No. Just... NO. OKAY? NO THANK YOU DEMENTORS. This was the worst party ever, and ice cream was ruined forever, and girlfriends just up and left with ex-girlfriends while giving sour looks, and ex-best friends were terrible awful people and WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR YOU TODAY, DEMENTORS.

Mo pushed himself to his feet and tucked Feo inside his shirt for protection.

"You don't get to come into my house and eat my professors. Go away." Mo threw his uneaten bowl of ice cream across the room at the head of the dementor hovering over Firth. BAD DEMENTORS. NO ONE LIKES YOU.

They could smell the sweet souls all the way down the corridor, it wasn't hard to find this delicious place. It was their turn for their souldae celebration, right? More dementors swooped into the party, zig zagging through the students before rising above them to scower the place.

Their friends were here. Let's get the party started!

A few dementors zoomed down upon the crowd, looking for the next closest adult in the area, which just so happened to be near a very yummy soul already being taken. She (sarahlooo) was no redhead but it was so so tempting with all these people around.

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

Kissy Kissy for Miss Charms Lady!

This party wasn't fun, nothing was fun. After putting away the ice-cream she couldn't bring herself to eat anymore of she sat and watched everything happening. Surprize surprize, dementors crashing what was an epic fail of a party. Sigh. This again. Same old same old.

Lex shrugged to herself and watched them swooping.

One drifted by her but it must not have found her tasty enough because it was headed for the Professor...or the Grounds keeper...? Eh, she couldn't bother caring which. Alexa leaned back, waiting for a burst of energy that never came. Professor Airey was telling them to leave. She didn't wanna leave, that was a whole lot of effort. Instead, she watched with only half her normal interest level.

Was no one gonna cast a patronus? No? Okay.

Professor Knox would save herself, or maybe Mr. Vinteren would burst in. Did it matter? Nah. Nothing mattered.

One moment, Botros was half-chuckling at the plot Mo suggested of Slytherins taking over the school and stealing happiness, the next there was the now-familiar cold and gloomy atmosphere passing over them all. Botros quickly went for his wand as he watched them glide toward-- "Outside. Outside!" But he didn't really have time to issue out more orders, the dark shadows were at it with two of his colleagues. Pulling the closest students to him, Marcus and West, back and giving the former a very concerned and stern-but-loving look, Ab turned his attention to some of the dementors and with an averagely calm confident voice he shouted, "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery Eagle bursted out of the tip of his wand and soared up in the hall toward a group of those cloaked miserable creatures.

Botros grabbed the boys from their wrists and pushed them behind him and away toward the Hall's door again, "Go! Away. Get everyone outside. Go!" He saw the Gryffindor - "Cambridge!" He tripped and ran over to her and scooped her up, again pushing her AWAY. "Go! Outside, quickly!"

The dementors began shoving one another, each one wanting a piece of the groundskeeper before moving on to the main course. And then their friends arrived and began nomming on the other adult woman present.

HEY! They were here first!

ANGRY RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE

Several left the man and glided towards the Charms professor and surrounding dementors, trying to squeeze a suck or two out of her soul as well. Until they sensed another adult in the room. Another few adults to be precise, but one was unmistakably their main target.

The dementors around the Charms professor suddenly flew upwards and soared like hungry vultures towards the red head (BanaBatGirl).

Two dementors were pushed back as a silvery eagle, but not all of them.

Yes, come to us pretty lady. Come give us a kiss and don't put up a fight just like your groundskeeper and substitute professor weren't.

Jory watched in panic as the dementors tore after the Headmistress. The eagle and roadrunner Patronuses were busy elsewhere. "Stay calm, Jory!'' the boy told himself, fighting the helplessness and sadness that was slowly building. "Think of Ronnie!''

Quick! He needed to cast his Patronus! Firmly planting the memory of his and Ronnie's first kiss, Jory pointed his wand over towards their Head. "Expecto patronum!'' A silver tiger erupted and tore off.

Erik had followed the dementors, certain that they were going in the wrong direction. The second floor was up from the first and yet they were going down in the school. Wrong wrong wrong. He burst into the hall just a second behind a flock of the shadowy demons and paused inside the doorway to take stock of the scene.

