Entering swiftly, so as to stay out of the way, Kanalynne Basthowe took in her surroundings with a look of wonder at the details of the room. She immediately wanted to check on her pets upstairs, but took just a few moments, examining the fireplace, the tables, the windows, the bookshelves, before dashing upstairs.

She wore a grey tee shirt with lace sleeves, and dark faded skinny jeans. The dull colors made her bright, BRIGHT red hair stand out even more.

Dashing back down from the dorms, after taking a few moments THERE as well, she returned with two sheets of parchment, a quill, and a ferret perched on her shoulder. The small animal was black and white, with a tiny black mask and black paws. As Kana claimed a place in one of the armchairs, the ferret climbed down. She reached out a hand and caught the mischevious animal.

"You just stay here a minute. You'll have plenty of time to explore."

The ferret gave a few impatient trills, but obediently stayed near her owner. Leaning forward, Kana placed the sheets of parchment on the table and began to write a letter home, letting her parents know that she had arrived safely, and that mom had won the bet.

"They so shouldn't have put a puzzle in our first day.." Louisa stumbled through the hall and had her robes on her shoulder. A messy ponytail and shirt, her skirt was fine though. If anyone looked at her, you'd guess she just fought with her Monster book for CoMC. She yawned and moved forward for the closest couch her eyes caught. "Aaaaaah.. home sweet home." She half-sang half-sighed and threw herself on it, sending her robes on the floor.

How cool was it to be as messy and slobbish as you wanted without a ranting aunt over your head? Exactly! She forgot about her promise to keep her things tidy for the house-elves, specially that her oath was triggered by a book… long time ago, say like two months ago. And a busy girl like her wouldn't remember such silly stuff.

Smiling at the feeling of the cushions against her back and …ahem..chair-area(!), she opened her eyelids slightly and watched the cozy room. It wasn't that cold yet for the fireplace to be on but the sight of it made her feel warm and just want to snuggle. The warm colors, the enchanted ceiling, the view of the sky, the white ferret….
…What?

She straightened herself quickly and looked at the little thing on the floor. "Aaaaaaaaaah!" Screaming as loud as her tired self managed, "A rat's in here!!" She exclaimed moving her feet up to the couch and hugging them tightly. Someone should use some kind of a trick to get this thing out.. QUICKLY!

…Wait.. she's a witch! She can use her wand now only.. where is it? She looked around frantically but nothing. She fell silent and had her both eyes on the little thing just in case it decided to roam around the room and ATTACK her with its claws... who knew where does it hide them?

Mina hurried up the numerous stairs and made her way back to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Oh, how she had missed it. Yes, the stairs were something that she used to complain about on occasion, but she was glad to have to take them now.

It was just how she remembered it and that made her smile. She was back home again!

Glancing around the room, memories of all the fun times that she had once nad filled her head and she grinned. This room started so many friendships and was the place when some of her fondest memories happened. It was a great place and she was back.

Running over to the fireplace, she spotted her usual high wingback chair and settled in.

Yes, it was good to be back home.

A man had twelve toothpicks in front of him. He took one away. Now he had nine in front of him. How is this possible?

Only pausing for a second, Ivory addressed the knocker confidently. "He spelled out the word NINE with the remaining toothpicks." Of course. Smiling encouragingly to the newer students following her, the Ravenclaw prefect lead the way through the entrance.

Once inside, she opened her arms wide. "Soo, this is it." She announced with a grin. "The Ravenclaw common room. Where you can study, chat, and nap." she added with a giggle. "And right through there," she gestured indicatively to the door that hid steep stairs on their left right next to the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw. "Is the dormitories."

Her smile directed at everyone now, not just the new comers, she continued. "If any one needs anything, anything at all," she assured them with a wave of her hand. "Feel free to approach either myself or Headboy Carmichael." Her hand came up to poke her badge with a wink. "That's what we're here for after all."

One more smile, and she was turning towards the comfortable couches that were calling her name. Flipping her hair to look at them over her shoulder, she gestured forward.

"I don't know about you all but it's still early so I'm going to hang out here for a while." Giving them all an inviting look, she plopped herself down on an available couch before waving at Dallin.

Bringing a hand up to her eye as if she was looking through binoculars, she grinned. "This is me seeing you in the common room." she replied with a laugh.

