Originally Posted by Toddles (Post 11027041)

Oooh the studensies were BACK?!

Toddles had been waiting all summer for them to return, he had been stuck in the Kitchens while the older elves tried to teach him how to cook but Toddles didn't want to cook he wanted to play! Not fair, they needed more baby elves for his summers, yes they did.

Now that he had the shiney again, Toddles was ready to play catch or that bowlingsy game that he had heard the boys and girls talk about. He had lost the shiney last time the studensies were back at the Castle and he had missed it so much. It was his friend, yes it was. The shiney.

But now that he found it on a desk behind the scary gargoyles, he was ready to play with the other kids. Sneaking into the big room where the food went, Toddles jumped on the far table and ran to its center, dodging the cups and pitchers.

"You, Studensies! Play catch with Toddles!" the baby elf tossed the shiney at the ones dressed in green and giggled with his high pictched voice as it flew through the air.

SO MUCH FUN!

Originally Posted by Toddles (Post 11027118)

THIS was the table Toddles needed to be, the red studensies knew how to catch.

"RYFFINBLORR!!!" Toddles shouted what he thought the old, yucky hat had said when he sent the baby red kids to that table. Such an awesome name, not better than Toddles though. Nope.

Hoisting the Shiney over his head, he bumped into a water glass, spilling it all over the table before shouting again. They needed to look at Toddles.

"Hey studentsies, Toddles wants to play catch NOW." He jumped where he was and threw the orb right at where a human kiddy's head would be. Toddles wanted to play he hadn't waited all summer to be ignored!

Originally Posted by HOPEendures (Post 11027165)

Jezzabelle made a nervous step up to the staff table. Last term she had came to introduce herself and had been snapped at by the Flying Professor, but this time is was something more important than an introduction. Taking a deep breath she approached the Headmaster keeping a weary eye on the Professor in question who happened to be sitting right next to him.

"Headmaster. I hate to interrupt your conversation but I think there is something you should know." She felt like a snitch, a really bad one at that. However, if the orb broke or if anything happened to someone because the elf threw it too hard. "Toddles has a glass orb like object he said that he found in your office, well he said he found it in the room with the spinning gargoyle." Goodness she was rambling. "It's small and pretty light. He swear he just found it and I tried to bring it up here but he snatched it out of my hand and ran off before I could catch him." She hoped she was doing the right thing by coming here and not chasing after the elf in question.

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 11028250)

"Oh, hello. Gryffindor kid. Tate raised an eyebrow to invite the girl to speak, but the more she said, the more concerned he grew. How was it that EVERY time they got that blasted orb back in a professor's possession, it popped back up again somewhere else? EVERY TIME.

"I appreciate your telling me. You may return to your table." He rose from his seat and gave Max a rap up side the head. This was his fault. Somehow.

"Excuse me, please. I have to go retrieve Max's trophy." And then it was going BACK to his office.

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 11028673)

Tate finally made his way back to the staff table. He didn't like the fact that the orb had mad a reappearance again so soon in the term, even if he'd known it was in the school this time. It seemed he would have to baby-elf-proof his office, and quickly.

On the dais, Tate remained standing, waiting until the students quieted a bit before he began his long-overdue speech. "Welcome back to Hogwarts for another term. I apologize for the delay in getting things started, but for those who are returning students, you know that nothing ever goes exactly as planned."

"We have several new professors and staff members joining us this term, and I hope you'll make them feel welcome. Remember that every staff member deserves your respect and courtesy, whether in class or in the corridors."

"I know there was some curiosity about the happenings last term. We have yet to discover why exactly the creatures were coming out of the Forbidden Forest, although we suspect it has to do with the orb some of you spotted around the school. As the creatures seem to have settled back in without issue, I don't see any reason to continue to dwell on it. We have a Ministry specialist coming to examine the orb, and if there is anything to share, you will be informed shortly. Other than that... enjoy the feast and we'll see you in class."

Originally Posted by Baby Dragon! (Post 11043183)

The egg was hot, and the baby dragon inside wanted nothing more than to get out at last and spread his/her wings. How did one escape from an egg, hmm? What was an egg, anyway? Was it not just an extension of a mother dragon, with possible father dragon DNA donated to keep things lively? Had the baby dragon come into existence before the egg, or was the egg there all along and he/she had just magically grown from it? Which came first: the dragon or the egg?

Rocking around the eggshell, the baby dragon did its best to crack the tough case that was enclosing it. It eventually succeeded in making a little fissure, through which it felt fresh(er) air, but it was still not enough.

The dragon continued to flail inside its egg, wanting oh so badly to be free. Its tiny mind was simply too large to expand inside this confining egg.

