Zander nodded his head curiously. "I was kind of hoping that he'd explain more during the playmates meeting.... But it ended really quickly?" Had it been because of the weird sparks and flailing person outside? Or was the plan always to end the meeting so soon... Because at this point the Gryffindor was veeerrry doubtful. Then, just as Zander was about to ask for Simon's opinion, the boy began to speak again. Oh. He had already gone to Flamsteed? Oh. "Hmm.... That's weird. I thought maybe he'd be able to help a little more...." Considering this weather stuff was all about the atmosphere and astronomy and whatnot. Eh. Flamsteed was kind of weird anyways. He probably wouldn't have done much either way, like Simon explained.

At the mention of Beautiful Bentley, however, Zander found himself visibly stiffening. Though, once he realized what he was doing, he quickly tried to cover it up. Ahem. By coughing? "Yeah... Maybe," Zander's hands shot up to his hair and he started messing it about. Ahum. Yeah, no they were supposed to NOT talk about Bentley. "But I-uh-I I don't know how much help she'll be able to give...." Yeah! YEAH! Perfect, she was the plant lady after all, what would she be able to help with? Other than the fact that she was super bright and always willing to help and so kind and-- No. No, they couldn't possibly go to her. Well, Zander couldn't possibly. "I think she's still a little sad about the plants, you know?"

Then cocking his head to one side, Zander nodded in agreement. "Okay! No, I don't think she'd mind at all! She's always so happy and stuff anyways. I'm sure she'd love some company," Zander beamed at Simon. Was his idea really brilliant?! AH, he was glowing with pride at that one. Brilliant ideas were rare for this kid. Yup. Then, at the Jasmine thought, Zander found himself nodding again. "Maybe we could try to find her soon? But first, I say we go to Professor Morgan because at least we know where she'd be," Which was in her office of course. If they were lucky.

Simon nodded. "That meeting had ended rather quickly. I'm pretty sure that he was probably itching to get out there to see how Jasmine and Cassia were," he guessed. Well, if he had been Thompson that's probably what he would have done. The boy was just trying to think the whole situation whilst being in Thompson's shoes. When Zander returned to the topic of Flamsteed, Simon simply nodded. He too thought Flamsteed would have helped more. "So did I but apparently he doesn't really like Divination."

The Slytherin raised a curious eyebrow as his Gryffindor friend began coughing and being rather sheepish about Professor Bentley. "What is it? She's really, really smart and kind and doesn't bite," he began. Bentley was a good Professor to go speak too or so Simon figured. He didn't understand why Zander was acting so weird about it all. "It can't possibly be because you don't like her..." He paused and his blue eyes widened. OH. OH. OHH. Did Zander have a little crush on their Herbology Professor? Erhm. No. He couldn't. Well maybe the Gryffindor could have. He'd have to try something that would help either confirm or deny his theory of Zander having a crush on Bentley."Well maybe we should go cheer her up or something?" he asked wearing a straight poker face.

"Agreed," said Simon with a nod. Morgan first then Jasmine. Professor Morgan would be much easier to find because she had a nice big office. Yes. Offices were good. "Let's go! Her office's on the seventh floor, right?" They had a mission. So without another word, Simon turned and headed towards the stairs.

Angel looked at Adi. "Well it is easy to make it back to the common room if I get cold." Angel stuck her tongue out at her friend. She looked out of the window again and sighed, she really wanted the snow to stop.

"Well you know you should tell her how you feel about her." Angel had a feeling that Adi liked AJ and well if that was the case then he should tell her sister because otherwise he might not get her.

"I'm the best at snowball fighting." Angel giggled. "So it would be me burying you in the snow." Angel looked outside again. "Wouldn't it be epic if we went out in that, I'm sure my sister would love to do that."

"No, you wouldn't,'' Adi said, faking seriousness. "You'd be a human popsicle before you reach there.'' Hehe. The boy was kidding, of course but who knew what this whacky would do.

