Aurora grinned at Aaron. Yup, working together. With the Hufflepuffs? Well. So long as Penny got here soon...

Ooh, there was another Slytherin.

"Hello, can I pair with you?" she asked the older girl. It seemed no-one else was here yet...

Aiden is one of the few late Slytherins to solve the hints. She reaches the courtyard panting heavily, since she sprinted down the stairs from the trophy room on the third floor till here at the courtyard.

It seems like there are not many people has arrived. Aiden leans her back against the wall while waiting for the others. Holding up the green bag given to her earlier, Aiden wonders what is in it.

Helena made her way to the courtyard as fast as she could, since she was... maybe the last one who guessed. Yes, yes, it was embarrassing. But once she got there, she stared at the next instructions. Were Hufflepuffs coming as well? But there were only a few Slytherins.

Hmmm and they had to pair up?

And what was in the green bag?! Aaaand why wouldn't it open?!

Anyway, the girl looked around and noticed another Slytherin, most probably a first year. She approached the girl, smiling. "Hi. Do you want to pair up?" Well, they were both pair..less.

With the bag in hand Salander walked towards the Courtyard, welcoming the open skies above his head. He did a double take with the fountain, he didnt remember it looking like that last he was there. A few students in green robes was already there, but the only one familiar was Evelyn, he neared his fellow sixth year and jostled the bag in his palm "Have you tried opening this already? I tried getting it open on the way down here it wouldnt budge. "

She was staring at the green bag after many failed attempts to open the bag. They must have put charms on it. Aiden thought of the common counter-spell, but changed her mind. She does not want to get into trouble.

Her long thought was distracted when an older Slytherin greeted her. Aiden tilts her head upwards to see who is she. She looks around the courtyard. There are only Captain Anderson, a Hufflepuff prefect and a few other Slytherins. Hesitantly, Aiden responds to the other girl. "Uh... Sure. I'm Aiden. Aiden Heartnett," she introduces herself while stretching out her hand.

Caroline made her way to the courtyard where she seen all Slytherins and a Hufflepuff prefect ..... so this was the part that they would be getting from them. If they ever showed up. This is why Caroline's only Hufflepuff was her best friend, Kita. She was always there when she needed her. Anyway she listened to the slytherin captain explain what to do next. They needed to pair up. Did that mean that a Slytherin and a hufflepuff had to pair up? That was kind of hard without the hufflepuffs there. She looked around the noticed that the other slytherins were pairing up. "Anyone need a partner?"

Helena shook Aiden's hand with a tiny grin on her face. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Helena." Uhh... maybe... "Helena Hopkins," she added quickly, following the younger girl's example. She wasn't quite used to say her whole name when she was introducing herself. Hehe.

Anyway. She was still super confused about this, but didn't say anything. Maybe they had to wait for the others to arrive, and they'll... get the instructions then? Because the pair-up-step was done.

Wha?

Glancing over to the young girl, Evelyn recognized her as the first one who answered the clue correctly, yet, she was young. YOUNG young. Like, first year young. Eh, first years. Yet being smart gave her bonus points.

"I...suppose..." she muttered, glancing around again. Sierra? Really? Must you be slow?

Although, here was someone who she didn't mind. Thank Merlin.

"I think the whole 'they can't be opened until you get to the next location' could come into play here." she smirked, glancing down to the silver bag he held. Oh hey, like hers.

Then again...they were at the next location..."Try it again."

o____O

"Nice to meet you too," added Aiden briefly. She gives Helena a faint smile. Then, she turns her attention back to the green bag. Shaking it, wondering what is inside. There is clinking sound from inside the bag. Could they be keys? If so, do they have to find out the right door at the next location? She continues to stare at the bag curiously.

Did they really have to pair up with a Slytherin? Geez. It's not that she didn't like the Slytherins but she felt really uncomfortable around them..even if she did have a couple of Slythie friends.

Um anyway, she spotted an older Slythie who didn't seem to have a partner. She walked towards the girl and asked with a smile, "Do you want to pair up?"

Aurora raised her eyebrows, "You don't have to if you don't want, I do have friends I can wait for." she said, grinning.


[ooc: She's actually twelve, long story]

Caroline turned around when she heard someone walk up behind her and ask if they could pair up. Nodding with a slight smile. "Sure!" She said, if she needed the help of a hufflepuff she mite as well get one from the get go. Before they were all gone.

