Minerva headed toward the Gnome Toss, it wasn't her first choice of places to be a student leader at for reasons, but she wasn't going to say no when asked and seem like a poor student leader. She sighed and shook her head seeing that she was the first there. Eyeing the gnomes she was going to stay away from them if they stayed away from her. Got that you grouchy mean things. She still remembered that herbology lesson and the bumps and bruises from them.

Making sure the gloves were set up she noticed a few gnomes already trying to wonder in other places, "no you don't" She pulled her wand out. Seeing the wand they seemed to huddle back in their little hiding place. That's all they needed were some going off into other events. Probably a good thing they put this event further from the rest, but it seemed so far from the food. Her stomach growled like on cue when she thought about the food. She would go eat once things started and other leaders were there to help the students.

Mischa stood watching Minerva as she kept the gnomes in position. It was surprising that he had no bad feelings towards the prefect seeing as she got him in trouble with his Headmaster. In fact Mischa seemed to be slowly slipping back into that person he had been before. He found more reasons to smile. One reason in fact. He had been looking for her but she didn't seem to be there as yet.

Mischa pulled on a pair of gloves and walked towards Minerva. "Pesky little things are they not?'' He knew Minerva would not be pleased to see him but he was not there to cause trouble. He took a gnome randomly from the set. It tried to bite him but Mischa expertly held onto its feet instead.

The seventh year Durmstranger held it over his head immediately spinning it around. When he felt he had enough momentum he released. The gnome flew in the air before coming to a rest near a rock.

Minerva was watching the Gnomes being cautious to stay away from them as much as she could. She remembered a time she actually felt sorry for the poor things and even if she still didn't like how wizards degnomed their gardens she understood it as well. It was obvious it didn't hurt them since they came back at her a few times in that lesson.

She jumped hearing a voice and turned, Mischa what was he doing here and why was she still alone. Where was the other student leaders. She mentally was aware of how quickly she could get her wand if he tried anything, but as she looked at him was..he.. smiling. "Oh.. yeah they can be. You really have to watch them at times." Just as she said it and her focus was on Mischa now still not trusting him she felt pain in her hand. "Oooouch" She mumbled a few words under her breath and looked down to one of the ones that had run from her when she had her wand out now nipping at her.

Shaking her hand she pulled her wand again. "Want to toss this one next?" She looked at her hand before making sure her focus went back to Mischa. He was seeming relaxed and nice, but she still didn't trust him. She knew what she saw even if others didn't believe her. "So I thought you never smiled." She gave him a tight smirk of her own.

Was he smiling? Mischa had not even noticed. It was amazing how easy smiling was for him these days though he was sure he did not do it too often as everyone else. He shrugged at Minerva. He was not going to tell her his reasons for not smiling before.

He knew she did not trust him still and it didn't matter to him. There was not going to be any trouble. Not from him atleast. He was distracted by the gnome which had speedily made it's way to the prefect and before he could say anything had dung it's sharp teeth into her hand. "Are you okay?'' That was sincere as he had been on the receiving end of a gnome bite but he tried to pass it off as not too concerned with a bored expression on his face. He was not a softie.

"Vhy not?'' Mischa lunged for the gnome which was cowering at the sight of Minerva's wand. Spin around and around and around and release! The gnome flew off landing even farther than the first. "Satisfying revenge?'' he asked the prefect.

She looked down at her hand, clearly teeth marks were in it and a little blood, but nothing she couldn't handle. The worst was the pain from the stupid thing actually biting her. "Fine..fine.. I've been bit by one before." She that wonderful Herb class a few terms ago. She focused back on the other gnomes just to make sure they were staying where they needed to be.

Blue eyes went back to Mischa and the Gnome that had just bit her. She watched as he tossed. Cringing a bit she still didn't like the concept even if it didn't really hurt them. Shrugging at his comment, "To be perfectly honest I'm not one to see them thrown like that, but to each there own, but thank you for getting it away from me." She really didn't want bit again.

Still watching him cautiously she decided small talk or any talk would be the best thing. "So glad to be going home?" She figured he probably did, she couldn't have think of how she would have felt going to a different school her last term.

