Kate gave a round of hello's to everyone then turned her attention to Professor Cassie. kate drew her wand, her curiously already spiking. She wondered what kind of Divination they were going to do here in the girls' bathroom with their wands drawn. She didn't have to wonder for long, though. Kate nodded along as the professor brought up the cobwebs. Yeah. They couldn't help but notice them. Kate had seen whole walls of the castle covered by the things. She was really starting to develop a phobia of spiders.

Wait a second. The Chamber. They weren't going down into the Chamber of Secrets, were they? There were THINGS in that chamber, things Kate had only read about in books and had no desire to meet. But if there was something down there that could help them... Kate was no heroic Gryffindor, but she'd give it her best shot. "Do you think the Basilisk venom is still down there?" she asked. That was the only thing she could think of that could ward off a creature. Kate had read about how there was supposedly a stash of Basilisk fangs down there that had been known to destroy things before. "Professor? Are we going down there?"

Wands out? Why would they need their wands out the entire time? Penelope was feeling really uneasy about this. What could possibly require them to have their wands out the entire time? Penelope took her wand out, gripping it tightly. Wait, they wouldn't be learning a form of divination? Wasn't that what they were supposed to do in SNAC meetings?

There had been a lot of cobwebs and spiders around recently. Why were there so many spiders? Did Professor Cassie say that there might be something in the chamber of secrets that could help get rid of the spiders? She really hoped that this didn't mean that they would be going into the chamber to look something that would get rid of the spiders. "Could there be creatures that eat spiders in the chamber?" Other than that she had no idea what Professor Cassie could mean about warding off the unwanted guests. Did a lot of spiders live in the chamber? Had all of the spiders from in the chamber come up to the castle to escape from the spider eating creatures? She didn't know if there were any spiders or spider eating creatures down in the chamber, so it was probably best not to think too much about that. Either way she still didn't want to go down into the chamber. Penelope was kind of freaked out by the idea of going into a small dark hole.

Woops. He had made Cassie jump. And his cheerfulness was definitely not working here. This was disappointing. "I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to startle you.'' He turned as someone else arrived. "Heya, Kate!'' And there was Professor Glendy! He had grown more fond of her lately. "Hi, Professor!'' Even she seemed to be affected by these webs. Drat the things!

Eyeing the Angelfish. EYES ON YOU! She was developing a sense of humour and he liked it. Or maybe she was trying to get completely in his good books again. It didn't matter. This Puffer approved! "Really?!" He pretended to look in panic around. "This would explain why there are only girls here.'' Ohhh not any more though! "Benny! Angel pointed out we're in the wrong washroom.'' He grabbed his best friend by the shoulder and tried to push him out of the room. Haha. He kidded. Just trying to lighten the mood around here.

"Hey, Penelope!'' The Puff had not missed the weird look he and Benny were getting. Hehe. Annnnd finally there was the girlfriend showing up. ''Hey, baby.'' He just had the urge to call her that more often, okay?
....................

Adi stood close to Benny when Cassie started to speak to them all. The icky webs were all over, yo! He hated the feel of them and he was hoping if he walked behind Benny, the Lion would take the webs first. What? Don't look at him! He hated the webs so bad. Besides, besties were there for stuff like that.

Wand out! Right! One Hippogriff feathered core wand here. Yep, everyone had sure notice those webs. Bleh. Anywaaay... yeah, Acromantulas... spiders... eight legged thingies. SPIDERMAN! Hey, Spiderman spun webs too okay? Adi wanted to suggest Spiderman was the one who spun them here but he doubted everyone would get his sense of humour.

"Uh, Basilisk Fangs?'' If they were STILL there. Adi knew spiders feared the giant snake.

Angel giggled as she looked at Adi as he attempted to push Benny out of the room. She smiled at him and then she turned back to the Professor as she spoke.

"I'm good Professor." Angel listened to what the Professor said and she raised her hand. "Professor could there be something with Basilisk scent on it because spiders fear the creature right, though they don't have to seen it to think one is around.

Angel looked as her sister entered the room and so did Benny, the gang was together and looked like they might be getting back to the old days when they were all together, she hoped so. Angel took out her wand and waited to see what the Professor wanted them to do next.

Toby had been hesitant about showing up to the SNAC meeting after that one particular Divination lesson they'd had, AND by the vibe he got from that urgent notice. After all, in his unfortunate experience, urgent notices were never good.