Tell AJ how he felt? Uh oh. Did AJ tell Angel...stuff? In any case, all he felt for AJ was her being one of his good and closest friends. But he'd find out if Angel knew anything. "Er, what feelings exactly?'' he asked, fishing for information. And while they were on the topic... "Why don't you confess your feelings to Benny again?'' Adi still wasn't sure what had happened after Angel first did that during that ancient Runes lesson.

"I doubt that. You might have been the best but that was before you met me,'' Adi kidded. "It would. I'd build a huge snow Hippogriff.'' That was possible, right? Hmmm. He'd have to try that out sometime.

Angel looked at Adi and smiled. "No I wouldn't." Angel stuck her tongue out at her friend, "Though if your not careful, I might make you a human popsicle." Angel had no idea why she was saying it but she thought it was funny.

"Nothing." Angel could tell in the way Adi talked about AJ that he had feelings but well she wouldn't push him, she'd just try to get them on a date, well maybe she wasn't sure how she'd do it yet.

"Because I think Benny, thinks I'm too young for him." Angel pouted, she'd speak to him later but she wasn't sure how this was going to work out until later. "Are you still mad with me."

"I'm still the best." Angel stuck her tongue out at Adi again, "Your second best, I'm sorry about that but just ask AJ she'd tell you how amazing I am at throwing snowballs."

Oh. To check up on the two girls that went down to the forrest. That made sense. Man, no wonder Simon was doing all this detective work. The boy actually seemed to know what he was doing! "Oh yeah, that makes sense!" As for the bit about the astronomy professor, Zander found himself nodding. Yeah, it Flamsteed really hated all that Astrology stuff, huh?

At all this Bentley talk, the boy was starting to get super uncomfortable. Not to mention, a little pink in the face. "No, no It's not because I don't like her!" Simon had to know that. "I love her-- I mean, I like her... I mean, she's a good professor and she's nice..." Whaaaa? Okay. Shutting up now before anything else stupid is said. Okay. He could totally just let Simon do the talking from this point. Yeah. No big deal. Cheer her up?! That was... That was... THAT WAS BRILLIANT! Wait no, that was the OPPOSITE OF BRILLIANT! He hated seeing Beautiful Bentley all sad, but he also was trying to avoid her. But then, Flamsteed had told him to give a card to the person that he actually wanted to give one too and--

SO MUCH CONFLICT IN HIS HEAD RIGHT NOW! O___________O

Hm. Decision time. Maybe cheering her up wouldn't be a bad idea afterall? The avoiding thing didn't seem to be working out too great. "Uh, okay. Yeah... It'd- that's a great idea." Sort of.

Seeing Simon turn for the stairs, Zander quickly followed. They only had four more floors to go. Ugh.

Adi laughed for two reasons. One: Angel turning him into a human popsicle was indeed funny. Two: her sticking out her tongue. Did she know that happened to be one of his habits, too? "I'll just get someone to defrost me but I think you'll make a nice sculpture to have around the castle.'' Hehe. So in other words, Angel will remain a popsicle.

The Hufflepuff squinted at Angel. "If you say so,'' he said, trying to decide if she was telling the truth. He grinned now as Angel pouted. "He actually told you that?'' What did Benny want, then? An older girlfriend?

Mad at her? "Nope. If I was, I wouldn't be here talking to you, would I?'' No, he wouldn't as he would have continued stalking down the corridor. "AJ would definitely say it's you,'' Adi agreed. "But she'd be wrong.'' Mhmm.

Lux was glad that Lily was doing okay despite the boring studying that she was having to do. NEWTs could cause people to have breakdowns, she was sure, and if her friend could avoid one so much the better. "I am sure he will too. But he did really well on his OWLs, so I'm sure he will on his NEWTs too. He's so smart." And that was not just her bias talking either.

Enjoying Lily's company, Lux began to skip along the corridor. It was so very BORING inside and she missed being outside and exercising. But at least she had her friends and boyfriend to keep her company and make her happy.

