What? What did she mean it was all his? He wasn't sure what to do. He wasn't the one with the clues. "Alyssa you've got one of the clues, if you're asking me to handle it from here. I'm gonna need it."

Oakey listened in on everyone, including Ella who had somehow sneaked her way into the large group of students, and told them all what their clues spelled out when combined together. Guess he didn't need Alyssa's clue to figure this out. "So We have 'To', the Snakes have 'Hut', and the Claws got 'The'." Oakey looked around at any of the Lions that were present hoping one of them will chime in to reveal their clues, although he was pretty sure where it was telling them to go.

Okay so now they were all here. Time to figure this thing out...or attempt to seeing as the smartest among them were being led by an idiot. The indignity of it all still got to her. She looked over curiously at Kendall when she spoke. Whomping Willow? "No far! Why couldn't we have gotten to go there instead of the dingy dungeons?" She rather liked that tree. It was her friend. Yup. It totally was. "But that doesn't excuse him because he's an athlete so he should be fast." And even if that wasn't the case it still was because well, it was Milton, duh.

OH AND CASSIA!!! "HAI!!!" She gave her bestie an enthusiastic waaaave. That's what bestfriends got when you greeted them. They got hugs too but not this time on account of she had to remain serious and stuff. Detective!Vivi wouldn't get distracted for hugging. Nope. So she set her attention to the people talking about their letters and the words they spelt.

That was pretty neat but they didn't make much sense.

"We got 'O' then 'G'...but...og isn't a word, I should know." Cue a very proud nod because she had a smart moment. Everyoone knew that that wasn't a word. "So...um...og...--"

...

O__O

OHHHHHHHHHHHH!! "GO! It's go!!!!" Even SMARTER moment! Heh. "Okay so let's see....To...The...Hut and Go. Go to the hut!! That's it! Guys! The hut!!!....The Groundskeeper's Hut most likely. Come onnnnnnnn!" And she was now bouncing again. When they got there a certain Not Shiny Groundskeeper would have some explaining to do.

Huh.

When Kat arrived at the Entrance Hall, it seemed like EVERYONE was there. So every house did get to hunt for a single parchment and find out to get another parchment? Is that even...? Ugh. Whoever was pranking them was obviously being stupid. He or she was messing with all the students in this school. Now what would Headmistress Pink say about these hmm? Kat was wondering what the heck was happening around Hogwarts these days. It's unpredictable, and totally not fun. Who wanted to search the entire school for a parchment with nothing but a clue to where you could find the other parchment? Certainly not Kat. The energy would be more useful if it was for Quidditch. Wrong decisions for this mystery creeper. Right, for everyone. "Hello."

The first thing she then heard was Alexa screaming. Go to the hut. Say what? Kat had just arrived with her search group and now they were instructed to go to another place? Tiring maybe. The blonde sighed. Should they go? Yeah. If she wanted all of this things to end now, she had to go there now. And yes, the Groundskeeper Firth had some explaining to do actually.

Really, he should have just stayed here. Not that he'd known that here was were he needed to be. But it would have saved the wasted journey to the Whomping Willow. At least Eliza had been kind enough to tell him though, and left a notes for others that might have been even more unfortunate than him in being waylaid. She was a good 'Claw, that one.

His stomach growled, and he looked down at it sheepishly. It had been a LONG time since breakfast, and he took a licorice wand from his pocket and sucked on it as he eavesdropped on the various conversations going on. He'd barely had chance to read the clue, let alone digest why they were all meeting here, so he just lent back against the wall and lightly tapped a foot.

Yum. Licorice wards really were the best.

One point did get his attention though. "How many other huts are there?" he threw out there. Mr. Firth's hut was certainly the first hut that came to his mind. Though what that had to do with missing trophies was anyone's guess.

The groundskeeper wouldn't have stolen the trophies, would he?

...you mean they had to work together?!

BLAHHH. Didn't that just sound like the PUFFER thing to do. What was wrong with a good, old-fashioned race to the top, hmm?! That was more up her alley than a group project. She frowned in disapproval as she looked around. Lions. Badgers. Eagles. Snakes. Oh, my!

There were mutterings here and there, some of which Sierra made out, until finally she heard Alexa over the crowd of people.

GO TO THE HUT?!

You mean this whole crazy hunt ended with a trip to the HOT GROUNDSKEEPER?! Oh, happy day!

"Go to the hut," she said, nodding at Alexa. "That makes sense now. So we followed all those clues...to gather letters...that mean for us to go to the hut." She shrugged. "Well? What are we waiting for? Let's head for the hut then!"

