This. This was a likely spot for sneaking and meeting and plotting and generally causing mayhem. Of course, the spot had been much bigger when Vivi had been a toddler, but it was still about the right size for two relatively small girls. Sort of. Lots of elbowing each other in the eyeball.

She folded her jumper and dropped it on the floor and curled up on it like a cushion. PLOTTING HEADQUARTERS, YO.

Selina had gotten the message from a shifty little first year to meet someone by the name of Sherlock at this precise spot. Honestly, the redhead was a little bit shocked to say the least to see a first year at breakfast with a blood red note in their grubby fists, but that was only because the first years hand was dirty. Yuck ickle first year, wash your hands please! And she had to touch the note....

But here she was anyway. With a monocle in hand because she had a hunch who Sherlock was... Maybe... She hoped. Because if she was wrong she would feel awful stupid. Monocles could not be wasted on just the average Joe. Only people who appreciated the craft of sleuthing could see her special monocle.

So awkwardly she whistled, "Watson to Sherlock, Watson to Sherlock... Are you here?"

Vivi whistled back. "'ello, Watson. Pull up a bit of cold stone floor and lurk in dark corners with me." In spite of the jumper, her legs were cold from the stone and her back was a bit crampy. Not comfortable, no.

She peeked out from around the statue and waved for Selina to join her. Hullo. Nice to have a partner in crime. "Hope you brought your brain. We have some work to do."

Selina heard the whistle and froze. AHA! So Sherlock was here! The question was- where exactly was Sherlock. The redhead was looking for her bat, not Sherlock and yet, she supposed that if they were going to be super sleuths they should at least do it in secret. The last thing they needed was someone catching wind of their meetings. It could compromise their entire operation.

So she followed the sound of the whistle and found Sherlock tucked between the stones. Eh, she guessed that worked. "Roger that, Sherlock." And then she sat across from Genevieve in the very cramped space on the VERY cold floor. "IT's a wee bit chilly back here, don't you think?"

Bring her brain? THAT WAS NOT IN THE NOTE! She did not even think to do that! Her face suddenly got all panicked before she realized and said aloud, Oh yeah, I always have that with me, thank Merlin." Then she got seriously sleuthy, "So... you said you had ideas... and I have the monocle." Which she held up to prove. It was a very pretty one.

"You can wear it first," Vivi offered generously. She obviously wanted to wear it... eventually, but if Selina was kind enough to bring accessories, Vivi was going to let her wear them first. "I brought the deerstalker. Had to charm up a really ugly Quidditch visor I found under my bed."

It was only ugly because it was a Tornadoes visor, of course. "We should get to work, Watson. I'm concerned that my bum will freeze and fall off. And I need it. Keeps me in chairs, you know?" She tucked her blond ponytail up inside the hat, which snugged down over her forehead. Silly thing had two fronts!

"So. Suspects?"

She was going to let Selina wear the monocle first? That was perhaps the most generous thing that someone had ever said to Selina. After all, it was such a lovely piece of jewlery. The fact that it had fallen out of style was just silly. Who wouldn't want to wear a monocle? Pshh, it was the epitome of style and suaveness. Honestly, everyone needed a little suave in their life and a monocle was such an easy way to get there. "Thank you... you can have it in ten minutes. Don't want to hog such a fine piece of jewelry."

OH. She brought a deerstalker? Who cared if it was transfigured from an ugly, old visor? The visor should be honored- it was moving up in the world of hat fashion thanks to Vi. "Wow... I should invest in a bowler hat then... yeah I'll do that."

"Bums are important," Selina mused, "I rather enjoy sitting myself, its how I fly. And I need to do that." She had a badge that told her she had to, so she had to have a bum.

Suspects? Well, Selina really didn't have any at the present moment. Chewing on her bottom lip, she said, "Er... I don't have any formal suspects. But I have my eye on some shifty individuals... if that counts." Did it?

"We can transfigure you a bowler, I bet. Hat-related magic isn't all that challenging. Not like changing a gerbil. Those things are WIGGLY." Vivi tugged the hat down over one eye and decided she was about done talking about her bum.

If one didn't talk about it... then perhaps one didn't think so much on it.

"I guess shifty is a good place to start, but we need suspects. Tell me about when Mortimer went missing. Like... where were you when you last saw him, and where did you notice he was gone? Who was around?"

Awesome. So they were going to transfigure her a bowler hat soon. That could be really, really nice and Selina always did think that she had the face for a bowler hat. Perhaps she would wear it around school or would that blow her secret cover? She would have to SERIOUSLY contemplate that later. It was a serious issue. "Yeah... transfiguration is not really my thing. Maybe you could help me with that?" Because her deerstalker was really quite lovely.

She knew that shifty people were not going to cut it. Ugh, that stunk. But at least she knew that now. So, they needed real suspects. And Selina could relate EXACTLY what happened, "I had taken him out for a daily trip around Diagon Alley in his baby carrier. Everything was fine and we were having a jolly ol' time. But when I got home... he was gone. Just like that... ALTHOUGH I did walk by the Ministry of Magic that day and there were plenty of people about who went to Hogwarts there.... its was odd." Very, VERY odd.

