Behind the mirror was a passageway. The end of the passageway was blocked by rubble.

Dominic blinked astonished when he discovered that there was indeed a passageway behind the mirror. So Kaika hadn't been lying about it... Not even looking back at the girls, the fourth year moved further into the passageway, until he could enter no more.

"Lumos," he muttered to see better if there was anything there. Nothing but rubble. Oh what was that curse used to blast objects out of the way? Gripping his wand tighter, he sighed quietly as he tried to recall it.

Until suddenly, it came to him...

"Reducto!" The Fourth year called, pointing his wand at the rubble blocking the end of the passageway. Hopefully it would do the trick...

Lucas came back to the mirror because it was his favorite spot. He went behind the mirror and saw a boy in there that was in his classes he had never met him before, but he liked to make new friends. "Are you a mirror person too?" he asked him. He covered his ears when the boy started to blast through the rubble. "Do you think that will work?" He almost shouted at him.

The blast shifted the rubble a bit but, the way to the end of the passageway was blocked for quite a ways. However, the light from the wand reveals that the bricks along the passageway are unevenly laid.

Dominic abruptly turned around, not realizing his light was still shining from his wand, at the sound of a young voice. It was a familiar kid who he was sure he'd seen in classes before, but he was distracting him! "Me? A mirror person? Not really... but ssh!" he whispered urgently to the kid before turning back around to note if any change was made to the rubble.


Hmm... reducto didn't seem to work, but wait, what was this?! Dominic moved closer to get a better look at the bricks along the pathway, shining his lighted wand carefully along the bricks. It was as though someone had been in here before...

Running his fingers along the bricks, the Hufflepuff was checking for some loose bricks; ones that may get him closer to whatever it is the 'prize' was...

"Oh I'm sorry." Lucas said. "I didn't mean to bother you." he turned around and left quickly before he upset the older boy any further.

Dominic heard the boy apologize and felt guilty.. Not turning around - as that would distract him from his testing of the uneven bricks - he spoke to the young boy with his back to him. "I didn't say to leave, but just be quiet." he told him, focusing on these bricks...

The random brushing of fingertips along the bricks by the Hufflepuff seemed to awaken some heretofore lost magic in the passageway. One of the bricks pressed inward and a scroll appeared in its place.


ooc: You have been PMed.

"You found it!" Kaika exclaimed, looking at Dominic in awe. "Open it" she instructed, wondering what that could be about.

She wanted to believe that that was the thing they were looking for. She glanced at the Slytherin boy who seemed to walk away, but her focus was on the scroll that Dominic had found.

Dominic blinked in awe when one of the bricks pressed inward and a scroll appeared. Taking the scroll from the spot, he backed out of the passageway, only to find someone awaiting him at the opening...


Backed right into his fellow fourth year badger, who had uttered some random words, telling him to open it, he thought. "Ooph! Sorry Kaika!" he exclaimed, turning around and clutching the scroll tightly with one hand.

"Nox," he murmured as the light from his wand was extinguished. Slipping his wand back into his pocket, Dominic unraveled the scroll and read it quickly. Three words!? With a puzzled looked on his face, he shook his head and handed it over to Kaika to read.

"Never mind" she sighed, as he apologized. He was apologizing a lot lately, which could be either annoying or funny. She didn't care much to choose either option.

She crossed her arms as he...read the scroll alone first! What? Weren't they suppose to be a team?

Okay, that look on his face was not good at all. Clearly whatever it said was even much more complicated..or something like that. She took the scroll and read it, "What? This is it? Are you sure there's nothing else back there?" she asked pointing towards the passageway. Oh, man, this was seriously not a clue at all. She had no idea where or what this could lead to.

"Alright, now we have to let the others know..." she started to say, "Anna said to owl them when we found the clue, so....I guess that's what we should do" oh, no, she'd sent Snowy home a few hours ago, well, they could use one of the school ones, or one of those spells the Ministry has for flying memos.

Jessica was extremely surprised as a part of the mystery unraveled just in front of her. Dominic found a new clue!

