He slid in a little after Headmaster Pepe and caught the tail-end of what Professor Shackleton had been saying. 'Yes. How did the water get into the castle in the first place.' He listened to what was chat-chat-chat about him before he decided he'd speak.

"Yeah, there's no need to get the Ministry involved," Anastasia nodded along with Tony and Mac. Well, maybe if Cooper had still been in office she'd have a different opinion... but she really didn't trust that Taylor woman. Ew.

"Bubble-head charms or gillyweed. Professor Kazimeriz helped me educate the students about appropriate situations to use it," Bunbury added. "Since the water flooding in here is from the lake... perhaps the staff could split up or enlist the students to help search the lake too." She really doubted all this was being caused by a few holes in the dungeons anyway. Holes in the dungeon didn't explain how or why her office had flooded.

Iliana gave Bunbury one last glare – 'And to think! I really liked her.' – before pulling her gaze away. As much as she disliked agreeing with Annie just now, she knew what had to be done. She wouldn't stand here, accused! and do nothing. "Headmaster, I will go and search the lake," she volunteered.

Angela smiled lightly as Alessia greeted her. “Hello Less.” Moments later, she was presented with a small object in the shape of a toad. The smell of peppermint slowly wafted itself into her senses. Mmm, she had heard of these. “Thanks so much.” She said gratefully as she popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly.

She nodded a greeting as other professors arrived, and looked on curiously as a brief bickering took place. My oh my. Couldn’t everyone simply get along?

Her eyebrows nearly disappeared as she took in the sudden sight of Max dancing down the hallway, bee-bopping away. Only he could make such an entrance. Amused, she watched as he swung Alessia around in what could only be described as jubilation. He certainly knew how to take the seriousness out of a situation.

And finally the Headmaster took his cue to arrive. What was this about the Ministry getting involved? No way! She didn’t trust the Ministry after having been shown just how power-hungry they could be. Of course with the new Ministry head being in place…Still she would prefer NOT to get the Ministry involved at this moment. And to evacuate? The idea seemed appealing, but she still had some reservations about it, and they were the same ones that the other professors voice. Of course, though, seeing to the students' safety was the most important issue.

As it was suggested that some of the professors go out and look for the source of the water, Angela nodded once. It would be a good start, especially if they started right away.

“Not by yourself, Iliana.” She spoke up as her fellow peer suggested searching the lake. It was preposterous to go there alone; if the lake needed to be searched, then there would have to be several who would need to volunteer.

Constantine ran up to their meeting area as fast as his feet could take him. His mind was still swimming with what those students had told him. Merpeople...family issues..the works!

He skidded to a halt as he finally reached the group, looking between all the people and catching the end of a few statements. "Go alone? Who go alone? Where?...Oh, nevermind that, I know what's going on with the whole water business," he stated, waving his hands around a bit for a little dramatic effect.

Dani walked out of her Common Room and turned toward her favorite tapestry, to find Professors? Being the curious student that she was, she wandered over and smiled at them. You never knew when a group of Professors would say something interesting or need a bit of help. She smiled at the ones she recognized and gave Mr. Masterson a little wave. Whether she was noticed or not, she didn't know, but she felt these people needed cheering and she happened to be a little ball of sunshine.

Of course Ili wanted to dive into the nasty water and look at the fishes and grossness under there... and of course Less wasn't going to let her go without her...

"Oh?" She said turning her head towards the strapping man. "Well... Mr. Masterson, out with it!" As long as they didn't have to dive in, she was happy.

"Miss Devouche," she said turning to the child. "I am sure you have a perfectly good explanaition for being out of bed after Midnight?"

ooc: The professors have all been talking about it being midnight.

