Having just sunken to her knee's, Rose couldn't help but smile when John asked her if she was okay. Beyond glad that he was a friend that could help, she nodded half-heartedly, "I was just...scared" She whispered, her wide brown eyes looking at him with gratefullness. "I didn't know what it was" Her tone was that of scolding. She hadn't red through her Hogwarts, A History well enough. Looking at her prefect, Anna was her name if she recalled, she looked up sobering, "Am..I going to lose points?" She asked, her eyes were wide, Gryffindor was already in the minus, and everyone would know her name if she lost anymore. She wanted to be known for getting and not losing points.

Anna blinked in surprise and then simply stared at Rose, who'd sunk to the ground and started sobbing. "Rose?!?! What on Earth is wrong?" Anna asked. Anna got down on her knees and patted the girl on the back. "Come on, Rose. It'll all be okay. Why don't you stand up and tell me what happened?" Anna couldn't imagine what in Merlin's name could have happened in the time it took Rose to get from the feast to the second floor corridor.

Glancing up from her spot on the floor near Rose, Anna looked up at Reese, confused as to what happened with yet another student. "Who ruined your day, Reese?" Anna asked. Something was definitely wrong in this situation. Who'd have the sort of power to ruin so many people's day at once? "Reese, do you know what's happened here? Everyone seems so upset," Anna said.

"Well that's not fun," she said, running a hand through her hair. "I'm fine, just excited to be here again. I know we're not that far into it, but how do you like it here?"

She bit her lip, hoping it wasn't that bad for him. It would get better if it was bad, and she knew it. But Hogwarts had always been good for her when she first arrived. It should be the same for him.

Reese looked back at Anna."It ruined my day,"she told Anna.she pointed to the flying ghost in the air."This stupid ghost decdided to shower use in dungbomns.And now I smell....horrid."She took her finger off Peeves and looked back at Anna.

Emiliano just shook his head and chuckled at her comment about the little nose problems he was having at that moment. He listened to her when she mentioned being happy about coming back to Hogwarts. His wide smile showed when she asked and again, cleared his throat to answer. "It's been really welcoming, I really like it here...obviously this problem goes into second terms when I am enjoying the school now..." He mentioned, touching his nose and getting a cotton handkerchief to clean his nose, away from Karma's view.

"So...anyone missing this year?" He suddenly asked. There were obviously lots of students who had either graduated or moved away and had left Hogwarts.

John smiled at her and whispered to her. "To tell you the truth when I first so him, I just wanted to run, that is how scared I was." He smiled and thought about how much clearner he would have been if he had run. "But then I saw you and Reese in trouble and I didn't see anyone else around so I decided that I would come and help you." He smiled at her and hoped that she would get to her feet. He knew that he would have to wait and see.

Anna looked up in the direction Reese pointed in, immediately seeing just what had caused all this chaos. It was another one of those ghosts she'd seen in the Great Hall during the Welcoming Feast. This ghost situation was getting entirely out of hand. Why had they decided to show up now? Why hadn't they been here all along? Maybe they'd been lurking deep within the walls of the school, and the students had accidentally let them out during that treasure hunt last term. That was a possible solution. They had after all, ventured deep within the walls of the school. "Ewwww," Anna mumbled, making a face at the ghost. Anna stood up off the wall and walked a few steps backward. Being in a close proximity to the ghost didn't seen to be a brilliant idea.

Anna stared at the ghost, not sure what she should say to him. Something told her that threatening it by saying she was a prefect was not going to help matters. "You shouldn't go around dropping disgusting things on people, you know," Anna scolded.

Looking up at her prefect, she lowered her gaze as she sat down. She was so embarrassed her cheeks had turned a deep crimson, "Peeves" She murmured and looked at her fully. Taking John's hand, she looked at him and then back at Anna as she asked her to stand. "I...I" She didn't want to seem a sook. Chewing on her lib, she looked at John, her eyes wide and fearful.