What in the name of Thor's hammer was going on here? And why, pray tell, why was FIRTH hugging his IVY?????

Erik's wand was already in his hand but now his head was torn on what to do with it. Did he curse Firth or save the man? And what about Ivy? The dementors were NOT instructed to kiss her!

"Blast it all," he murmured under his breath, striding toward the pair anyway. He thrust his wand arm at the dementors surrounding Ivy Knox, firstly, because she was the most important.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM."

A dozen silvery hippogriffs burst from the tip of his wand, all of them charging at the dementor surrounding her and only her. And Erik jogged after them to check on the Charms professor. Firth could...well, Firth could survive on his own. Ivy had eaten the ice cream when he'd told her not to. Ivy couldn't be kissed by the dementors. He wouldn't allow it. He wouldn't.

He couldn't do it. He couldn't conjure a Patronus. It was all happening too fast with no warning. They were on him and there was nothing he could do... except protect Ivy.

He was a Gryffindor and he was going to be chivalrous even when his life was on the line. Or his soul, rather.

With his last remaining strength, he prepared to push Ivy as far away from the horde as he could. But at the last second, several Patronuses surrounded her. She was safe.

But he was not.

A brilliant white light escaped his lips.

And he slumped over onto the ground.

Anya continued to watch in transfixed horror. She only vaguely felt Jake's arms around her. Her mouth hung open as if she were still screaming. And faster than she could register, Professor Suit Man was in front of her.

... not making a patronus.

WHAT WAS GOING ON?!

And then more dementors were around. And swirling. And more Professors were shoving kids out of the way. Anya's eyes, however, were locked onto the Groundskeep. She had no idea what that little ball of light was.

She then shielded her eyes and Eagles and Hippogriffs appeared in bright lights.

She broke out of Jake's grasp and ran forward a few steps. "PROFESSOR!" she shouted. "THE GROUNDSKEEPER." If he could just move one of his hippogriffs... she and Jake could drag him to safety.

... Except. ... ... ... *wibbles* Whywasn'themoving...?

She was enjoying her sit down when out of no where Professor Botros starts yanking her up. She thought that was Mo's bloody annoying job. Lex pulled her hand away and gave him a straight look. Leaving was more effort than staying, she wasn't going anywhere, someone could carry her if they wanted but other than that she would kindly take her seat.

Now how's about everyone leave her alone??

-_____-

She looked to the door as it flew open. Mr Vinteren, also expected. She gave Professor Botros a look then went to take a seat further down from him so he wouldn't get any ideas. Her eyes widened at the display of silvery hipporgriffs but something was off.

Firth fell--yeah, people did that some time, you know, but...he didn't get up. She sat forward and watched curiously, thinking he would spring up with one of those gadgets of his like he always had....that didn't happen either. "Mr. Not Shiny Ground's Keeper...?"

WELL DON'T ALL JUST STAND AROUND!! SOMEONE SAVE HIM! Knox was fine! She had Vinteren!protection--she was better off than everyone else in this place.

"Eeeeeeeeep!!! Headmistress, dooooooooooo something!!!" DON'T GET SUCKED TOO!!! Her father would have no one to blame if she died!!!!!!

The sudden appearance of Professor Flamsteed surprised Jake as much as depressed!Jake could be surprised. He noted that Airey was giving off a sort of protect-the-students vibe, and Jake thought that was a bit odd. And sweet. Really, he felt that he should be shielding the professor, not the other way around. But... what would it matter?

His gaze lifted from the Astronomer's back to the dementors that had flooded that room. Then specifically to the ones on Firth. What... was that...? Jake's eyes widened slightly. That light. Firth...

"Anya!" Jake yelled, his voice cracking as his girlfriend ran forward. He ran after her, grabbing her around the waist again. "Stop it. Come on." And he started dragging her back away from the soul suckers. "There's nothing we can do for him, Anya, okay? Now get out of here or the same thing will happen to you." He didn't even care if he scared her at this point. He just wanted her out of the dementor's path.

And he was still dragging her. Toward the door.

He was going to throw more ice cream. And all the syrup, since it was poisoned.

