"She had to get on everyone's good side first Simon! If she jumped right in people would obviously suspect it was her." Was that a smirk, Simon Holden? Was Simon Holden smirking??? Man. Maybe the Slytherin was spending too much time with Grayson. In which case, he needs to back off because Zander claimed him as a rolemodel first. Hmph. But anyways, it looked like Simon wasn't as convinced as he first thought. "Look, I just think that she's been planning this for a long time... But she had to make sure that everyone sees her as just a nice Professor before she can get away with something so easily," It was pretty plausible. You see, if Romanos had jumped right in when she first became a Professor, no one would have trusted her the same way they do now. But now that the evil woman had everyone's good faith, it would be easy to get away with such criminal activity.

"... About that Simon... I think Flamsteed may know something too... Look at all that suspicious whispering" It just HAD to mean something. No one could actually like the sky THAT much. "Think about it... He could be the one with the weather knowledge... And she's the one with the Dark Magic!" The more he started telling Simon, the more he was able to figure out what was going on. IT WAS BRILLIANT! Flailsteed was the weather expert, their past lesson of course!!, and Romanos knew plenty about Dark Magic because of the subject she taught...

O____O

................... Uh.

Was it just him or was Simon looking at him like he was crazy? HE IS NOT CRAZY, OKAY!? Just concerned for the boy's WELL BEING AND LIFE and all of Hogwarts too!! Not crazy. Just concerned. What about Domingo? Huh. ??? ".... The Arithmancy Professor????" Now it was his turn to give Simon crazy looks. "What could she do? Fight them off with the power of numbers???" At least his theory made sense. Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Her title LITERALLY had THE DARK ARTS in it! "Domingo probably doesn't even know what a Chort is, but Romanos... She KNOWS and a little too well if you ask me..." Simon Holden, this Gryffindor would not budge.

..... UNLESS.... Was Simon in on it too!?! .... No... He couldn't be....

Hmm.

Zander had brought up a valid point on getting on people's good side. "But what if it wasn't her, Zander? Why do you not like her?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he wondered if Zander may have been involved AND was trying to set Romanos up. Then he chuckled at that thought. Nah. Zander couldn't have been involved. He was too sweet. Too innocent. But then again, that's exactly the kind of person that would fly under the radar. He eyed his friend skeptically and then continued reading the book.

"Or it could just mean that they don't want to freak anybody out. All of their whispering is just as suspicious as ours," said he as he rolled his eyes and continued looking through his book. Seriously Gryffindors. Don't be so blunt all the time. Think outside the box but don't stray too far, okay? Simon's teasing smile dropped, crashing into a thousand tiny pieces of china on the floor. No. Flamsteed couldn't be involved. No, no,no. This boy was in denial. BIG TIME. "But anyone could look up that, Zander," he said, skeptically looking at his friend still.

He ignored Zander's crazy looks that he was giving him. "Alright, I know that it may be a long shot that it couldn't be Domingo but weird speaking lady shows up and weather goes amiss? It's hard NOT to connect the dots. What? Have you SEEN her credentials mate? How could you make such a statement," he closed the book rather loudly and then placed it on the table. Then he picked up another one and huffed.

Ewwww. Alexa's solution for the poential food shortage was rather gross; Lux figured that she would pass on it unless she had no other choice. Shaking her head, she flipped through more pages of the book while others discussed things around her. The Headmistress had gotten the 'everything is fine' thing dead WRONG because as she had already said, there were people who had seriously been hurt. Her boyfriend was one of them.

Zander and that Slytherin boy (was his name Simon?) were having a conversation right beside her, and... WHY was Zander looking at her like that? Waaaaaait, they thought she was going to get the axe?!

..

...

O_______O

"I am NOT going to die just because I am a Hufflepuff!" HMMPH! WHY did it ALWAYS have to be assumed that the Hufflepuffs would be the first to go? She was NOT going to die, and Professors Flamsteed and Romanos weren't evil. "I agree with Simon. I think it's more likely to be Professor Domingo. She seems nice, but NO way is it Professor Romanos."

