Ack. Ice was everywhere. What was up with the school? It looked like things were just getting worse and it was getting out of hand. Livvy stepped over a couple of ice chunks and quickly stood on the bench, walking on it as she found a place to sit. As she walked, she saw a group of people cluttered around something.

After grabbing an apple, she walked over and sat on the bench next to the group. Some poor boy was stuck in the ice. Livvy couldn't help but smile a bit at the sight. It was sort of funny. But he was probably FUHREEEZZZING. Poor kiddo. Livvy noticed Elizabeth sitting next to him and she smiled at the girl. "Hey Elizabeth."

The fifth year flopped down onto her stomach on the bench, so she could get a better look at the poor boy. "Hey kiddo. You okay?"

William was on the verge of digging his shoe laces out himself with his bare hands. It was getting coooollllldddd down here in the icy mess and he wanted out before the water mysteriously melted so he could finish his cake and get out of there. His feet were now frozen and the chill was creeping up his back making him shudder violently. He looked to his left as he saw a girl actually lay on the bench and he grinned a fake grin and nodded, "I'm peachy keen. Though a nice cup of hot tea would be great right now." he replied acting as if it were completely normal to be sitting in frozen disgusting murky water in the great hall.

Yep, just a normal day.

Cute boy. How sarcastic he was. He reminded her of her little brother. Now HE was just the devil. Evil. Scary. Munchkin. The thought of him made her shudder. But this kid was just cuter. Pretending it was a normal day. Hehehehehhhheeeee..

"Though I can't get you out of the ice. I CAN get you a nice cup of hot tea. Stay there. Not that you can get anywhere," Livvy said, snorting to herself as she hopped onto sitting position for an empty goblet. Tea? Did they serve tea here? Ehhh.... off to the kitchens then. Livvy stood up and stepped over the bench and over the boy and out of the Great Hall. If death is the price she has to pay... then so be it. Wait there little cutie boy... Livvy will save you!

William was getting sore sitting on the ground. Craning his neck to look at the girl he knew he knew but couldn't remember her name he said, "Thanks, be careful though okay?" before pulling himself into a more comfortable position and lifting his bottom off the ground, only to slip again, twisting his wrist. He groaned a bit and remained sitting on the ground. That's it he was no good with magic and he was no good at getting off slippery murky ice. what was good at? Oh yeah eating and being cute. His wrist was throbbing now so since he was on ice he put it on there, feeling it cool it down. Please don't be broken he thought.

Calling up to the group he said, "I'm okay!" in a timid voice.

Elizabeth took a deep breath as she prepared to try Anna's suggestion to get William free. She was oddly taken aback as the cold air hit her lungs, but shook it off. The Great Hall was filled with ice; of course it would be cold. "So, you might need to try and shift position a little, so I can get completely around your feet without doing any damage," she said quietly but calmly, bending over again to look at William under the table. No need to alarm him overly much. Stretching her wand arm down a little, to make sure she had as good aim as she could in the awkward position, she spoke. "Diff . . ."

She trailed off when she heard another voice say her name, thankful she hadn't finished the spell before her distraction. Tilting her head to look over, not willing to bang the tender spot on the back of her head again, she smiled as she saw Livvy. "Hey Livvy," she replied. "Unfortunate result of the latest act of the mad Hogwarts flooder," she added in explanation as the younger girl turned her attention to William. "Um, aren't the kitchens flooded?," she asked as the suggestion of getting hot tea was made. Which made her wonder where half the food in the Great Hall was coming from in the first place. Fruit could come from the grounds. And obviously William had brought his own cake. But everything else came from somewhere.

She broke free of her little tangent as she heard William say he was okay. Eep! Bad time to lose track of her thoughts. Glancing around, she realized Livvy had left again, then shifted to slide off the bench carefully. "Hey William? You think if I try and help lift you, we can manage to at least get you back on the bench?," she asked, crouching to look under the table again. At least if he was sitting normally, he could finish his sugar rush while she tried to use Diffindo again. And maybe if he was more distracted, she wouldn't be so scared of the spell.

So..... she sort of forgot that the kitchens were flooded and now her robes were a tad bit wet. How stupid and forgetful of her. But to come to think of it. If the kitchens were flooded.... how were they still getting food on the tables. Cuh-reeeppppyyyy....