And yet, here he was, stood among the group, wand reluctantly drawn (THAT request was never a good sign, either) as he wondered if maybe this hadn't been such a great idea.

Toby knew... he kneeeew what Professor Cassie was on about, even though she didn't mention it. Spiders. Bleskjfhskhskhsd. SPIDERS. Merlin, he had a terrible phobia of them which made THIS TERM SO GOSH DARN FUN =D

And he knew his creatures too, so when the professor posed her question, he reluctantly put in, "Spiders are scared of Basilisks. They run away from them. But the one down there is...-" *wibble* "-... dead. I think. But we saw Nifflers in there last year. It's possible they'll befriend the spiders and persuade them that a life underground in the chamber is truly a life worth living and then they'll leave us alone and then we'll all be happy. OR..." OR!!!!! "... the spiders already live down there on account of how there's no scary basilisk anymore and that's actually their headquarters now 'cause it's all dark and scary and spiders like those sorts of places, right?"

Toby, who had started looking around at the cobwebs as he started on his TOTALLY POSSIBLE THEORIES, now looked back at the professors, glancing between them. Did they need him to elaborate? 'Cause his imagination had already taken those theories and run with them. He'd already thought up an elaborate hierarchy as well as a cobweb trade system and how basically the school had just become a COBWEB STORE ROOM. He could keep talking, check out that crazy glint in his eye. Say the word and he'd share the wealth of information.

... It often helped when he thought of outlandish and humanising theories about spiders. Made them a little less scary... at least until such a time came when he saw one in real life again, but y'know. Working progress.

Beverly made it. She had been lurking out in the corridor. You know, if someone was going to go first (or at all) it wouldn't be her. Seeing as no one came out screaming bloody banshee, she stepped inside, and as usual, stepping close to Adi and bumping her shoulder to his as greeting.

It was a serious meeting it seemed. They were dealing with spiders? Oh. Maybe they could capture them and use them as potion ingredients. Beverly has empty phials in her little pouch. She came prepared.

Thinking over Morgan's question, she took a guess. "Bones." Pause. "Basilisk bones." Seeing as spiders are scared of Basilisks and all that remained down in the chamber was basilisk bones. Unless some weird plant grew there or something.

With Murdoch now in tow, Caleb hurried back to the bathroom. Oh good! Slytherin girl was still here. He should probably learn her name now that they had this weird bonding experience with the chamber. It was only polite and all. But that was something they could do later! THERE WAS NO TIME NOW!

Oh, and she had cast a protection spell around her. Good idea, Slytherin Girl.

"See? Down there!" Caleb said, pointing to the entrance of the chamber. That part was pretty obvious, he knew, but he didn't know what else to say that was helpful at this point...

Nessa spared Cassie a small smile, though she certainly wasn't her usually cheerful self either, before giving hellos to the newest arrivals. It was encouraging that the children could sense the urgency as well and were quite prompt for their important meeting. Keeping a grip on her wand, she focused her attention on the Divination professor as she spoke. Of course, she knew why they were here, but it was important for the children to begin to understand their mission.

Hmm, their students were so smart and they knew some of the things that could be down in the chamber that could help them out. Things that they needed. But she wasn't surprised, she knew how bright the students of Hogwarts were. Nessa turned her brown eyes on Toby next who had quite the theories. "Yes, the one that was down there is no longer alive," she confirmed with a nod. Which meant what some of the others said was correct also. She threw a glance at Cassie as he mentioned nifflers. She didn't know if they were still there, but perhaps her BFF would be able to sense whether they were down in the chamber or not.

And then her eyes snapped to Toby again. Gosh. She hoped not? Nessa glanced at Cassie again. Certainly she would be able to sense that if it were so. Anyway..

"You are all so smart," she said, still managing a bright smile for them all. "We are going to need parts from the basilisk that once was and yes, we do need to go into the chamber for that.." She looked to Cassie to give them the information needed.

Zhenya saw Professor Cassie turn the corner and head into the girl's bathroom on the second floor. She followed her down, ready for the SNAC meeting. By the time she entered the room, others had assembled.

"Hi everyone," she greeted. There were friends of hers, and others she had known through classes down there.


And there was Professor Glendower as well. Zhenya looked around the toilet, which was full of cobwebs. UGH. She hated spiders and cobwebs. At least two professors were down here with them, as well as the group of other students. They would hopefully be the group with the larger defence.