WHY WAS THERE SO MUCH WHISPERING? Mo gave the younger students a hard look, mostly because their hissing was a huge distraction when he was trying to do helpful research. Or unhelpful research... since that was a lot more like what he was currently doing.

On account of the whispering.

"We're not eating the magical creatures. We might as well start eating some overfed first years instead. At least we know they'll probably have deserved to die." Okay, that was a little dark. Really dark. Influence of chorts, probably. And of whispering.

"Oi, really, though... if you guys have something to share with the class... do it."

The Gryffindor gave his friend a skeptical look. Why doesn't he like her? "Because she's evil and controlling a Cold One army??" Thats why. But other than that, he didn't really have any prejudices against the woman. Other from the fact that sometimes she talked funny and made lessons difficult to understand, but that wasn't anything to hold against her. UNLESS it had something to do with communicating to Chorts/ColdOnes- which it very well may.

"But Simon, have you seen Romanos' credentials?" Besides, why was Simon bringing Domingo into this? All she did was numbers and make them wear funny costumes during lessons. Hardly cut out for being an evil mastermind. Romanos though... She was very clever. Too clever. And this Gryffindor would not be letting go anytime soon.



Then Lux happened. Goodness. How did this girl manage to keep up with their conversation when she was also listening to the actual research party. "I never said you were going to die, Lux. We would never let that happen!" He also decided to ignore the part about agreeing with Simon. Because whether or not anyone else agreed with this Gryffindor he'd take Romanos down on his own. Hmph. He didn't need an army.

He knew plenty of spells! Like... Like... Alohomora! Yeah.



And that's when Zander turned back to his pretend reading of the book. Except he was really just slyly watching over Romanos. And that's when that older Ravenclaw kid happened. Yup. He totally caught the glare. Why were all the older students so mean?? Except for Lex. She was a cool Prefect, despite the eating creatures thing because that was slightly weird.

They weren't being that bad. Just whispering. It was probably Lux that gave them away. They were doing just fine before she had to join in and agree with Simon instead of him. Hmph. Not letting that one go Lux. Never.

O_____O Eating overfed first years? ........ Well he was a third year so it was safe for him, right?..... But those cold glares really said otherwise. Then, Zander noticed he was addressing their group and welp. Gulp. "Uh.......No..." Oops? Had they really been that distracting? "But, now that you mention it I-uh- I don't think we should be eating the creatures... Or firsties... Isn't that a bit, well, cruel? There must be something in the herbology room fit for food?"

"But HOW do you know that, mate?" he asked Zander and then blinked. Wait, had his mate been doing reconnaissance all by his lonesome? The young Lion was growing up right before his eyes. The boy felt a surge of pride but then brought him back to the present situation. "Have you been stalking her?" Cause if he had that would be a little weird. Good spying skill but a little weird, mate. He folded his arms when Zander turned the question on him. Oh, ho, ho. Now his mate was thinking like a true Slytherin. He folded his arms. "Maybe I have. What's it to you?" he lied before muttering, "and maybe I haven't." Zander was really getting himself wound up about all of this Romanos stuff.

Simon nodded in agreement with the Hufflepuff girl. Was she Lux? Before anything else was said, he turned to the girl and grinned. He held out his hand in a form for a handshake as he balanced the book underneath his arm. "Ah another sane person! I'm Simon. Are you Lux?" See if Lux thought he was correct than Zander must have been going down a long, windy path of disappointment. But what if Zander was secretly correct and Simon was wrong in his suspicions. That would be upsetting too. Then he turned back to his book and continued researching. "See no one's going to die. The thought of someone perishing is ridiculous...Do people actually die here still?" he said, bitting his lip as he continued to read his book for a bit.