Rose smiled, her frown and most of her fear had evaporated just like the tears. "Thanks" She told him, hugging him. Getting to her feet, she gave Anna a hug as well, "I'm not going to lose any points?" Giving a small watery chuckle, she looked at Reese, "I think it's shower time" Watching her eye Peeves, she laughed. He had scared her, but somehow now that she was dripping with soot, and other grime he didn't scare her. She looked up at him and grinned, "Pleasure to meet you" She chimed up at him, she was still holding John's hand...just in case

John looked at Rose and smiled "I think we may have to wait here, the Professor will want to know what happened." He wondered if Rose was ready for that, he hoped she was, as he only knew half the story. He thought to himself that one day he would get his own back on whoever it was that had done this.

John was glad when Rose got up, that was one thing he had dreaded, he thought it would have taken her awhilest to get up. He wondered if he should just let her and Reese do all the talking or if they would want him to help them from when he got there until the Professor got there.

"It was nice meeting you,"Reese told Rose.She felt bad for the girl,this was probably her first year here and she was alreayd scared out of her wits.She nodded when she said it was shower time."that's probably the best idea.But I think I will stay here with Anna and Professor Shackleton,"she told Rose."I'll see you around."She smiled at the girl.Reese knew she needed to take a shower,her hair was probably all black and stuff from those dungbombs and she knew she smelled.But she wasn't ready to leave,not yet.

Reese turned to look at Anna who was now...talking to Peeves?She knew that nothing you said will make Peeves not do anything.She sat there looking at Anna talk to Peeves.She still wanted to hurt Peeves.But she couldn't.He was ghost.Nothing would work.

Karma was taken aback slightly at his sudden question about missing students. Of course - Melinda wasn't here. She really missed that girl ... and it reminded her that she would write to Mel to invite her over during Christmas break. That would be great.

"Ahh, yeah," she said, leaning against a wall. "One of my best friends actually, Melinda. She had to go to France with her grandmother. That horrid woman took her from where she loved. So needless to say, some of us are bitter."

John!
 

Cadence had decided to take a walk around the halls after seeing where she was going to sleep and writing a letter to Set and to her parents. When she reached the second floor, she saw several students gathered, and as she approached them an awful stench reached her. Noticing one of them was John, she gasped and ran over to them.

John, what happened are you okay? You're not hurt are you? Someone must have beeing throwing dungbombs. Did they hit you? Who was it? Finally out of questions Cadence simply threw her arms around John's neck, sorry that she hadn't been there for him sooner.

John smiled final one of his mates were there. He wondered what to say to her, he didn't want to upset her but he was on the verge of crying now that Rose had gone. He knew whilest she was there he had to be strong, but now that she had gone, what had happened was sinking into him.

"Yes he got me, but not the first time, he throw dungbombs, I was walking when I saw him chuck bombs at two girls and I ran upto one of them to ask if they were all right, when next I heard a boom and I had been hit, if only I had been paying attention I might have done something. John was thinking about what had happened, he was blaiming himself, he had failed Rose and Reese, when he got there why couldn't he just have told them to move away and try and get Peeves away from them.

"It was some sort of ghost." He looked confident when saying that, well he had seen ghost before. "Though it wasn't your ordanary ghost, he was mean" John whispered the last bit to Cadence. As Cadence hug him, he hugged her back, he was glad she hadn't been there as then he would have felt a total failer.

Well, I'm really glad that everyone is okay. I suppose it was probably Peeves, he's a poltergeist. A sort of ghost that likes making trouble. If that's the case, there wasn't anything you could have done. He doesn't listen to the students. Not even the head boy and girl. If you had run away, he probably would have just followed you. Cadence surveyed his face and saw the tears behind his eyes. She took his hand and said Come on, let's go back to the common room John. Staying here isn't going to do anyone any good.

"I'm sorry Cadence but I'm staying here until the Professor has got all the information she needs." Replied John to tell you the truth, he didn't want to move a muscle. He just wanted to stay were he was, he was safe whilest there was a professor there and anyway he would be going to the boys bathroom before he went to the common room. He didn't want to stink the common room out and he didn't want them asking question about what happened. He wondered if he would be able to walk the hallways again without having someone with him. He hoped that Rose was okay and had gotten to the bathroom before anything else had happened.