The response her comments about studying and how Bay would likely enjoy it as much as she did when it was time for him to deal with NEWTs couldn’t help but get a laugh from Lily. Lux was just so positive about it all. It was cute, and almost refreshing given how horrible the situation around them was. She’d never thought that she would ever feel cabin fever, but now it was hard to think otherwise. If it hadn’t been a completely crazy idea, she would have suggested that she and Austin go somewhere tropical over the summer next time she spoke with him. She was that tired of dealing with snow and blizzards.

“Then it’ll be time for you to take them,” she replied with a grin, using her long legs to keep up with the smaller redhead as she’d begun to skip. Nobody was stopping her from teasing just a little. Even exams seemed like they were better than being stuck inside constantly and freezing. Plus, it was hard to be upset around Lux, and maybe there was a cup of tea that would call her name depending on where they wandered to. Exercise and then tea sounded nice.

Angel looked at Adi and beamed. "I'd make sure that no one could find you" Angel giggled, seriously she'd put him somewhere maybe outside so everyone just thought that he was an ice-sculpture. "I would make a nice sculpture I know, I'm good looking."

"Yeah I say so." Angel looked at Adi. "Not exactly, but I just have this strange feeling." Angel pouted, "I have no idea what I can do to get him to notice me, any ideas." Angel thought that he might have some good ideas, and then she can tell him what AJ likes.

"I'm glad." Angel beamed. "So want to go and do something cool then?" Angel was a bit bored now.

Adi laughed yet again. Angel was so funny. "Benny or AJ would notice I'm missing and organise a search part for me in no time.'' Hehe. Still grinning, he continued speaking. "Sure you would. But AJ would make an even better looking-'' Adi caught himself but the damage was done. Holy...where had that come from? He shifted his eyes away from Angel, willing himself not to go red.

Well, Benny certainly noticed Angel. Of that Adi was sure. "Maybe he likes you but he's too shy to admit it.'' He wondered what must be going on in that head of his best friend's. If only he could perform Occlumency...

Something cool? "Sure. What you got in mind?'' And more importantly, would it make him a bit warm?

Had she said something funny without realizing it? Slightly confused, Lux smiled at Lily as she laughed. Well, the important thing was that she had amused her friend. Amusement wasn't as easy to come by when it was impossible to leave the castle walls. At least she had the Ventus spell to make her life easier, and there was the fireplace in the Hufflepuff Common Room. She had been down there just before, but boredom had caused her to leave the warmth of the fire and venture elsewhere.

Time for her to take them next? What? Lost in other thoughts, it took a second for Lux to figure out what Lily was talking about. Right. Tests. She would have hers coming up soon. "Ewww, don't remind me." Shuddering, she laughed. Honestly, the whole thing didn't stress her out but that might be because it wasn't looming over her head so much at the moment. Next term she might feel it more. She definitely might when she became a Fifth Year. At least she would have a year after that to rest before the NEWTs had to be dealt with. "I am thinking that since my Quidditch career is unlikely to ever get off the ground - pun intended - I might focus on potion brewing." Culloden had told her that she was able, and would get better with more practice. Surely he would be willing to give her advice if needed, and he was very good at his job. "Clearly I would need a high OWL and NEWT score for Potions, but I am not really sure what else I would need to qualify." Something else that she could ask Professor Culloden when the chance arose.

Angel looked at Adi. "Adi and AJ kissing in the tree..." Angel smirked as she heard what Adi was going to say. "Adi loves AJ!! Adi loves AJ!!" Angel couldn't wait to give her sister the news, seriously these two were made for each other.

Angel had no idea what to say about Benny. "I don't know, I think I might have scared him away." Angel pouted, she really liked Benny but well he seemed to be scared of her.

Between feeling almost claustrophobic from being stuck inside and tired of the cold, the laughter was welcome. Although Lily had noticed the moment of confusion from Lux, and she’d calmed down to only a smile by the time the younger girl had smiled back. She hadn’t wanted her to think she was laughing at her. At least, she hadn’t been laughing at her, just the idea of anyone looking forward to studying. Not to mention how almost normal that topic was given their surroundings at the moment. She could see ice crystals coating the glass in the windows. A distraction from the cold was definitely welcome, however strangely normal it was. Even the topic of exams was better than worrying about freezing if they stopped moving.

