Eliza was freaking out. How can they just take our things?! This is incredible! Why weren't we told this was happening? She eyed the students all around her, all asking questions. Where is a profressor when you need one? Someone tough like Lafay or something? If she knew how to make a patronus this would've been the time. At least they were stealing their personal belongings yet, but still. These were their house points! What if no one had them written down the old fashioned way on paper? What if these jewels were the only way of knowing how hard they'd worked so far this term? She wasn't sure if what she was about to do would work, but she did it without much thought anyway.

"I know you're just doing your job b-b-ut those are our points! We earned them! At least let us count them first!" She was struggling to control herself at the sight of her house points being scooped up. "Please let's just talk about this! Ple-...Imsorryaboutthisbut," she knew it was no use. "IMMOBULUS!!!" she cried with a lightning fast draw of her wand, and focused with all her might to hold the goblin in place. She hadn't hurt the goblin, just...paused the commotion so everyone could figure this out. And maybe count the points first before she took them all. Because that was somehow more important than the jewels themselves being taken, obviously. Her eyes were frozen wide open. She could barely breathe as she counted the seconds sloowwwwly ticking by. Surely someone else had been thinking of doing the same thing right? She could always end the spell as soon as everyone thought it was safe to do so.

Kaiden decided to take a trip by the hour glasses, you know, just to check on things. Like those ugly yellow stones in there. Make sure they were nice and high. He was surprised to see lots of people standing around them, and to see an ugly midget thing STEALING all the gems. Well, not all of them, since the green ones were still there. He didn't really hear what the others said, but nodded with them. "What do you think you are doing?" he asked, moving to stand infront of the remaining hour glass. No, it couldn't have these, thief.

Peyton had stood in the shadows and watched everything unfold. Her tummy rumbled, demanding food and most likely ice cream, but she was far too entertained with what was going on.

Her eyes landed on the three empty hourglasses. HAHAHAHAHA!

Did that make Slytherin the top point earning house?

Bahahahahaha!

The fourth year had a hunch it wouldn't stay that way. From what she heard the goblin was set on getting all the jewels. She couldn't have that. Just no. Those were HER jewels in there too. SHE HAD WORKED HARD TO EARN THOSE, OKAY.



Sneaking behind the students, Peyton tip-toed her way toward the hourglass with the emeralds. In a sudden and quick jump, she latched herself onto the hourglass like a koala would to an eucalyptus tree. She turned her head toward the goblin, smiling a wicked smile, her eyes saying: MINE.

The young girl had just been eating in the great hall when she heard a lot commotion somewhere else. What was happening? The young girl was curious and wondered if there were again a few problems, and that was something she wasn’t surprised about, there were a lot strange things on Hogwarts lately. First she needed to pay for almost everything she wanted to do and all the house elves were gone besides the youngest elf, Toddles.

“Stay inside my pocket” said Sonea to her rat Little princess, she was not sure what was happening there and in case there was something dangerous she wanted to have Little princess safe and hidden. The young girl followed all the noises and saw that there was something going on with the hourglass, she saw that there was a Goblin? And the student’s who were standing around the Goblin seemed upset. The young girl tried to take a closer look and saw that the glass from the hourglass was broken! “What is going on?” Sonea took her wand out of her pocket and wondered if she needed to do something, she was sure that the Goblin did something what was not allowed!

Hemlor decided that the children were starting to get extremely out of hand.

"Please get out of my way so you aren't accidentally hurt. And yes of course the Headmistress knows all about this. That is why the wizards of Gringotts aren't here, they just decided to send us," Hemlor said to the children. Even if it wasn't true she was still going to go with that story and hope that the children believed it. "I'm sure there is some magic that is still keeping your points safe."

And then some girl decided to shoot a spell at her. Hemlor dropped to the floor as quickly as it was possible. It was part of their training at Gringotts, how to react when someone unfriendly shoots a spell at you. And then another girl decided to hug the emerald hourglass. "Please dear just move. It will be better that way." Then she wouldn't have to pry the girl off of the hourglass.

Tucker had been walking along the hall when he heard the commotion in the Great Hall, so naturally he went to investigate. However, he was so overwhelmed with information when he walked in that he couldn't even speak for a few seconds as he processed what was happening. Ok, all the points were gone, there was there, and there was a girl hugging the Slytherin hourglass, the only ones left with any gems.

Tucker eyed the sword in the goblin's hand and decided that MAYBE the Slytherin should listen to her. "Oi, maybe you should listen to her and get down!" he called up to the girl. "She said the points are safe, does it matter if she gets some of the gems?" he asked the girl before pushing his way to the goblin.