Laura was just standing there, waiting to see what was going on, she was a bit nervous with all the other students around and the look the mean Slytherin Girl gave her, made her shuffle behind Ella, she wasn't going to come back out until it was safe.

Christmas just stood and waited for some of the other students to make a move but she was a bit scared

So, going to the hut, then? Which meant that the groundskeeper was behind this. Seemed a little weird, since Sky was pretty sure his eccentricness ran about as far as his brogue. But whatever. She could do with a bit of fresh air anyway. And the fact that the other houses were there didn't bother her as much as it seemed to bother some of the others in the Hall. Just meant that she wouldn't have to speak up and explain things when they all suddenly showed up at Mr. Firth's door.

Speaking of which........

"Let's go!" she agreed, starting that way.

The dungeons were pretty cool if Edita had to gloat. They had cool stone walls and a cool fireplace to match and awesome looking colors but it was true that it could get pretty freaking boring in there. A lot of her housemates were too busy looking like they had something stinky under their nose (Eddie would wage it was their own dirty underwear) than talking and being entertaining. There was a portion though, that seemed that were up to something secretive and had left the common room in what they thought was a discrete manner.

It was good thing that Edita had an inquisitive mind and sharp instincts and she could smell an adventure from miles away.

She had sneaked up on the older students as they discussed clues--words on pieces of parchment--out loud and got the gist of it. There was also some other talk from what looked like Ravenclaws and Eddie just rolled her eyes at them. They sure talked a lot. She would know. Her friend was one.

"Go on, then," she whispered from behind a particularly tall (taller than her) student. "Let me follow you."

As Cassia stood among the many students she couldn't help not remember the last time so many random students got together and discussed. Yup, the deadly, vicious plant that gulped down two professors. Why does it always seem that only Cassia remembers this. The third year couldn't that memory off her mind. She hoped to though.

Back to the clues..

The snake walked over to where Lex was standing and telling the Gryffindor's clue. OG..There was no such word, Cassia wanted to point that out but then Lex figured it out that it was GO. Wow, smart. Was Lex part Ravenclaw or something? "That's smart, Lexa." Cassia said with an approving grin of hers. Because her opinion mattered. A lot.

So to the Hut they were headed. The thirteen-years old rubbed her hands together excitedly. They were going out to the grounds so it must be interesting and cool and stuff. Or it better be! Because Cassia didn't like the idea of having spent her time solving gathering and solving clues around. Not that she solved them all but still, her presence must have helped solving clues. Because she was that important.

Hearing the prefects say it was time to head out, Cassia took a step forwards and the step developed into a bounce as she got startled by a voice from behind her. Spinning around, Cassia blinked down at the little girl. Cassia liked those because they made her feel tall and old. "Here's a tip," She started, "Don't sneak behind people because they might have awesome fast reflexes like me and hex you thinking you're a threat." Which wasn't very true, since Cassia's first thought was to flee. The little girl didn't have to know that. "Sure you can follow me," She grinned feeling important. "I'm Cassia. Who's you?" The girl did have a name, right?

Alyssa was surprised when she heard the clues. Go to the Hut. The only huts she knew that were on the school grounds was the Groundskeeper and Professor Newlin's, but it seemed that everyone had already concluded that it was the Groundskeeper's.

They were all ready to go out there and confront him of taking the trophies but Alyssa paused and tried to speak to all of them before they headed out.

"Everybody please wait!! We all agree that the clue leads to a hut, and we have concluded that it's the Groundskeeper. But we just can't march up there like a lynch mob and accuse him of taking the trophies without proof. What are we going to say? Oh we know it's you because we got these clues from parchments that appeared out of nowhere that pointed us to his direction?" Alyssa told everyone. She hoped that there were still some of the students waiting to leave to hear her.

"People we need to have and show proof. These parchments aren't just enough. Besides has anyone thought about who sent them? Could it be the same someone who wants us to blame the Groundskeeper? Remember he is still the groundskeeper and deserves our respect." Alyssa tried to reason with other students.

Mo frowned at all the hurry-up-and-waiting and stomped his feet impatiently. "No one is accusing anyone of anything. The clues lead us to the hut, which is probably where the next clue will be located. I don't suppose at all that just 'cause we had to go to the Willow, that means a dumb ol' tree snuck into the castle and stole from us," Mo argued.

Logic. Ravenclaws had it. They were lucky the 'Claws were attending this party. "So that's to say that I'm gonna go to the hut and look around. I think I need at least one person from each house to come too, but I don't need everyone if some of you want to stick around and do other stuff."