And then an older student asked if they had anything to share with the class. Don't worry, Simon's got ya covered. "Yeah, we do actually. We were going over several theories which don't make much sense but if we knew one little fact perhaps one would. Do you know if a chort can change shape?" he asked looking at Mo directly in the eye. Yep, don't worry, with a Slytherin on your side- nothing can go wrong. Straight face. No tells. Straight face.

So that was still an unknown? What a huge wall in the case.

Although, eyebrows were raised. Goodness to Merlin, Javy was going on about chorts too? Honestly, she didn't know he knew about them. Yet she was at a loss for words as the redheaded headmistress continued with...questions. Ahem. Questions that needed answering. But, the variety of answers and theories? Where did one even start?

And why was she getting THAT look from the headmistress?

"I..." Glancing to Airey and back to Annie, she shook her head slightly. Current thought process? Uncertain. "I'm...uncertain. I did teach a class about them. Last term. And...I haff a friend who has been tracking their migration but, he'd vritten that their migration had halted vest and moved north. But, I don't know. Perhaps...he vos misinformed? Or...I mean, on the other hand, Hogvarts isn't a vastly populated area. Hypothetically speaking, they could haff vonted more...peaceful grounds?"

Or...something? Who could predict a chort?!

And he was back in the Library, unscathed, because they got nothing. It was a bummer really. Ethan would love to hear the device go wail and uncover a curse right before his eyes. Merlin, that would’ve been epic. The Slytherin made his way towards the group, and took note of the Headmistress. Well, did her presence mean that they found SOMETHING? Like…a solid information that the snow was indeed the chorts’ doing?

The Slytherin gave the Headmistress a nod, and sat down beside Simon. “We got nothing. Professor Botros said there was not enough runic energy to say that we are under a curse.” Well, it was good news, yes? But this boy was not ready to rule it out. Ethan moved closer to Simon and shared his fresh theories with him. “Professor Botros’ device didn’t go off. It’s either broken or tampered…or the runic curse is outside of the castle.” It is possible, yeah? The suspicious stuff always happens outside...or places wherein they don't have direct access. He’d have to ask the old man that one once he gets settled in with the rest of the Runes Crew.

“How about the two of you? What have you got so far? With the chorts?” he asked Simon and Zander as he got a random ancient looking book from the coffee table and flipped through its pages. Wait. Why was Zander's book upside down? Merlin, that boy has some talent.

They needed to really work on getting the moving staircases to STOP for him. Botros walked back into the library with a slightly annoyed expression on his face, he got caught in one of them and had to stay up there for a moment, walking up and down the steps was not easy already. Sigh.

"We're not cursed." He announced loudly, spotting the headmistress and heading in her and Prof. Romanos' and Flamsteed's direction. "The school is clean of all runic magic and curses." So it was probably the Chorts part in the passage they needed to expand on.

... did they find that out already?

Penelope was focusing her research on chorts. She took notes on what she learned about chorts.



Maybe this cold weather was being caused by chorts. The weather was unusually cold, there was a lot of snow, and there were big storms. All of the animals had run away. Did the animals go to find a warmer place, or was there something else out there in the forest?



She heard one of the older Ravenclaws talking about eating first years if they ran out of food. They wouldn't really do that, would they? The idea of eating first years scared the first year. "E-eat f-first years?"

Penelope tried to calm herself with positive thoughts. I will not be eaten, she told herself. I am a Ravenclaw, and I am smart. I am not overfed. If anyone will be eaten, it will be the Hufflepuffs. Not me, I am a Ravenclaw. The headmistress would not let anyone eat the first years, right?

And Ethan had returned. He raised his eyebrows expectantly awaiting the news that they had found something or anything. Unfortunately they hadn't found out anything on their little hunt for runes. So yay for not being under a curse? "That's good news," said Simon with a nod. But chorts were the problem now, right? Ethan's suggestions could be true but how could they tell if it was tampered? "And that could be possible," he said and as he continued to flip through the book for anything about chorts.