Hey. The syrup was poisoned and sucked out joy. Like a dementor. What happened when you sucked out joy from a joy-sucker? Vacuuming a vacuum? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? Ravenclaw experiment time! He threw a cauldron of marshmallow goo at the nearest dementor.

If nothing else, at least he was doing something.

And then he spotted Lex being lippy to poor Botros, who was trying really valiantly to herd West and Mo AND Lex toward the door. She was Mo's job. Obviously. Mo threw another cauldron of butterscotch goo before climbing around Botros to glare down at Lex.

"Get out of here, get over my shoulder, or I'll stun you, you badly behaved lion cub," Mo actually pointed his wand at her, because he was in NO MOOD FOR YOUR LIP, CAMBRIDGE. "I'd give them your soul, but Vivi wants you safe. Won't you feel bad if I lose my soul trying to save you? Now do I have to carry you, or will you walk, Alexa Cambridge?"

He knew it wasn't the syrup that was making him feel bad.. Ethan was just not going to sit around and be thrilled while the two girls at his side were feeling so miserable. He knew he should feel relief over the fact that they'd now be cured from their ice cream affliction, but did it have to be such a harsh experience to endure?

As he sat there, rubbing their backs, he gradually became aware that his teeth were chattering. Had it gotten that cold in there? Sudden realization struck as recent memories of when it had suddenly gotten too cold sprang to the forefront of his mind and his eyes snapped up. He knew what was coming next. The distant scream came filtering through his brain, his hand reaching up to clutch at the side of his head, desperately trying to block it out.

He glanced down helplessly at Minerva as she tugged on his robes, then up in horror as dementor after dementor flew in, surrounding the room, and swooping in onto Knox and Firth. He was legit terrified now, never having seen so many of the foul creatures all in one place. But there were adults here.. surely they could do something?

Green eyes darted from the dementors to Flamsteed picking up Eliza and failing to cast a patronus. His heart sank as his panic rose.. they were doomed, weren't they? Ethan heard another being cast and he first glanced to Botros then his silvery eagle as it pushed the dementors back.. and towards the Headmistress. Panic, terror, and hopelessness begin to fill the boy's mind, slowly overwhelming him. He had cast a patronus at the evil things before, only to see it eaten.. what good could he do now?

But he knew he could cast a corporeal patronus, he had done it many times before. He had to at least try to help, right? Focusing all his energies on that night at the lake, Ethan did his best to push down the despair trying to fill his head. "E-expecto Patronum!" he called out, pointing his wand at the dementor closest to them. A very weak badger leapt out.. he knew it would do little but perhaps it would buy them a little time because he was planning on listening to Flamsteed and Botros. "We need to get out of here." He grabbed Min's arm, unable to tear his eyes away from the scene.. but he knew they had to leave.

Knowing Flamsteed was taking care of Eliza, Ethan pulled Min towards the exit, watching as Vinteren now came on the scene. His faith was a bit shaky now, after he had seen his demeanor in class.. but he still held out hope. His patronuses had been the most effective. The herd of hippogriffs erupted and seemed to keep at least some of the dementors at bay.. but was it too late? Ethan watched in horror as Firth fell over, a bright light escaping from his mouth. Was that his.. ? Sheer panic written all over his face, he turned to Minerva and repeated his words. "We need to get out of here. Now." He'd carry her if he had to. He was not going to let that happen to her.

Minerva still sat in horror tears falling watching the dementors.. They were on Firth... Mr. Firth.. She had her problems with him, but that was gone now.. He knew it, right... She didn't want bad to happen to him this was a nightmare.. maybe worse. Why did this keep happening, why didn't someone save them. She half heard the voice next to her, her mind so far away and swirling around. Then she saw patronus, and another one..

Feeling herself being pulled she still couldn't take her eyes off the scene. They were swooping and she screamed, but they didn't seem like they were after the students. She watched at they went to the headmistress. Professor Awesome caught her eye and she knew they were alright. He would save the... Professor Knox.. but.. but what.. Then she saw it.. She saw Mr. Firth, "No...no..no.."