He turned and headed for the doors leading back outside, not worrying much whether or not anyone followed.

Sarah had been watching the proceeding with a look of bemusement on her face. It allfitted together now. Yet was the gameskeeper hut the only hut in hogwarts? That was what Sarah remembered. "Wait Alyssa- i don;t think the gameskeeper took it. I like to judge people favourably and all. Yet I am sure if we go there we will see." Yeah accusing people was against Sarah';s policy of only thinking the best of people. It was hard especially when in came to Lafay and Bellaire yet one had to. Sarah quite liked the idea of digging for treasure in the dirt outside his hut.

"Anyway, talking about pumpkins doesn't make them grow, so lets go to the hut and take it from there... go with the flow and besides we can discuss while we walk. Thinking while standing still is a waste of time" said the Sarah who always liked to be on the move.

Then Mo began heading for the door and Sarah was quite relieved. Another person after her own heart! So she began to follow him too

"We're not going to blame the groundskeeper," Sierra pointed out. "We're just going to the hut, like the clues tell us to. We don't even have to involve the groundskeeper unless he's just there and wants to help out." It would be a plus, though, to have Hottie Groundskeeper at the hut when they got there. At that point, it's be 'Clues? What clues?' as far as Sierra was concerned. She'd just strike up conversation with Firth and let the rest of them worry about the awards.

Spotting some Ravenclaw boy heading for the exit, Sierra turned and followed him. He had the right idea--head for the hut. Sierra also hoped the culprit was there. She'd been wanting a face-off with him or her since that very first clue was dropped.

Why were they all still standing around like they hadn't just heard her shouting that they had to go to the hut and find those trophies??? Merlin, you'd think the whole lot of them were Ravenclaws. Having to think things through, pfffft, lame.

She tried listening to them debate about the whole thing, well actually they were on board. It was Alyssa who thought differently. Honestly, she expected better. Only Ravenclaws were meant to look into things which wasn't really happening seeing as Mo was throwing a tantrum--yes that's what it looked like from this side of the hall--and he left. He was a Ravenclaw and he wasn't giving it much thought. Good enough for her.

"I agree with Mo! We don't know who has the trophies but we've been following the clues so far. Why stop now? This could be the final one and I don't wanna stand around thinking of ways to be polite to the Ground's Keeper." No offense but that didn't sound very fun and it didn't sound like the Gryffindor thing to do either so guess who was exempt from all that. That's right. THIS girl!

"I'm coming too!" Announced. It was better than staying here and pretending to be a 'Claw. Oh but before she left. "Thanks Cassia! I've been having smart moments all day! I'm being Detective!Vivi until this mysteries over. You should come too."

Then she bolted after the upset Claw that was acting more like a Gryffindor. Good stuff.

While more students piled around, Peyton tapped her hand on her side, impatiently. She really just wanted to know who took everyone's trophies, give them a good whack upside the head, eat sugar buns and call it a day. Was that too much to ask? She stuck her hand inside her pocket and a slow grin stretched her lips.

Oooh!

There was a lone gummy bear from earlier in her pocket. She popped it into her mouth, then paused. Yep, still good.

It was when there was a lot more talking that she glanced around. Clues. Letters. To the hut? Putting the pieces together as she listened, Peyton was ready to bolt out of there and go to the next place. But there was lots of jabbering. Until a Ravenclaw boy spoke up. Yes! They should go now! But it wasn't him Peyton followed. She walked right after her Prefect.

Let's get this done, yeah? YEAH!

Oh? Well, that made sense Penelope supposed, so she nodded. Trying to talk over people was a bit silly, but sometimes it could be fun. At least when Penelope found it necessary to get a point across. Right now wasn't one of those times however. She was perfectly fine with letting the others do the work of figuring out the clues. The clues weren't that complicated or long, so they probably didn't need her anyway, but she'd decided since the first clue that she wanted to find the trophies, so she'd stuck around anyway.

But yeah, maybe it was about time to see what everyone else was figuring out so she'd know where they were going. "Sure," she answered Ella with another nod, getting up and walking back over to the group.

And it seemed they'd all decided they were going to a hut? Professor Newlin's or...the Groundskeeper's? Sounded fine to her. She wasn't sure why people were making a big deal about accusing others, especially the groundskeeper. She was pretty sure the clues hadn't said anything about who was behind it, only where to go. So no big deal.

Anyway.

Off to the hut we go!

Alyssa began to shake her head when the students began to say that only she was accusing the groundskeeper of taking the trophies.

