Halcyon had devised a plan.

After unpacking with supreme efficiency, she skipped her way to her favorite chair in the common room (which was the fanciest one in there, since the "comfortable barrels" aesthetic of Hufflepuff wasn't much suited to her own tastes). With a book held squarely upright at eye level, she sat with her ankles crossed and posture tall and stiff. Her eyes were darting between the doors over the top of her book, waiting for a certain newly acquainted Prefect to make an appearance.

Hallie had some valuable information to get out of that girl.

Marigold had folded her socks, sorted her sparkly parchment into piles, and hadn't even had any candy! (Okay, one piece of chocolate, but it was really small and would've melted anyway). She had pulled her hair up into a knot on the top of her head and stuck her wand through it to keep it up, then grabbed her Transfiguration textbook, a quill, and some index cards for basic revision. She was going to get the most OWLs EVER and impress her parents. If they cared, anyway.

She walked into the Common Room briskly, holding her textbook under her right arm. Finding a chair next to a girl she saw on the train, she sat down on top of her leg and opened the textbook to the middle.

Hallie perked up when her target was in sight. She lowered her gaze to her book in an attempt to appear nonchalant and waited about 5 minutes before addressing her. Didn't want to seem too eager, of course.

"Excuse me, Miss Marigold? Are you busy?" she asked pointedly, scooting a little bit closer. She, of course, didn't really care if she was busy. Hallie had some reconnaissance to do.

Marigold was busy but the girl called her Miss and that was adorable asdfghjkl so now she wasn't busy. She put her studying stuff to the side and leaned forward.

"No, not at all. What's up?"

Arya following along at her heels, Lux slowly made her way from her dormitories to the common room. It was early and she was still tired, so she stifled a yawn before heading over to one of the chairs by the fire. Soon it would be time for breakfast, but she was still too sleepy and sitting down by the fireplace for a little while would be nice.

Cat purring in her lap, Lux watched the flames. It was so peaceful here, her eyelids started to feel heavy, and soon enough she had fallen back asleep.

Kace decided it was time to make a visit to the common room. He loved the comfy chairs and the nice fireplace that was in the middle. It felt so nice and cozy. Speaking of cozy, he saw Lux sleeping with her cat on her lap. He grinned and thought should he scare her or give her a nice tap to let her know he was here. He crept up quietly and tapped her shoulder. Then he sat in the chair next to her waiting for her to wake up. He was even petting her cat in the process.

Hallie scooted even closer. "I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about the other Prefects? And the other students too?" She gave Marigold a wide smile and really tried to seem without ulterior motive. "I'm still adjusting to the school and all. I just want to know who is who, and what you think about them."

Hallie leaned in towards the other girl and all but batted her eyes. This most certainly was not the face of a girl who is gathering information, no ma'am. She just wanted to know who was important around here. After all, she hoped to be important around here herself one day.

Feeling something touch her out of nowhere, Lux woke with a start, scaring Arya off in the process. "I'm awake!" she called out while looking around to see who had disturbed her rest. Of course it was Kace; who else would have wanted to scare her like that.

Grabbing a pillow she hit him with it lightly. "Not cool, Lecium." But she wasn't mad at him. He had to know that.

Kace chuckled and smirked. "Heyyy it wasn't my fault you were sleeping.." He shrugged innocently and then he felt the soft tap of her pillow. "You starting this pillow fight?" he challenged her and then grabbed one of his own pillows and whacked her with it. "You started war.." he said getting into position.

Pfft. Not his fault indeed. "Well, I was tired. It's early." Pout. It wasn't her fault that there were morning classes and it wasn't her fault that she needed to eat big breakfasts; she was a growing girl.

"Mayne I am..." she added with a smirk as she got to her feet with the pillow and adopted what she assumed to be a warrior stance. "It's on."

WHACK!

Ooohhh now she had done it. He smirked and got into his crouching position. He felt Lux smack him and then he was determined to hit her hard. He ran up behind her and hit her right in the back of the head. He smiled and then began to run and hide. They didn't really have any good hiding places in the common room. He made the best of it. Man he needed some back up and fast. He still kept an eye out for cucumber. He then saw his golden opportunity but he waited just a bit, he didn't wanna give away his hiding position.

Marigold smiiiiiiled a really big smile at the girl. "Of course! I'd love to help out." A.K.A. ASDASFLAJDLKAJDL. She was actually BEING A PREFECT and helping new/slightly new students adjust and LOOKATHER BEING ALL HELPING-OUTEY.

"Go ahead and ask! Though I have one question. What's your name again?" She was CB's twin, yeah?