That was a sad, sad story. It had no real suspects or motive or clues or ANYTHING. Just... one minute there was a Mortimer, and the next minute there wasn't one. Poof.

Vivi kicked back against the stone wall and propped her feet up against the statue, letting one foot rest against ol' Lanky's bum. This was an excellent thinking position. Almost didn't make her feel like she was freezing her own bum off.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Watson, 'cause I just have to rule everything out here, but... did you check the lost and found at the Ministry and in Diagon?"

Yeah, she knew the look of defeat when she saw it and right now Genvieve was donning that very expression. Merlin, she had known that finding Mortimer would be hard, but if Genevieve was having doubts... maybe all hope was lost. But something within Selina told her- maybe it was her Mommy senses tingling- that Mortimer was closer than she thought. Something told her to keep looking and if Genevieve wanted to still be her Sherlock she would gladly take her help. Besides, they shared a monocle together. Deep bond.

Yet, Genevieve had more questions for her. AHA! Hope was not lost, at least not yet: they could sulk later. Thinking back she answered, "No I didn't... But I have been back there since then looking for him. And no one knew where he was when I asked. Although, it wouldn't hurt to send the ministry a letter, no?"

Besides, she promised her mum anyway she would write. Her Mum never said WHAT to write her. Mortimer was important. What did they want from her?

Hmm. Vivi nodded in agreement, her thoughts still spinning and spinning around the visit to Diagon Alley and the Ministry and the Lost and Found. HMMMM.

"Good. Send that owl, and we'll continue our sleuthing here. Did anyone pay extra close attention to Mortimer? Weird attention? Act jealous?" Not that THAT meant anything, though. Kids were jealous prats.

"We might have to set a trap."

Alright, so she was going to send that owl as soon as they finished up their sleuthing. It was a sign anyway- since she needed a new pair of socks from her Mum. There had been a little incident in the Common Room with Walnut, so she was gonna send the letter to her Mum anyway. Now she could also do something that benefited Mortimer. At the end of the day, it was a great idea in her book. Genevieve was sort of brilliant... that hat did wonders. Really.

SPEAKING OF THE HAT! Selina took off the monocle and handed it to Genevieve, "It's been ten minutes, your turn to wear it." It was such a nifty piece of jewelry. To hog it would be unfair. Perhaps, though, the two of them ought to invest in TWO monocles.

Oh yeah... back to suspects.

Weird suspects? Hmm.... well a few people had been sort of weird about the whole Mortimer bit. Maybe THEY stole Mortimer. Only time would tell. But now she had to tell Genevieve who was being a SUSPICIOUS SUSPECT, "Well there had been a few first years who were very shifty... actual the train scaling ones. Also, Griengoth had been a little TOO interested in Mortimer," who else, who else, "OH and Chace and Abby had been very shifty too... Also through Lafay in there too... because she took points away for my bat being lost..." Curiouser and curiouser.

Vivi handed over the hat and took the monocle, sweeping back her falling hair and squinting up one eye to hold the piece of glass in place. Yes. Very sleuthy.

It was hard to believe the firsties were responsible, especially because they'd come on to the scene so late. It was perfectly easy to believe in Greingoth, but only 'cause the girl was a Slytherin.

Chace and Abby. Those two were obsessed with each other, and didn't have time to pay attention to Mortimer. In her opinion. And LAFAY. She'd heard stories, but not having met the woman... it was hard to tell.

"I'll keep that in mind, but I think we need a trap."

When Selina had handed Genevieve the monocle she had never dreamed that the girl would be generous enough to lend her the deerstalker. Her blue eyes widened at the amazing beauty before her eyes. Shocked, her eyes flickered up to Genevieve as if to silently as her if it was okay to touch the hat. She accepted the hat with open palms because, duh, she did not want to hurt the hat. It was too beautiful for abuse.

Instead of putting on the hat she just cradled it like a baby. There was no need to wrinkle it. Not a hat THIS pretty. She wondered if she pet it... if that would be weird.

Right, back to the real reason they were there. Not fashion no matter how great they looked.

A trap???? That was fascinating. A smirk spread across her face, "A smirk? Really...? What do you have in mind?" Torture was obviously out... because they would get detention for that. And Selina had to run try outs.

Snort. If this was how Selina handled a totally new and foreign hat, she probably diapered and powdered that poor bat like it really was her baby. Vivi just griiiiinned at the girl and tried to keep the monocle from falling out.

"A trap," she repeated. "Like... we spread around that we have premium wax to shine up a quality beater bat, and we see who asks after it. Suspects. Doesn't Mortimer need to be taken care of a certain way?"

Genevieve was grinning. Why in Merlin's bloody beard was she grinning? There was no reason to grin because she ALL she was doing was holding this DIVINE hat. And what a wonderful little hat she was too. She? Yeah, that sounded right. The hat was a girl. Decided.

