into a green door-knob and grant you access to the grand Hogwarts kitchen where anything you desire can be whipped up in no time at all.

[Zoe]

With another lesson having come to an end, a decent block of time was now available for him to do as he pleased. Typically at this hour, Beauden would make his way out onto the grounds, where he could stretch his legs, feel the breeze, and bask in the freedom that came with being outside. The duelling exercises from Defence, however, had left him feeling unexpectedly ravenous. Rather than sprinting straight to the lake, the creature barn, or seeing how far he could get to the forest before getting into trouble, a slight detour was in order.

The journey down from the third floor to the basement hadn't taken him terribly long. Even with the hustle and bustle of students flooding the corridors, heading to their next classes or chatting in small groups, he managed to move quickly. The not-so-secret passageways made the trip from the third floor to the basement a breeze. The sixth year felt like a man on a mission, his mind occupied by one thing: snacks.

At the sight of the fruit bowl down the corridor, his stomach growled, the familiar sight making his hunger intensify. As he walked up to the fruit bowl, his stomach growled again, louder this time, urging him on. With a flick of his wrist, Beauden extended his hand and gave the pear a light tickle, expecting the familiar sound of giggles and the swift transformation into a door-knob.

The sound of giggles filled his ears, though that pear was taking its sweet time squirming. He frowned, giving the pear another tickle, this time with more precision. Was it him, or was the pear being stubborn today? "Come on now," Beauden muttered under his breath, trying again.

[Kolyander]

The fourth year hadn't come from a lesson, she had come from across the grounds where she had been working on some of her flying techniques. If she was going to be going out for the Quidditch team there was nothing wrong with getting in all the practice that she could manage, right? Right.

Had she mentioned that she had been out there on the pitch with her mama? Yeah, the older woman had wanted to ensure that Bry knew what she was getting herself into. Which was also why they had ANOTHER chat about Animagi things while all this flying was happening. It was good though, because now that there were no doubts on anyone's part, this girl was free to go ahead and speak with her professors and the Headmaster! All things were slowly beginning to fall into place.

When her mama had to call it a day on the flying, the brooms had been brought back to Hady's cabin/office and Bry continued on her way to the barn. Some time was spent with the creatures there (namely Bacon) but the others as well, while checking-in on them all and working on some of her ninja warrior training. Not too much time was spent here right now before realizing she was STARVING.. knowing her a meal had missed at some point.

This left Bry making her way to portrait outside the kitchen where she clearly wasn't alone as someone else was already there blocking the way. "Are you not going in?" she asked by way of greeting, blonde head tilted slightly to the side as she eyed the older year and the giggling pear in the painting.

[Zoe]

Beauden was lost in his thoughts, focusing entirely on the pear that was being uncharacteristically uncooperative. His stomach growled again impatiently, adding to the urgency of the situation. Each growl was like a ticking clock, amplifying the urgency of his snack hunt. The pear, however, continued to emit its cheerful giggles, its surface jiggling slightly as if mocking his predicament.

With a huff of frustration, Beauden tried one more time, his fingers expertly dancing around the pear in a rhythmic tickle. The pear's giggles seemed to grow louder, more taunting, and the boy's patience was wearing thin. He had half a mind to abandon his efforts and sprint to the Great Hall for any leftover scraps, but just as he was about to give up, a voice cut through his concentration. Beauden turned, breaking his gaze from the pear, to see a blonde fourth-year Slytherin who seemed vaguely familiar.

"I want to, but it seems like this pear's got other plans," Beauden said, his tone a mix of frustration and disbelief. "It's taking its sweet time transforming into a door-knob. Been trying for ages." The latter part of his statement was somewhat exaggerated. It had only been a few minutes, but those minutes had felt like an eternity considering the pear's unusual reluctance.

He glanced back at the pear, which continued to giggle with apparent amusement as if mocking his futile attempts. "Want to give it a go?" he offered with a gesture towards the fruit bowl, stepping aside to make room.

[Kolyander]

If it weren't for the occasional giggles that she could hear as she now stood there outside the entrance to the kitchen, Bry would've guessed that perhaps maybe the older boy hadn't even tried to go inside as of yet. However, those giggles were indeed a sweet telltale sign that someone had attempted to enter the kitchen. Only, it was really strange because where there were giggles, there should be a doorway. And there wasn't?

The mildly familiar older Gryffindors words had her taking pause and staring at him in confusion. "Hm? That's strange. I've never had that issue before. Is there something wrong with it? Did you try tickling it really low almost on the bottom of it.. like you would tickle a familiar under the chin.. you know, of it.. had a chin?" Was she aware that what she was saying may not have made any sense at all to him, no, no she was not.

With a sweet smile and a nod of blonde hair, Bry shuffled forward her small hand outstretched. Little fingers aimed to tickle the pear in the bowl more towards the bottom of it rather than all over. Come now you little giggle cutie and do what you're meant to do... Open!

[Zoe]

Beauden watched as the younger girl approached the pear, his brow furrowing slightly as he processed her suggestion. Tickle it under the chin? He hadn’t quite thought of it like that, but the way she said it sounded like it made sense in some roundabout way. Maybe he had been too rough with it, not delicate enough. He stepped back to give her more room, crossing his arms with a curious look on his face.

"That's a new one," he remarked, clearly intrigued by her approach. His stomach rumbled yet again, but this time he ignored it, focusing instead on the scene in front of him. "If it works, I'll owe you a butterbeer from Hogsmeade."