The reaction her reminder had gotten only got another giggle from her, before she could stop it. “I don’t have to. Don’t really want to, honestly, but it’s going to happen,” she replied with a shrug. No matter what, exams were inevitable, unless Lux didn’t stay at Hogwarts. She doubted that would happen. Especially as the redhead had continued speaking, which only told her that exams were even more inevitable. Later on, anyway, but it was still interesting that Lux had already decided what she would do after graduation when she still hadn’t quite figured that out for herself. Austin thought she should be a songwriter, but she still didn’t think she was good enough. “I don’t really know that either. I’d imagine you’d need to do well in Herbology too, and maybe creatures,” she said, still thinking. Knowing about all possible ingredients made sense to her, anyway, but she was only passable in Potions. “Professor Culloden would probably know what you should focus on, though. Once you need to.” Lux was still only a third year, after all.

Making his way up to the third floor to use the insulation charm, Kevin held his wand in his hand as he walked. Why bother pocketing it again if he needed it again and again? He shivered as he wrapped the scarf around his neck a bit up to cover his mouth and nose. The place was still chilly, that meant that no one had been here yet. Good, he didn't want to do work for nothing. He stopped in front of a wall and turned to face it. Then he pointed his wand at it and while performing an infinity shaped movement he said "Caelum Saepio!". He waited for some moments and decided to try again just in case. "Caelum Saepio!"

Thinking that that was enough, the second year Gryffindor walked away from this wall and walked towards the one on the opposite end of the corridor. Again, he pointed his phoenix wand and while concentrating he shouted the incantation. When he felt like it was done and he had helped out enough in this area, Kevin looked around and realised that he was in the place where he had last hidden the blanket he hand stolen from Flamsteed. He HAD to check if it was still there so as he put his wand back in his wrist holster the young boy looked around to see if anyone was following him and entered the room where the armours were.

As they walked, Lux listened to Lily laugh. She didn't mind it in the least. Laughter was always a good thing and there was no need to be bothered unless someone was laughing AT you. That couldn't be the case here because her friend was super nice and would never have done that.

Giggle. Poor Lily having her NEWTs this term. As a Ravenclaw, she was bound to do awesome at them. Even though she didn't buy into the House classification stuff so much anymore, Lux figured it had to be somewhat true that Ravenclaws were smart. There were smart people in every House and that had to mean that there were smart Ravenclaws! "Very true about it being inevitable. Unless I left school which I don't plan on doing." The tests would be very important if she was intending to pursue potion-brewing, and unless her ambitions suddenly changed that would be the case. Potion-brewing wasn't Quidditch, but she was coming to terms with the fact that her flying was probably never going to happen.

Nod. The Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures scores made a lot of sense to her. And it was good to see that they were on the same page as far as Professor Culloden being helpful; of course he would be seeing as he was the Potions Master for the school. "He says I'm already doing well and that I can get better with more practice. He gave me a vial of potion as a present!" Lux really liked Professor Culloden because he was a very nice man.

If he had been trying to keep from turning all red like a ripe tomato before, it was no use now. Adi was totally sure of that. "I do not,'' he declared when Angel started to sing that annoying song. "She's just my friend. Don't you dare go telling her anything, Angel.'' Things were already weird between him and AJ and this would just make it worst.

Adi laughed. "Benny isn't one to easily scare so I don't think you have to worry about that.'' But really, how should Angel handle this situation? Adi wasn't good at these kind of stuff so it wasn't like he could offer any advice. "Want me to have a talk with him for you?'' The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Uh oh. What was he getting himself into?

Considering there had been so much that was rather depressing as of late, it felt good to laugh. Lily could almost pretend that it wasn’t so cold around her, and that things were completely normal. Not that things were ever completely normal at Hogwarts, which she’d known even though she hadn’t been there all seven terms. Stories provided the rest of her knowledge, and probably Lux’s as well.