"Wow, that was brilliant!" she couldn't help saying. "May I read it too?" she asked and looked at the scroll. This was even more weird. She also thought, as Kaika, that there had to be something else.
However, it was the only scroll. So that meant they had to start searching elsewhere, if they figured out the clue, of course.

"So should we go to the Owlery and send a message to the others?" Jessica asked Kaika.

Kairi walked down to the mirror, it was one of her favourite places, and was surprised to see a few Hufflepuffs and a young Slythering boy standing by a hole in the wall that went a few metres and then was blocked by rubble. A, what looked like a fourth year huffie boy, had a piece of paper in his hand. She cocked her head curiously. What in the name of Merlin was going on. She didn't want to intrude so she stayed a good distance away, watching...

Ugh. What was it with her cat and leaving cat hair over Mina's robes? The first year brushed the fabric down, annoyed. Every day, she'd wake to the lovely present of being covered in dark fur. Brilliant way to make a good first impression.

It was the mirror that caught her attention, not to mention the people gathered around what seemed to be a slightly longer version of the passage. She frowned in curiousity, certain she'd seem some of these people in the common room before. Well, her curiosity was slowly getting the better of her to the point she was about to ask them (rather loudly) what they were doing when she spotted Kairi.

It had been a while since she'd seen Kairi out of lessons. 'Hey, Kairi.' Mina grinned as she made her way up to the Gryffindor. 'D'you have any idea what they're doing?' Second best way of finding out? Ask someone else who was there before her. It would be much better than annoying older students in her house.

Thud. Kairi's head immediately turned to face the window at the end of the corridor. Her cat Ukai sat there, his white fur covered in a thin layer of frost and his marble like amber eyes incircled by ice. She cocked her head in curiousity. What had that cat been doing? He meowed and leapt threw a small crack in the window, and then walked slowly towards her, his tail swishing irritably. As soon as he reached her, Kairi bent down and scooped him up, and once again the purring began almost instantly. He was cold, and his fur was like tiny, minute icicles stuck to a cat's body. He meowed again and she pulled out a bottle of butterbeer from her bag. Ukai immediately leapt at the bottle, causing it to fall and smash onto the ground. Kairi was just about to bend down and clear up the mess when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. "Mina," she said, turning to face her, a small grin on her face, "Long time, no see," She turned to watch the huffies standing by the hole and shrugged her shoulders, "I dunno, I was just wondering the same thing, something strange is going on...Anyways, how've you been?"

It seemed Michi wasn't the only one who'd been off wandering a lot recently. Mina smirked as she saw Ukai, who she'd only met once before, walk towards Kairi with the evidence from his recent adventure prominent on his fur. Sometimes, cats were just made to amuse people.

At the sound of smashing glass, she glanced down to the mess that had once been a butterbeer bottle, rolling her dark eyes. That just proved her point about cats and she bent down, pulling her wand from her belt, clearing up the liquid instantly. The glass, on the other hand . . .well, one of Mina's strange hobbies could be fueled by it right now and she carefully but skilfully picked each shard up into her left hand. Perfect.

'It certainly is.' She tried to remember the last time they'd actually managed to speak. Had it been that day in Hogsmeade? She wasn't quite sure, but she knew that had been one of the last times if not the last.

Something strange . . . She turned to glance towards her housemates as she stood again with a frown on her face. Maybe when she retired to the common room later she'd manage to hear something from someone else's conversation. After all, she hadn't learnt to eavesdrop when she was younger for nothing. She chuckled lightly at the thought.

She glanced back at Kairi. 'Oh, I've been good.' Thrilled to pieces. 'And yourself?'