Originally Posted by Baby Dragon! (Post 11043722)

The little egg gave another big quiver and a fragment of shell actually popped off this time, as the dragon within was exposed to some more fresh air. Ah, the taste of life. Good old oxygen. Dragon baby wanted so badly to stretch its little wings but all it could do right now was poke the tip of a wing out through the egg.

Must. Escape. Egg.

The shell started trembling and cracking with renewed ferocity. There might have even been a few angry squawking sounds coming from this dragon child.

Originally Posted by Baby Dragon! (Post 11043856)

It was if the baby dragon could hear its papa calling to it. Giving another big quake that almost send the whole egg rolling, the little dragon that could squawked loudly and sent a piece of eggshell flying toward the class. The shield had been throw up just in time, as the spot where the sharp fragment hit it lit up but withstood the blow.

The dragon squawked again, and another piece of eggshell went flying. Another tremor ran through the egg and then it seemed to be melting off the dragon, disintegrating into little pieces as the dragon finally escaped its home.

The little, scaly green thing with sharp, beady black eyes might have seemed ugly to some but to the man it was staring at, it was the most beautiful sight in the world. Letting out a tiny baby cry of confusion, the dragon flapped its fragile wings and shook off any remaining bits of slime and eggshell.

Finally, the dragon could stretch its wings at last, after that long, long nap!

Originally Posted by Corin Vanderbilt, Head of the Department of Mysteries

He returned the handshake with one of his own then shook his head slightly on the Tate's last statement "Oh its quite understandable Headmaster, school year has just started, I can imagine how hectic it must be for you staying on top of the students' needs and education, keeping them out of trouble and all that." Not to mention his staff heh.

He glanced behind him quickly and, spotting the seat, eased into it. "You sent a message mentioning that you need to have something examined?" he asked, taking the rolled parchment out of his coat-- the letter Tate owled him earlier that week.

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

"Indeed." Tate removed a locked box from inside a locked drawer - a precaution he'd had to take after the baby house elf had stolen the orb from his office. He set the box on top of his desk and opened the lock with a few murmured words. Inside sat the orb, completely unadorned and un-embellished.

"We found this... item on the grounds last year, and several people foolishly handled it. I have a concern that it might be one of the receptacles used to store memories, like you keep at the Ministry."

Originally Posted by Corin Vanderbilt, Head of the Department of Mysteries

The silver-haired man leaned forward in his seat as the Headmaster opened the box and revealed what it held. For a second Corin was taken aback-- it looked like a prophecy orb, or at least something very similar in appearance. He was about to ask how it had come to their possession when Tate started to explain....

...Which had Corin taken aback the second time "Other people have held this? With their bare hands?" he repeated, couldnt quite believing what he was hearing. He paused for a moment as the sounds of students going about their classes wafted through the open window, his eyes going back to the orb held safely in the box. He stood up and drew near it. Orbs are orbs and for the most part they all look pretty similar, but Prophecy orbs have something about them thats very specific. "How.... How many people have held this? And have you had any incidents of individuals acting...." Insane? Batty? Bag full of cats crazy? Wait this is Hogwarts, crazy is somewhat the norm ".... unusual-- you know from how they usually behave?"

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

"Several professors and a Hufflepuff," Tate explained, as if the fact that the kid was a Hufflepuff explained why he'd picked up a strange orb thingy. It did, at least to Tate. "But it was missing for a while, between when Vindictus found it and it showed up again, so any number of people could have handled it. And one of my house elves was chucking it around at the feast a few weeks ago... probably others touched it then too."

Sigh. It was just mortifying to explain to this Ministry man that he'd let something dangerous into the school and failed to lock it up safely... twice. TWICE. "But no. No unusual behavior. Or no more than is to be expected when hormones and ego compete in small teenaged packages. I haven't seen any symptoms of madness." Because he knew what sort of spells were put on prophecy orbs.

Originally Posted by Corin Vanderbilt, Head of the Department of Mysteries

Several Professors, a Hufflepuff one or more students, and a house elf. Corin’s eyes slid to the side. Hmm this orb has gotten around.

BUT the Headmaster did say there were no incidents of madness, at least not the kind he was concerned about. He eyed the orb thoughtfully "Went missing for a while ..." he mumbled. That could be a variety of things-- people kept it locked up in the dorms or in their rooms like it belonged to them; or this was misplaced around the castle, for something this small that was easy. A small thought played at the back of his mind that the object could move around on its own, but at this point in time he paid little attention to that possibility.

Wait did the Headmaster say "Your house-elf was chucking this around?" What like a quaffle? "Would you have any idea if this orb might have been dropped? If it is a prophecy orb and it cracked its possible that the contents may have leaked out." And therefore that orb was nothing more than an empty shell.

His hand hovered over the orb then stopped short "Have you touched this yourself Headmaster, bare hands or not?" He knows Tate mentioned the Professors, but he couldnt help but ask the question directly to the man himself.

