The second year headed to her common room with a satisfied feeling, she had just eaten in the great hall and she had met a few new friends. Some of them were strangely not from her own house and she decided that it would be better to not tell her mother that she had friends who were not from her own house. The young girl blinked a few times with her eyes and suppressed a tired yawn, she had made a long day and she hoped that she could rest some in the common room. She smiled when she had given the password and stepped into Common room but… She saw that she could not walk further! “What is happening?” Asked Sonea surprised and saw that she was not the only one who wanted to enter but who was stuck here.

Nod.

"It might not need to be real money." West said, but he was down for Dylan going in and getting them some coins, even if it would suck if something weird happened and he got all dead or lost or something. Who knew with those metal things there? "Duplicating, not conjuring. That thing might not know the difference, as long as it fits in the slot and all." He pointed at the turnstiles from his spot on the floor.

.... brainwave.

West started thinking about leprechaun gold. Could the same theory work on knuts?

So...

What was this madness?

She did remember that people's stories how awesome Hogwarts was. But these were some facts that she had experienced; rude ticket dude, crappy food at the feast, plastic silverware, and now? They needed to pay one knut to enter the common room? Sigh.. In fact, most people here didn't have any just to enter the common room. Then she Captain had spoken up. Wait? He would cover all of them here? REALLY?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonea

The second year headed to her common room with a satisfied feeling, she had just eaten in the great hall and she had met a few new friends. Some of them were strangely not from her own house and she decided that it would be better to not tell her mother that she had friends who were not from her own house. The young girl blinked a few times with her eyes and suppressed a tired yawn, she had made a long day and she hoped that she could rest some in the common room. She smiled when she had given the password and stepped into Common room but… She saw that she could not walk further! “What is happening?” Asked Sonea surprised and saw that she was not the only one who wanted to enter but who was stuck here.

"You can't go inside to the common room unless you had paid 1 knut," She said to the younger student. Ah... Seriously. So, if it was not normal, why this madness happened when she just started her first year in Hogwarts? Did she come to the wrong time or anything else?

"I just hoped the Head of House come soon and solve this problem." Because seriously, she didn't have any idea right now.

Kommoto almost walked straight into the turnstile that had just appeared.
"What the-" he wondered. The 'stile said 'One knut for entry.'
Kommoto groaned. "Are you kidding me? This stinks." He slid a knut into the slot, and walked through. He saw people chatting, and enjoying themselves. Nervous, he slunk upstairs, and found his stuff waiting for him in front of what he presumed was his bed. looking around, he saw nobody. He opened his trunk, and pulled out a book. Laying on his bed, he began to read.

West watched in fascination as some first year just rocked on through without even stopping to ask what was going on.

... he didn't hear the sounds of death.

That was a good start, he supposed, but totally ruined the possibility of making wagers on what might happen. Oh well. Someone could STILL try get past without paying.

The young girl looked stunned and could not believe it! “Why? Is Hogwarts having financial problems? We already have plastic plates to eat with in the great hall and now this?” Sonea watched with her hands on her hips the turnstiles in front of her. “I have no money with me at the moment, everything I have is already inside the common room and besides that, I am not accepting this, my parents have already paid my school money so why could I pay more? This is stupid!” Sonea tried to think of a way to pass and to go inside the common room but had no idea and nodded to the other girl, “I hope that the head of or house is coming soon because I’m tired and I dont want to stay here the whole night!” Sonea sounded annoyed and yawned again.

Oh look, there was the guy who gravely needed a haircut. Yeah, the blonde one who was always calling HIS Penelope his Penelope, which was the farthest thing from the truth. Grumble, grumble.

Anyway, the way that everyone straightened up when this guy walked over and by the shiny badge on his chest he seemed to be ANOTHER authority figure. Oh joy. That was exactly what they needed. Not. Totally not.

And then he was going on about how he was gonna pay for all of them. Psh. Yeah, okay that was not happening. He was not someone's charity case. So he was just going to jump the turnstile, mmk? That was his plan. 'Sides, what was the worst that they were going to do to him? Not much.

Rubbing his nose, he nonchalantly waited for everyone to get their heads on straight. And once that was all settled THEN he would jump the turnstile. Solid plan was solid.

He should go first? Daichi eyed the payment thing again and was about to push in a knut when Dylan had arrived. He should be happy about that right? because Dylan ALWAYS knew what to do... only problem was..