Pepe had been carefully listening to the debate... discussion? What was it when everyone was in agreement? He seemed to have forgotten. Odd. Anyway, then Shackleton mentioned Taylor getting her feet wet and he couldn't help but snort back a burst of laughter that almost escaped. The snort, however, was most definitely audible. "Well punned," he said, clearing his throat and blinking back tears as he continued to listen to the discussion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

"Bubble-head charms or gillyweed. Professor Kazimeriz helped me educate the students about appropriate situations to use it," Bunbury added. "Since the water flooding in here is from the lake... perhaps the staff could split up or enlist the students to help search the lake too." She really doubted all this was being caused by a few holes in the dungeons anyway. Holes in the dungeon didn't explain how or why her office had flooded.

"Enlisting the aid of students sounds good. They are often far more observant and helpful than us older people give them credit for," he nodded his agreement with this suggestion, but perked up as Masterson spoke.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tailzinator

Constantine ran up to their meeting area as fast as his feet could take him. His mind was still swimming with what those students had told him. Merpeople...family issues..the works!

He skidded to a halt as he finally reached the group, looking between all the people and catching the end of a few statements. "Go alone? Who go alone? Where?...Oh, nevermind that, I know what's going on with the whole water business," he stated, waving his hands around a bit for a little dramatic effect.

"Well, speak up, man. What is it?" he implored the groundskeeper.

"Yes Ma'am. I couldn't sleep and this Tapestry always calms me down. It's just one of those things like warm milk and a teddy bear." She looked up at the Professor. "I didn't realize that there would be a bunch of people would be congregated around it. Normally I can just look at it for a few minutes and then go back to sleep, it's actually much more attainable than a glass of warm milk." The Ravenclaw in her was coming out and she was over explaining herself. She tried to hold herself back from saying more, but continued. "I've had bad nightmares since the flood in the Great Hall. It was really scary and I keep remembering it."

It was moments like this that how young she was tended to show through. That day had been the scariest in her life. She couldn't swim and she was so small and the water had risen so fast. She shivered at the thought.

"Very well... Do straight to your common room... hurry up." She said pushing the girl towards the hidden entrance. "Shoo..." she said nudging her over.

Constantine watched with a raised eyebrow as the familiar Ravenclaw girl told her story to Lupa. Aww, poor kiddo...And to think, he started to ponder to himself, I'll have a child soon that I get to soothe to sleep and.. His eyes seemed to glaze over as he continued to think of what would be coming in the near future...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris.

"Well, speak up, man. What is it?" he implored the groundskeeper.

OHYEAH. The story.

Neo shook his head a couple of time to focus again. "Sorry," he started, standing up a little straighter. "Yes, well, I was visited by a few students in my...office. They had said that Mr. Henry the Giant Squid had come with information I wanted...all I wanted to know was if there was a crack in the foundation underneath the water...and well, from this story...I'm going to say that we can definitely rule out fissures in the structure.

"The children told me that Henry said that the head of the Merpeople has died. They went on to say that the Prince has locked away his sister in a magical cave and is holding the key. And the last thing was about taking over the school. He's trying to flood us out or something. That's all they told me."

Dani nodded at the Professor and went back to her Common Room. She was the opposite of calm now. The images played through her mind. She tried to picture the tapestry in her mind and failed. As she entered the room she sighed. These nightmares were better than her old ones at least.

"AH HA!" Pepe said. Everything made sense now. He wouldn't have thought the merpeople would actually attack the school, but he was as familiar with them as Dumbledore. He really should have considered the old headmaster' portrait more in depth when he suggested it might be the creatures and not the just structure beneath the lake that was the problem. "Well, merfolk have their own brand of magic, the way that house elves do, so it's no wonder we haven't been able to break the flooding spell. We'll have to consider what to do, perhaps finding some merpeople sympathetic to our cause... In the meantime, the first floor is completely flooded now so, Ashby, would you mind bunking with Kapoor? And then, Marcus, Dumont, can you move into Ashby's area? I think Truebridge should also seek higher ground... how about the astronomy tower?"

Merpeople! Well there you go, who would have thought it. Obviously they hadn't otherwise the flooding would have been solved ages ago.