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

"It went missing for a few weeks after Max found it, but then it turned up again later. I kept it locked up all summer." Tate knew his tone was growing sharp, but he was the Headmaster and had done his duty to keep the orb under wraps once it was in his possession.

Except when the blasted elf stole it.

"Look, I didn't touch it. I put it up once I found it. Can't you run some tests or whatnot and see if it's dangerous to my students or not?" And now he had run straight into impatient. He was a doer, and this was all talk and no action.

Originally Posted by Corin Vanderbilt, Head of the Department of Mysteries

Yes he can tell that the Headmaster was getting impatient, but Corin wasnt about to get rushed into declaring something safe or otherwise on an object that may or may not be a malfunctioning prophecy orb.

Or something else entirely.

He looked around the neat office for a moment "I cant quite run the battery of tests in your office Headmaster, not unless you want me to make a mess of things." Yeah damaging the Top Man's office wasnt really part of his agenda today. "But maybe I can run a few diagnostics..."

He drew his hand back from the orb and instead flicked his wrist to bring out his wand. Silently he levitated the orb out of its box and suspended it in mid-air, spinning it around slowly as he observed, taking its physical measurements-- height, weight, density. As he did so he realized that the orb didnt have a single scratch on it, nothing that would say it was damaged.

Good, because whatever this is it means its still working. Also not so good because it means it can still do whatever Tate was afraid it might do.

He paced around for a moment staring at the floating orb. He sooo wanted to bring this back to the Ministry and run as much tests at his disposal. "How about... stimuli..." he murmured as he held out his wand and cast a charm to heat up the orb, gradually building up until the orb was enveloped in flames. With a wave of his wand the flames died down.

No change on the orb thus far.

He then tried a charm to cool the orb all the way to the point where it just about froze. He peered into the orbsicle suspended in the air, then waved his wand to get rid of the frost.

Orb looked exactly the same as when he first saw it.

He crossed his arms before him and turned his head to Tate, both baffled and amazed at the mystery before them. Then he had a thought. He turn back to the orb and held his wand aloft, then with a wand stroke uttered a revealing spell.

Staaare. Anything?

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

Merlin. The man was KILLING him. If not literally, than figuratively... Gaellen Tate was on the edge. If the Ministry Man took much longer with this fun little game of 'what can I make the ball do next', then he was probably going to end up being ejected bodily from the school. Through the Headman's window.

Calming breaths. Yes. No one was going to die today.

"Anything?" PLEASE, DEAR MERLIN. PLEASE.

Originally Posted by Steelsheen (Post 11050218)

The revealing spell descended onto the orb, its glass surface crackling and illuminating before promptly settling back down to its usual clear state."Well there you go..." Corin mumbled as he finally saw some kind of reaction from the otherwise dormant orb.

So what does he know about this orb so far?

That many people have touched it.
That there were no report of madness that seemed associated with it.
It doesnt look damaged.
And that there is definitely some kind of spell cast on the orb, possibly on its surface or emanating from within.

Corin levitated the orb back into its box, then turned to towards Tate "Well... its not a prophecy orb, at least not the typical kind. I'd actually like to take a closer look at it back at the Ministry, although of course thats entirely up to you if you would turn it over to us." he wasnt going to seize it, but he will file a report with Alexander. If the Minister wasnts the orb taken into custody then he will cross that bridge with Tate at a later time.

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 11050316)

"I don't mind you taking it," Tate's shoulders sagged. Still no answers, but at least it wasn't a prophecy orb. There was less of a chance kids would end up going completely bananas.

"But just to be clear... is it causing any harm to my students and professors? Should I be worried?" More answers, please.

Originally Posted by Corin Vanderbilt, Head of the Department of Mysteries

Corin nodded silently and replaced the box lid over the orb. He turned towards Tate just as the Headmaster asked the second question. He pressed his lips together as he shook his head, shrugging slightly “Its hard to tell, not without more information… more tests to figure out what it is and what it does. I would be submitting this to the Ministers office first… get the paperwork done on it. Given that its an orb of unknown origin and purpose, the Minister would likely want to take a closer look at it.”

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

Tate's shoulders went up at that, at the suggestion that the orb was going to go off into some waiting room at the Ministry while it waited for people to know how to handle it or who's job it was to deal with it. And all the while he was going to sit here at the school and not know what he could or should do for his students. Just sit and wait.

It wouldn't work for him, not like that.

"I appreciate the offer, but I think I'd rather deal with this myself. I have other professionals I can consult for the spells on this orb, but at least I know it isn't a prophecy orb and is unlikely to make anyone go crazy."

Tate stood and offered his hand. "I do appreciate your coming in today."