Zhenya listened to Professor Cassie's introduction and instructions. Was this a bit of a learning experience too? Zhenya took her wand out, and that was where it would stay for the remainder of the meeting.

She remembered the story of the opening of the chamber of secrets, and what was there; the dead body of the basilisk. So... they were going down there to get parts from the snake? Well, perhaps there would still be the body down there. "Professors, would the basilisk body have decomposed significantly over the years?" she asked. Imagine if it was still intact! She would be able to see the a basilisk body. That would be very interesting.

Hearing Nessa speaking more to Toby she looked at her friend, no she wasn't sure about the Nifflers, but she nodded about some of it. The two had been talking about some of her thoughts and senses lately. "As Professor Glendower and your SNAC mates have confirmed today we are going down to the chamber to look for Basilisk teeth. There is danger around us and I am hoping we can help protect many with these items. Now I know that the Basilisk has been dead for many year, but I am in hopes that we can find at least three teeth."

She watched as she tried to read their facial expressions. "It's dangerous going down here, I'm not going to lie and you know that I would never want to put you in any danger, but if we don't try to do something...." She stopped not wanting to even think about it. "I'm going to go down first and Professor Glendower will be last. Please everyone it is very important that you stick together. Once down there you can go ahead and search the chamber together. If you need to break apart break apart in groups. Get your wands lit here if not right when you get down there and keep your eyes open. If you can find a tooth please call out that you have. The minute we have at least three we are getting out of there. There is an exit that will take us out if you remember from mapping. If you don't wish to continue I will not blame you, you can turn and head out now. If you do come down with us and you see any danger alert myself or Professor Glendower right away and everyone get to the exit as quickly as possible." She hated being this serious, but it was serious and she couldn't have time for any snaps.

"Alright, it we are ready." She gave one last look to them all and turned to enter the chamber.

Okay, so Kate's guess was correct. They were heading down to the Chamber to find three teeth from a basilisk. Hopefully they'd find them soon, because the Chamber wasn't exactly Kate's favorite place to be. If she was being honest with herself, she did think about going back. She had to trust two of her professors, though. With one in front of them and one in the back, not too much could go wrong, right?

That was the hope. On that note, Kate followed the first professor down into the Chamber.

Zhenya gulped.

Okay, their mission was three teeth. Well, hopefully it wouldn't take them long to get their three teeth before they could head back. It was a lot of danger, Zhenya knew that, going down into the Chamber, but she wanted to do it. She wanted to help Hogwarts during her final year. Next year her siblings would be here, and in future years, if she had any, her children would be here. She wanted them to have a good Hogwarts to visit.

So... she went down into the Chamber with the others.

Feeling the bump on his shoulder, Adi turned to see Beverly. Of course! He shouldn't have to even look around to know it was her. "Hi, Bevvy.'' Hehe. Seeee? No one could hear he had called her that because it was whispered. And heya, Zhenya. It seemed like she too had arrived a while after him.
....................

Glendy's smile looked... forced. His poor professors. Adi disliked seeing them so affected by this web business. Couldn't he give them each a hug? Oh joy! Back into the Chamber the go for the second year in a row. Hey, on the bright side, his basilisk fang answer had been correct.

As if Adi would leave his professors! Nuh uh. He was sticking with them and his friends. He went forward to the Chamber's entrance to follow Cassie, Kate and the others.

It was dangerous, she got it. Someone could die because at least one person tended to die at Hogwarts, she had that too. Beverly understood that going down that chamber did not guarantee everyone's return. She understood that, she did. She would even tell their stories in their honor. Of course, as the only survivor she'd do it.

She was planning on staying alive. Determination at its highest.

Okay. She'll drag Adi along with her. He was her favorite Puffer and no favorite Puffers left behind. "Hello. Time to go in," she whispered back, giving Aid's arm a squish before making her way after Morgan.

It felt really nice to have Adi calling her baby. He got an extra beamy smile. The professors were talking, but she wasn't really hearing them. So intent she was on finding out what they were doing, she totally missed the first question. It seemed like her classmates had it covered though. Then Cassie started to explain what it was they would be doing. Ohhh... AJ was elated. She wasn't scared at all. No way would this chick be leaving.