Dallin was very, very glad that he'd been following closely behind the mob of first years that were being led by Ivory, because then he didn't have to answer a riddle for himself. He really, really disliked those things. He wished they could just have a password or something.

As the prefect continued with her prefecty things, Dal plopped himself down on one of the couches. He smiled when she joined him and did her hand-binocular thing. He laughed, staring back at her through his own hands. "Awesome, I have now seen you around the common room." Which was a good thing.

Feeling an odd feeling of being at home, he stretched his legs out and folded his arms. "It's good to be back, huh?" He looked sideways at Ivory and half-smiled, sort of surprising himself with his words.

Gavin was impressed by the riddle and hoped he would be able to figure them out throughout the year.

And the Common Room was everything he had imagined and then more. It looked comfortable and homey, and somewhat made him think of his parents' study.

As he looked around, he wondered again where his cat was. He shyly approached the Prefect.

"Excuse me," he said shyly.

She was so much older than him and looked so self assured that he felt intimidated.

"I'm Gavin," he introduced himself, remembering his manners. "I was wondering if you could tell me where my cat is," he asked.

Jacob walked up to Ravenclaw tower. He hadn't eaten that much in 3 months, and now that he did, he had to walk up to the top Towers of the school. This was torture... complete inhumanity. But then again, it was pretty good exercise.

Jacob hit the knocker once, and the eagle spoke.

"What's made of stone, but is soft like a pillow?
Where you can float on top, or dive down in it?
Where you can sink underneath, but it doesn't crush you?"

Jacob's mouth opened and closed continuously, if someone was watching, he might have looked like a fish... "Uh... Sand?" he half said, half questioned. He thought these were usually logic, no actual answer. But obviously the knocker was being sill today.

When the door didn't budge, Jacob gave a small sigh. "Oh come on. Sand. It's made of stone, but it's soft when wet. You can lay on top... or sink underneath." it made sense, didn't it?

At that the door opened. Obviously the door wanted an explanation for his answer... "Darn door. Making things difficult!" he grumbled under his breath

Jacob made his way into the common room, and quickly made his way over to HIS couch. The one he had completely incinerated last term. He sat down, making sure his wand was in its holster and not his back pocket this time. When Jacob sat down, he took off his back pack, for the very first time in hours... He still had no reason to open it. He'd start charming the papers when he gets up to the common room.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syd (:

Dallin was very, very glad that he'd been following closely behind the mob of first years that were being led by Ivory, because then he didn't have to answer a riddle for himself. He really, really disliked those things. He wished they could just have a password or something.

As the prefect continued with her prefecty things, Dal plopped himself down on one of the couches. He smiled when she joined him and did her hand-binocular thing. He laughed, staring back at her through his own hands. "Awesome, I have now seen you around the common room." Which was a good thing.

Feeling an odd feeling of being at home, he stretched his legs out and folded his arms. "It's good to be back, huh?" He looked sideways at Ivory and half-smiled, sort of surprising himself with his words.

Laughing when Dal looked back at her through hand binoculars, Ivory followed his example leaning back on the couch stretching out her legs beside his. "Mmmhmm." She agreed in contentment. Grabbing a throw pillow she brought it to her lap and gave it a hug. "Like home away from home."

And it was. Pointing her shoe clad foot forward and to the side to nudge his foot since she couldn't tilt her foot just to the side like a normal person because his legs were too darn longer than hers, Ivory piped up with another one of those getting-to-know-you questions.

"So Dallin, aside from the obvious fact of no one knowing your sisters what do you like best about Hogwarts?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlewis

Gavin was impressed by the riddle and hoped he would be able to figure them out throughout the year.

And the Common Room was everything he had imagined and then more. It looked comfortable and homey, and somewhat made him think of his parents' study.

As he looked around, he wondered again where his cat was. He shyly approached the Prefect.

"Excuse me," he said shyly.

She was so much older than him and looked so self assured that he felt intimidated.

"I'm Gavin," he introduced himself, remembering his manners. "I was wondering if you could tell me where my cat is," he asked.

At the sound of a shy voice, Ivory tilted her chin up trying to see who it was without moving. Spying the younger boy, she smiled. "Hi Gavin, I'm Ivory. It's nice to meet you. What can I help you with?"