Livvy shuddered as she walked carefully back to the Ravenclaw House Table with a cup in her hand. She had found a tea bag from someone and shoved it in the cup. Now she just needed water. She walked towards the group and lifted her leg over the bench. Water.... hmm... water. Ah-ha! Livvy reached out for a goblet. Please don't let it be drank from already, she thought as she poured water into the cup and used a spoon to mix it. Eeee.... nice and warm tea.

"Hear. It might not be as hot as you want it... but it's still warm tea. Drink it as we figure out a way to get you out," Livvy said, as she handed to the boy and flopped onto her stomach so she could see him better from under the table again. "Any ideas?" she asked Elizabeth, with a small grin.

"Wha? Oh right, yeah that might be easier." and safer for me he finished silently as he grabbed hold of the bench and slid over. it was so easy to slide, perhaps too easy on the ice as he gripped the bench with one hand, turned and grabbed the bench with his other hand, now facing the front, (back?) of the room. He was a strong kid, thanks to the many hours of running around and playing baseball at home so it was simple for him to hoist himself up - if his wrist wasn't throbbing that is. Grinding his teeth he began the pull, lifting his lower body until he was almost hitting his head under the table before sliding his head onto the bench and pulling himself up completely. he was now sitting on the bench his frezzing feet under him. "That's better, don't know wy I didn't think of that myself." He said rubbing his wrist absently.

Now that he was up and looking around he could finally see the Gryffindor table and the mayhem that was going on there. Still amazed that no professor had come running in demanding they all leave he suddenly remembered the kitchens were flooded and inwardly groaned. He hoped the girl hadn't actually gone down there, though there was probably huge signs posted telling anyone not too. Turning back to Elizabeth he nodded, "Okay all is clear there." he said nodding to the icy bottom of the floor.

Taking the warm tea he grinned at her. "Thanks. This'll do." he said in reply to Livvy. he took a sip and sighed before putting his wand on the table. Suddenly the cake didn't appeal to him; it was obvious he wouldn't be able to enjoy it while he was still trapped. He was now hating himself for taking the plunge into the lake, for not keeping his shoes out of harms way and for coming into the great hall. There had been too many chocolate lovers in the common room though, and he certainly didn't want them grabbing at his cake.

Elizabeth's eyes widened again as William chose to try and boost himself up by himself. "I would have helped you," she said as he settled back onto the bench, "What's wrong with your wrist?" She was curious, and if it was hurt that only would have added to her argument that she could have helped. But at least now she wasn't going to have to worry as much about his legs getting in the way or her attempt at freeing him. Not if she did it right. "I think being frozen kind of affects brainwaves or something," she said, joking a little in response to his question of why he hadn't thought of it.

As he gave her the all clear for attempting to use Diffindo again, she nodded as she adjusted her position again to be half under the table, essentially missing Livvy's return until the younger girl asked her a question again. "Hang on. Anna had given us a suggestion a little while ago, and I want to see if it works," she answered, before pointing her wand at the ice near William's shoes. "Diffindo," she cast, tracing a small circle around the area where he was trapped. Once it looked like it was mostly separate, she shifted to look on the table again. "Anyone want to help pry?," she asked as she tried to locate a knife or something.

Livvy just smiled as she waited for any instruction from the older girl. Well if Anna came up with it, it'll most likely work. The girl was made of pure brilliance. She watched as Elizabeth performed the Diffindo spell and traced a small, neat circle around the area that the poor boy was trapped. Now... THAT.. was brilliant.

Pry?

Livvy could pry! "Sure! I can help!" she said, grinning cheerfully as she stretched upwards to see above the table. She glanced around for a knife and found a few lying nearby. Livvy grabbed two and handed one to Elizabeth as she hopped off the bench and crouched beneath the table... to PRY. Prying time. Using her handeh dandeh knife, Livvy began to cut at the ice and wedge the boy out of there!

Toshi entered the Great Hall after an exhausting bit of homework and sat down, being reeeeaaaally hungry.
He was pouring himself a glass of milk, and was just about to put a biiiiig baked potatoe onto his plate, when he noticed someone sitting next to him.
"Livvy!", he stretched out his free arm to give her a hug, and knocked over his glass of milk.
It poured all over his robes.