She wasn’t actually that worried about NEWTs, either. She knew she’d been studying, and she knew what she was good at. Especially when there almost literally wasn’t anything else to do aside from studying lately, since there was only so much she could do while sitting near the common room fire. It was either studying or playing her guitar. “That’s the only way I could think of to escape exams. To leave school, but then it’d be hard to find jobs later on, too. Since having the knowledge and everything seems to help, even if you don’t use it,” she replied, shrugging slightly. Either way, she wasn’t going to let Lux abandon school. She didn’t know how she’d actually have any influence over that, but she was going to make sure her friend did well.

It seemed like the suggestion as to which classes might be useful when studying potion brewing was taken well, too. At least, she thought it had made sense, since they used plants and animal parts so often in Potions lessons. Of course, Professor Culloden would be the best when it came to knowledge of what was important. Any Potions professor would be, unless Lux could contact any other potioneers. “That’s nice of him. What’s the potion supposed to do?,” she asked, curious. It had to have some sort of use. “Practice is always a good idea,” she’d agreed. The subject didn’t even matter. Practice was the only way to get better at anything, as far as she knew.

What an interesting coincidence that Samantha had found herself here considering she was doing her Charms homework. Hey, she wasn't going to argue so she walked confidentially to a very large area of wall that was next to a large window. When she reached her destination, Sam felt a bit nervous as she reached for her wand.

"Oh my stars!" Sam took in a breath and exhaled slowly. She gathered up her confidence as aimed her wand at the wall and said the incantation "Caelum Saepio.", doing the figure eight motion. This was repeated four more times since the area was bigger than the others. Samantha did her usual feeling of the wall with the back of her hand. This time it was a bit warmer than she expected so she shook her hand as she blew on it. Maybe four times was one too many.

Samantha nodded and said to herself "That's that done! as she walked away.

What else was stupid? The cold. Aside from the paper, balled inside his pocket, Ethan lost all patience with the weather and kept the frown on his face. Just one level lower from his last spot, the boy made his way to the third floor corridor and impatiently treaded the stretch of the hallway and settled for a random spot.

Getting his wand out, the boy drew the sideways infinity sign, and said the incantation out loud. “Caelum Saepio!” Satisfied, as he saw the puff of smoke, he moved to the wall across and did the same wand movement, “CAELUM SAEPIO!”

Was that good? A bigger puff of smoke came out of the wall, again, sealing the heat and exhausting the cold. Good. The Slytherin backed away from the wall and made his way towards the Great Hall. Something tells him that Simon will be there…

It was always nice to talk to older students or Professors about school, because they tended to have a lot of insight and good advice. Nodding, Lux completely understood what Lily was saying. It always was good to have something to fall back on, and the more education a person had the more likely they were to find a good job. "I take my school work very seriously. I always try my hardest." She wasn't opposed to working; hard work always paid off.

Digging into her bag, she pulled out the small vial of potion that Professor Culloden had given to her. It seemed logical to carry it at all times since it was impossible to know in advance when it would be needed. "This is to calm down creatures. I wrote about the angry mother Unicorn I met in Hogsmeade for my Potions homework, and he made this for me." From her understanding, he had a habit of doing this for certain students and it seemed very sweet.

Placing the vial back in her bag, she had a sudden thought. "Do you know how to do cartwheels?" Because it would certainly be more fun to cartwheel down the corridor instead of walking down it.

Angel looked at Adi. "Oh you do, I know you fancy my sister, I can tell." Angel giggled seriously when was he going to admit it and tell her sister how he felt about her. "What do I get for not telling her everything I know." Angel pretended to be serious, but was failing and actually giggling.

"Oh I'm not sure if you can help the matter, I'm sure that Benny thinks I'm a crazy fan girl." Angel sighed, seriously why had she blown it with Benny when she hadn't even meant to.