Mischa could see the marks from the gnome's teeth as well as the blood. There was not much blood but he knew the pain. But she was a big girl. She could take care of herself.

When he released the gnome he noticed the girl's reaction. "If ve did not do that they vould cause more chaos,'' he said. Atleast they would not be a problem for a while. He smiled slightly at the remark. "You're velcome.'' He watched in the distance as the two gnomes staggered around occasionally bumping into each other from their disorientation.

He could feel the eyes of Minerva on him as she watched him but he continued to look at the gnomes. Her question did lead him to think somewhat. "Yes I am,'' the seventh year responded. ''But I enjoyed my stay here at the castle. I think I shall miss it.'' How strange that was. When he had first arrived at Hogwarts he hated it. "Vou are a seventh year also yes? Vhat are vour plans after Hogvarts?''

Min waved off his comment, "Yeah.. yeah I know.. I know we went over all this in a herbology class a few terms ago and had a shot at doing this same thing during that class. I just still think there has to be an easier way to handle them then just spinning them around and tossing them." Even after all the bruises she still felt that way. She pulled at her shirt a bit not sure why she was feeling awkward all of the sudden. So maybe he wasn't such the horrible person she once thought, not that she was taking guards down anytime soon.

Watching them stagger around she shook her head, "I hate that I feel a little bad for them, but I do." She hated seeing them stagger like that even if it didn't hurt them. She couldn't help but stare at him with his answer, "Really I would think you didn't like it here at all. You seemed to hate being around us most of the time." She looked at him curiously and chewed on her lip a bit think about how to even word her next question. She finally moved a bit closer to him, "Why did you do it? Why did you want to interrupt classes like you did and hit other students with those spells?" She wasn't looking to cause trouble or get him in any trouble if he answered truthfully she just wanted to know.

She looked at him as he asked about her plans. No one had asked her that in awhile. How did she explain her plans.. hmm "Yes I am a seventh year. I can't believe it really." She glanced towards the castle still not believing she was almost done. "Well my plan is to be a healer at some point, but once I'm done here I'm going to take a bit of a break from school. I just want to work, deal with some family stuff, and make sure healing is exactly what I want to do." There that wasn't too hard. "What about you? What are your plans?"

With the Friar's excitable words echoing in his ears Sir Nicholas entered the prefect's event and floated over to where some sort of game was going involving gnomes. Floating up beside one of the school's prefect's (Minerva) and her companion (Mischa) he asked quite loudly. "Why in the name of floating blueberries are you throwing gnomes around? They haven't hurt anyone."

"Is it like bowling?" Sir Nicholas asked. He was of course referring to the game.

Laura had all her protective gear on, she really, really wanted to throw a gnome, she got there just in time to hear a ghost speaking to Minnie who was already there apparently. "Who are you?" Laura asked, she wasn't sure if she had seen him before. "I throw them because it's fun to watch them after they are dizzy watch." Laura grabbed a gnome and started to swing it around and around once she was sure it was dizzy enough she threw it and she shouted. "Four!" That was what golfers did right.

Minerva was still waiting for an answer from Mischa and starting to feel a little uneasy that she asked when all of the sudden someone was shouting next to her. "What in the bloo..Oh Sir Nicholas, you scared me." She glanced out at the two gnomes that had already been thrown. So he wasn't to into throwing to creatures either. "Well.." but before she could even think to answer someone else was at her side sounding rather rude.

"Laura, no need to have an attitude. Have you not seen Sir Nicholas before?" That was very odd, the ghost always popped in and out of places. She wasn't sure if she ever truly had a conversation with him, but she knew who he was. "Laura and Mischa this is Sir Nicholas." She figured she would introduce Mischa as well since he was standing there. She half listened to Laura's babble about making them dizzy and her mind for some reason was trying to remember if she had ever had a conversation. "I'm not a huge fan of it myself, I don't see the need to swing them around, but as Laura said they just really get dizzy and that's about it. They don't get hurt at all. Tough little things. One has already bit me on the hand." She lifted it to show the teeth marks.