Originally Posted by Corin Vanderbilt, Head of the Department of Mysteries

The silver-haired man nodded his head again “Wish I could’ve given more insight into that orb….that is one peculiar case I’ll give you that." he said as he gave one last look at the box that housed the orb. He shook Tate's hand in turn and gave a small smile "Thank you for having me Headmaster. It was great to see the ol’ Alma Mater again.” And with that, Corin turned for the door and made his way out of the Headmaster’s office.

Originally Posted by Saul Bunyons (Post 11070015)

Saul smiled a little, in spite of himself, if only 'cause Ms. Emerald always was nice ter talk to.

"Things are things," he answered, cryptically as usual. "Got some customers in, askin' bout th' coupons." He nodded toward the stack on her own counter. "And," Saul leaned in for this part, "I been hearin' some whispers 'bout th' other shopkeeps in town." He gave her a serious look, waitin' to see if she'd take the bait on that bit 'o gossip.

Originally Posted by Emerald McDougal (Post 11070835)

Originally Posted by Saul Bunyons (Post 11070868)

"Strange, innit," Saul commented rather idly. He wasn't here to talk about coupons or discounts. He did think a good number o' the chillren were fools fer not takin' it though. Fools who couldn't see the nose on their face.

He nodded slowly as she seemed to agree. "I can definitely see th' truth in 'em," he murmured darkly. "She ain't got a gray hair on 'er head. And that shop--- Merlin, waddit it established in 1768? How's she even runnin' such a place!" Saul was just bewildered by the gossip he'd heard. Things weren't adding up... and he wasn't just talking about numbers.

Sliding down the counter a little as a girl stepped up to pay, Saul respectfully tipped his hat at the child and zipped his lips. Didn't want ter be overheard. Hogsmeaders supported Hogsmeaders, fer the most part.

Originally Posted by Emerald McDougal (Post 11072739)

Originally Posted by Saul Bunyons (Post 11074110)

Saul nodded some more, thinking over what Emerald had said and implied. "She sure don't look like a cold 'un." Saul stopped nodding and abruptly shook his head. No, the ginger up the street was definitely a fully living, breathing, red-blooded human. But at the same time.... "She can't be 300 years old without doin' some Dark Magic, either."

This sure was a conundrum, and Saul Bunyons wanted ter git ter the bottom of it. He still hadn't forgiven himself for not getting involved sooner when that werewolf ring had come to Hogsmeade, after all...

"I'mma look inter it, Emerald, tell ya what." Saul straightened up and adjusted his hat. "I'll keep ya informed all right. You take care now." He nodded and gave her a gentle nudge, eying all the children in the shop before moving swiftly out the door. He had Stuff Ter Do now.

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

"Of course not," Tate gave the Healer a surprised look. She shouldn't even suggest it front of the children who were likely to take whatever was said and have stories about Vindictus exploding bodily by the end of the day.

"I don't know what it is, actually. He's out. Seems fine other than that..." Not that he was a Healer or anything.

Originally Posted by Healer Tillstorm

Oh good, she didn't have to get all crabby because the old guy had died after she told him not to do something. Although, she would be having some strong words with him once he came too. Whenever that would be. For now they needed to get him moved inside.

"We need to get him into the infirmary so he can be checked over properly." Once she had done a quick check she stood back up and turned to Tate. "Think you can help me get him to the observation ward?" That would be the best place for him. A private room where no students could get in and be all nosy.

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

"Are you suggesting he'd had symptoms that led up to this little incident?" Merlin's witless nephew... if Max Vindictus knew he was ill and had continued blithely along to the Quidditch match, then he deserved to fall off his broom from the top of the stadium. In fact, Tate would take him back out there and drop him for his trouble.

"What's the prognosis?"

Originally Posted by Healer Tillstorm

So, Max had failed to inform the headman of his heath issues had he. Well he was going to find out now. "Well, he came to see me a couple of weeks ago about some headaches he's been having." Or more like not headaches, but odd sensations. "He also said he tends to forget things." Like what a simple pair of tongs are used for.

Not seeing any response from Max as she waved the smelling salts under his nose, Cece put the stopper back in the vial. "It's not looking so good here Headmaster. He didn't even flinch at me waving this under his nose," she said as she pocketed the vial.

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

That was just... great. Professors who were ill, hiding their symptoms? Was Max ill from some sort of addlepating dragon pox, or was it a result of some of the other strangeness going on this year? Crazy animals last term... crazy animal Max this term?

"And did you have any diagnosis at the time? I don't mean to put you on the spot, Cece, but I'd like to know whether he's contagious."

Originally Posted by Healer Tillstorm

"Well, he said he noticed the symptoms when he was stressed, like after classes. He said it wasn't really a pain, more of an odd sensation, then he would forget things. I told him he needed to stop teaching for a while but he just laughed at me. Said there would be no Quidditch without him." In fact, he laughed so hard she thought he was going to fall out of his seat. "I wouldn't say he was contagious. I'd say it was more of him not eating properly and being over worked. He's not a young man anymore. He needs to slow down a bit." Of course he would never listen to her about that.