"I'm Caroline .... Caroline Scott." She said with a smile. And while she was at it. She mite as well make the most of it and meet a hufflepuff. They do come it handy sometimes.

"Gee, they said that?" obviously he wasnt paying much attention to details, only that he got the next location right and was handed the silver bag. He pried it open and this time the bag opened up easily"Huh, would you lookitdat..." he smirked back at Evelyn

He fished for the contents and pulled out a few shinies "Whoahhh..." he uttered quietly, then he noticed the colors-- yellows and greens.... "I guess we have to be working with Puffs..."

THen his eyes falls on the young Slytherin. "Couldnt this just be an all Slytherin gig? What if we couldnt find an available Puff?"

ooc: Eep! hehe, oops! Still a firstie though *shifty*

Well now, she didn't have to be all...grinning...about it.

Even if that didn't make sense and she was going for more of an insult type way of thinking that, it still annoyed Evelyn. A smart first year or not, she was short. Or...well...no she wasn't...

Glare.

"If you're saying you don't want to be partners even though you're suggesting that I don't have to agree with being partners with you...why'd you even ask?" Yea, why ask? Pssh. Made no sense.

Salander made sense though. Opening her own bag, she was going to reach in and see what there was, but Sal got his first. Shiny stuffs. "Mermaids?" Seriously? Glancing between the young Slytherin girl whom she didn't know the name of and Salander, Evelyn scoffed before speaking up again. "If one of us has to turn into a mermaid...I vote the young one does it."

She was smaller.

Okay, so Sierra pretty much took the long way around and ended up getting here after everyone else, but she was here now, so she guessed that was all that mattered. With her little green bag clutched tightly in her hand, she wandered around the courtyard until she found a group of Slytherins. This must be the spot then.

She came to a stop by Evelyn and some first year girl she hadn't been introduced to yet. "Hey, Ev," she remarked, then casually leaned up against the fountain. She gave the first year a nod of acknowledgement and then waited for things to get underway.

Shortly afterwards, Aaron, their Slytherin Quidditch captain, took a step forward and spoke up. Sierra turned her attention to him. Ehh? Work together? Sierra usually didn't have very positive experiences with that sort of thing, but she really couldn't go wrong finding a partner in a group of Slytherins. She automatically took a step toward Evelyn but paused when she realized her friend was already partnering up with someone else. She frowned and then looked around for someone else. Lola, maybe?

Yes, Lola. As insane as the girl was, she was awesome out there on the pitch, and she was as loyal as a little puppy, too. Yes, Lola. Where are you?

"...What?" ... This girl was insane, haha, she loved it when people got all... crazy.

"No need to glare at me. I asked to pair up because, when I asked, we were the only ones here and I thought it would be helpful to get a headstart. If you don't want to I can walk over there but you both have silver bags and mine's green so you might need it." she observed, rattling the green bag as she said it.

Viola smiled back. Ah, great. If the girl had refused..it would have been really embarrassing. Huh. Anyway.. "Hi Caroline. I'm Viola..Viola Cartly." Viola added hastily, "It's nice to meet you." It was best to act a little polite..at least, towards the seniors.

Ness and Jory had both decided to come to the courtyard after there little tea in Hogsmead. Nessie kept on turning around to make sure Jory was following her. She took a seat on a bench then gestured for him to join her. Puffles was on her shoulder, he had fallen asleep and was starting to snore. "he snores quite loud, doesnt he?" said Ness giggling. She moved Puffles onto her lap, carefully so he wouldn't wake up. She still couldn't stop thinking about what was bothering her and before she knew it a tear slid down her cheek, Ness quickly wiped it away hoping Jory didn't see.

As soon as Lola had gotten her bag, she had been evilly trying to open its contents and try to find out what it was. She did not know however, that it was her cue to leave, with those awfully deaf ears of hers. It took only three entire minutes to realize that everyone had already ditched her without even having the audacity to stay with her and skip along the Grounds off to the Courtyard! OH—here the fourth year was skipping ALONE—like the sad and friend-deprived girl she truly was. Lola was definitely taking her time because everyone already seemed to be there. Hmph. She was eavesdropping on the usual conversations as usual, holding those fish cookies of hers in her arms, when—

"REALLY?! MERMAIDS?! You're not joking, are you Evelyn? I KNEW it! My mermaid-in-training plan worked!" She showed the peoples her fish babies, "You see, Paula's ALWAYS on those butterbeers and I always have to aggravate her to no end like the MOTHER that I am AND Simon here—well we all just know about Simon, right daaaaahlings?" Lola started to hide away her cookies from the view when she saw Sierra because she concluded that the girl was INSANE and should have been put into a mental asylum for endangering the lives of fish babies! Did she not know they had rights too? That they had FEELINGS? Lola was their only protection and so she haughtily walked towards the young girl, thought for a minute, and sighed.