She couldn't help but smile, "Bowling? No.. It's more like.. " She tried to even think of a game, "Ring toss or sort of a throwing game. See who can throw the farthest." Did that explain it, probably not. "See you pick up a Gnome, spin it a bit to make it dizzy, and toss it as far as you can. The person who can toss it the farthest wins. So far Mischa is the only one to toss and his two are pretty good tosses." As you could see the biter was still staggering around, but shooting glares their way. Speaking of Mischa she turned to give him a look. Their conversation was far from over. She was kind of enjoying it, but wouldn't admit it and she just wanted an answer for her own brain.

Mischa shrugged. He had not felt pity for gnomes in a very long time and certainly was not feeling it now. He remembered them taking over the garden at his home and his mother always tasking him with the responsibility of getting rid of them. "They vill get over it. I do not think they really mind getting tossed. Vou vould have think they vould haff stopped coming back if they did.''

"I hated it at first,'' the Durmstranger said simply. Over the months he had gradually gotten used to being there and attending classes and spending time in the Ravenclaw common room. He could tell what as coming next. He had told himself he would be asked this question and for that he had an answer waiting. "I do not knov vhat vou are talking about.'' He was not going to disclose anything.

A Healer. Mischa thought that that career would compliment Minerva's personality very well. She always was willing to take care the other students so a healer was not a bad choice. "A good choice.'' As for him? "I hope to become a Curse breaker someday.'' That meant advanced studies in Arithmancy but it was a subject he excelled in.

Like Minerva, Mischa was startled by the sudden appearance of a ghost. It was one he had often seen around the Castle particularly at the Gryffindor House table. They were also joined by a girl whom Minerva referred to as Laura. Mischa nooded at the ghost when he was introduced. "Mischa Moller,'' he added.

"The three of us could haff our own competition now.'' It was just a suggestion. He was not sure if Minerva would want to do any tossing. It was a pity the could could not do any.

Before Sir Nicholas got a reply out of the badger prefect another badger girl appeared and asking not very nicely who he was. He felt offended. He hid it though as adressed the girl in a nice voice. "I'm Sir Nicholas. The Gryffindor house ghost." Even if he inside was offended and hurt. Didn't the Friar teach the student's in his house something as basic as who the other house ghosts were?

Shaking his head Sir Nicholas watched the girl toss a gnome before he gladly focused on the more polite and welcoming prefect. Listening to the prefect's explanation he commented. "I suppose if the gnomes doesn't get hurt you can spin and toss them all you want to see who can throw them fathest." He failed to see the fun in it though.

Turning to the boy he bowed his head slightly as he murmered. "Pleased to meet you Mischa." One of the foreign visitor he concluded silently. Hovering backwards a few steps he said smiling a little. "I can't toss gnomes with you all but I would like to watch you all do it."

She shrugged at Mischa still not sure how she really felt about all the Gnomes. She rubbed her hand a bit. "Yeah you're probably right."

She couldn't help but chuckle, "It's something you do have to get use to I guess. The castle holds so much mystery to it and the students are all so different. I can see for an outsider that would be hard to figure out at first. I'm glad you came around to liking it though." She glanced around the grounds. It would be so hard to leave it in a matter of a week or so. Could it really be time to leave. She just couldn't believe it. Blue eyes jumped back to his face, "You know darn well what I'm talking about. Defense against the Dark Arts, why did you do it? I just want to know why, I'm not going to run and tell or try to get you in trouble, it's over and done with and from what I see you've changed your feelings towards us, just curious is all."

She couldn't help but give a small smile as Mischa said she had made a good choice. That was very nice of him. "Thank you, I think so at least." Even though recently she had been second guessing everything. She looked at him curious, "That is a very interesting choice. I bet it's an exciting job though." She was never great at Arithmancy so never thought about it to much as a possible career choice.

Before saying anything else she listened to Sir NNicholas shaking her head towards Laura, why would she have said that. She had to have known him, but it was over and done with she shrugged about the Gnomes. "I guess some find it fun. I'm just making sure everything goes the way it is suppose to. There are some other events too you might like better. We have a roller rink, bubbles and chalk, bumper brooms which might be fun to watch. " Would he like any of those she wasn't sure.

She grinned towards Mischa, it wouldn't be to dangerous if she maybe threw one Gnome right. As long as he kept them in check, possibly. "You're on." She went over and grabbed some gloves and quickly picked up a smaller gnome that had it's back turned. Spinning it and letting go before it could do anything against her she let it fly. It fell shorter than Mischa's, but not a bad toss either.