She felt her legs giving out on her this was just to much. She was sobbing and shaking. Frozen to the spot. She heard a voice saying to get out, but it was like she was in a tunnel. Why was this all happening, professor couldn't save them.. Firth was.. she felt dizzy and the room spinning. It was just to much the emotions and hopelessness took over and she felt the room get fuzzy she fell into Ethan.

Anya suddenly felt herself being dragged backwards. Jake.

... therewasnothingshecoulddo.

She swallowed hard and allowed herself to be dragged. No fights. No complaints. Just blank staring at the immobile groundskeeper. The one she may have had angry calf-related thoughts about just a minute before.

She reached over and grabbed an abandoned bowl of ice cream. She had a feeling she'd be needing it later. She then moved a hand to her wand. She didn't know of anything useful, but... ... it was better than nothing.

Or relying on a certain Professor.

Just sitting in a daze, the professor continued to pet the sad peoples, trying to keep her eyes open. This was strange. Very...strange. Finally blinking, she glanced around the room. Happy people. Sad people. Neutral people. But mostly happy and sad. To the extremes. So very strange.

"You'll be fine, Laura." she mumbled, ceasing the pets on the sad peoples and actually hugging the girl. Not a clingy hug, but, it was a hug. And with Josephina showing up all smiley happy sunshine face, Medea squinted.

Not cool.

..............

Not cool not cool not cool!!

Half thinking the sudden chill was from all the ice cream, her eyes widened as the hooded figures started to appear in the hall. How much more depressed could they make her, huh? Though the students...was another story. And Leo. On the other hand, she couldn't very well jump up and help protect them like Airey had done, since she had someone ON her.

"Laura! Come on! Up you go!" Trying to scoot the girl off her, the defense professor fumbled for her wand in her boot, all the while watching the most horrifying moment happen to their very own groundskeeper. No.

That...couldn't have happened.

So, like, Vinteren thinks he's pretty cool and awesome because his patronus is a hippogriph? Sorry, HIPPOGRIPHS. As in plural. Because that was just the most amazing patronus demonstration she's EVER seen. Show-off.

Was that...a little white light...???

GASP.

...the Groundskeeper! That's what you get for stealing pygmy puffs, man.

And because dementors were in the area, and she was feeling all too terrible for this, and Vinteren was being Vinteren...

*POOF!*

...Lotus Acacia Wisteria has left the Great Hall. Thanks for the ice cream, yo!

There were dementors feasting on her Grounds Keeper, more trying to get to Truebridge and even some hovering by Knox. All very distracting sights for the Third Year who kept looking from one to the other. At the moment, she didn't know which was the worst. Maybe it was the Grounds Keeper who would never take another point from her again? Never walk the grounds, take care of his cattle, talk in an accent she sometimes found fascinating, yell at her for nothing?

Maybe the Headmistress that didn't particularly like her. That didn't change much, she still didn't want to see her meet the same fate as Firth...Knox either. The woman gave her ice-cream down in detention. Not many Professors would have.

Her stare was broken by Mo.

She blinked at him then at his raised wand.

...

......

"You don't have to." Lex looked pass him, trying to see how the Headmistress was doing again. She would be able to take care of herself...right? No one else would die? She didn't think she wanted to watch someone else lose their soul...Vivi would have been VERY disappointed in her if she made her brother lose his soul on her account. "I'll walk."

She. Was. DONE!

With tears feeling more and more like ice running down her cheeks, Eliza felt herself being lifted from the ground. She closed her eyes tighter and clung to whomever or whatever it was. At this point, it didn't matter much. Maybe it was taking her away to end her misery, or...or maybe...maybe it was going to help her somehow? She peeked out with a moist eye and nearly gasped when she saw what was unfolding. She was in the arms of her beloved Astronomy professor, and the rest of the students were either running for their lives or taking some kind of stand against what must have caused the chill in the room. Dementors. Tons and tons of dementors. She held onto Airey a bit more tightly, the gravity of the situation finally sinking in. Her lip quivered and she felt her muscles begin to shake lightly in fear. Her panicked eyes surveyed the room through salty tears to find her friends. She wanted to speak, to call out to them, but her voice was frozen - drowned in terror and disbelief. When she managed to relocate her friends, she was somewhat relieved to see that they were on the move, but still she wished they were all somewhere very very far away from here.