"So if you're taking our gems, does that mean we get to get rid of the turnstiles in front of the dining halls and stuff? It seems only fair," he said, crossing his arms.

Who knew that during his first year at school, he'd be face to face with a GOBLIN trying to negotiate the budget of Hogwarts. That was interesting.

This thing was turning into complete chaos! And Sophie was still the oldest of them all so she felt the need to... be in charge.

...

Sophie could not be in charge, this was mental!! And the kids would surely not listen to her anyway. Aaargh!

Oh, good! The Headmistress knew about this. But... that bit about 'that's why wizard didn't come, but us' didn't quite make sense in her head. "You don't mind us getting the Headmistress then, do you?" Sophie asked again, looking at the goblin and hoping someone would understand the hint and GO GET THE HEADMISTRESS!!! sdfghjkmnbvfghj

That Ravenclaw girl WHAT!! She just tried to freeze the goblin. NO!! That's not something you do, MERLIN!! "EVERYONE, please calm down!" Sophie tried to get their attention, but she was sure it'd be pointless. "This is a nice goblin, everyone, no need to hurt her!" Please, don't hurt her! SHE HAD A SWORD, MERLIN!!!

The fifth year once again stepped forwards to stand between some of the younger students and the goblin. She couldn't stand in front of the others students who were now attached to the hourglasses, so she just kept an eye on them. The goblin didn't sound menacing, which as good. But constant vigilance!

Or something... =|

"Please, step back, everyone. Please?" Sophie gestured for them to move so they wouldn't get hurt. "And could someone please go get the Headmistress?" PLEASE! MERLIN, SHE WAS BEGGING!!

Oh, that Hufflepuff boy had a point. The turnstiles would be gone after all this, at least. Right? Sophie turned around again to face the goblin and wait for her reply.

Laura was standing just listening, she couldn't believe it was happening, why were people taking house-points surely it wasn't right that they could take all the house points that the students were earning, she stood next to Sophie and just listened to what her best friend was saying.

This place was getting more and more people! It was like a mini party but 'cept for the fact that they weren't celebrating seeing as ALL THE POINTS WERE GONE. Well except Slytherin, but seeing as she got what she wanted she wasn't really going to fight it just yet--

OHAI PEYTON CLINGING TO THE GLASS.

And there was Tucker now! Oooo and Sophie having a panic attack. Yeah, it was safe to say she was giggling by now. These people were funny when pretty things were being taken away, and quite oblivious might she add, not that she was complaining about that bit. Lex stuck the two jewels in her pocket carefully while the Goblin was busy being distracted by Peyton.

They all had a point though. "Er...Peyton...you might wanna get down before it slices you in half and takes you back with it to feed the Gringotts dragons." Really it was because there was NO WAY Slytherins would be the only ones left with any points but meh, details details.

Point was, the green jewels had to go too. We were dealing with equality here, yo!

And then nothing happened. She'd dodged the spell. Drat! She started backing up from the goblin, who had managed to keep her cool despite the students' behavior. "Sorry.....but...but I still think you should show us some paperwork and maybe even be escorted around with Headmistress Truebridge. No one seems to have received any notification about this...this invasion." But still, she knew there was no use in reasoning with her, so she shot a glance at Lex and bolted. Sorry Sophie...this is a time for action, not talking.

She hadn't wanted to leave a group of students who so clearly wouldn't raise their wands to defend themselves when they needed to - but if her spells weren't fast enough to hold up the goblin, she was going to get someone whose would. And maybe we'll even come back with some veritaserum! And off she went as fast as she could to the dungeons.

HA.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That Slytherin girl was one clever...monkey. Lottie wouldn't have been clinging to the hourglass like that, it was not what she'd had in mind but it was alllll too amusing.

And, no, the goblin was not going to harm her. AND THE GOBLIN WAS A SHE?! SAY WHAAAT? It was even more amusing! Since she'd called her 'Mr. Goblin' instead of 'Miss'. Or was a 'Mrs.'? Either way, "Please, not the emeralds...," she repeated, for it seemed to be working, at least.

OH, heeeey Tucker, where did you come from?

There's a business man in the making, though. That was clever. "Smart, Tucker," she said, looking his way. It was incredibly fair. She liked fairness, except, well, the emeralds could stay. One of the shiny gems should stay.

So, she nudged Lex as if to say: Let the Slytherin girl act like a monkey.

OH!

There was LEX!