Mischa nodded in agreement to Minerva's statement. "Vou know vich was the most annoying thing? Those stairs that change. It vas the reason I vas late for that Transfiguration class.'' Which had been bad. It was a good thing the Professor had not kicked him out. He did try to make up for his lateness by working on perfecting the Switching spell. Mischa maintained his stubbornness. Getting information out of him was no easy thing. Instead he just gave the prefect a twitch of his lips and a shrug.

"Anyone else in vour family a healer?'' Mischa asked curiously. Probably someone's footsteps she wanted to follow in. "It is. As well as dangerous.'' But what was life without some degree of danger?

"I don't think they mind,'' Mischa repeated what he had told Minerva. "They always come back for more tossing.'' He nodded once more to the ghost. "Likewise to you, Sir Nicholas.''

Challenge accepted then? Mischa smiled. It was almost unbelievable he and the prefect were getting along so well seeing as what had transpired between them earlier. He watched as she released the gnome. It landed just a short bit away from his last toss. "Vell done. Do ve get prizes for this because I'm clearly going to win.'' he joked. He grabbed another gnome which was a particularly flaily one by the feet swung it around and then released. He had not gotten the momentum as he would have liked because it kept flailing and it kept scratching at it hand. It landed about the exact spot where Minerva's had.

Min couldn’t help, but to chuckle at what annoyed him most. “Clearly you never had a run in with Peeves then, but the stairs certainly are something you have to really get use too.” She had trouble with those herself a few times, but she still felt Peeves was the worst thing at the school. “I find it very interesting you weren’t told off by Bellaire, she’s a very strict professor at times.” She couldn’t help the small glare as he just shrugged, “So my theory is that you just didn’t like being here and didn’t like any of us, even though some of us tried to be nice. So you thought it would be fun to hex different students.” Was she close, because that’s exactly what she saw it as. “You had heard what happened here last term with the Goblins. That was a big deal to get those crystal balls back ya know.” She hoped he knew the importance of the destruction he caused breaking them.

She blinked and turned her eyes to the ground. “Oh.. well. Not that I know of.” Her dad’s side she didn’t have any nurses and if her mom’s side any well she knew none of them. “My mom was actually a teacher and my dad was in the U.S. Army.” She tried to move and focus more on his career, “You like danger?” Not that danger was a bad thing, but she went to Hogwarts, she had enough danger to last a life time. “Any of your family members curse breakers?” How does one get interested in that field of study.

As he tossed another gnome she grinned at him, “Days not over yet. Plenty of time for others to come, but yes there is a prize.” Of course there would be a prize. Champion of the Gnomes had to have a prize. She looked around would anyone else be trying anytime soon. Pulling her wand out yet again she glanced down, “Mischa watch out biter’s back.” The gnome that had bit Min had made her way back towards them again.

Theo was here. Late, but here. And who assigned him to look after the Gnome Toss? He sure wasn't gonna be touching those things. With his hands stuffed in his shorts pockets, Theo saw Minnie and started to make his way over to her. To make his presence known, he supposed. But wooooooooooooooooah, woah. She was talking to a ghost.

A ghost. Here.

He let out a loud gasp and backward marched to the table with the gloves on.

Yeah, he was staying here. Theo climbed under the table and he kept both eyes on Sir Nicholas, or whatever his name was. The nearly-headless-one. Being a prefect could wait.

Minerva had thought she saw someone coming towards them, but when she looked there was no one. Was she seeing things. At first she shrugged it off, but than the more she thought she knew she saw something. Turning her focus for a moment she looked around. Why was she now seeing things.

Just as she was going to turn her focus back to the group that's when she saw him. Turning she made her way over and bent down looking under the table, "Theo, you alright?" She wasn't sure why he was hiding. Did he not like gnomes? "The gnomes are pretty calm other than one that likes to bite." Which she could easily point out which one.

"We are having a competition on who can throw the farthest, you want in?" Only if he wanted that was. That's when I thought had hit her, "Sir Nicholas would you like to be the final judge. To tell us who threw the farthest?" Why not have him included even if he really couldn't throw one.