The old fool. Look at him now. Can't get much slower than this now can he.

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

"I believe you just called the chap 'old', and if he wasn't out cold right now, he'd smack you around with the pointy end of a broom," Tate smiled, albeit grimly. Not really that amusing, to be fair.

"So long as you think it's just age and diet, I'll leave him to your care. I can't help but remember he was first to pick up that blasted orb, you know? But if you say it isn't that, then I must bow to your expertise."

Originally Posted by Healer Tillstorm

Well yes, it did sound as if she was calling him old, which maybe he really wasn't that old. But still, the symptoms he was displaying lead her to believe his age was playing a role here. "Well, if he ever comes to I'll gladly hand him a broom and let him try." Right after she poked him with it herself for not following her orders.

Headman say what?

"Are you suggesting the orb is the cause of his problems... not his age?" And why was it she didn't already know he had been the first one to handle that thing? "What ever happened to that thing?" Someone needed to be checking that thing out. Or more importantly, maybe they should be checking out all those that have touched the orb... especially if they were acting like old Max here.

Originally Posted by Headmaster Tate

"I'm not suggesting anything. You're the Healer here. I'm merely reminded that he picked up the blamed thing last term. I've heard tell that others handled it too, although I don't think I could tell you who or in what order. I've locked it up in my office, and we had the Department of Mysteries Head in to look at it, but the most we were able to determine was that it wasn't a prophecy orb and that, although there are charms on it, they won't make anyone go mad." Which... that was something, although it seemed sort of like an insignificant accomplishment now.

"I'll get someone else in to look at it again to see if we can determine the charm. Is it possible this is related to the orb?"

Originally Posted by Healer Tillstorm

"Well Max is the first one who's come to me complaining of headaches and memory loss." Which was why she had automatically assumed his issues were stemming from his age. Although there was that Krummy kid Kurumi last term. It seems she hadn't been able to control the color of her hair. Maybe that had been a symptom of her touching the orb. Even though she had never said so, Cece was pretty sure she had handled it. That kid seemed to be everywhere and in everyone's business.

The orb was still in the school? "You mean to tell me an official came here and didn't bother taking the orb back to the ministry with them?" What kind of official was that? WHY would he leave that thing in a school... full of curious children? "I'm starting to think a lot of things around this place are happening because of that orb." Especially now that she knows it's still in the castle. "You sure that things still locked up? Some mischievous elf or even a sneaky student hasn't gotten their hands on it again... have they?"

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie (Post 11082376)

Kurumi's gaze was about to move on to the second week to make a brief analysis when the Gryffindor suddenly froze and her eyes became vacant of any expression. Her hands were on either side of the circular spread on her table, but were frozen in place. She didn't hear anything and if someone were to come up and poke or shake her she wouldn't feel that either. So, there the Gryffindor sat, her head hanging downwards slightly at the stones on the table, frozen in time.

Originally Posted by DanialRadFAN01 (Post 11083421)

As the blonde was passing over a small section of the desks she couldn't help but notice Kurumi seemed to have taken a deep interest in her stones as they fell to her desk.

Callie was happy that the Prefect had become so engrossed in Lithomancy after the girl's beliefs laid out in her previous homework. But--

.....

She wasn't moving.

Professor Elwood knew that look. Was it possible?!

"Kurumi dear? Miss Hollingberry?" The woman tried to get the Gryffindor's attention but she didn't look up.

IT WAS HAPPENING!!!

"Kurumi you've done it! You've accessed your Inner Eye and are IN THE BEYOND!!" Calista exclaimed excitedly and clapped her hands eagerly.

Oh she was so proud![/color]

Originally Posted by Magical Soul (Post 11083720)

Just as the Prefect put her quill down and was about to re-analyze her analysis, professor Elwood screamed something about Kurumi finding her Inner Eye.

....huh?

Curiously Louisa left her desk and moved slowly toward the Gryffindor and the professor. She wanted to see how exactly one would find their Inner Eye, and why was it Kurumi the girl who already had her outer eyes confused COUGHaboutboysCOUGH?

But the girl was... not moving. And her eyes were staring blindly at the desk. Louisa frowned and asked the overly excited blonde woman, "Err... Is it normal that she freezes like that?" Just to check, Louisa poked the girl gently on the shoulder.

If she fell... it meant something WRONG happened. If she snapped awake with some voodoo talk, it'd be her Inner Eye alright.

Originally Posted by Macavity (Post 11083928)

He looked over as Professor Elwood exclaimed drawing attention to Kurumi. Except the woman apparently believed his fellow prefect was having a divination experience which Gideon wasn't so sure thats what it was. Selina was the seer...not Kurumi and he had even witnessed one of her own experiences.