Well, I'll stay with you then. She replied. She stopped pulling at him to follow, but didn't drop his hand. Instead she squeezed it slightly, hoping the pressure would offer him some reassurance.

Rose; Reese.
 

"Lose points? What for?" Anna asked. She still didn't really know the full story of what had happened. Alls he knew was that this menace of a ghost had shown up and dropped dumgbombs on Rose and Reese. "Merlin, no. Not from me, at least. I don't think you've done anything wrong, though." Anna watched as the young girl lowered her gaze, clearly embarrassed over what had just happened. "I think a shower would be a good idea...for you and Reese. I understand that you're both really upset, but I think cleaning up and just heading off to the Common Room to rest will do you both some good," she said.

Anna turned to Reese, who apparently wasn't going to leave just yet. "So why don't you tell me the entire story? I know this ghost, Peeves I'm assuming, dropped dungbombs on you...but why?" she asked. She was sure Reese and Rose weren't the type to taunt the ghost in any way, so something else must have happened instead. I mean, ghosts just didn't float around wrecking random havoc, did they?

Rose didn't think Anna knew how relieved she was. Giving the prefect a small hug around her waist as it was all she could reach she stepped back smiling. "Common room?" She asked her eyes wide. In all the drama, she hadn't even gotten to the common room yet. Some Gryffindor had told her there was a password...she didn't know it. "Anna...I don't know where it is" It was whispered, she was starting to become red again. She hated being new.

Rose nodded in reply, if she had been alone she had no idea what she would have done. "You too" She replied thankfully. Looking down at herself, she wondered whether she could duck to the bathroom just to get the grime off her face and then come back. In that arose a problem, she had no idea where the bathroom was. Waving to her she smiled, "Bye Reese" Frowning at the small pools of water that were dripping out from a door she guessed it was the bathroom. Following it, she walked over to the bathroom.

When she came out, Rose saw John hugging one of his friends. Suddenly she felt...she had no idea now she felt. She couldn't name the emotion. But she kind of wished she was the girl. Walking towards them, she smiled. Looking alot more presentable, and a lot less whiffy. Her hair was wet, but at least the familiar red colour.
"Hey John" She realised the Professor had had removed herself from the scene, probably chasing a loose Peeves down the hallway. Why hadn't her parents mentioned him? Unless...he hadn't been around in their day. Ceasing a smile to frown in thought, she looked to the new girl.
"Hello" She said, her tone seemed so choppy, she didn't liked it one bit. Instead she smiled, in what she hoped was friendly. "What's your name?"

Cadence sensed the girls jealousy and looked at her nervously, but she didn't let go of John's hand. He was obviously frightened right now, and Cadence had promised she would always be there for him. Hi! She said cheerfully, despite her apprehension. Cadence was very good at hiding her true emotions when she had to. Her father told her that if she wasn't a witch, she should go into acting. I'm Cadence. Were you one of John's friends who was attacked by Peeves? I'm really terribly sorry that happened to you guys! It must have been awful! I'm glad you're not hurt though. She smiled at the girl, hoping that this girl would be her friend and not hate her for supporting one of her best friends.

Cadence;
 

Rose watched her bewildered, and as she shifted nervously, the little girl frowned. Surely she wasn't intimidated...by her? She was a metre and barely an inch. Straightening, to at least live up to the fear Rose recoiled at the cheerful tone. She couldn't figure if it was genuine or fake. Between her thoughts on height and the girl, she'd missed her entry to reply. "Huh?" She murmured softly looking up, "Oh yeah." Her cheeks flamed up at the thought. Feeling utterly intimidated by the girl, her posture slumped and she shrugged, "I'm alright. John was there to help me" Bititng her lip, she realised how that sounded and shifted irked by it. Cadence was making her uncomfortable, and she had no idea why. "No I'm not hurt. I'm fine really Cadence" She liked her name, mainly because she thought Caddy was pretty as a nickname. Looking from the pair of them, to the corridor, she chewed on her lip. John didn't look so good, "Are you alright John?" White as a sheet didn't usually indicate good health.

(This one is to you too John!)
 