Peeves? Mischa had heard stories about a poltergeist lurking in the Castle though he never actually had a run in with him. "Is he the one vith the bells on the hat and vears an orange bow tie?'' he asked curiously. He did see a few strangely dressed ghosts around Hogwarts. The ghosts were an interesting touch to the castle though he was surprised they were along to live there. "I gathered that much about her.'' He had also thought she would fit nicely in at Durmstrang. The Professors there had the same strict attitude.

Mischa actually laughed when the prefect stated her theory. She was no where close but he did not say anything. "Vou can stick vith that theory, Minerva.'' But as for the crystal balls he had nothing to do with that. He looked at her now his expression serious. "I assure vou I had nothing to do vith that.''

He could tell family was a topic she did not want to broach. "I apologize for bringing up vour family,'' the seventh year stated. He understood family could be a touchy topic. "To an extent. There is nothing like a dangerous task to use vour brain to the maximum.'' He shook his head his expression stony. "They are both employees at the Ministry of Magic.'' Not the British Ministry of course.

"I vill maintain my first place,'' Mischa stated. Joking around was something he had not done in a while and it felt good to do so. He glanced down at Biter. "Shall ve toss him again?''

Hiding... hiding... hiding.....

O____O

MINNIE, CAN YOU NOT.

MAYDAY, COVER IS BLOWN.

Theo scrunched his eyes together, facepalmed his forehead, then emerged from under the table, still with his eyes FIXED on the ghost. "Yes, I am fine." He said very quietly, and very attitudey. He stuffed his hands back into his pockets and gave a sulky look over at the gnomes. Disgusting things, they were. But as soon as Minnie mentioned the word 'competition', well, he kinda had to be in. Especially when he was supposed to be 'in charge' of this 'game' alongside her.

"Sure. Be prepared to lose." Theo grinned. He flexed his arms, 'cause you know, arm muscles. Had to have good arms to be a good chaser. And he was a top chaser. Well, last term he was. His smile faded when Minnie asked the ghost to judge it.

NOooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOooo...

Laura looked at the ghost, seriously couldn't he take a joke, she was trying to be nice and make the guy laugh because she was just that kind of girl. "I wasn't trying to be rude Minnie." Laura pouted at her friend, she wasn't sure why Minnie was telling her off.

Laura looked at the other two students that were there and thought about the competition. "Sir" Laura looked at the ghost. "When you were alive were there Gnomes?" Laura had been wondering about this for awhile and now well she could ask someone about them, she wanted to know when they came to Hogwarts.

Chuckling she nodded her head, “I think he is known for a few different items to annoy people, but yes that would be him. Awful thing he is. Always annoying people, interrupting classes, and just being obnoxious. I haven’t seen him in quite some time. Maybe the other ghost finally got rid of him.” Wouldn’t that be a treat for the school. “All the ghost are pretty friendly, well except one on the second floor, but since you don’t go into the girl’s bathroom you shouldn’t have run into her.” Things she wouldn’t be missing about the school Myrtle and Peeves. He seemed to have realized what Bellaire was capable of, “She’s a great professor, all of them are. There are just some that are more terrifying than others.” Such as Lafay, now that one they were all lucky they didn’t mess with her.

She couldn’t help but smirk, she knew she was right, he was just an egotistical brat thinking he could come into the school and be a jerk. Yep that’s exactly what it was. Probably even using the stairs as an excuse, but whatever it was water under the bridge. There was something in his tone and the way he was looking at her that she couldn’t help but believe him with the crystal balls. Her eyes went to the ground and she wondered who else was causing problems, but there was one that caused them. “Do you think any of your classmates would have done it, I mean there is another boy from Beauxbaton that I had a run in with, maybe it’s him, but his problem seems to be more of an ego issue wanting all the girls to fall for him.” She rolled her eyes gosh she didn’t like that one, but again the crystal ball issues was long ago too basically, so she needed to just give it up.