"Hi, Lex!" Yes, she was still in a super duper mood...despite clinging to the hourglass. She actually had a nice view from here. And it was comfy. Everyone should try it.

Her eyes turned toward the goblin and wrinkled her nose a bit. A creature was ordering her around. What would her mother say in this occasion? Most likely not very nice things. "D'you think it'll actually do that?" she said ever so casually.

OH NO.

At the mention of the Headmistress Peyton almost let go of the hourglass. "If you guys call the Headmistress you do know we'll all be in trouble because it's after curfew. You do know that, right?" And being sliced in half wasn't as scary as an angry Headmistress.

Did they see her during the game? Yeah.

No.

And they'd BETTER NOT call Lafay. That woman gave her the stink eye every time she saw her. The snake was now prepared to bolt. No way she'd stay here for that.

Lex BEAMED over at Peyton when she gave her that bright greeting. The girl was a good sport really and Lex would appreciate this a whole lot more if Gryffindor hadn't already lost their points. Surely the girl understood.

Hey! Nudging, it was happening.

She glanced over at Lottie and got the message, giggling in response. Clearly the Hogwartian wanted a good show. Might as well while they were out this late. Come to think of it...she was sure this wasn't allowed but then NEITHER WAS TAKING THE SHINY THINGS THAT TOLD THEM WHO WAS WINNING. This was all totally justifiable no matter who you asked--

Did Eliza just bolt???

Like...did she just...leave them??? She gave Lottie another look. Was this abandoning issue a Ravenclaw thing or what??

But attention back to Peyton because she had a good point. "She's right! We shouldn't even waste our time calling her, besides, she might side with the goblin and that won't be much fun for us." And there was something else that the girl said that got her as well. "And again, agreeing with Peyton, technically, we ARE in trouble, you all know this, right?" Must have been why Eliza ran. "How much more could we get into? Let's just jump the goblin, grab the sack and get out of here--the sword too...'cause otherwise it'll just break the last hourglass too." They could so do this! They might as well, the night wasn't getting any younger and Professors might have started their rounds soon.

COME OOOON!! It'd be fun...and she might have been bouncing about the idea now...maaaaybe.

Oscar had been hurrying to get to return to the common room before curfew when he noticed a mass of students crowded around the hourglasses.

Huh? What on earth was going on?

Slowly he made his way towards mob and began to silently weave his way through the the students. The student clinging to the Slytherin hourglass was the first thing that caught his eye. He smirked as his eyes traveled around and began to take in the scene unfolding in front of him. The goblin, the sword, and the three smashed hourglasses of three of the Hogwarts houses.

This can't be good..

He listened to the students trying to grapple with the situation they were confronted with. Things about removing the turnstiles in front of the dining halls. While this was a good idea, Oscar thought it was unlikely. The removing of the gems seemed like a bad omen, a sign that things could only go from bad to worse. Still he waited to see what would happen next, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Aidan blinked at...EVERYTHING. This was so exciting! And confusing! And...bad because THE GOBLIN TOOK HIS POINTS AND LEX'S AND LOTUS' AND LEFT SLYTHERINS AND THAT WASN'T FAIR AND IT WASN'T FAIR THAT PEYTON WAS TRYING TO STOP THEM WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STOP THEM AND THE GOBLIN JUST TOOK THEM!!!!!!!

And even when Peyton got off the hourglass it still wasn't fair. It. Just. Wasn't. Fair. Aidan stomped around some more until he perked up at Lex's suggestion. "I want the sword!!!" he offered.

That was all he took in.

Planting her feet on the ground, Peyton still had her arms wrapped around the hourglass. She was ready to bolt out of there if she heard any adults approaching, specifically the Headmistress and Lafay.

She WAS right. Peyton was glad Lex knew that.

OoooOOOOooooh!

Jump the goblin, Lex says. Grab the sack AND the sword, Lex says. Oooh. Peyton nodded then stopped mid-nod. As fun as that sounded the Slytherin wasn't willing to risk her neck for the other jewels. That is why she was still clinging to the Slytherin's hourglass.

"She's right. Jump it! I'll go for the sack," she said excitedly, though she didn't mention going for the sack AFTER they'd disarmed the goblin. Peyton was no Gryffindor and that was for a reason. She really just wanted them to scare the goblin away and leave the lovely emeralds alone.

After Aidan mentioned wanting to get the sword, Peyton added, "There's too many of us. It won't stand a chance!" Go forth! Mwhahahaa!

Little goblin should have thought hard before breaking into Hogwarts. Didn't it know the school housed no-so-very-sane-people. Especially at night.