His cat? Oh no, a lost cat?! But he could be anywhere? "Oh boy..." she replied exhaling a bit of breath in thought. "Well, where'd you last see him?" That's what people usually asked when something went missing right? "Oh and what does he look like?"

Jeanne made her way into the Ravenclaw's common room. She smiled at how she have missed this place. She's been away from Hogwarts for two years and it still hasn't change a bit. She was still holding her book and sat down. First day in Hogwarts and maaan, the riddles are already getting harder and harder. Thankfully, she still have some brain juice left to answer the riddle upon entering or she else she could have waited for the prefects and heads to save her.

She rested all the muscles of her body by sitting down. She stretched her feet and arms. She's SO tired! But still, reading and finishing the book wouldn't be bad at all. She opened her book to the page where her bookmark was and continued reading.

Kyle walked into the Ravenclaw common room, her little kitten Ginger sitting snugly, and happily on her shoulder. Why did I wear heels?[ She thought as she stepped further into the room. She almost looked like a kid wearing their mothers heels for the first time as she walked each step, careful, almost planned out.

But not enough, she never was careful enough. Almost three steps from the couch she was walking to she slipped.

Cursing under her breath she took off the shoes, stood up, and looked around. her face red with embarrassment. She knew someone must have seen that lovely little spill there - she would forever be known as the toppling one. Since after all, she fell all the time.

Running her hand to her shoulder she found Ginger was safely, there.

Ginger cried loudly as Kyle fell, her own fear of getting squashed flashing before her little eyes. She hissed as Kyle tried to check if she was alright.

Looking around the room she hopped off her back with a simple bound she jumped onto the back of the sofa.

Common room! Yay! Hugo took the knocker and knocked. The eagle spoke.
"You are inside a dark room with bloody vibrating walls all around you. Yet, you are at the safest place in the whole world. Where are you?"
Hugo thought for a while. "In the... Heart of your loved one?" he said. "Very well," the eagle said and opened the door.

Yess! The common room. After putting his trunk down in the dormitories, he went to sit down in front of the fireplace and sighed. Loooong day.

Ellie entered the Ravenclaw common room, surprised that she had had to answer a riddle. This was all a new experience for her.

She sat down on the first empty chair she found and cuddled up to her kitten Nico. She hadn't really made friends with anyone yet and was missing her old friends. Right now she was hating her dad for making her move from America to England.

She wouldn't stay lonely all year though, she had to make some friends at least.

Noel walked into the Ravenclaw common room, wide-eyed as he stared around the circular chamber and tried to absorb everything around him. It was brilliant!

Lowering his eyes from the cieling, he spotted a familiar head of red hair bending over some parchment. Grinning he bounded over to Kana, interrupting her letter without so much as a "sorry". He was waaaay too excited to see her.

"Kana! You're here! We're both in Ravenclaw! This is brilliant! I've missed you! How was the rest of your summer? And oooh Kit's here! Hey Kit remember me?" he asked the ferret, holding out a hand for the little white thing to smell and perhaps decide to wander up.

That's when he heard another voice.

"It's not a rat, it's a ferret!" Noel protested indignantly. That's when he saw the wand in the girl's hand. "Oooh no, put that away, don't hurt her! She's a pet! Don't you dare try and curse her!" he told her. She looked older than him, which meant she could do some serious damage to Kit with that wand. And he didn't want that to happen.

Neither would Kana, he guessed.

But seriously, how could anyone mistake Kit for a rat?!

Stella was sitting on a comfortable blue armchair, looking outside the window bored. She hoping something will happen in the common room. She noticed a girl entering the room, walking slowly and carefully. Stella raised her eyebrow wondering why is the girl walking like that, but it was rather amusing. Just before the girl got the couch she fell, Stella smiled and giggled silently so the girl won't notice her.

"Ar-Are you okay?" she asked with a smile. This year her aim is to be more generous and caring and less egoistic and selfish. She began fiddling with her hair as the girl got up.

Slightly tensed, Louisa glared at the boy who seemed to be willing to jump between the ferret and her readied wand. She kept her feet up but lowered her wand... still clutching it tightly and her white knuckles confirmed how serious she was. "'Kaaaay."

Louisa scanned him from head to toe, he was young.. and so was the girl sitting nearby writing something. "Are you guys first years?" Because if they were, she'd be in a HUGE embarrassing situation and she should look for a justification for her freakout-ish reaction.