AJ definitely didn't want anybody getting hurt on their little adventure, but she also wanted some action. Was there really anything so wrong with that? She didn't think so. Down to the chambers? All right. Just lead the way. AJ wasted no time following Cassie and her classmates in.

They were going into the chamber to look for basilisk teeth. As much as she wanted to help Professor Cassie, she was still afraid of going down in to the chamber. Did they have to do it? It was dangerous, and she really didn't like the idea of going down into somewhere that was dark and dangerous.

Professor Cassie had said that anyone could leave if they wanted to. That was good. Penelope didn't want to stay, but she also didn't want to leave everyone who was going down. No, she couldn't go down into the chamber. She couldn't just walk out of the bathroom and leave everyone. They were going into the chamber, and she wasn't. Penelope moved farther away from the opening to the chamber and closer to the bathroom door. What if something went wrong down there? Maybe she would just stay here until everyone else had gone down.

Angel was a bit nervous about the whole situation, she had thought that the chamber was out of bounds... though saying that the giant snake had been killed years ago and maybe it wouldn't be so bad and second of all she had her friends there who would protect her and if she got extra scared there was always someone she could hide behind right.

Angel knew it was important her children had a good time at the school if she had any so she went after the others into the chamber of secrets.

Healer Murdoch followed Caleb to the girls bathroom to see just what it was he had gotten so worked up about. "I don't see anything down there," she said as she looked down into the gaping hole. In fact, she didn't hear anything down there either. "It was probably just Myrtle messing with your mind." The ghosts around this place had a way of doing just that.

She looked between the to Slytherin students standing there. Honestly, did these kids have nothing better to do with their time?

Benny was trying to take in the professors' less then happy behaviors to see what was up for the meeting but no luck yet. Especially when Adi grabbed his shoulder and tried to push him from the room on something Angel had said, stopping the action as the joke set in. "Hey," he said, returning AJ's greeting as the younger lion rounded out their group. The four musketeers were together again. For whatever was to come. And they were starting so they weren't going to have to wait long to find out.

The Gryffindor slipped his wand out as instructed, making sure his grip was tight around it, especially as Professor Morgan went on explaining what they might deal with without actually saying the name. Spiders...like the ones in the forest? Like the ones who had made last term complicated? Benny didn't remember them muchbeing down their last year but for one was hoping a different kind of spider that wasn't so dangerous to them. Gryffindor bravery not mattering.

Cue look at all those he cared about.

Down to the chamber they were going...AGAIN. Professor Morgan going first and a few other students following suit. But then Adi and AJ and even Angel was following the group down so Benny was right behind them. He wasn't going to not be there with them, sticking with his friends....his group.

So down he went.

.............. Soooooooooooooo... Toby was going to go ahead and assume that they didn't want to hear anymore details of his theories. Which was totally okay, of course; they probably didn't have all day, after all.

Becaaaaaaause... they were going IN to the Chamber. Again. Second time for Toby, and the first time had been weird enough by itself. He wasn't feeling so great about the prospect of finding the dead basilisk bones, and the discomfort probably showed clearly on his face, so he tried to think of ways to put a positive spin on this, and convince himself that they weren't about to hunt for a dead animal. In a place where spiders most likely lived.

Shudder.

Anyway, at least Toby didn't have to worry about danger, because of reasons. It was just getting freaked out by spiders that he worried about. He lit his wand with, "Lumos," and, once it was his turn, Tobias slid down into the chamber.

Nessa listened as Cassie gave the students more specific instructions, which she knew was important for everyone's safety, and she quietly lit her own wand. Looking around at everyone's faces, she made sure they were all being attentive so that they'd know what to expect and she found it interesting the range of emotions that she could read. But that was not a thought that she needed to dwell on for now.

She watched as the students, one by one, got into the opening for the chamber of secrets and made their way down. It was her intent to go last as she and Cassie though that would be the best idea to keep everyone accounted for and safe. And then there was just one student left.

It wouldn't surprise her if not everyone wanted to enter the chamber as there was an element of danger involved and Nessa turned to give Penelope a reassuring smile. "Were you going to go with us, dear? Or did you want to stay out? It's fine if you don't want to and we would of course understand, but I'd rather you not hang out here alone. Please go back to your dorm room if you'd rather not go." That would be safest right now, she wouldn't have her sticking around by herself and leave her in danger. And Nessa herself needed to join the group. "But I really do need you to make a decision because I need go in as well." She also didn't want to leave Cassie alone with the responsibility of all the students.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The1HBIC

Healer Murdoch followed Caleb to the girls bathroom to see just what it was he had gotten so worked up about. "I don't see anything down there," she said as she looked down into the gaping hole. In fact, she didn't hear anything down there either. "It was probably just Myrtle messing with your mind." The ghosts around this place had a way of doing just that.