Ukai looked longingly at the golden liquid Mina had just cleaned up and meowed softly, his icy white fur stood slightly on end, and he leapt down from Kairi's arms.
"Thanks Mina, Ukai can be a bit...stupid sometimes," Kairi said, crouching down and picking up a shard of glass Mina had missed. She looked at it for a second, then stood up and shoved it in her pocket.
"I've been ok, things have been a bit topsy-turvy at the moment though," she said with a small shrug.
Ukai meowed again and pawed Kairi's bag hungrily. She took out another bottle of butterbeer, this time keeping it out of her cat's reach, and then popped the lid off and poured a few drops onto the floor. Ukai immediately lapped it up, his slightly sticking up fur, was once again flat. He hick-upped suddenly, and his whole body lifted up into the air, then landed back down again, his amber eyes lost and confused.
Kairi chuckled quietly, and turned back to Mina, "There's something abou cat's, something that makes you laugh,"

'Sorry Ukai!' She grinned at the cat who was obviously missing the treat he'd just ruined accidentally. Depositing the glass in her robe pocket, she bent down to stroke him gently. 'Oh, don't worry. I know the feeling with Michi.' She pulled a face, thinking of the gorgeous vase Michi had broken before Hogwarts.

'I assume, by topsy turvy, you're talking about whatever happened in the courtyard.' The brunette stood again, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes. Strangley enough, it was still cooperating with her. 'You did look a bit confused when I came up.' Confused was an understatement.

Mina laughed again as Ukai lapped up the butterbeer before hiccupping. 'I agree. Somehow, they'll always cheer you up when you're not expecting it.' Often by doing something stupid, but Mina wasn't going to add that bit in.

Ukai purred as Mina stroked him, and pawed her hands playfully, his amber eyes reflecting in a lamp that had just lit itself at the end of the corridor. Kairi smiled and fiddled with her red and gold tie that was tied loosely round her neck, "Cats," she said, rolling her eyes, "They're suppost to be elegant and full of finesse, but I think maybe our cats weren't sent the memo," she said with a small grin.
She sighed and sank down to the floor, her back leaning against the wall oppisite the mirror, "The courtyard," she said, her purple eyes fixed on another lamp that had just lit itself, "Yup, that's what I mean...topsy-turvy heaven that was," she said, as Ukai stopped pawing Mina's hand and started pawing her shoes, "Thanks for sticking up for me by the way," she said with a greatful smile.
Kairi chuckled, "You're absoulutely right there, Mina-ko. I've heard that's your nickname, if I'm not correct,"

Mina grinned at Ukai as he pawed her hands. Thankfully he didn't seem to have his claws out, a trait she was used to with cats other than Michi and Ukai, it seemed now. 'No, I don't think they were. Every other cat I've ever met - save for one - has been your stereotypical cat.' She rolled her own eyes. Vinnie was the other exception. Stupid cat.

Her grin faded as Kairi sank to the floor at the mention of the courtyard. Maybe she shouldn't have brought it up. She shook her head. 'It's not problem. I stick up for friends, so don't expect to see me doing it for many others.' Yes . . . it seemed so far in Hogwarts, she'd only made two friends she hadn't known already. Hmm. She'd have to correct that. 'But you're going to have to remember, if Masterson's around, that we're supposedly cousins.' How had she thought that one up?

She almost froze in place with Kairi called her "Mina-ko". She had to be the first one that the young girl was not related to, either by blood or marriage, to call her by that name. 'And where exactly did you hear that one from?' she asked, sinking down beside Kairi. 'It's correct, it's just . . . you're the first person I'm not related to that knows that nickname somehow and has ever used it.' Wait, maybe Kairi had heard Star the other day? Though Mina didn't recall seeing the Gryffindor at the lake that day. Maybe she'd just been blind.

"Cousins?" Kairi said, cocking her head curiously, "Mina, we look nothing alike. You have dark hair, I have red, you have dark chocolatey eyes, I have purple...that sometimes glow white..." She grinned slightly and took a sip of the opened butterbeer, "But we're both asian...so I guess Materson would buy it,"
Kairi looked at Mina, "I was at the lake yesterday, and I saw you with Star, and I sought of accidenty overheard you talking," She grinned guiltily, and took another sip, "You know what happened at the courtyard? Well that happened again yesterday, apart from this time it wasn't as bad, and nobody got hurt, unlike last time,"

'I think it was the first thing I could think of to help you out.' Mina frowned. 'But it is useful, us both being Asian.' Half. 'And if he doesn't buy it, well that's his fault because who is he to say? It's not like he knows our families. He can't say we're not.'