He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "We haven't found much. Perhaps having Professor Thompson here would do some good, you know?" he said with a crooked grin. Simon paused. If someone was helping a chort to get inside could they cast a charm on it to make it invisible? No, Fuller couldn't be involved. Fuller was too cool. Too awesome. Too nice. He couldn't be evil. Simon would be so sad if that were true. "However, Zander has some interesting theories about Romanos being involved and out to get us..." he whispered to Ethan before glancing over at Zander. Yes, would Zander like to explain it all?

...Hmm....?

“I do have a feeling that the curse is outside. But…it is inaccessible at the moment.” Ethan shook his head, eyes on the ancient and dusty book on his hands, flipping the pages regarding chorts. Nothing. Closing the book, he got a roll of long parchment and examined it, his mind lingering on the image they saw earlier. Merlin, the power of the Runes are great isn’t it? It can actually bring something great as this. “I’m not ready to rule out that we’re under a curse. What if we are…and the chorts took advantage of this phenomena?” Ethan eyed the long parchment, turning it sideways. It took him a while to realize that he has been reading it the wrong way.

Aaand, why is Simon whispering? Ethan blinked and leaned closer to hear what he’s got to say. Wait…wut?! Zander thinks it’s Romanos? “Does he have a solid evidence?” No need to whisper really. He wasn’t dropping names or anything, anyway.

SPOILER!!: Flamos is pretty good too though! xD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

So that was still an unknown? What a huge wall in the case.

Although, eyebrows were raised. Goodness to Merlin, Javy was going on about chorts too? Honestly, she didn't know he knew about them. Yet she was at a loss for words as the redheaded headmistress continued with...questions. Ahem. Questions that needed answering. But, the variety of answers and theories? Where did one even start?

And why was she getting THAT look from the headmistress?

"I..." Glancing to Airey and back to Annie, she shook her head slightly. Current thought process? Uncertain. "I'm...uncertain. I did teach a class about them. Last term. And...I haff a friend who has been tracking their migration but, he'd vritten that their migration had halted vest and moved north. But, I don't know. Perhaps...he vos misinformed? Or...I mean, on the other hand, Hogvarts isn't a vastly populated area. Hypothetically speaking, they could haff vonted more...peaceful grounds?"

Or...something? Who could predict a chort?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

He simple gave Medea a small shrug. He knew better than to stick his nose in Cecelia's business. Unless he wanted it hexed right off that is. "Are there any updates at all regarding those two?" he questioned, making another brief glance towards Miss Carrington who had just asked about their well-being. He had missed giving Leobald a hard time about his receding hairline, although he would probably be more gentle with the bloke now that he had been through all this. He was only vaguely familiar with muggle illnesses, but by no means able to diagnose someone. If he were a muggle doctor everyone would have a cold and be sent home with a lemon lolli.

But yes, blue eyes were back on Medea. "What are your instincts telling you," he said, repeating the same words he had several months ago in the Owlery. Just what thoughts were going on in that beautiful mind of hers?

It was a somewhat rhetorical question coming from him, as she had been suspicious from almost the beginning. So, yes, Medea...about all those questions the Headmistress just asked...

"Miss Cambridge has a suggestion as to how to handle the possible food situation," he pointed out. Just in case anyone was wondering. Although he would let the Gryffindor explain that should she so desire.

"Well Mr. Bay has woken up and Mr. Kitridge is still out cold... doing well though, last I heard. He's healing, though from what we aren't really sure." She looked back at Medea as well after delivering that small spiel. "It looks like your friend was wrong," she replied coldly. "Drag him down here and see how HE likes dealing with a CONSTANT WINTER."

Enough of that, though, they needed a solution. "Don't make any plans for the minute term ends, you two," Anastasia leaned back into their huddle. "You," she somewhat elbowed Romanos, "are going to help whoever we get to remove these things. I'm going to see if I can beg for the Ministry's aid now." She wasn't really leaving Romanos an option about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magical Soul

They needed to really work on getting the moving staircases to STOP for him. Botros walked back into the library with a slightly annoyed expression on his face, he got caught in one of them and had to stay up there for a moment, walking up and down the steps was not easy already. Sigh.