She looked between the to Slytherin students standing there. Honestly, did these kids have nothing better to do with their time?

Caleb just blinked. He couldn't see anything either but that was because it was a deep deep hole, yes? It was the yelling and screaming that concerned Caleb, and that was....

...not happening anymore.

Blink blink blink. He paused and listened. Sure enough, no more screaming. That...was not a good thing, in his mind. What if they were DEAD?! EVIE WAS DOWN THERE! AND LUX! "I swear, there was yelling down there just a few moments ago! I saw Evangeline Shacklebolt come in here, and Lux Carrington, and...this Gryffindor boy," whose name he still could not recall but whatever, "They definitely did NOT leave after I saw them come in, so they had to have gone down there, and now...what if they DIED?" he said in a rush. No no no, he was NOT going to have more students die while he was prefect, he absolutely would not allow it, even if he had to go down there HIMSELF he would!

He turned to Slytherin Girl for back up. "You heard them with me, right?" he asked her.

As you look down into the great hole of nothingness you may not hear any sounds now but you do catch a sudden movement. In the blink of an eye spiders come rushing up out of the chamber into the bathroom.

Best get a move on it and get some space between you and those spiders. They look mighty hungry.

FINALLY THEY WERE BACK!!

Could she go now? All this creepy hole business was way too, well, creepy for her taste.

Hearing the Healer's reply first Maggie nodded. "That's what I said." Caleb probably wouldn't remember that but she'd TOTALLY said that he was just hearing things and that nobody was down there. She just shook her head again when he tried engaging her once again. "Nope, I'm just here because I didn't dare disobey a Prefect's order." She looked back to Healer Murdoch, wearing her best innocent!face. Could she go n-

OMG SHE WAS DEFINITELY LEAVING!!!

There were SPIDERS! With a shriek, Maggie first pointed, then jumped back, then after screeching something that remotely sounded like, "SPIDERS!" she turned around and fled the scene. Out the door. Bye. See ya.

Or not. Hopefully not really.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lislchen

FINALLY THEY WERE BACK!!

Could she go now? All this creepy hole business was way too, well, creepy for her taste.

Hearing the Healer's reply first Maggie nodded. "That's what I said." Caleb probably wouldn't remember that but she'd TOTALLY said that he was just hearing things and that nobody was down there. She just shook her head again when he tried engaging her once again. "Nope, I'm just here because I didn't dare disobey a Prefect's order." She looked back to Healer Murdoch, wearing her best innocent!face. Could she go n-

OMG SHE WAS DEFINITELY LEAVING!!!

There were SPIDERS! With a shriek, Maggie first pointed, then jumped back, then after screeching something that remotely sounded like, "SPIDERS!" she turned around and fled the scene. Out the door. Bye. See ya.

Or not. Hopefully not really.

Caleb shot a GLARE at Slytherin Girl, because she had TOTALLY heard something and she knew it. People needed to just listen to him and trust him! He was the prefect for a REASON. UGH. So frustrating, not being taken seriously by people...

"I...I SWEAR I'm not making this up, why would I..." he began, and then...an army of SPIDERS started crawling out of the hole, right to him and Slytherin Girl and Healer Murdoch.

Well, whatever was going on down there, it was NOT good. Slytherin Girl took off, and Caleb knew that there was no way, NO WAY, that Healer Murdoch would believe him now. His only witness had turned on him, and he was NOT about to sit here and get eaten by spiders!

Maybe the headmistress would believe him? Or maybe he could figure out where that passage was...the one that the cartographer people found to get out of the Chamber. Caleb wasn't sure he could get up the courage to actually GO there but he could at least see if the missing students had ended up there.

"Erm, I think you're right, Healer Murdoch, I must have been hearing things...just spiders in here! And I, uh, am EXTREMELY arachnophobic so I'm...leaving. Sorry again for wasting your time!" he cried in a hurry as he backed out, tripping over his feet slightly as he tried to get away from the spiders and hurry out the door.