Ah, so it was thanks to Star her nickname had now spread to Kairi. 'Yeah . . . she was trying to soften me up and she knows that's the best way to do it.' Mina grinned, before realising what she'd just said and pulling a face. 'But whatever you do, do not hold that against me!' Whoops. She hadn't meant to let Kairi know she was like putty in someone's hands if they used her nickname enough.

No, she didn't know exactly but she'd pieced together enough to understand what had happened. 'But everyone knows you didn't plan for people to get hurt. And, if it's any consolation, Kairi, if it happens when I'm with you then I'll stick by your side and help you out as best I can, whether or not I get hurt. I've had enough injuries I'll barely notice another.' Maybe that last bit was a lie. She would notice it, but being brought up how she had she would do her darn best to keep a straight face if she ever did get hurt. Kairi would never need know.

"Oh well, I don't mind being cousins with you, I find it quite an honur," she said, with a small grin, "Do you like Materson?"
Kairi grinned slyly, "So calling you Mina-ko is your weakness then?" She chuckled and stroked Ukai who was now curled up on her lap, "Don't worry, I won't hold it against you...much," she added with a wink.
"Thanks, but I would hate myself if I hurt you, if I hurt anyone, and I'm not stupid, honey, you would notice if I hurt you, trust me," she said, with a sigh. "It's really strange, but it's like all of my friends, no matter how dangerous I am, they all say they'll stick by me. Well, Mina-ko," she siad with a wink, "I'm here for you too, no matter what,"

'An honour? Might I ask why that is?' Mina asked, faking a posh London voice before laughing at herself. Sometimes, it really did pay to have had a very good actress for a mother. 'I'm not too sure; that's the first time I've ever met him. But based on that . . .' She glanced around, as if checking he wasn't walking up towards them. Lowering her voice, she finished the sentence, 'I'd have to say not particularly.'

She glared at her friend. 'Shut up.' She was praying against hope no one else was listening in and would have just heard that . . . otherwise it was bye-bye to Mina's cold charade with anyone new. Well, what little of it that hadn't been cracked already. 'You'd better not, otherwise you'll be in trouble.' Stupid Star. Next time Mina saw her she may well end up with a few bruises. Adding to the one she already had, that was.

She cocked her head. 'You know, you wouldn't know if you'd hurt me because I'm a good actress when I need to be. I've been brought up that way and I use it whenever I need to.' She brought her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. 'And that's because we all care about you. Every person has people who care about them.'

Here for me, no matter what. For a moment, Mina debated with herself about telling Kairi the one thing that was bugging her, the one thing no one other than her father and uncle knew, but decided against it. The girl had enough troubles on her plate already, she didn't need Mina adding to them. She smiled brightly. 'Well, that's nice to know! I'll remember that when I need you!' She winked back, before dropping her gaze to Ukai, smiling softly at him.

Kairi laughed, "Well, Miss Mina, it's an honour because I'm not the only one with a cat that can't tell up from down," she said, mimicking Mina's posh London accent. She chuckled, and began to stroke Ukai again, "He's not the nicest of people is he?""Calm down, hun, I was only joking," Kairi said, a little hurt at Mina's forcefullness, but she covered it up so no one could tell. "I won't call you Mina-ko, unless Voldemort rises from the dead and says he will kill you if I don't tell him your nickname, and then we all skip through a field of flowers like hippys and singing old 70s pop songs. There, that good enough?" she asked, with a small grin on her face.
"And you would notice...unfortuneatly...You'd probably have a large scar on your eye or your arm, from some fireball or icicle...but that's never going to happen," she added quickly.
Kairi nodded, and followed Mina's gaze to Ukai. The Hufflepuff's vibrations were shaky, and Kairi could tell she was hiding something, but she didn't pester her. She would tell her if she wanted to.