"Wow!" was Rachel's first thought at the Ravenclaw common room, it was HUGE! She was egar to make friends, she hoped that it would be soon, she only knew Luna Keirans, and was nervous about meeting others. There were loads of bookcases, which she hoped that she would have read all of them by the end of the school, and it was all decorated in blue and bronze, her favourite colours, she marched oover to a group of other first years she reconized from the sorting, "Hi, my name is Rachel Annabeth Chase, whats yours?" She asked, for some odd reason she always used her full name.

Hateya was pretty much as open-mouth-impressed by the room as the rest of the first years, and didn't really bother trying to hide it. This was where she was going to get to stay all year? Okay, now she could see why people got attached to their houses.

From the corner of her eye, she saw a girl about her age marching over (and was impressed about the marching, as it had been a long day and they'd just come up seven flights of stairs), and waved at her, "I'm Hateya Stern. Have you seen this room?"

Obviously she'd seen the room, but no harm in asking anyway!

"Yeah! Its amazing! Theres so much in here!" she liked this girl, she was really nice, and Rachel wasnt at all surprised that Hateya was also impressed by it, "So Hateya, where do you come from then?" maybe she lived close to where Rachel lived, "Are you muggle born? I am." she told her.

Finlay yawned as he ushered the last of the first years into the common room. He really hoped that known of them had gotten lost during the nice climb up all those stairs. That would've been really bad, but it was part of the reason why he'd made sure that he'd been last. Hopefully known of them had got lost that way.
As the portrait door shut behind him he could hear Ivory just talking to the first years. Well it was good, making sure they felt comfortable, and such in their new environment. But maybe Finlay should say something too. He was headboy afterall, so really...he was meant to right. He waved a little trying to get all their attention again. "And....we're going to totally earn the house cup this term. So be good ravenclaws, and earn lots of points, and try to not get into detention." Because that would be tragic.

Excitement was definitely infectious. That was for sure. Hateya shrugged at Rachel's question, "Outside London a bit. Surrey." Before, she'd have assumed that everyone knew where that was. Now, with transfer students and all the rest, she wasn't so sure, "How about you?"

She felt a yawn coming on, but kept her lips firmly stuck together. Once the feeling was gone she replied, "No, I've got wizard parents. But hey, do Muggles have jelly beans where you actually know the flavour before you eat them?"

Not that she didn't believe what Conan had told her; she just wanted someone else to say it was true.

Hateya turned to the waving boy... man... almost man... and smiled at him in a way that said 'I have no idea what points are'. Be confident in your ignorance, and someone will correct you faster, right? Or something like that.

"I live on the wirral, near liverpool, yeah, Muggles do have jelly beans like that, I prefere them to Bertie Bots, they are horrible!" Rachel was gobsmacked that she didnt know about proper jelly beans!

"Tsh," Hateya made a dismissive tone and flipped her hand back and forth in the air. "They're not horrible. You just have to pick the right flavours. It's trickier that way."

Plus, she'd sort of never known there was an alternative? She had to admit, it would be strange to pick up a bean knowing exactly what it was going to taste like. In fact, she wasn't sure if she'd trust the description on the package or not.

Okay...so maybe some of the first years didn't know what points were. Finlay hadn't expected that. Umm. He kind of smiled at the young one. "You get points in class, and for doing homework and stuff. There's a competition between the houses, and a cup for whoever has the most points." He explained with a nod. "So....earn lots." Because he totally wanted to win.

Oooh. And these two firsties were talking about Bertie Botts. "I wouldn't let a certain seventh hear you talking that way about her Beans..." Nope. Finlay didn't think that Neptune would be too happy. Her family did own the bean company after all. "I love Bertie Botts..." He continued with a big smile. They were his favorite, and he was glad he was such good friends with Neptune, she got him lots of free beans. "You just have to get used to them..."

Kyle turned to Stella and smiled as she stood up.

"I'm alright - and thanks for asking, I'm just wretched at walking in these" she pointed to the rather uncomfortable shoes. Taking out her wand she quickly smiled. "I don't think I ever officially met you - I'm Kyle Manning" she smiled as she swished her wand and transformed her uncomfortable shoes into a pair of comfy flats. Much better.