Still being carried by dear Professor Flamsteed, Eliza caught another horrifying glimpse. The benevolent groundskeeper was slumped onto the floor, unmoving. Wh-what happened to him?! she screamed inside. Can't someone help him? she cried silently, desperate to help him. Yet she knew she herself could scarcely move and was thankful that someone had been able to save her already. She felt all hope drain from her and allowed herself to sink further into the protection of the blonde star gazer who had come to her rescue at this most dire hour.

"Ugh.." Wade could feel a hard pressure against his head as he turned over. There was screaming shouting and yeah, he was getting up. No napping can continue with chaos.. hmm.. He felt even sadder, much more than before he fell asleep. He opened his eyes to see some some people running around and.. oh no.. dementors. Not again. Wade was exhausted still as he looked around to see Mr. Firth pushing Professor Knox away.. wait... No..

His eyes widenned at the sight of.. his soul- That was it. Wade's stomach dropped, as everything felt so far away from him now. The cool groundskeeper that Wade held respect for was.. not.. dead.. but.. not.. there anymore.. and he could never move on to- Wade then fought the contents of his stomach from coming up. The deepest frown ever then formed on Wade. "Mr. Firth.."

Wade deep down knew there was nothing he could do. He was too sad from whatever was in that syrup, then the dementors and seeing someone's soul- *gulp* No.. not now. There was no happy thoughts that could be formed with this scenario as Wade with great difficulty turned away gripping his wand tighter than ever. Time to go. Was it raining in here?

Ella was crouched on the floor, a feeling of hopelessness overwhelming her and rooting her to the spot. She was vaguely aware of the screaming voices but she couldn't be sure if they were part of the ones playing over and over in her head or not. That is not until she saw what was happening to Mr. Firth.

Tears began to stream down the blonde's face and she watched on in horror, unable to speak or move. She didn't want to see this. She had nightmares enough as it was and it wasn't fair that this was happening. Things like this shouldn't happen here. Hadn't she told Forrest things would get better? Ella didn't want to be a liar but she'd lied. Nothing was getting better. Nothing would be better again. How could it be?

More voices were heard and this time Ella recognized who they were coming from. Professor Botros and Professor Airey were telling everyone to get out and the panic in their voices was noted. "B-b-but Mr. F-Firth." He was just lying there. W-was he...?

Shaking her head, the sixteen year old got to her feet and skirted the wall towards the door, wand gripped so tightly in her hand that her knuckles were white.

He wasn't going to come out from under the table. Nope. No chance. After what had just happened, Asher believed he would live under that table forever. He was still icy cold and tears were wet upon his face.

Exactly what had happened, he didn't know. The sounds were more than enough for him though, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the full details of the evening. The screams filled is head and the sounds of feet fleeing the Great Hall rang in his ears.

This, by far, had to be the worst day of his life. Asher could see the body of Mr Firth slumped on the floor from where he huddled. His face was turned away, so Asher couldn't tell if he was dead or alive. With trembling hands, he gripped his wand and waited.

Laura looked at the Professor. "you..." Laura started to say through her tears when suddenly she felt cold and the Professor was actually trying to get her off her knee, though Laura didn't really want to move, she didn't want to get hurt either. "Why are the dementors here?" Laura sighed, she was sure the History of Magic teacher knew something because well she had a feeling but she wouldn't say anything.

*sigh*

Laura decided that if she couldn't sit on the Professors knee at least she could cling to her. "Professor!" Laura clung to Professor Romanos, "Were going to be okay right?" Laura asked whilst making sure she hid behind the Professor whilst clinging to her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Droo

"Dully noted." Hecate said with a satisfied smirk. Yeah, she didn't like it, cause the HEADMISTRESS didn't just save the ENTIRE school.

Yeah... she said it.

...well, thought it anyway...

As she took her own desert, she turned to the other woman. "Marashino cherry?" She offered.

ooc: HOMEWORK IS OVER.

Anastasia didn't like the tone the Slytherin Head of House was taking with her. She didn't like it one bit.