Not to mention Kurumi had been acting weird at times throughtout the term, blanking out at times much like this one. "Um...professor. Not that I doubt its possible." Having seen it. " But I'm not sure thats what it is..." Gideon spoke up getting hesitantly to his feet and debating moving closer to his friend. Hopefully the professor wouldn't think he was simply an unbeliever be a bit more open minded that it might be something else. At least the Ravenclaw prefect Louisa seemed to be unsure of things as well.[/COLOR]

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie (Post 11084108)

Kurumi's vacant eyes continued to stare at the rocks on the table. It really didn't matter where Kurumi was looking to be entirely honest. She could have been looking up at the ceiling or straight into someone's eyes, the look would have been the same. Empty. Kurumi didn't even hear Professor Elwood's announcement of her being in the beyond. She wasn't really anywhere, besides physically being in her seat, so one could almost argue that she was beyond The Beyond. Kurumi's body may have mood slightly at Louisa's touch, but that was not of the Gryffindor's own doing but rather the force of the poke.

Staying this way for several more uncomfortable moments - at least to those observing her - it was almost uncertain as to whether or not Kurumi was actually breathing. She was just THAT frozen.

Kurumi blinked suddenly, but showed no sign of feeling uncomfortable. In fact, Kurumi simply looked at her stones, blinking a few more times, and then picked up her quill to begin writing down her analysis of her spread.

Kurumi decided that she needed a small break before moving on to Week Five, which had two stones and therefore would require a bit more guess work thinking. It was not that she realized that...there were people...around her....watching her. Um.....awkward.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked innocently. Professor Elwood looked as though she were about to burst and, well, Louisa and Gideon were looking like they had just seen someone kick a cruppy or something of that sort.

Originally Posted by DanialRadFAN01 (Post 11084201)

Originally Posted by Lislchen (Post 11085368)

Jonathan. Lewis almost winced when he heard Louisa actually say the name out loud. It was like she wanted to rub it in or something. Yes, he was VERY MUCH! aware of the fact that the Slytherin was sitting next to Kurumi. Or Kurumi was sitting next to him rather. And not by choice. It was just because there simply had been no other seat available. So it wasn't like either of them had chosen this. Or seemed too happy about it.

Only why did he still want to throw one of the Plimpy's legs at Jonathan?!

Hearing her chuckle made him turn in his seat again to narrow his eyes at the Ravenclaw next to him. "What's so funny?" Did she think the two sitting next to each other was laughable or something? Because it wasn't. Like, at all. Before he focused on the creature in front of him he glanced back over at the other desk just in time to catch Jonathan's smirk. And while he wasn't exactly any good at ready facial expressions, this one was very clear. The Slytherin did seem to enjoy this. For whatever reason.

Once he was done untangling the Plimpy's legs, Lewis reached for his wand to clean his hands before reaching for his quill. Right, maybe he should have worn the gloves - like Louisa. FOCUS LEWIS! Noting what he'd done so far - which wasn't a lot - on his notebook, the Hufflepuff turned his attention back to the front. Not without allowing his eyes to rest on Kurumi and Jonathan again for a LONG! moment. Was the Slytherin now closer to Kurumi than before?! Lewis narrowed his eyes at them as he tried to remember how close they had been a few moments ago.



Luckily for all of them his attention was caught by another Hufflepuff who was basically SCREAMING for attention. Literally. And who had something to say in reply when Lewis corrected him. Which puzzled him somewhat, making him forget all about Kurumi and Jonathan for a moment. "It's dead." He replied slowly as if he was talking to a child. His eyes flicked to the creature on the desk again to give it a pointed look.

See, there. It doesn't get much deader.

The way the boy had worded his reply confused him a little as well. He had...thanked him? Yes? Had he? Or not? HUH!?

---

But back to Professor Lafay.

She made a lot more sense than this Hufflepuff guy AND WAS PRETTIER THAN HIM!

Sort of making a rough sketch of a Plimpy, he labeled the parts according to what the professor was telling them. Right. In case they would need it later. Scratching his chin with the end of his quill, Lewis cocked his head slightly to the side as he stared down at the Plimpy in front of him, thinking about Professor Lafay's question. What other parts could be used in which potions and why? Since most of the other students had already said the obvious one - Plimpy eyes for fertilizer - he didn't really want to say that as well.

Hmm.

He had never worked with Plimpies before - except for their eyes - so he wasn't entirely sure. Hesitantly, Lewis raised his hand and started to reply, "Maybe the legs could be used in some sort of strength po-" Only he just stopped talking right in the middle of his sentence for no apparent reason. His body had completely stopped moving, one hand still in the air, his gaze still straight ahead on the professor and his mouth still hanging open slightly as if somebody had cast a stunning spell on him right in the middle of his word.