Now she kind of felt bad, “No.. no it’s alright. I don’t mind talking about them. I just lost them when I was twelve, so it’s different I guess. Plus my dad’s side is all muggles, I’m not sure if any were ever nurses. Mom’s side disowned her way before I was born so I have no clue what any of them really do.” She knew of the family business, but that was to horrid to even mention. Plus it really wasn’t healing. “You should have come to school here. There was plenty of danger, you might have gotten your fill before finding a career.” She wasn’t sure anyone who had went to school here the last seven terms would want a dangerous career. She knew she didn’t that was for sure. “Oh Ministry. . What do they do?” Just curious and all.


Her grin came back and she chuckled, “Oh you will now will you? We will have to see about that.” Watched the biter creep closer she nodded, “My turn” Picking the gnome up she started to spin, but biter was quick and nailed her arm. Dropping it Min cringed, “Really right above the glove.” Maybe she should be done with tossing them and just help the others for now. This just wasn’t safe for her.




Was he really fine? Minerva kept eyeing him, she really didn’t think he was. [b] “You know if you wear the gloves they really won’t hurt you. Their teeth won’t go through. You know except for the one that got her arm right above that stupid glove, but she wouldn’t mention that. Pulling a pair of gloves off the table she smiled softly before handing them to her fellow prefect. “We have a few people already playing, hopefully others will be around soon.” She looked toward the gnomes they seemed to be behaving for now at least.
Laughing she looked towards Mischa, “He has thrown the farthest so far. Mine came up pretty short compared, but I’ll probably have another go here soon. Let’s see what you can do.” Still laughing as he showed her muscles, “Oh such a tough guy with all the arm muscles, but I don’t know.. can you beat a beater?” They needed arm muscles to. Those bludgers didn’t hit themselves.




Minerva forced herself to not roll her eyes, well she was being rude towards Sir Nicholas, but whatever and now she was just acting odd. Gnomes were around all the time, right? What an odd question, but she shook her head and moved on. “You’re up Laura, see if you can get it past Mischa’s Gnome which…” Well it was gone now. Where did the bugger go. “Well see the tree out there it had hit near the tree, mine was a little closer than that.” Her own Gnome came up short. So Yes Mischa was winning for the time being.

Anya skipped her way around the event. Her first choice were the bubbles... but... there was gnome tossing. And, despite having spent a few years in the magical world, she had not yet seen one of these so called pests.

Were these actual gnomes? Did they have beards? Did it hurt them? She had loads of questions. Yes she did. Now. Who was running the booth? Whoooooo could she ask?

"LET ME AT THEM! LEEEEEEET MEEEEEEEEE AT THEEEEEEEEEM!" Michael burst through the crowd of people that were standing in the gnome toss area and as soon as he spotted the group of gnomes, he didn't hesitate for a second.

HE WAS DIVING STRAIGHT FOR THE GNOMES!

Two years it had taken him to find a bunch of gnomes to wrestle with and now here they were, all lined up and ready for the taking. He was not going to miss this opportunity.

His hands wrapped around the closest gnome and within seconds they were both rolling on the ground and Michael trying to avoid being bitten by the little pest.

THIS WAS THE BEST FUN EVERRRRRRRR!!

Minerva had seen someone else walking towards them and smiled as she saw it was Anya. The blonde smiled, "Hey Anya, want to toss a gnome?" That sounded weird didn't it. She felt like it did, but whatever it was what they were doing. "We are seeing who can toss the farthest. So far it's Mischa, think you can beat him?"

She walked over to the table with gloves, "First you need some gloves, believe me you don't want bit it hurts." She knew from experience, twice now. Darn sharp teeth. She turned back to the younger girl, "So you going to try?" It was fun to some, but other people might not like to do it.



Minerva jumped as she heard someone yelling, what in the world. Blinking to see what was going on she saw Micheal and couldn't help but laugh. Well wasn't he an eager beaver. She had looked down to get him some gloves and by the time she looked up he was.. "Oh no.. Micheal you need..." Nope to late he was already fighting one. Did he want to get himself bit.

Now they were on the ground, "Micheal just let go of it and get away from it." Minerva raised her wand so the Gnome could hopefully see it. "Do you need me to stun it?" She didn't want him bit. They couldn't do much damage but their teeth hurt. She watched trying not to laugh, she was suppose to make sure this stuff didn't happen, but yet it was so funny she couldn't help enjoying it as well.