Jezz was free yet again! She found herself back at the base of Gryffindor. Sure, they were still minus their own flag but she'd deal with it. She looked around for Kurumi who wasn't there just yet. Sigh.

Dragging her feet and with leaves sticking out of her hair in every which direction, Kurumi made her way back to the front gate with the Hufflepuff flag clenched in her hands. Seeing some of her housemates, she walked up to them and held the yellow object high in the air for them to see.

"I....cap...tured...their....flag..." she managed to squeak out between her heavy breathing. Sure, it wasn't their red one, which she wanted back, but at least they had a flag now.

Stumbling over to the gate, Kurumi leaned against it, thankfully to finally have the chance to catch her breath.

Adam came running over to the younger Gryffindor."What?!No?!Really?" He was slightly breath taken. They might've,could've won the game. Nothing was for sure until an official announcement was made. Without realizing an thinking about it Adam hugged Kurumi. "You've got...ummm..". Well there was leaves stuck in her hair. He gently picked them out an then looked at her briefly. But remembering himself that they weren't in the broom cupboard an that several more celebrating Gryffindors would probably be running up he let go.

"I can't believe you..I can't...Well...Yeah-the overachiever achieved once again." Of course he was only teasing her. But then he realized it wasn't the Gryffindor one. But, anything worked for the moment, they did have a flag. As far as he knew, no one else had captured one.

"Aye...either will do." He would certainly try his darnest once more to get them next time that was for sure, Gideon trying not to feel like Kurumi's words were a dig at him. Nah...she wasn't that mean....right. It wasn't as if he hadn't fought to keep the flag, the Ravenclaw was just fighting a bit dirty, what with throwing spells at him and Jezz with her housemates later joining in to cover her escape.

Had that be Eino involved? Gideon had thought he and Kurumi were friends.

He looked suddenly at her as she broken into fits of laughter, an eyebrow raised in confusion. What in the world? he mused to himself before registering that one of the spells thrown at them had been a tickling charm Gideon approached his friend to cast the counterspell when she already managed to do it herself.

"Aye...ye can trust me," he assured her as she rushed off once more. He walked back closer to the physical gate despite the fact that there wasn't anything there to defend. The boy offered a nod as Jess returned just as winded as they all seemed to be. Sitting down on the base of the stone pillar, Gideon allowed himself a rest as he kept an eye out, perking up as Kurumi returned.

So they were in luck with at least a captured flag of their own!

"Great job Kurumi!" he congradulated with a bright smile, jumping up as she walked closer and motioning for her to take his seat since she looked ready to collapse. Gideon might have commented further yet another familiar Gryffindor appeared rushing up and grabbing her into a hug. Adam...hugging Kurumi?

Ackward...

Not sure where to go, Tayla went straight from the grounds to 'Gryffindor territory'. She looked around and spotted someone she didn't recognize hugging Kurumi before he let go. Were those leaves in Kurumi's hair? And it seemed she also had a something in her hand. A flag!

"Hey," Tayla said as she approached them. "What's happened? Which flag do we have?"

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat was he doing?!

Kurumi's body went rigid and she just sort of stood there. Why was he hugging her? Were they back on hugging terms? Adam sure seemed to think so where as Kurumi, well, she wasn't sure she was entirely on the patting each other on the shoulder level yet. Still, this was an activity done as a house and not the place to start a pointless fight. Then he was taking things out of her hair...it was all too awkward.

Kurumi stepped back when he released her and looked at everyone, before returning her gaze to Adam. "Always the tone of surprise," she sighed. "Hufflepuff," she said, sort of stating the obvious. "Ravenclaw took our flag earlier. We need to go and get it back."
Oh good, Gideon was near. Kurumi sort of scooted a little closer to him. Yep, much more comfortable over here. "Thanks," she said with a small nod. "You...haven't seen any snakes around here, have you?"

They all seemed to be congregating around their flag...staying put. Biding time.

"I think...we need to attack in masse...maybe get the other houses involved. Raise a white flag of our own." Kurumi was sure that she could get Arya and Treyen involved, along with some Puffs.

Kurumi spun around when she heard another voice. "Tayla, hey," she waved. "Hufflepuff, for now." Implying that they should try and at least take back their own soon.

Kurumi climb the gate a bit and attached the flag towards the top of it before climbing back down. She then pointed her wand at her left hand. "Finite." There, no more sticky fingers.

"There must be some way to get our flag back," Tayla thought aloud. Then hearing Kurumi's suggestion about getting other houses involved, she said. "Wouldn't the Hufflepuffs want their flag back? I mean, if we want their help to attack the Slytherins." That came out a bit odd, but she was curious. "I wonder how the Slytherins have kept their flag so well," she added and wondered if she could sneak into their camp and find out.