Well, I'm very glad you're alright, Cadence said genuinely. She was always genuine. She honestly and truly just cared about and loved people in general. She had never met anyone she hated or even strongly disliked. She didn't LIKE like John, but she thought that maybe this girl did. John was just a friend who needed her now. She was nervous because she didn't want this girl to be jealous of her. There was nothing to be jealous of. If she liked anyone it was... No, you don't like him. He's just your best friend. Don't be silly. She shook the thought of liking a boy out of her head.

Now she turned her attention back to John. This girl was right, he didn't look well. John, are you sure you don't want to go to the Hospital Wing or at least the common room? The professor will find you where ever you are if they need to talk to you, I'm sure. She squeezed his hand again.

"Then hurt me! I'm no ghost!" the poltergeist warned. "I dare you." He blew yet another raspberry and stuck his thumbs in his ears, waving his hands up and down.

"I've got no galleons," he taunted.

An evil look crossed Peeves' face. "Oh, it was all in good fun! Laugh! Weeee!!!!!" Peeves made a loop de loop in air before settling again. This was too fun! Although everyone needed to get their shorts out of a twist.

"Oh, so you know of me? I'm impressed." He crossed his legs and began to scratch his chin with his phantom hand. "Oh, I was just getting a little bored. Things needed to be shaken up around here." With that, he flew around yet again passing through each individual, giving them a case of the chills.

A muggle nursery rhyme he had heard once seemed appropriate. "And dis widdle piggy cwied all de way home. Wee wee wee."

Joy! A nosey little prefect, it seemed! He quietly floated behind her and mimicked her every mannerism as she spoke, comically of course. Eventually, he resorted to making rude faces behind her back.

No one around here knew how to have any fun. Maybe he would go bug Myrtle.

"You're welcooooommeeeeeee!!" he sang, bouncing off the walls.

Peeves growled. "I already told you! I am no GHOST!" To emphasize his point, he tore down the corridor and knocked over yet another vase. "Can a ghost do that?!" he demanded, admiring his handiwork.

Peeves clapped. What a hero this boy was. "Let me be your hero baby!"

Peeves scoffed. "Like I would listen to the likes of you. All you Gryffindor prefects are nothing but rule sticklers. I didn't listen to Percy Weasley and I most certainly don't need to listen to you!"

It was becoming raspberry city up in hurr!

This girl would be the next victim on his hitlist. "I think switching your jelly slugs with real slugs will be a nice little gift..." he sang.

"You're right, I am no ordinary ghost. In fact, I'm not a ghost at all!" He was becoming angry now, and BLAST! He had wasted all of his dungbombs on these crying heaps of...hair.

He quickly disappeared and reappeared right in the boy's face. "And how would YOU know my name, HMM?!"

"I AM NOT A GHOST!" Oh, this girl was going to get it good.

Cadence; John; PEEVES
 

Rose's expression lit up with a shy smile at Cadence's words. Realising she hadn't introduced herself, she blushed, her cheeks turning crimson once again, "I..I'm Rose" Finding herself frowning once again, the little first year rocked on her feet unsure of what to say next. The girl; Cadence was smiling at her, and as genuine as it was, she felt so immature and young. And they were the same age. Off on a day dream, she caught only the last past of what the girl was saying. But the Professor doesnt need to talk to John? Trying to get her head around the day's events, she sighed pulling her wet cloak tighter around her shoulders.

Cadence was obviously John's best friend, a slight twinge of something she couldn't place stirred inside her. Tightening her pale fingers around the fabric, she pushed the thought away.
"I think the hospital...lady will want to check you out" Why was John so upset? Was it something she'd done? He looked scared stiff, biting her lip she stepped forward looking at him, "John.." She whispered, fear in her voice, "Are you...okay?"

Peeves had been shouting, running through her and irritating her the entire conversation with Cadence.
"You really like your fun dont you?" Trouble was something that seemed to find her. In the case of Peeves, it didn't seem to leave. "Has anyone ever played a trick on your?" It made sense in her head, that if the Poltergeist had a taste of his own medicine he would stop. Someone just needed to get him badly enough. But it made her smile, and giggle, laughter erupting from her. "Your fun. Hogwarts missed you" She said with a laugh, her eyes widening as he got the message through, he wasn't a ghost. "So if your not a ghost? What are you?" Peeves seemed intent on Anna now, she didn't want her prefect covered in...muck.