Laura had gone for the Headmistress and was now on her way back with said person. "See Headmistress, I told you that a Goblin had a sword." Laura thought it was bad that a Goblin was allowed a sword, hopefully the Professor could take the sword of them.

Hemlor was getting very annoyed at the little girl that was still latched completely onto the emerald hourglass. "Please get down so I won't have to use other methods to force you down," because Hemlor had a mission to complete, she wouldn't use the sword on the children but she would get the girl down somehow.

And she regarded the other boy talking about turnstiles and such. "I don't know much about the current situation of Hogwarts economy, but hopefully you will be able to get rid of those things." Even if that wasn't true if she acted that way maybe the children wouldn't be so pesky and would let her just do her work.

Sarah had been walking past and she stared in horror as the goblin began to raid the rubies. Those were her hardd work. Anger boiled inside of her yet she still kept silent

“No they do not belong to you!” said Sarah. “They belong to the students of Hogwarts, those are the points we have earned this year.” Yes she did not go to Ancient Runes and Divintion for nothing . She did it for the points.

“May I ask you a a question?” Sarah asked. “If you are repossessing that which is Hogwarts, do not take those as they belong to the students. We earn them through hard work. It is not our fault the bank has to repossess. Don’t take it out on us! Can I please see your list?” she said. She wondered if they could give her worst teachers - Bellaire, Lafay and the new HoM professors as a collectral. Especially Lafay, what the minister would not do to get her out.



“The heasmistress knows and did not tell us?” this got Sarah more angry. Where was democracy. The students had a right to know. More gems were emptied and Sarah’s fury only rose until


She lost it. Her temper I mean. “NO! YOU CANNOT TAKE ANY GEMS FROM US! GIVE THEM BACK! HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW HOGWARTS FINANCIAL SITUATION AND COME TO REPOSESS THINGS. A CREATURE SHOULD NOT BLINDLY FOLLOW ORDERS” she shouted her pulse rapid. Then she counted to ten and her head attempting to calm down and said in a forcefully calm voice “I demand a warrant, there must be some official papers if you want to repossess things.” . They better have it, or else Sarah will give them more then just a mouthful

Really, Sophie was trying her best not to lose it completely. But the way certain students were acting was not helping her at ALL.

What was with the yelling?? And clinging to the hourglass?? And casting spells at the goblin? DID THEY NOT SEE SHE HAD A FLIPPING SWORD??? MERLIN, WHAT DID THEY TEACH IN THIS SCHOOL ABOUT SELF DEFENCE??

"EVERYONE, STOP IT!!" asdfghjklmnbvcfghjknbv Listen to her, MERLIN!!! Before she could say or do anything else, the goblin told the... koala girl that it would use 'other methods to force her down' if she didn't let go.

asdfghjnbv Why, oh why, Merlin???

Sophie turned around to look at the goblin again, trying her best to pull herself together and... do something. Anything! Argh! "Please, don't hurt her... Mrs Goblin... Ma'am." Sophie still had no idea how to address the creature. "I'm sorry about all this, but please understand our point of view too." AND STOP SHOUTING, YOU LOT!!! That was the look Sophie shot at all of the students behind her. Especially that crazy Gryffindor girl (Sarah). "Hopefully the Headmistress will be here any minute now, so everything will be sorted out." This Hufflepuff here did not care about getting in trouble for being out late at night anymore. Better be in trouble but safe than to just... stay there with a goblin that had a frickin' sword and could slice them all if they did anything stupid.

Good thing it hadn't attacked them yet, since a lot of them were acting a bit out of control already. SKJGSDJKFHDSKJ

Honestly, shouting and acting dumb would not make the goblin stop! Alright, Sophie admitted it was delaying the process of taking the gemstones, but someone could still get hurt and she most definitely did not want that.

AND IT HAD A SWORD, GEEZ.

After curfew? It wasn't after curfew, they had more than a few minutes to spaaaare. They were in no trouble whatsoever. Or at least the yellow ones, since, you know, their Common Room is close by. And the Slytherin clinging to the hourglass probably had other issues. A goblin, mainly. YET, why, of course, it HAD to be a Ravenclaw.

Surely, the girl wouldn't go to the Headmistress to tell about the students in here, because if it was after curfew, then she'd be in trouble too. Except, no one was in trouble, really. So, YES, Lex, we understand. Never trust a Ravenclaw, eh? Ravenclaw girls, at least. Except Elliot. The Hogwartian rolled her eyes and sighed.

But then she laughed at Peyton and Lex's suggestion. We outnumber you, Ms. Goblin, you know?