Congratulations, Toshi! You`ve just managed to make a fool of yourself in front of many other people! Great Success! New highscore!, said a voice inside his head.

Victoria walked into the great hall, she was really hungry. She saw Toshi knock over a glass of milk before she found a seat nearby.

William looked down under the table as Elizabeth went ahead and performed the Diffindo spell. Holding his breath he sighed in relief as it apparently worked, cutting around the area where he was trapped. "My wrist? Oh um I kinda slipped a bit down there, nothing big though. I'll probably go to the nurse after I'm out." he said in a soft voice, a hint of shiver coming through.

His eyes went wide then as she mentioned knifes and he gulped looking at the others who were around. No need to tell them to be careful he thought as he watched.

He turned to smile shyly at Livvy as she picked up a knife and began to cut around his feet. "Good job! I'd help but." He shrugged, hating the feeling of being useless. He never felt like this; he was always trying to help. It was his nature. Turning back to his cake once more he cut off another smaller slice and began to eat as he waited.

Livvy returned the smile that William gave her. Aw. He was just too cute. He reminded her of Cam. Except Cam was a little bit out there. "Why thank you. I do believe I have a future as a professional pryer," Livvy said, humorously. "It's okay. You just hang tight and try not to sprain any more wrists. We'll get you out in no time!" she said with determination as she went back to cutting the ice.

Livvy was busy prying out poor William, when she heard someone call her name. Hmm? Who could it be? She pulled herself on top of the bench, and before she knew it, she was being pulled into a hug and milk was spilling all over. All over the person's robes and all over HERS. Awww.... her robes. Her pweety robes. Livvy grinned to see whose robes had gotten wet along with hers. "Toshi! Hey! Nice milky robes. They match mine," she said, winking at him.

Elizabeth sensed William's nervousness as she cast the spell, but tuned it out until she was finished. Distractions were what would risk her messing up and hurting him, which she knew was the focus of everyone's attention. But when the circle was complete, she turned to look at him. "Okay. It's probably not a bad idea going up to see the nurse anyway, after sitting on the ice and freezing," she said, noticing the slight shiver from the boy.

Taking the knife from Livvy as the other girl offered to help, she slid off the bench to crouch on the ice again. Watching her fellow Ravenclaw's technique, she carefully slid the knife into the slice she'd made earlier, before trying to turn it slightly as she tried to lever the circle of ice upward. It shifted a tiny bit, but not enough for her to be able to work it free of the rest of the ice herself. And someone else had come over and was talking to Livvy, so she waited for a free moment. "Hey, I think we're going to have to work on this together. Like pry at the same time," she said after a few seconds, glancing up from her position on the ice. At least it looked like William had tried to go back to his cake. That always made things better.

It was great seeing Toshi again, after the whole break-up thing. But one little boy's life was on the line. Livvy turned when Elizabeth spoke to her and nodded her head. She turned to face Toshi and smiled. "I have to help. A little miniature crisis here. Talk to you later, okay?" Livvy said as she grabbed her knife from the table and crouched down to underneath the table. "Kay. Pry at the same time then? On the count of three. One... two... three," she said, as her knife went in at three. She held the knife with a tight grip as she tried to lever the ice upwards the way she had seen Elizabeth do it.

Elizabeth felt a little guilt at interrupting Livvy's conversation, but William was still trapped. And she'd basically promised him that she'd get him out, without destroying his shoes or making him leave them behind. While she still didn't quite understand how someone could abandon one of their only pairs of shoes in the lake, making her promise necessary in the first place, she was giving William the benefit of the doubt. He was only a little second year after all. Maybe he just didn't care about his appearance yet.

Anyway, as Livvy nodded to show she understood, she smiled back, waiting until the other girl made her excuses and joined her under the table. Which even she realized how odd two girls crouched on the ice underneath the house table had to look. It was just a good thing Cayden wasn't there, since she knew he would find her predicament hilarious. Even if Mari stepped in to explain, the Slytherin simply didn't like her. And she was fairly certain he liked her even less after her confession to Mari about dating Robert.