Aside from the dungeons and Ravenclaw tower, the only other place in the school Sophie was concerned about keeping insulated was the third floor where both Fuller and Thompson resided. Fuller had probably already gone ahead and taken the liberty to insulate the inside of both of their offices, but would he have taken the time to do the whole corridor leading to and from them? She wasn't sure. So, y'know, just in case, Sophie was there to save the day.

Her strategy here was a little less thorough than it had been in the dungeon corridor because Sophie did have a feeling Fuller probably had already done at least a LITTLE bit of his own floor. She wouldn't be surprised if, in passing, he just cast it on the walls when he walked by the keep the corridors as insulated as possible. Still, she set off on her task, casting, "Caelum Saepio," multiple times as she moved along the wall of the third floor corridor leading right to Thompson's office, drawing the infinity-sign shaped loops with her wand very fluidly all the while. This spell had become an automatic, naturally flowing charm to her and she bet she could perform it in her sleep, honestly.

When she reached the door of Thompson's temporary office, she made sure to cast it multiple times over the door, then cast it on the walls the whole way down to Fuller's office, too, being just as efficient there. "Caelum Saepio. Caelum Saepio. Caelum Saepio." Fuller's door might have even gotten a few more because none of the other students would probably think to come by and do the charms professor's door, right? So she'd give it that little extra help. Just in case.

And off she went.

Another floor, another place to cast a certain charm.

Perfect.

Grayson was moving veeeeeeery slowly because he wanted to finish his sandwich BEFORE he got here. Nutrition and whatnot. From a ham an cheese sandwich. Clearly, the boy fist know much about good except for the fact that some were delicious and some............ weren't. Nope. But mixing weird thins together ALWAYS made for a hilarious outcome when fed to someone you don't particularly like.

But he wasn't thinking about that. Nope. Stuffing the rest of his sandwich into his mouth and chomping down on it as quickly as he could, the Slytherin made his way along the third floor corridor. Good spot for a bit of charms? He thought so. The CHARMS classroom was along here, after all. How could he NOT come here to cast this charm?

Exactly.

So, coming to a stop somewhere along the corridor, Grayson gulped down the last of his sandwich and pulled out his wand. Ready? READY. A deep breath was taken beforeeeee......... "Caelum Saepio!" he said, moving his wand in an infinity shape.

The sight of a faint fog still brought a smirk to this fifteen year old's face and he watched it disappear before disappearing, too. Into the colder part of the corridor and back to the moving staircase.

It had never really been something she thought about, but Lily did like giving advice when she was able to. There were a lot of things she wasn’t able to discuss, even now, but school wasn’t one of those. Not when she’d possibly been to more than most of the others at Hogwarts, since she hadn’t been homeschooled until she was eleven. Not to mention she hadn’t even come here until she was fifteen. So it was nice to focus on that, instead of the temperature in the corridor which she was almost certain might have gone down a couple degrees since they’d been there. Plus, Lux seemed to understand what she’d been trying to say. “Well then, I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about,” she replied with a grin. Whether she did go into potions or something else altogether, being willing to work for it was always the best idea.

It was just unfortunate she didn’t quite have the same idea as to her life after school, and it was looming. A potion to help her figure that out would have been oh so welcome right about now, but she didn’t figure Lux had that. Besides, the vial she’d pulled out was her personal gift from Professor Culloden, so she couldn’t ask to use it. “That was nice of him. Of course, there aren’t really very many creatures around lately for that to be needed, but it was still nice of him,” she said, the statement growing more thoughtful as the words spilled out. As far as she knew, the only creatures around were the pets that were in the castle with them, seeing as the owls had all disappeared. They couldn’t exactly go outside to check if there were any others around, either, if they had even wanted to.

Stupid snow. She was definitely tired of it, yet her thoughts had trailed off in confusion as she heard the question that the little Hufflepuff at her side suddenly asked. That was unexpected. “Ye-es, but I haven’t tried to do one in forever,” she slowly replied, glancing over with curiosity in her green eyes. It was almost like if she’d been asked to play her guitar, except she’d actually kept up her practice with that. There wasn’t much else to do lately when she wasn’t studying. Music kept her from getting too worried about being trapped, too.