"No No you've got me wrong. I'm just saying that I agree with everybody that the hut being mentioned could be the groundkeeper, even though there's more than one hut on the grounds. I'm not saying that he is the culprit. I'm just saying that we should be careful how we approach going there to search the place. We can't make it seem like we think that we are accusing him when we all know that it might not be him." Alyssa tried to clarify her stand.

"I like Sierra's approach...and Mo's." Alyssa told everyone before sighing in defeat. 'Okay let everyone think that I was accusing Mr. Firth. I'm done thinking what people think about what I think anyway. Alyssa, it is time to let others do the talking and you keep your thoughts to yourself. Legwork is what you do best anyway. ' she thought to herself as she followed the others out the door.

Edita blinked as an initial response, one of her hands inside her robes as she fingered her inside pockets blindly for her wand. "Good tip," responded the brunette, side-stepping around the girl whose name she now knew to be Cassia. "I'll remember it, thanks. I'm Edita but everyone just calls me Ed or Eddie. That works too." There was also her last name but she was distracted by movement. "We better go if we want to find out what is going here."

Edita had her doubts, she just wanted to know where the trophies belonging to past members of her house were.

The third-year's ego got boosted up hugely. Not a good thing at all. "I give the greatest tips." She nodded thoughtfully at the girl. "I like Eddie. And welcome. Though this tip is exclusive for Slytherin students. And cool ones." She added. Cassia took it on her conscience to enlighten the girl about cool people and un-cool ones. All Snakes should. Glancing around at upset Mo and Lex who obviously couldn't wait to get out and head to the Hut, Cassia turned to Eddie, "Yes. Let's go see about those missing trophies." She said motioning with her hand.

And so she started following the others. Did Eddie follow?

Mo's first stop was sort of a no-brainer. If he had to think of a place that had the most portraits to jab with his wand, it was definitely the Entrance Hall. The walls were lined with old men and women in funny dresses and a large number of very hilarious hats. Mo started near the bottom of the Grand Staircase, tapping carefully against the canvas as the professor had demonstrated.

And it did not appear that an inhabited canvas particularly cared for the poking. "Sorry," he mumbled before moving on to pokepokepoke at another portrait.

She was on a hunt for the portrait that liked being tapped. It was a refreshing change to the other portraits in this place. They didn't like getting tapped very often, in fact some of them had the nerve to argue with you when you did take the time to show some interest by tapping. They should have been grateful anyone decided to drop by them for a bit.

Annnnyyyways, Her first stop after leaving the Great Hall was the Entrance Hall. Why? Simple. It was the closest so there wouldn't be much walking.

After getting there she realized someone had already beat her to the portraits. She skipped over to him, mid-tap, and stared at the portrait hoping something cool would happen. When nothing did happen she decided to speak up. "Well that one was a bust. Just how many have you tried so far?" Because yes, Mo, she was talking to you, not the portrait behind you...although...she might have been talking to them too if he wasn't there...

"I've tried a few," Mo admitted, putting his hands on his hips before heading over to poke poke poke another portrait. "But this place doesn't really make sense, does it? He said somewhere more unpopulated, and everyone in the school walks through here every day."

Still, he jabbed at another portrait just in case. "So a portrait in a lonely room. Use for emergencies... so would people be exiting from higher up and coming out through here? Or exiting here and hiding out somewhere safer in the castle?"

Lex thought about what he'd just said for a moment. She was understanding what he was saying at first...but then he started doing that thing where he acted like a metaphor. Everyone knew she wasn't good with those. So she just gave a slow nod and answered what she could make sense of. "This place isn't unpopulated at all. I walk through here all the time and there's usually heaps of people just lounging around or going some place else."

As for the other part, she was going to answer to what she understood of his trick question. "It isn't safe either." Did that answer the question? She gave it a bit more thought. "If I was running from something I wouldn't choose here, I'd go deeper into the castle..." Hey, would you look at that, she did answered the question...sort of...that's what he was asking right?

Yeah, maybe she'd just say what she was thinking and hope he picked an answer from it. "The way I see it, we're looking for someplace that most people probably wouldn't even know about, you know because he said it's not a very populated area. Usually areas like that are out of the way and don't run across people's minds often...where do we know fits that that description?" Then again, if it hardly crossed people's minds, how would they think of it? Hmmmm...

"No, exactly. This place is all wrong. But if you think that people would be running FROM the Great Hall to a place deeper into the castle, then we need to find a nearly deserted place near the top of the castle." Mo scrubbed at his hair briefly before nodding. "I have some thoughts. You can follow me if you want."

He raced up the Grand Staircase into the castle.