Kurumi tapped her wand against her bottom lip as she thought about what Tayla was saying. "Hey, do you think we could make a deal with them? They help us steal the Slytherin flag and we trade them it for their Hufflepuff one?" Seemed like a reasonable trade to her. Wasn't there some story about a mouse helping a lion? This was like...the modern day version of that, only magical! "When I ran by their area, I saw that they were ALL there. They are all huddled in one place protecting their flag. We have to be sneaky to get their flag."

Kurumi continued to tap her lip with her wand, trying to think up some sort of plan of attack. Lions were more doers though, it was part of what made being a part of the pride so much fun.

"I think we could," Tayla replied. "But I don't know many Hufflepuffs. I think it would be better if we'd ask someone who's already a friend. And I think we need the Ravenclaw flag, too."

Tayla decided she wanted to check out the Slytherins, or see if she could catch anyone with their flag or the Ravenclaws'. "See you guys later," she said to the others and left the front gate.

Nate was running for the gryffindor flag because it didn't go so well with the slytherin flag. But anyways he was almost there just a few more steps.

Kurumi spun around when she saw a younger Puff running in their direction. Not so fast their badger! "Glisseo!" Kurumi shouted, pointing her wand at the ground beneath his feet. The surface became as smooth as ice...and just as slippery.

Nate couldn't run anymore. He decided to go back to capture the ravenclaw flag. "I'm going to get a flag even if it's the last thing I do.

Jezz looked at the Hufflepuff flag hanging where their flag had once been. She paced back and forth listening to Kurumi. "Well the Hufflepuff's should be too hard to create a truce with." Plus if they wanted their flag they could have it. It would be a victory in itself to have the Slytherin one. So she was all on board for it. "Hey Tay"

The Yellow flag, now owned by the Gryffindors, waves from its spot on the gate. It looks like it wanted to get free.

Sophie sneaked to the front gate and watched as the Gryffindors spoke to each other. She was glad she wasn't big in any way. That would make it a little harder for them to see her moving behind... pretty much anything around. Sophie thought for a moment if she should just run like crazy and grab Hufflepuff's flag or go quietly.

Since the Gryffindors were distracted talking, she started walking on her tip-toes towards the yellow flag she spotted. She went walking close to the walls, making no noise and almost no movement. When she was close enough, she reached out to grab Hufflepuff's flag.

Gideon had been listening to the girls discuss strategy, nodding as he did so but staying quiet. His attention was elsewhere despite seeming occupied with his fellow Gryffindors. And it was probably a good thing too as a Hufflepuff appeared and attempted to steal back their flag.

"Nah...we're not gonna make it that easy," he remarked, the tall older boy coming up from behind the first year and grabing for her.

So very close! The little Hufflepuff would have to think fast and climb high to get this yellow flag. It waves proudly from high up on the fence. Good thing the gripping charm is good for.... climbing, isn't it?

She got away with it before would there be a second? Hopfully after this anyways... she ran for the flag and climbed up,up to the top of the fence she put out her charmed hand for it to pop on eeep

"AAAHHH!!!" Sophie screamed grabbing on the gate. Wut! Duuuh, the Gripping Charm was on both of her hands! She started climbing it as fast as she could. An older boy came rushing her way but she went up to the top of the gate, passing by Hufflepuff's flag.

Whyyy, oh why didn't she grab it on her way up though?? She completely freaked out when she saw the older boy that she forgot about the flag for a few seconds. Okay... now what?

"OH!" she though, and pulled out her wand, pointing it at the Hufflepuff's flag. "Wingardium Leviosa!" and reached out her hand once more. "Please, fly up here, flaaaag!!" she thought desperately.

Oh the Ravenclaw was back!

"Finite!!!" Gideon cast at the younger girl's hand as she tried to get the flag herself. There was no way she'd escape again and use their energy to get an enemy house's flag.

"Kurumi! Jezz! We have intruders!!

The flag wiggled a bit but didn't move. The poor Hufflepuff seemed to be stranded on top of the gate, just above the yellow flag

Oh man. Now what?? Sophie noticed the Gryffindor boy was also worried about the Ravenclaw girl, so went down a little bit to try and grab her flag. She stretched as much as she could and reached out her hand once more! Gaaahh!

Success! The Hufflepuff grabbed the yellow flag.... but how on earth will she escape with it?

Now with two girls from two different houses going for the flag Gideon had to do something. The Hufflepuff was higher but seemingly stuck above the flag and the Ravenclaw was still beneath it. "Tag!" he said reaching out to touch the Ravenclaw that his height should allow him to reach, climbing up a little so he was closer to the Hufflpuff to keep her from coming down with the flag.

"HAH!! I GOT IT!!" Sophie said happily. Her smile vanished. What was she going to do now??

...

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.