He watched Bryony's fingers work their magic, gently tickling the pear in a spot he hadn't considered. There was something oddly specific about her method, like she had done this a hundred times before. Sure enough, the pear giggled again, but this time there was a shift. The jiggling turned into a wriggle, and before Beauden could fully comprehend what was happening, the fruit morphed into the familiar brass door-knob.

"Well, I'll be—" Beauden said. "Guess it did have a chin after all."

[Kolyander]

Tickle, tickle!

"Is it?" The Slytherin female tilted her head to the side questioningly. "It's always what's worked for me." This is what she had seen Logan do TONS of times in previous years and it's simply how she had always interpreted what he had been doing. Whether or not it had been, it didn't matter. It worked. And it sounded cute. In her head anyways.

"That's not necessary.." The butterbeer, that is. However the offer was nice of him. "Buuuuuut, it's gonna work, you'll see." Her little fingers continued to dance exactly where they needed to, the air around them soon filling with even more sweet giggles. Bry watched as the pear changed before their very eyes into a brass door-knob. "I always love how it does that!" Magic was simply amazing!

Grinning widely over her shoulder at Beauden, Bryony closed her fingers around the cool brass of the door-knob and gentle tugged the door to the kitchen open. "After you." He could go inside first. He'd waited longer than her to get inside, after all.

[Zoe]

The young Slytherin seemed unfazed by the small victory, her eyes sparkling with the kind of quiet confidence that made him chuckle under his breath. She wasn't even trying to show off, but there she was, opening doors where he couldn't. "Well, guess I've been doing it wrong all this time," he admitted with a grin, watching Bryony's fingers close around the knob.

"You're a lifesaver," Beauden added, stepping forward as she held the door open for him. "But I'm holding you to that butterbeer the next time we're in Hogsmeade. That manoeuvre you pulled is worth at least that."

His stomach growled once again, the sound amplified by the enticing smells wafting out from the kitchen. The aromas of fresh bread, roasted meats, and warm desserts filled the air, making his mouth water instantly. The sixth year flashed Bryony a grin as he walked past her into the bustling kitchen.

"Right, time to raid this place," he declared with enthusiasm. Beauden's eyes scanned the large room, already plotting which food to target first—something hearty, maybe a pie or a thick sandwich. He was ravenous, and now, thanks to Bryony, his snack quest had finally resumed.

[Kolyander]

So was the way of a Paton. The confidence was nothing unusual. From whom did she get her confidence? Why her parents of course. Or perhaps her siblings? Namely one Logan Paton. Or erm well.. maybe she got her crazy from him. Anyhow, yes, the small blonde generally speaking was normally this way without even trying.. most days. "Not wrong, different." Bry corrected with a shake of her head and wide smile. If he had gotten it to work before then clearly he hadn't been doing it wrong.

A soft giggle escaped her lips. Her a lifesaver? Now that was a new one! "If you're absolutely sure, who am I to say no?" See, she wasn't unreasonable. It was a really nice offer from him and she would accept sometime.

If Bry wasn't giggling before as she followed Beauden into the kitchen, she was certainly now. "Someone's hungry," Came her simple reply. Trust her, she was used to grumbling tummies. And she wasn't only speaking from experience. A deep inhale of all the warm yummy foods was taken as bright blue eyes scanned the area around her. "What are you going after first?" She was asking because she herself now had no idea what she wanted! Some help here please!

[Zoe]

Grabbing a nearby plate and balancing it with one hand, he gave Bryony a nod. "The offer for that butterbeeer stands whenever. But if we ever run into another stubborn pear, I'm definitely calling you for backup." He flashed her a grin.

He chuckled at Bryony's remark, unable to suppress it from escaping his mouth. "Yeah, I'll admit it—I'm starving," he said with a grin, rubbing his stomach with his free hand for effect. "Duelling in Defence really works up an appetite, y'know?" With a determined look, the Gryffindor's blue-green eyes darted around the kitchen once more, trying to decidewhich of the delectable options to grab first. "I'm thinking something meaty. Maybe a nice big sandwich... or pie," Beauden mused.

By the time the words were said, he already had made his way towards a countertop where some freshly made ham sandwiches were laid out. He reached for one, its weight satisfying in his hand, and held it up triumphantly, grinning broadly before taking a huge bite. The burst of flavour hit him immediately—savoury ham, crisp lettuce, and just the right amount of mustard, all packed between soft, fresh bread.

"Come on, you gotta join the feast!" he encouraged, his carefree nature shining through as he spoke, still chewing on the delicious morsel. With his free hand, he gestured animatedly toward the spread. "Just... grab whatever catches your eye!"

[Kolyander]

"Deal," The fourth year nodded in agreement to both having a butterbeer together sometime AND to helping him again with the portrait should be ever need it. Though he shouldn't, now that she had taught him how to tickle the pear underneath the chin (if it had one).

This is where Bryony laughed yet again. "You sound a lot like my big brother Logan. He's always starving too I think I'll mirror call him later just to annoy him." It had been a few days since her last call.. which he hadn't answered! Nod nod. "Ninja warrior training makes me super hungry." So in other words, she understood. "Ooooh, or cake!" Brownies were yummy too.

Beauden's encouragement to join him in feasting on some sandwiches wasn't at all needed, but it certainly helped her decided what she wanted. "Turkey, turkey catches my eye!" Bry declared, snagging herself a plate and reaching out to grab one of the sandwiches. Of course she had to lift a corner of the bread to make sure she wouldn't bite into anything she wouldn't like first buuuuuuut it was as if the house elves knew she was coming already and made this one just for her! Turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo and pickles! Absolutely perfect!