He wasn't happy to see him.

Ever since the train ride he had the feeling the the other Slytherin did not like him. Why? because he said an hello to EVERYONE except him. Easy right? and now he was telling him not to say anything?!

Daichi glared at the Captain as his cheeks turned red slowly. "Oooh mister hero" he said sarcastically and with an roll of his eyes he leaned against the wall. Arms folded over each other. He was tired and annoyed now. Not a good combination. Lets see how Dylan give out HIS money first before he entered.

Hmm.

Dylan considered this briefly and then nodded. "Like a sensory mechanism." That'd be something they could look into at a later time...For right now, though...all he wanted to do was sleep.

The Captain had had a long couple of days.

He was about to move to insert the knut into the coin slot...when a person came out of nowhere and just walked right through.

Dylan blinked. Had that just happened? Or was he imagining things? Probably the latter. He'd refused to eat ANYTHING on that table tonight...

A small sound caught Dylan's attention as put the coin in and turned the thing...He didn't know proper names for it. He recognized her immediately from the Trophy Room last term...

"She'll be here shortly. I'm going to pay for you to get in...So, relax." Seriously. Chill. He didn't want to see anyone freaking out right now.

With the coin in place, he walked through the metal bars, moving them with his hands rather than his lower body. "I'll be right back."

...AND EYES FOR YOU, Duck Boy. SQUINT!

Hmm. Hi West.

He later on suggest about seeing Lafay. For a while Kat considered it. "I would, but I wouldn't leave the others here either," she said. Kat would rather wait for another student leader (Daichi or Dylan... preferably Dylan) so that at least one of them could oversee the rest of Slytherin who were apparently crowding in the corridor. Well someone could've told them about this paying thing way before term started. Don't think anyone even brought knuts to this place.

Duplicating money... maybe. Was that allowed with Gamp's Law though?

And where was Dylan?

For a reason, Kat found this funny. Or maybe he could try jumping up the turnstile then that would be better to watch. See if he epic failed or if he succeeded.

That would be luck.

Oh there was the answer. You can't duplicate money.

Dylan was right. Lafay was aware of this, and she was even at the Feast right? She must've heard the speech of the Headmistress. Everyone seemed to be there at least so there was nobody who couldn't have heard it.

Then, wait. What? Captain was paying for them? Oh, cool. Kat wondered if she'd have to pay for that afterwards but hopefully not. While Dylan goes in that common room, Kat will stay here.

Babysitting Watching over the other Slytherins.

... Uhm, no.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonea

The young girl looked stunned and could not believe it! “Why? Is Hogwarts having financial problems? We already have plastic plates to eat with in the great hall and now this?” Sonea watched with her hands on her hips the turnstiles in front of her. “I have no money with me at the moment, everything I have is already inside the common room and besides that, I am not accepting this, my parents have already paid my school money so why could I pay more? This is stupid!” Sonea tried to think of a way to pass and to go inside the common room but had no idea and nodded to the other girl, “I hope that the head of or house is coming soon because I’m tired and I dont want to stay here the whole night!” Sonea sounded annoyed and yawned again.

Merlin. This little girl had so much complaint! Christina didn't know how to respond her because:

1. She was clueless
2. She was new here
3. She didn't have any idea about what's going on with Hogwarts and the financial problem because she was new, clueless, and actually she did less care about that.

Actually, the one who maybe would have a big complaint was herself, Christina Jung. Why? Because this should be her first year in Hogwarts and she had heard about people's stories how amazing Hogwarts was but the reality was... THIS! But she'd better to keep her mouth shut right now. "I didn't know about those problem since I am new here." She spoke to that whiny little girl. Not being mean but.. just a little bit bold. Yup.

Oh, look! Finally the captain decided to do something. Kudos for him. So she would just wait here for him giving them the knuts to save them from this madness.

Peyton had arrived to the Snake's portal, skipping and thinking how everything should get better from then on. She needed to stay positive. That's what her aunt had told her. The loopy one that thought she was a Seer. Peyton doubted they were even related. Had to be adopted, that one.

She came to a halt. What were the snakes doing waiting out here? Why weren't they inside the common room? Had she missed something? Hmm. Peyton squeezed herself through...and might of have stepped on someone's foot. MOVE IT PEOPLE.