It had been so easily recognized... "Sierra, my dear? Look... I don't want to be a horrible mother, but you mustn't act so deranged just because these fish babies need a lot of my care! You're not replaced, sweetie!" Then ever so sympathetically, Lola patted the girl's head. Did she feel better now? Did she need an afternoon bedtime story? Ah, the lassie! "You know what, we should be partners! I believe some mother-daughter bonding time should be of use!"

The girl was probably so giddy with excitement!

"Now, do you want to meet Randy?" Lola almost handed the cookie over to her, but thought that she still might have the violent rage to EAT the thing, so she merely held it up in the air, in front of her. "I don't know much about Randy. I believe he's just there for comedic relief," she said depressingly and then eased off her gaze flew down to the fountain.

Oh right.

Jory followed Ness and sat on the bench she had gestured to.
He laughed in amazement that such a little creature could snore so loudly quite agreeing with what Ness said.

Jory noticed Ness make a quick swipe at her face and noticed her eyes were a bit red.
"Are you ok?" he asked frowning.

"Yeah Im fine!" said Ness giving Jory a fake smile to reasure him. She then started thinking of a topic, so she could change the subject, hmmm maybe quiditch, Nope Ness was sick of speaking about quidditch she then got a better Idea. Seeing as she didn't know Jory that well yet, she would change the subject about him. "I know this is random, but whats your favourite colour?" asked Ness, she sounded really stupid, but she needed to change the subject. She just hoped he wouldn't think she was mad, she really didn't know what else to ask.

Treyen just nodded as Aaron spoke, and eyed the people in there. What Lola said about mermaids didn't go unnoticed. Geez, Lola as a mermaid would be FOREVER annoying.

He was sure the girl would be always at the surface, so everyone could hear her high-pitch sounds.

He eyed the map Viola was holding and watched it as it suddenly changed into this other map.

Well, that was better. Suited this task even more. Had she paired up with other Slytherins?

It seemed that these two could understand everything that the other was saying. It was pretty cool, actually. She had to explain her accent problem to all her other friends, but he just got it. "My dad was a Gryffindor and my mom was a Slytherin, like I said before." she said. Hearing Matt talk about his cousin, all she could do was roll her eyes. She hated those kind of people. It drove her insane that someone in this modern day and age could be so obtuse. "That's really ironic." she said, smirking. "No one in my family is like that. Thank goodness." she said. The lion couldn't stand to have someone like that in her family. It would drive her crazy. "Where in America are you from?" she asked, randomly. She wasn't sure why that question just came to her, but it did.

...and this was why Sierra usually stayed as far away from Lola Jones as humanly possible.

Loyal, though. Think loyalty, Sierra. Plus, she'd ended up with a green bag, and Lola had gotten a silver one--so that had to stand for something, right? "Replaced? Right, Lola. ...because that's just what I was thinking the whole walk over here," Sierra said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Did Lola have to act like her mother all the time? Literally? She jerked away when she felt her head being patted. Now that was where she drew the line.

"Okay, Lola! Let's just stop thinking about fish babies, and mother-daughter bonding time, and..." all that other ridiculousness in that head of yours "...focus on figuring this thing out," she said. As she talked, she held up her green bag.

"...and no, I do not want to meet Randy."

OOC: Continued below.

She gazed around the courtyard, her eyes finally falling on Treyen Lockhart. She did a little mental swoon for a second, but then zeroed in on the fact that Treyen was eying something in some girl's hand. "Hey, Lola," she half-whispered, "what's that Puffer Girl...I mean, that girl...got?"

She looked from the girl to Lola then back again. "We should go work with her...," she trailed off. Sure, it looked like she already had a partner, but the more, the merrier. Isn't that what Puffer Children were all about?

Lexi was dressed a bit more warmly as she made her way to the Courtyard with her wireless tucked under her arm. She was having so much fun dancing that she actually set the wireless aside and began to twirl and spin and giggle all by herself.

Chandler would be along shortly, she was sure. He could just join in with her. Hehe.