Professor Shackleton's head was turning every which way trying to keep up with the conversation. Upon hearing the students unintentionally giving Peeves more ammunition to taunt, Professor Shackleton made her decision, "OK, everyone, that's enough. Let's cut the chitchat for a moment." Macadrian turned to Anna and began, "Miss Greingoth, I trust that as a prefect you're willing to help me right now? I'd like for you to get the full detailed stories from all parties who explicitly saw or experienced what happened and then I'd like you to send all these students to their dormitories for the evening. I'd like you to then report to me, either in my office or with the headmaster."

Professor Shackleton addressed the students, "I'm sure your experience with Peeves was not a pleasant one and you'd like to get away from this area as soon as possible. Please be cooperative and give your stories to Prefect Greingoth, then you may go to your dormitories. If you feel that you may need a Calming Draught after this event, the healer in the Hospital Ward will be able to assist you. Good evening."

Lastly, Professor Shackleton turned her attention to Peeves, "As for you, I am well aware of who you are. Not only is your perfect description featured in the updated editions of Hogwarts, A History, but as a child, my grandmother would told me stories about you from when she attended Hogwarts. And this 'dropping dungbombs on students' trick you just pulled is apparently a classic, as you've been doing it for years. Well, not the years that you were gone, of course." Macadrian smirked and pressed on, "So why is it that you've been absent all this time? Certainly the desire to cause havoc didn't subside, as was made apparent by tonight's escapade.

"Oh wait, before you answer that, why don't you join me in the Headmaster's Office. Surely you'll want to meet the new Headmaster and I'm certain he'd love to meet you. Follow me Peeves," she spoke as she marched down the hall toward the Headmaster's Office. Macadrian was fairly sure that after this long of an absence, Peeves' return to the castle wasn't explained by simple reasoning, nor was it necessarily even allowed! Oh no, this poltergeist would need the permission of the Headmaster to stay here within these walls.

Professor Shackleton; Peeves; Everyone in the corridor.
 

Anna smiled warmly and returned the hug of the young Gryffindor. "Well, you'll need to stick by me then. I'll be heading to the Common Room shortly, and I'll show you the way and tell you the password to get in." Anna smiled once again, hoping she could calm the girl. It seemed rather sad to her for someone to be this upset on their very first night at the school. "It's perfectly fine to be nervous and upset," she added. "You'll get used to the school soon, I promise."

Anna turned away from Rose and looked back up at the ghost, who was declaring to everyone around that he was, in fact, not a ghost. Okay, fine. He was a Poltergeist then. Anna didn't say that out loud, though. She didn't want to add any more fuel to the ever-growing fire this ghost had created. "I can very well tell, thank you, that you're not going to listen to me. Nor do I believe you'll listen to anyone standing around in this corridor right now. I do have a job to do, though, and that job is to help all students, Gryffindors or not, to stay out of trouble. From what I can see, you've created a great deal of trouble for them, which is why I'm still here. Like I said, I may not be able to get you to listen, but mark my words, someone around here can, and I'm going to find out just who that is!" she exclaimed.

"...and stop floating around me like that!" Anna added, irritated that she was being mocked. Ewww. She'd have to be careful about eating Jelly Slugs for quite some time, though. Something told her that this ghost was perfectly capable of following through with his threat.

Anna grew still and quiet and listened to Professor Shackleton. She nodded as she was asked to gather information from the students and then report what she learned. "Yes, ma'am. I'll get right on that," she said. Anna paid careful attention to what the professor said about this ghost being included in Hogwarts, a History. She made a mental note to dig her copy of that book out of her trunk later tonight. She wanted to read as much information as she could about this menace of a ghost. When Professor Shackleton was gone, Anna turned towards the other students. "Alright, you heard the professor. I'll need you to tell me your story, and then you'll be expected to return to your Common Rooms," she said.