YES, AIDAN, WE KNOW YOU WANT THE SWORD.

LOL! What, Sophie? Lottie almost wondered what this would've been like if the Head Girl had been around. There would've been lots of screeching, for sure. HEY! They should get Nessie so the goblin leaves because of screeching. It was an excellent idea.

"I think you've taken enough, Ms. Goblin," she said, eyes on the bag, "You may leave the emeralds and be gone," AND LEAVE A RUBY FOR HER.

Oscar took in the scene that was unfolding behind him. The students were panicking now, and shouting. One particular Gryffindor girl seemed to really lose her temper with the goblin. He decided he had better say something to at least attempt to calm the girl down before any serious damage was done.

"Listen, you're better off calming down. Someone is gone to get the headmisstress now and there is really nothing we can do until she gets her. We don't want any more trouble than there already is" he tried to draw her attention to the sword still in the goblin's possession.

He noticed a fellow Hufflepuff student desperatly trying to get a handle on the situation. She spoke to the students and also to the goblin. Amazingly she was trying to empathize with it.

Here's someone who has the right idea..

He took another step forward and after a deep breath he raised his voice a decible or two louder.

"Hey, you lot, she's right! The situation is pretty much out of our hands until the headmisstress comes. And we really don't things to get any more ugly than they already are, do we?" Again, he stared pointedly at the sword in the hopes that the students would realize that there was the possiblility of some serious consequences here.. much more serious than a detention for being out of bed..

Tucker felt like smacking half the people there and yelling at them to shut it. He was trying to make things better and people were SHOUTING around him! ARGH this was so frustrating. He looked back at the goblin and crossed his arms again. He smiled at Lotus, who'd complimented his earlier questioning of the goblin and gave her a look that seemed to say Watch where I go with this NOW.

"I dunno, you claim you know nothing of the Hogwarts economy, yet clearly you know it's in bad enough shape that you have to take the gems," he pointed out. He didn't trust this goblin, and was going to keep pushing her even if she DID have a sword. "And aren't gems worth like...a LOT? Surely enough that we can eat and sleep without having to pay a toll. Unless you can speak to the Headmistress, or whoever your boss is, and GUARANTEE us that, I think we have every right to try and protect the jewels," he said. "It's one of the few things we have left."

Honestly Tucker could care less about the jewels, but if he could use it as a bargaining chip, so be it.

Oooh! There was Laura and--

O___________O

HEADMISTRESS?

WHEEEERE?

Peyton looked every which way, her legs ready to dash out of there before she saw the older woman's red hair. Oh, now this was quite the dilemma. She wanted to stay and protect the precious emeralds...and she also wanted to bolt out of there and not get in trouble.

Oh. Oh. Oh.

WHAT TO DO?

And the goblin was STILL bossing her around. Was that a threat? Peyton shrugged. "If you harm me I'll sue you and wherever you came from." That would be Gringotts. Yes. Her daddy would SUE that whole lot for every knut, sickle AND Galleon they had.

Glancing around, she whispered toward Lex. "The Headmistress is coming." 'Cause Laura HAD to bring her. And...

WHAT DO THEY DO NOW?

WWDD?

In other words, what would Dylan do? He was tough. Brave and cunning. AND HAD GREAT HAIR. Peyton tried imagining him here. He'd stay his ground and stand up for the Slytherins. He would, right? Totally. So she wrapped her arms tighter around the hourglass, shutting her eyes, going to her happy place. Ice cream land. Where ice cream sledding happened on a wafer sled. Yes...

Lalalalaaa...

The moment she spoke Aidan chimed in that he wanted the sword. SEEE??? They should totally just grab what they wanted and leeeeave especially since Laura showed up...talking to the Headmistress...?

WHERE???

She shot a look at Lottie then Peyton who only clung tighter to the hourglasses. GOOD. They weren't giving up just because the fiery redhead showed up...though really she hadn't caught up with Laura yet so she wasn't here. This was their last chance to have a go at the Goblin that only seemed to be getting more and more annoyed. Uggghhhh.

Sarah arguing with the thing didn't help! Was NO ONE gonna help her?? Peyton was quite occupied with the hourglass, Lottie was busy enjoying the show, Tucker was busy being a businessman, really Aidan just wanted the sword and there was Sophie trying to talk sense into everyone along with that other boy.

Lex rolled her eyes and latched on to the bag of jewels, this she'd just do by herself. If the goblin didn't slice Peyton in half then she'd be fine too and she proceeded to pull the bag away because this was logical. If Aidan wanted the sword he'd have to do the same.