"No thank you," the redhead replied coldly, turning her nose up at the offer and stalking off in another direction. She wrapped her arms around herself as she suddenly felt a cold chill take over the room, and lazily looked toward the doors of the Great Hall...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEMENTORS!

The dementors began shoving one another, each one wanting a piece of the groundskeeper before moving on to the main course. And then their friends arrived and began nomming on the other adult woman present.

HEY! They were here first!

ANGRY RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE

Several left the man and glided towards the Charms professor and surrounding dementors, trying to squeeze a suck or two out of her soul as well. Until they sensed another adult in the room. Another few adults to be precise, but one was unmistakably their main target.

The dementors around the Charms professor suddenly flew upwards and soared like hungry vultures towards the red head (BanaBatGirl).

Two dementors were pushed back as a silvery eagle, but not all of them.

Yes, come to us pretty lady. Come give us a kiss and don't put up a fight just like your groundskeeper and substitute professor weren't.

Dementors, dementors, dementors EVERYWHERE. Whhhhhuh.... wha..... what was h-h-happening here? WHY WERE THERE DEMENTORS EVERYWHERE?!!!!! Annie was so confused, and so taken off guard that when one flew straight at her, she promptly fell down on her bum.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" the redhead flailed, covering her face and her MOUTH, most importantly, with her arms. She had to get her wand out, she had to do something about this... but it was so hard to know what to do when everything was suddenly so sad. All she could think of was how her patronus was a nundu and Ethan had taken her to see the nundus but shortly after he had been arrested and sent to Azkaban and it was the worst ALMOST YEAR of her LIFE and she had been at Hogwarts ALL ALONE and ABANDONED, he'd ABANDONED HER and no one had told her what was going on even though Tate knew ALL ALONG and oh it was just awful, everything was awful, and what if the dementors were here to take HER to Azkaban now and WHAT WWWWOULD HAPPEN TO HER BABY???????????????!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Jory watched in panic as the dementors tore after the Headmistress. The eagle and roadrunner Patronuses were busy elsewhere. "Stay calm, Jory!'' the boy told himself, fighting the helplessness and sadness that was slowly building. "Think of Ronnie!''

Quick! He needed to cast his Patronus! Firmly planting the memory of his and Ronnie's first kiss, Jory pointed his wand over towards their Head. "Expecto patronum!'' A silver tiger erupted and tore off.

She realized she had started crying when she saw a bright white light, a shape that turned into a tiger patronus, roaring right in front of her. A tiger. A white tiger. That was good! Tigers were kitties, she liked kitties! Nundus were kitties too, just big, misunderstood ones!

"Exxx... expecto...." Annie shakily dug her wand out of her sleeve and tried to point it at the dementors. She took a breath and dug up the memory of the day her son had been born. "Expecto ppatronum!"

Botros continued pushing and pulling ANY student came his way, toward the door. "OUT!" He shot looks and shouted again and yet some of them seemed to be too shocked to move. He was relieved, though, seeing some of the older students being of help and shaking the others to move. The silvery hippogriffs made him squint his eyes temporarily when they attacked the cloaked creatures surrounding.... the Charms professor. He gave a quick glance to the bigger scene and...

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpluvr037

He couldn't do it. He couldn't conjure a Patronus. It was all happening too fast with no warning. They were on him and there was nothing he could do... except protect Ivy.

He was a Gryffindor and he was going to be chivalrous even when his life was on the line. Or his soul, rather.

With his last remaining strength, he prepared to push Ivy as far away from the horde as he could. But at the last second, several Patronuses surrounded her. She was safe.

But he was not.

A brilliant white light escaped his lips.

And he slumped over onto the ground.

... he saw this. Without thinking, Botros banged his walking staff on the floor and a series of runes glowed on its surface. He grabbed his wand and his staff in one hand and pointed it forward. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A larger and majestic silvery eagle erupted and flapped its light-like wings sending sparks of light everywhere and soaring ferociously toward the slumped man and the bunch of dementors that glided away from him.

Botros hurried over to the groundskeeper, a look of pain and panic on his face, and knelt by him, panting and trying to see how far the man had gone.

...

..

.

He stood up after a moment, his forehead gave in to sweat, and his fingers rubbed his eyes to get rid of the wetness that welled up there.