"We're not cursed." He announced loudly, spotting the headmistress and heading in her and Prof. Romanos' and Flamsteed's direction. "The school is clean of all runic magic and curses." So it was probably the Chorts part in the passage they needed to expand on.

... did they find that out already?

Now, back to her office to contact said Ministry people. Hopefully her finicky floo was working now...

"We know, Botros, we know," the Headmistress sighed heavily as she passed him. "Means this research meeting is about over with, huh?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

"It's true. Professor Thompson has a LOT of creatures up in the Room of Requirement. Depending on how long it takes the chorts to pass we could actually wait them out...though I reckon someone would have to sedate the Professor first on account of him being attached to them and all..." Said as an afterthought.

Oh for the love of... Alexa Cambridge just received a very shocked and very horrified LOOOOOOK from the Headmistress on account of THAT answer. Then she was gone, gone to get this eternal winter to do the same.

"No one is eating anyone, Miss Wright," Airey sighed at the Ravenclaw. Although Mr. Branxton did receive a slightly amused look.

His attention went back to the Headmistress and Medea, to which he was quickly becoming the third wheel in the conversation. Although the news about Mr. Bay was welcomed and very much so. No red shirting for that Gryffindor today! He leaned it a bit closer when he heard something about not making any immediate plans - not that he had - and became curious how exactly he fit into the picture. He did weather and science. He didn't do dark creatures with fuzzy white hair. He didn't have a lint roller strong enough to protect his suits from dark creature hair. He did, however, give Medea an awkward pat on the shoulder. "Good luck with that."

And then the Headmistress was leaving. Well then...

"Sorry to have wasted your time, Professor Botros," he said to the elderly chap. Walking all over the castle in these conditions with his old limbs probably was not the brightest of ideas.

He then turned his attention towards the rest of the group. "Alright everyone. That's it for today. The...er.... winter situation is being handled. Thank you all for your time."

Sooooooooooooo... were things going to get fixed? Were they going to be free for the summer? Toby still wasn't totally sure what was going on, but he trusted that the professors and Headmistress Truebridge knew what they were doing and had a handle on the matter. He had a tendency to trust authority, after all, and was there really any other choice?

The Hufflepuff retrieved his school bag and shoved his book and wand inside it. As he shouldered it, Toby looked to the the professors.

"Cool," he nodded. "Glad to be of assistance."

With that, Toby gave a salute and headed towards the door, where he waited for Sophie so they could both leave together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Now, back to her office to contact said Ministry people. Hopefully her finicky floo was working now...

"We know, Botros, we know," the Headmistress sighed heavily as she passed him. "Means this research meeting is about over with, huh?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"Sorry to have wasted your time, Professor Botros," he said to the elderly chap. Walking all over the castle in these conditions with his old limbs probably was not the brightest of ideas.

He then turned his attention towards the rest of the group. "Alright everyone. That's it for today. The...er.... winter situation is being handled. Thank you all for your time."

Botros froze where he stood, looking a bit deflated, and staring after the Headmistress' back as she breezed past him. Oh. So, they knew. Professor Flamsteed's words made him smile once again, and he would've patted the man's arm if he was any closer. Pity. "We've had fun and educational time out there regardless. Thank you." For apologizing even though it wasn't his fault. If anything, Ab was glad he got dragged into this.

"Excuse me." He said to both professors, heading for the door as well. He needed a well-rested afternoon with a nice book.

They were doomed. DOOMED.

Ha. Ha.

Beverly was stuck between wanting to freak out and laugh because her dad had been so right. Even after last term she should have learned her lesson and stayed home to be tutored. But no. Bevelry Wayne chose not to listen to her father and now she was stuck inside a castle and possible demons awaiting outside.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

You know what, though? She was a fearless witch and...she wasn't going to freak out. Not here at least. Grabbing her things she waved at the professors, grinned at Professor Airey - 'cause he's special - and gave her thanks before exiting the library.