OOOHHHH. This was turning out to be a wonderful trap. I mean seriously, who would EVER be able to tell that it was a trap. No one would ever see that coming. Because Mortimer only used BROOM POLISH. To think that he used wax was elementary. What was he? Some cheap bat? No thank you. "THAT is a brilliant idea. And he does. Mortimer likes being pampered with BROOM polish at three o'clock. No one besides us would know that..." Unless it was on the posters...

What? What was Selina talking about? Broom polish? Vivi tilted her head to the side and wagged her ponytail a bit. They were on different pages here, hmm?

"I was thinking more like... No. I suspect whoever stole your bat is already using the wrong product on him. I'm sorry to say it. I was just looking to draw out everyone who owned a bat so we can check and see if it was Mortimer." She paused. "And the broom polish stuff was on the poster."

Someone was TAINTING Mortimer. She nearly fainted at the mere suggestion of such a ghastly thing. Why would anyone ever do such an evil thing to such a beautiful bat. There were standards in society. Did no one care anymore? The state of the union was falling fast if people mistreated bats such as Mortimer. S.P.E.W.? More like B.I.N.O.R.P.- bats in need of real pampering. What a horrible world this was.

With wide eyes she sputtered, "WHY would someone do such a horrible thing? Do they have any humanity? GAH!" The redhead just wanted to curl up in a corner, well a different corner, and cry. WHY WORLD, WHY? "And I don't know... should we, I don't know, compile a list?"

...why?

"Sure, I suppose. Who should have a bat and who shouldn't. That sort of thing," Vivi agreed, shifting around to sprawl out on the floor and nearly losing the monocle. OH NOES.

"Look, I'm sorry I upset you. I'm sure whoever has him is being just wonderful to him. He was gorgeous, right? You don't mistreat something like that."

What was Genevieve talking about? That was not the type of list she was exactly talking about. She was talking about the list of people that had beater bats. Maybe that would help make a list of suspects smaller in some way. So the redhead chuckled and shook her head, "No! Not that type of list," seriously she added, "Although we should do that too..."

"WHAT I MEANT," she said regaining focus, "was that we should compile a list of people who have been known to be fond of beater bats, or who have their own." Maybe the person who stole him had a feddish for beater bats... who knew?

"That's what I said, silly Watson. I meant a list of who we think legitimately has a bat. You probably know every bat in the school, but someone might have bought a new one over the summer. We could throw an exclusive bat party and the only way to get in is by showing off your bat. Look for someone to show up with Mortimer."

Or they could wait until the Quidditch games and see if anyone was foolish enough to try to play with him.

Oh. THAT was what she had meant. Well, the redhead did not pick up on that when her Sherlock had spoken before. Although, now that Vi was making it more clear by what she had meant, Selina had to admit that her plan was genius. Perhaps it was the monocle that was giving her the smartical particals, but whatever it was that was giving her these ingenious thoughts... it was working for her. Just saying.

So there trap would consist of a small shindig? That could work. Besides, Selina knew a way to get cookies at their small little gathering. Cookies always coeherced people into coming to things. She just needed to tell Kurumi to become part of the Mortimer effort. Cookies were no big deal. A few hundred cookies would be EASSSSYYYYYY to make. Right? Yeah. That sounded right.

Nodding, she replied, "I like the way that you think, Sherlock. And we could hold it in the Room of Requirement or something. Besides, I know a certain prefect who could make the food for our little trap." It was perfect!

"A party. Yes." Vivi sat up again suddenly, removing the monocle and pointing it at Selina for emphasis. Point point point. Cookies were a nice touch, although... it wasn't really about the party. It was about the bat people would have to have to get in.

"I think we should hold it somewhere with only one access point, so people have to come in past us. And you need to hide and pretend like you're not involved in this party planning, because people know you're looking for the bat... but you have to be close enough to see it when they present their bats for entry."

Hmm. Who else could they bring in on this? The mentioned prefect (Gert? Did he bake?)... did they trust anyone else? "Who else will help?"

Suddenly Genevieve was sitting up nice and erect and pointing in Selina's face. The redhead instinctively leaned back with each point. She could really poke someone's eye out doing that. Seriously, if Selina was not the queen of stealth and sleuth she would have lost her eye just now. Pointing was not something for the faint of heart. So Genevieve had to have been REALLY serious.

One access point? That actually sort of made sense. If the stealer of said broom arrived the last thing they needed was a runner. Especially since progressive parents now-a-days felt leashes were old hat. A good, ol' leash never hurt anyone. However, one access point, to get back to the actual point, was a good idea, "Right... that's smart. We don't want anyone escaping. Would defeat the purpose of the trap. So maybe, I don't know, a classroom?" Only one door to those.

And man, she had to hide? Ugh. She really wanted those cookies. Who would help? "I don't know, Holmes. Who else can we trust? I mean... Gideon and Kurumi could help. And maybe my little lion minions, Tag, Penelope, Anya and such, but beyond that? We are a lone wolf pack, my friend."