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl (Post 11087455)

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 11100391)

Tate raised an eyebrow at Cece. Was that meant to be a joke? It wasn't exactly funny.

He dropped the box onto the end of Max's bed and gestured at it with both hands. "I brought the orb in case you had a brainstorm, but in the meantime... we're going to have to close the school. We can't definitely pin the illness on the stupid thing, and I cannot have anyone else get sick."

Originally Posted by The1HBIC (Post 11100415)

What? Tate didn't think that was good news? Wasn't he the one that always said "Don't Die!" She thought he would have found that no one dying was GREAT news, not just good news.

Eyeing the box he dropped on Max's bed she was tempted to throw the stupid thing across the room when he said what was in it. They may not be 100% sure that was the thing causing these problems but she knew one thing, these problems didn't start until after that thing had appeared.

WAIT!

WHAT?!

"You're going to close Hogwarts? But..." Looking around at all the immobile ones she wanted to shout out... 'WAKE UP!' but she knew that wouldn't do any good. Eyeing the box again she slowly picked it up. "You know, we may not be certain this is the thing that's causing all these problems but I am certain of one thing..." Raising her arm she threw the box at the wall as hard as she could. Hearing the glass shatter she looked back over at the Head Master. "...If that was the cause of all this..." she said gesturing to all the frozen ones, "...we don't have to worry about it happening to anyone else now." Of course the only way to test that theory was to wait and see if anyone else fell victim to this... whatever you want to call it.

Originally Posted by Cassirin (Post 11100431)

Tate crossed the room and picked up his box, the lid hanging by its hinges in a very sad fashion. Shards of glass fell from the interior. Not such a very powerful magical artifact if it shattered in one fit of rage from a Healer. There were so very many fitful Healers in the world... one ought to make their artifacts stronger.

"I really liked this box. You broke it." He poked at the shards of glass before carefully fitting them back into the box and closing the lid as best he could. "Let's hope that doesn't make things worse. At the very least... it can't hurt, right?"

Originally Posted by The Narrator (Post 11103439)

As you flip though the newest version of Hogwarts, A History you come to a halt on somewhere in the middle of chapter seven.

Originally Posted by The Narrator (Post 11105080)

As you turn the page, you notice that there isn't much about the previous text. Just a small chart. A small chart that seems to be missing something.

Originally Posted by The Narrator (Post 11109586)

As a group of you are flipping through newspaper articles one particular tattered page floats onto the floor.

Originally Posted by Kaos.Doodles (Post 11113815)

Originally Posted by BOWTRUCKLES! (Post 11128937)

Food was flying EVERYWHERE.

O_O

Bowtruckles looked up from the small soft one's legs and arms that they were biting and scratching to see woodlice brought by the grown man soft ones and they immediately began to hop into the air and try and grab it, with most of them slowly, yet surely, leaving into the woods where they had come from.

The one that had been blasted off of a stick by the one soft one with long-ish hair (Elijah) flew through the air and gobbled up a few lice before hitting the ground and skipping off into the woods but not before dropping a small golden, yet tarnished, locket to the ground that hadn't been noticed before. When you get a closer look at the piece of jewelry a small word can be made out in curvy caligraphy: Amarantha.

Whatever that meant.

As the small horde of Bowtruckles left some turned back around to shout Bowtruckle insults at some of the intruders before disappearing into the woods once more. Even the little one that was sitting on the Nettle-headed one's shoulder (Spike) slowly slumped down and finished nibbling at the wood lice it had recieved and waved, sort-of before walking off.

Once the wood lice had mostly been distributed out of the clearing the last Bowtruckle hopped into the nearest tree and it was quiet again.

Originally Posted by Leeness (Post 11128991)

"She's not interested?!" Elijah said aghast. Had Vickers known something and NOT told him about it? That wasn't a very bro-like thing to do, unless of course he had been trying to protect him... yeah, that was the likely explanation. "Has she said something to you, Vee? What!?"

As the bowtruckles emerged, and Elijah continued to threaten to set them on fire over and over in his head, he watched on as the Professor took ACTION! Yeah! She was totally ready to fight back and... oh wait, no... she wasn't. She was too busy using his BEST friend as a shield! Yeah, he said it! BEST friend. How dare she endanger him just to save her own old behind. Elijah was going to have to tell Vickers he definitely needed better taste in women. Although perhaps he enjoyed being the knight and shining armor and protector for the Professor? In fact, come to think of it Vickers was probably LOVING it.

Things took a bad turn, however, when more of the bowtruckles started attacking, one of which (a rather LARGE one at that) decided to get jiggy with this here hawt 'Puff. The damn creature latched itself to the end of his wand and began scratching at his hand.

"ARGGHHHHHHH! YOU LITTLE-"

Elijah began flailing his arms around, giving the bowtruckle a sort of rollercoaster ride which he continued to hold on to despite having no harness. "LET GO!" he warned. The more this damn stick scratched, the more he ruined Elijah's skin and the more Elijah's skin was ruined, the less attractive he became and that was NOT an option!