"That's the third floor right?" he asked looking at the headmaster for confirmation. He belatedly realised that it was the same floor that Caroline worked on. Great. Just what he needed. Marcus lent back against the wall and waited to see what else was going to be said.

Antonio was flabbergasted by the story. So the merpeople were responsible for the flooding that had been going on at Hogwarts? He had never heard of anything like this before, the world truly was going crazy. Maybe there was some way some of the staff could negotiate with some of the merpeople though, hopefully.

"All right, I'll get ready to move to the third floor," Antonio said, hoping it would be high enough. The third floor was only two levels about the floor his classroom had been on, was it safe up there? He could only hope so. "Thanks to both of you," he told the Headmaster and Professor Ashby. "Should I set up my lesson on the third floor, then?"

"Mmm."

What did it matter if he did not have his books? Worse still, explaining the loss of several ancient scrolls to the ministry would be a painful experience indeed.

"The Astronomy tower would be fine if Forrester does not object." He answered, sounding fairly dejected. At least some books had made it to the library before the flooding had happened.

"That would be advisable. I'm not sure how long it will take to resolve this problem, though it should go considerably faster now that we know what the problem actually is," he thoughtfully responded and stared at his feet.

As Constantine ran up to the group, claiming to know the story, Angela glanced curiously at him. Merpeople?! Merpeople were responsible for this? For this insanity?

Thoroughly bewildered, she struggled to pay attention as the Headmaster spoke of the spells that the staff had cast not being able to work because of the different magic that the merpeople possessed.

"Very good, sir," answered Antonio. That was true, at least they did know what the problem was now, strange as it was. "I shall begin the move now."

The first floor had flooded....when?! Anastasia snapped out of her daydream about sunshine and deserts when she heard that little piece of information. Her eyes flickered to Marcus and then Ethan and she frowned deeply. Wow, just about everyone was in the same boat now, a boat quickly sinking thanks to some merpeople.

IF that glorified gardener's story was to be believed. If it made sense to the Headmaster, Anastasia would do what she could to fight back against them then. Or whatever.

"So are we going to take back the school now?" she wondered out loud. "What are we supposed to do if the Head of the Merpeople is dead? Shall we send out a peace party to talk to the new merman in charge?"

She, for one, was not volunteering to go lake diving, she was just suggesting it. Let the suspicious ones without flooded offices go first. They could be fresh meat for the creatures of the lake.

"I think it might be best if we did a little research first and then thought about how best to approach the merpeople for a peaceful solution. Perhaps Bartholomew would be kind enough to negotiate on our behalf..." Pepe really wanted to get at his books.

This entire line of discussion was horrifying. Everything about the merpeople was falling on deaf ears, and The Giant Squid was no where near her concern, because she wasn't getting close enough to water to have anything to do with it, but the concept of the water being at the First Floor made a hard shudder run down her spine.

There were only two more floors before it got to her. And she would then be moving the Hospital Wing to the roof.

Did he really want to entrust the future of the school to seafood? No No No... "I'd be happy to do some research on the subject..." she would order a seafood dinner immediately!

Though she didn't mean to ignore the plight of the professors that would have to move, Angela did so as her thoughts turned towards a rather large box filled with books sitting behind the desk in the library at this very moment. She had come across a book...about...merpeople.

"Headmaster..." She began slowly. "I'll do further research on the subject as well. It seems that I've recently come into possession of a book that may help us greatly." Now she was eager to read the book. Perhaps it would provide the solution they would need!

Sparks bounced off of Max's portable WWN and he was sticking his tongue out at Kazimeriz while waving his hands in the air. "Jealous type, aren't cha!" he goofily commented before somewhat settling down and popped a piece of Droobles Best into his mouth.

His head bobbed back and forth as he listened to both his colleagues discuss the problem and to his music.

POP!
That was heard by a loud smacking noise as Max chewed his gum and started talking. "I'm up for anything that works."