O____O

What...was going on? Wait...Did they seriously have to pay to get inside? She had money. Honestly. It wasn't a problem. BUT. There WAS a problem. Her money was inside her trunk. Which should be in her dorm INSIDE the common room. "This. Is. Stupid," she mumbled. First plastic chubby forks and now THIS.

Peyton dug into her owl purse - good thing she carried that thing everywhere. There were so many things in there. Ugh. She started dumping things out. First was her bat, a portable toothbrush, Sugar Quill, lollipop, and a comb. What? They did learn the undetectable extendable charm last term. Came in handy.

Out of all the things, she didn't even have bloody Knut with her. She shoved everything back into her purse and glanced over at Dylan. Was he going in alone? "You don't want someone to go with you? Not that I don't think you can, because I know you can, but..." She trailed off, sinking her teeth on her bottom lip. Someone needed to have his back. For sure she wouldn't go in there alone. Give her a Hufflepuff as a shield, then maybe.

Things were shifty, man.

Theo rushed straight from the Great Hall to the common room, because he needed to spruce himself up before he went to see Dora, and Professor Bellaire... He was only gonna be quick, to maybe dab a bit of that fancy perfume on that Blue got him for his birthday. Beaming, he was. BEAMING.

Anyway...

He was here, but came an instant halt.

Errrrrrrrrrrrr....... "Hi." He announced to the group of Slytherins. Theo had arrived, now what was the problem? Come oooooooon, he had things to do and people to see!?!!!!!

".......... what's going on?"

Stepping out into the entrance, Dylan didn't cross back over the metal barrier...If his face betrayed the mess that awaited them...Well, good. He needed backup. Odessa backup.

The two of them had always been able to figure things out...and....THIS needed to be dealt with. Squashed. Immediately. LIKE WHOA.

"Okay, guys. LISTEN UP!" The Slytherin Captain raised his voice a bit to grab everyone's attention. "It's not pretty...I'm forewarning you." Money bag in hand, he started handing out tiny bronze coins. "I'm thinking...if you all want to test Odessa's theory...that if we keep one coin on us at all times...we could always ensure access." It was just a thought he'd errantly had...The choice was ultimately up to them, though.

After passing out coins to everyone he'd seen, Dylan stuck the coin bag into his robe pocket and stepped back through the tunnel, wand brandished.

There was WORK to do.

Derry blinked at the sound of the tall, long haired boy's voice. Oh, the quidditch captain, right. Not pretty..? How could it be not pretty? What...? Hmmmm. Well there was only one way to find out... Derry took one of the knuts he was handing out, "Thank you." and slid it into the slot of one of the turnstiles, pushing her way through. Merlin, she hoped her dad would send her some knuts if she wrote to him... she didn't know what spell to use. Or she could ask West Odessa or Theo or someone to help her with it... Right now she just wanted to get to bed though...

West stood up, seeing his best friend. "You know as much as any of us. We have to pay a knut to get in apparently. Dylan's gone in there to like... see its not cursed or anything. Nobody's tried to go in without paying yet." Unfortunately because it'd be interesting to see what happened.

Speaking of Dylan, West LISTENED and took a coin. He was definitely gonna trie the duplicating thing but not yet, tomorrow. And look at other alternatives as well. After more sleep. What did not pretty mean? Just in case of like... dead elves that needed cleaning up or something, West took his wand out as he passed through the turnstile, coin in the slot of course.

Theo was coming right?

Oh! The Captain was back and he wasn't missing a limb. Peyton sighed and took the small coin. She wondered what he meant by not pretty. The common was ALWAYS pretty. For now, all she cared about was going inside and making sure her belongings were there. Safe. And that Thor was still breathing and being his bouncy self.

She paid her fee and slowly crept into the common room, wand out.

Sonea’s cheeks colored pink when she realized that her behavior had startled the other girl and shifted nervously on her feet. She was really annoyed because she was tired and she had hoped that this year would be wonderful, but it had started so strange with the plastic plates and now this! “I’m sorry” said Sonea hasty and fumbled nervously with her hands in her pocket.

The second year looked surprised up when the older boy had given her and all the others a coin to enter the common room. She looked at the coin she was now holding and was thankful for his help and also relieved that she could enter the common room, she had been afraid that she had needed to sleep outside the dormitory. “Eh.. T -thank you” said Sonea and hated herself for the fact that she had stuttered. “I pay you back” said the young girl and ran toward the tunnel and into the common room.