As Livvy spoke, she made sure she was ready with her knife/prybar as the count of three started. Sliding the utensil into the ice as Livvy did the same, she twisted it again, watching to make sure the other girl was doing the same, finally working the blade underneath the small circle of ice and then she tried to wedge her fingers in there to lift the ice. "Hey William," she said, working to support the weight of the ice as she felt her fingers get colder, "Can you try to lift your feet? Maybe that'll help us get the last bit of leverage to get your feet up and the ice separate." Provided nothing weird happened that ended up making her hands frozen to the floor.

"Er...I`m sorry Livvy." WHY, did he always have to make a fool of himself infront of his friends. Whyyyyyy?
He carefully took out his wand, careful NOT to knock anything else over, pointed it first at Livvy, said "Tergeo!", then at himself and did the same thing. When they were both freed of milk, he raised his wand again and cast a spell which made their clothes warm and dry again. "Really sorry...So...what`s going on here?"

William stopped looking at his piece of cake to glance down at the chopping noises and nodded, "Oh, sure Elizabeth." He said, lifting his feet as best as he could an inch off the ground. His muscles were screaming at him to release them but he knew he didn't. Any moment now the ice could melt and the creepy water could rise. He wanted out before that happened. He already felt like a Popsicle from sitting on the ground and he held his wrist to his stomach to keep it from hurting Perhaps he should have waited for Elizabeths' help he thought as he watched.

As the temperature warmed, the ice began to melt and the water started to rise once again at top speed. It was cold, and it seemed angered by its having been frozen.

finally getting frustrated enough to pull out a dragons tooth William tugged on his shoes, praying they'd come free. He tugged a bit too hard and slammed his knees into the table, but his shoes were free "Yes! Oh thank you thank you tha..." he started to say just as the water melted and began to rise steadily again. "Ohnoitdidn't!" he said quickly, as his feet began to submerge in the freezing cold water. It was like jumping into the lake all over again, except he had shoes on. Not good.

Freaking out he grabbed the first thing he found - which happened to be poor Elizabeth - and tugged himself up, pulling his soaked shoes onto the bench. Water + dry bench = slippery he soon learned as he slipped, pulling them both down onto the floor. He landed on top of her, before rolling off suddenly and landing in the water. It felt like being hit with a Bludger, whatever that meant as he soon gasped laying in the water. "I...I'm...sorry!" he gasped out, imploring Elizabeth not to hurt him for pulling her down with him.

Elizabeth grinned at William's response to her suggestion, and was honestly proud of him when he managed to lift his feet even an inch. Since that gave her enough purchase to get her hands underneath, and after she got his feet sufficiently high enough, she carefully climbed back onto the bench at the table, letting his feet hang down carefully, as long as he managed to keep them up off the ground. A random thought hit her, as she realized that at some point while she had been focused on freeing the second year, her shoes had basically dried. Or at least frozen. Either way, they weren't wet any more, and she wasn't sure she trusted the water to stay frozen. Taking her shoes off, she slipped them into her bag carefully, sliding them underneath the fruit she had put in there earlier, then recasting the Impervius spell on the whole bag before turning her attention back to William.

"Okay, let's get you . . .," she started to say, just as she saw him give a mighty tug on his shoes, cringing as he banged his knees on the underside of the table, but then smiling as it apparently worked. "At least something worked," she said with a grin, letting one bare foot hang below the bench idly, while she kept the other curled underneath her. Her feet were already freezing, it really didn't matter if she had kept her shoes on or not. Until she suddenly felt cold water rising, at the same time William exclaimed. Glancing down, she let out a tiny groan as she saw the ice had melted and the water was rising again, quickly creeping past her ankle. Trying to pull her foot back onto the bench, seriously contemplating climbing on top of the table until she could figure out if it was worth it to swim out of the Great Hall, she completely missed William spazzing ad grabbing for her as he tried to get his newly freed shoes out of the water as well.

Until she suddenly found herself off balance and hitting the now extremely wet floor hard, on her back with William on top of her. "Oof!," she said, letting a big breath out of her lungs before the little second year rolled off her. Squeezing her eyes shut for an instant as she managed to keep from involuntarily inhaling water simply by force of habit from years of swimming in the Pacific, she finally sat up, reopening her eyes and looking up at the bench, on which was sitting her bag still, as she reached up and slicked her hair out of her face. Turning as she heard William apologizing, she checked him over. "Are you okay?," she asked, giving him a friendly smile tinged with concern. "I'm fine. It's okay, it was an accident. But we probably should get back up before the water gets too high," she added, trying to make him feel better as she planted her hands on the bench and tried boosting herself up.