*Walking down from the boys dorm Romulus had his arms full of books. Frowning a little he sat down on one of the couches. Merlin knew how much homework he had gotten just in the first few weeks, and for the first time ever he was starting to get overwhelmed. At least he wasn't behind in his homework yet but it was getting close. Leaning back into the couch he sighed already feeling tired before he even started. It was also the first time ever that he didn't want to open up a book.*

Was Kace a ninja or something? Before Lux had enough time to even blink he had whacked her before running off and hiding.

Knowing better than to think that he was done with this, she kept her eyes peeled and her guard up as she started wandering around the room. "You know, I'm not sure if hiding will make you look especially manly in Emmy's eyes." Juuuuuuust saying.

Peering behind a chair, she looked to see if he was in that area.

Kace heard her comment and his grinned even more. Nahh she would think it was stealthy. It was not about being manly, it was being one step ahead of your opponent. Hiding was a great skill. He saw her peer around a chair and he wasn't hiding there. Good try though. He was hiding behind one of the barrels. He was waiting for her to come over and he would scare her yet again. Let the evil smirking begin.

He saw her come close to the barrels after looking at the chair, since the barrels were near the chairs. He evil smirked and popped out and said, "CUCUMBER!" then whacked her on the back and ran away.

Well, well, well.

Someone apparently didn't mind seeming a chicken in front of their girlfriend. Or would Emmy think him a coward? Maybe not because she herself would never see Bay in that way. But then Bay was very brave, having risked his life last term.

Moving around the room, she continued the hunt but he still managed to get her again. Ugh. "Come on, Kace. This isn't playing fair." Pouting, she wondered where he had gone off to this time.

Kace smirked when Lux mentioned it was unfair. Well life was unfair but pillow fighting is about strategy. He was playing with smarts. He waited till she came around and attacked her again with pillows. "HERE I AM" he smiled and popped out and then continued smacking her and wondered if she was gonna hit back.

Was her comment going to cause Kace to reveal himself? Or was he going to remain hidden and launch another attack? Lux had no idea, so she clung to her pillow as a weapon; this time she was going to fight back.

When he came out of nowhere it DID startle her, but she was still prepared enough to tackle him to the ground as he hit her with the pillow. "I got you now, Lecium." She was in fact sitting on top of him.

Ian decided that he wasn't going to be a hermit anymore. Life was too short to live it in hiding. He came down from the dorms and picked a nice chair near the fireplace. He wished he had a bit of cocoa, but alas, he didn't. He had brought with him a book he'd sent home for. His mum had written him a note and said that it was still weird giving an owl things to carry and to please be careful and don't worry, things would work themselves out however they will. His mum was always quite helpful when Ian was struggling with things.

He opened the book about box trolls. It was precipitated by a movie he and his mum had watched over the summer. It was a really old movie but his mum said it was one she'd enjoyed as a little girl. He thought he'd like to learn about them, at least from a muggle point of view. He wondered if there were such a thing in the wizarding world. He'd have to ask Mr. Kitridge about books. He opened the books, delighted to see his last name used prominently as box trolls were the tinkers of troll-kind.

Kace struggled on the floor and nodded and admitted defeat. "I think you did Carrington..." he said using her last name because why not? I mean she did. "I think we can call a truce huh?" he asked. He lifted himself off the ground with her still sitting on his back. I mean he was a strong boy. "You are such a lightweight.." he teased doing push ups with her on his back.

HAHA!

this situation was so funny, Lux gave a snort and then proceeded to giggle for a few minutes. She had gotten him in the end and now he was her chair. She preferred the cushioned ones. And Bay. Bay made a better chair though she hadn't sat on him much.

He wanted to call a truce? Lux was totally cool with that. "Sounds good to me!" she called out happily as he began to do push ups with her still sitting on his back. "Has anyone ever told you how big a show off you are?" It was teasing but also a serious question. She had no issue with his being a show off; he was a good friend unlike that idiot Brae.

Kace grinned and was glad they could have a truce. "Eehhh i have been told.." he shrugged and grinned sheepishly. "Figured to see if I was still strong enough and I am.." he winked. But his cousin Braedon was a total different story. "So I got an owl from Braedon yesterday and he said Cinna punched his nose. Dare I ask why?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow.

So he HAD been told. No surprise there. Lux knew that Kace was a confident boy, and there was nothing wrong with that since he wasn't over the top about it like some people. "But I thought I was lightweight." Maybe he was better off lifting someone heavier than her.

The mention of Brae caused her to scrunch her brows and make a face. Good on Cinna to punch him in the face. "Brae is a jerk." Simple as that.

"You are a lightweight but it is not a bad thing..." he chuckled and ruffled through her hair playfully. Something like siblings would do right? Then he saw her expression to Braedon and knew it couldn't be anything good. He grinned when she told him, he was a jerk. "Aahh I figured." he sighed. "What did he do to you?" he asked curiously.