More and more Slytherins and no one happened to know what was going on. Interesting, really. Cat sat and silently observed until the Captain guy (who was rather good looking) returned. Apparently the common room was not like it was supposed to be and he looked distressed about it. How bad WAS it, hmm?

Well, she was about to find out, huh? "Hey thanks, that's totally cool of you." She said to him after he handed her a knut. After filing a mental note to pay him back, Cat deposited the coin and shimmed through the bars that reminded her a lot of being at a Muggle carnival or something of the sort. Apparently she wasn't going to be stepping into a place with yummy cotton candy, though.

Coins............ Stupid..........

or so she thought anyway.. he mum was not going to be hapy with this.. no way.. taking the coin from dylan.. who was Sharing, oh so nice of him.. she put the coin in and went through the turnstile thingy "thanks captain" meh.. she wondered what he meant by "not pretty" did the common room flood again and was it still all soppy and wet.. ugh it would get all moldy adn be gross.. ewwwww.....

putting her hand on her wand she walked through to the door with caution

PAY A KNUT TO GET IN?

Just this once, right? Surely they wouldn't have to pay to get in every time.... pfft... hello, poor students here?

Theo was about to open his mouth to complain as usual, but he soon saw Dylan making an appearance from the common room with a bag of money. Oh, good, because he didn't have anything on him at the moment. He took a coin from his captain with a nod, and pulled out his wand like everyone else was doing. Totally copycatting.

Scaaaaarrrrrry..... but the boy popped his coin in the thingy and passed through. He wasn't looking forward to the un-prettyness of the common room... if it was dirty....
........

We will be upset.

She was still standing there with her back leaning on the wall. Kat was still watching the Slytherins and trying to calm them and stuff. Not like they were locked out like before right? Well, at least that term they had sleeping bags. Kat would switch those sleeping bags for this crisis.

... How did Sierra survive this, by the way?

There was Captain and back with her coin bag. Okay good, plus he got everyone's attention. And KNUTS. Finally. Kat was going to see if she had to pay this back and stuff cos debts are so not awesome things. "Cool, thanks Captain," Kat said and took a knut. Anyway, the Common Room awaited her. No time to lose, ya know.

Kat went to one of those... things and dropped the knut Dylan gave her.

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

Common room, I'm coming for you.

With a wand out of course. Yeah.

He was totally planning to jump the turnstile all spy style, but when that blonde guy came out and gave everybody money he figured... why not? He was NO ONE'S charity case, but he did need his stuff and it was his first day here. Eh, he'd have time to mess around with that turnstile thing later.

But if the blonde guy thought he was getting paid back. HA. He was mistaken. Ain't nobody got time for that.

And then he saw everyone taking out their wands. Oh jeez. Really people? Really? Whatever. He wasn't taking out his because if there was something there he wasn't going to be much help anyway. So there was that. Anyway, he put the knut in the turnstile and followed everyone else through. Time to have a look-see.

Nathan was having a good first night back to the castle. He spoke to a few people and had an average meal. Yes he had the meal with less than average cutlery, but that didn't stop his good mood from diminishing. He was happy to be back learning, and thought that his mood would stay. He arrived at the enterance of the common room a bit tired from all the days events. Focused on his objective, he wasn't really paying attention to his surroundings.

Once he walked past the group of his housmates and towards the common room, it all went downhill.

"oof!"

He collided with a not-so-invisible-anymore turnstile with a surprising amount of force and Nathan, not expecting the sudden impact, fell backwards in shock, landing on the stone floor in front of the turnstiles.

He hoped to Merlin that no-one saw his embarrassing predicament.

[COLOR="SlateGray"]Scrougify had worked wonders on her dinnerware, feeling icky after only eating ice cream; Galena decided to go find Sasha in the Slytherin common room. She recited the password and was let through the entrance, only to find a line of turnstiles blocking her entrance. This was very muggle like, was Hogwarts integrating muggle devices into it's systems? Everything was so different from what her grandparents had told her. Galena guessed she would have to discover Hogwarts for herself, unwittingly.

A boy was also down by the turnstiles, Galena was about to speak to him when he rammed into an invisible force. It looked like nobody would be able to get through unless they paid. She fished in her pocket for some money, all she had was a knut and a sickle. She peered at the slot, it only looked big enough to fir the knut. She slid it in and was allowed through.

From behind the turnstiles, she turned to the boy and said "I only had one Knut, but I can go ask if someone else has another if you don't have one. Then we can let you in." she suggested.