The Groundskeeper eventually turned up with the woodlice that were supposed to help this situation... but it didn't LOOK like it was helping as his bowtruckle CONTINUED to scratch at his bloody hands! "STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!" he whined at the HORRID little BEAST, "FLIPENDO!!!!"

He said automatically out of sheer frustration more than anything. Latching on the end of a wand may not have been the bowtruckles smartest idea, but trying to jinx a horrifically aggressive creature when it had so many horrifically aggressive brothers and sisters probably wasn't Elijah's best idea either...

Uh oh.

Originally Posted by Leeness (Post 11128991)

Elijah felt RELIEF as the little pest that had been on his arm jumped off eventually and freed him from further assault. He noticed, however, a locket that seemed to have come loose from the larger bowtruckle. He walked over to it, picking it up from the ground with his much less-damaged left hand, turning it in his fingers. It was pretty expensive looking and would probably only make him look more attractive. He quickly put it around his neck, more concerned for his hand at the moment.

Originally Posted by FireboltAvis88 (Post 11129022)

Alyssa was glad that the Bowtruckles were finally gone. She had noticed that a Bowtruckle had dropped something shiny as it was leaving and was going to see what it was before Elijah went over and picked it up...and put it around his neck.

"Uh....Elijah are you sure you want wear that? It looks pretty old and unless it's yours, I think that you should turn it in to Professor Elwood. You don't know where the Bowtruckles got it from. It could be bad mojo." Alyssa whispered to her fellow Hufflepuff.

The locket did look old and the word Amarantha on it sounded familiar to her. She just couldn't place where she had seen it before.

Originally Posted by DanialRadFAN01 (Post 11129198)

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl (Post 11129350)

Originally Posted by DanialRadFAN01 (Post 11129355)

Originally Posted by natethegreat (Post 11142802)

Originally Posted by Luna_Midnight (Post 11142919)

Nerida picked up the cup that Amarantha pushed towards her. She smiled back at the lady before saying "I love tea. Special blend, if you taste in tea is as good as your taste in books than I am certain it will taste good!" Before tasting her tea she looked around at the others that were there.

Hmm who would have thought that, that the funny huffie kid would be interested in books. Taking a drink of her drink. A smile appeared on the girls face. The tea was good. But the smile stayed on her face and the cup to her mouth. Like many times this past term Nerida froze but it wasn't because of the same reason. This time it wasn't caused by some unknown thing it was caused by that tea... But what could have been in there that caused her to freeze.

Originally Posted by Amarantha de Talone (Post 11143693)

Amarantha held back a smile as two students obediently took a sip from the cups of tea and immediately froze. Good... that was two down, but because they were so fast, the others were looking askance at the cups in their hands now.

Sigh.



"No, it's just tea," Amarantha insisted, ignoring the girl's demands and moving around the counter to lean over the young girl who was frozen there. She put her fingers to the girl's wrist and to her forehead before sighing dramatically.

"You must settle down, my dear. I'm not a bad puppy for you to scold."



"You can put it on the counter and I'll get to you in a moment," Amarantha reassured the girl. "But please don't have any of the tea. I'm afraid there may be something wrong with it. Perhaps it sat on the shelf too long?" She really would have loved to insist the girl have some tea, but that would be awfully suspicious.



Amarantha gave the little girl a calm look. Hilarious. What a funny little thing.

"I'll go and retrieve the Healer myself."



"Stay calm, please, and do not point your wand at me. It is considered to be quite disrespectful. I'm going to check on the other boy, and then we can make decisions about how best to seek treatment."

Amarantha took a few steps towards the Hufflepuff on the floor before running the last few steps toward the door and slipping through it. Escape!

Originally Posted by Leeness (Post 11143705)

Elijah at one point got slightly embarrassed when the woman admitted herself that she thought something might be wrong with the tea. What if she had been framed and here Elijah was, pointing his wand at her and demanding she drop hers. Embarrassing, indeed. She even offered to go get the Healer, herself.

Whilst not raised, his wand was still at his side when the woman went to 'check up on' the nosey Huffer. But no longer had she reached him than she had bolted for the door. Elijah sent a stunning spell in her direction, but his aim was way off and made contact with the wall instead.

"DAMMIT!" he screamed frustrated as the woman exited the shop. He wanted to go after her, but he also wanted to stay and make sure the frozen ones stayed safe... but the woman couldn't get away with it...

"Someone stay with the frozen kids and try and send for help as quickly as possible," he shouted generally to the shop as he ran for the door, chasing after the woman. What he was doing could be seen as brave, but probably extremely stupid, also. Who knew what sort of magical skills this woman who seemed to stock freezing tea might have?