Robert reached the Great Hall feeling hungry and stopped in his tracks as he saw the water. You have GOT to be kidding me! He scanned the room and shook his head, Guess I'll be living off Bertie Bott's beans for awhile. He thought as he turned to go. His eyes caught sight of some people falling near the Ravenclaw table and a flash of short blonde hair that was very familiar. OH NO! Looking around he rushed through the water in time for Liz to pull herself up again. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly not really paying attention to the second year who was at his feet.

Looking down as he was stopped by the boy he shook his head and pulled the second year up easily, lifting him completely out of the water and onto the top of the table. "What are you two doing in here?" he asked sternly a little mad at the boy for nearly getting his girlfriend injured and favouring him with a frown. He looked around and could tell that the water was rising rather quickly. "We need to get out of here," he said simply as he felt his pants start to get soaked to the knee. "Come on...." he said with an emphasis as he grabbed Liz's hand.

As she managed to get to her feet again, feeling her drenched school robes weighing her down, Elizabeth looked up just as Robert came rushing over. Smiling at him, she spoke. "I'm fine. Quite a bit more wet than I was a while ago, but I'm fine," she reassured him before deciding to get rid of the robe, taking it off and leaving her in just her uniform skirt and sweater. Which, considering they were pretty much just as drenched, and given the fact she was still barefoot, had to just make her look awesome.

Wanting to convince him that she was actually perfectly fine, and that he shouldn't get too angry at William, she turned to look at the second year at the same time he was, practically unceremoniously, lifted off the ground and placed on the table by her boyfriend. And at Robert's question, she grabbed her bag, dropping it on top of the table by William with a faint thud, before answering. "I had stopped in to refill my personal stash of food I usually have with me in case I get hungry. And then William was nice enough to let me have some of the birthday cake he'd gotten, the really shallow flooding that had happened as I came in froze over, his shoes got stuck, and I tried to help him," she said in a rush, feeling a faint twinge of fear as the water kept rising, but still trying not to actually physically panic. And as Robert said they needed to get out of there, she rolled her eyes. "Probably a good idea," she said as he reached out to grab her hand and she reached out with her free hand to grasp the strap of her bag. Especially since, while it would take a while for the water to get frighteningly high on him, her and William were a bit more in danger. Stupid being short.

Still laying in the water William shivered even more until he looked over to see Elizabeth pulling herself up. "I...I'm...goo.ggoood." he replied shuddering, not just from the water but from fear. "I'm glad you're okay. you did save me... afterall." he replied his teeth beginning to chatter as he pulled himself into a sitting position. He hadn't even noticed his high the water was now, well past his waist as he was still sitting in the floor, looking like a fish out of water.

He was about to pull himself up, which would be more difficult than normal due to his wrist when a boy came up, nearly growling at him about something. Easily lifting William onto the table top William lost it. All the excitement and adrenaline crawling through his body had gone down, leaving him small and vulnerable. Before he knew it he was crying; in front of older students no less. He sniffed as he looked at the taller guy and said "It wasn't my ...my fault!" in a squeaky voice as he pulled his knees up, not bothering ot wring his hair out of his eyes. "I...I got...stuck... and Elizabeth...she tried... tried to help me." he added looking down at the table.

Wrapping his arms around his knees he cried a bit more, his eyes shut and his face red. He didn't even care how embarrassing it was to be crying in a room full of people, people who could make fun of him. He didn't like the boy now and scowled at him before shaking his head. "I'm not... not going anywhere! I want my mommy!" he said hugging his knees tighter and giving him a look that said 'try me'. William was too stubborn for his own good.

Yet another water demon moved determinedly toward the humans at the Ravenclaw table. They looked so weak, these human children. Weak... and easy to grip its long green fingers around. Hissing in glee, the grindylow dove for the nearest human ankle and yanked, trying to dislodge the child's foot to pull him under the water.

And perhaps the child would panic, even. Humans were so much easier to overcome when they panicked.