Tia had agreed to work on the Divination homework with her, so Lux made her way over to the fireplace. This way they would have the warmth of a fire while they worked.

Taking a seat on one of the chairs, she pulled a Tupperware container out of her bag. Inside was a piece of brownie from a batch she had prepared earlier that day. The potion had already been added to it, and everything was ready. All she needed was for her partner to arrive. Since she had come a little early, she knew that she would probably have to wait a little bit. In the meantime she decided to practice the spell some more since she wasn't planning to use the stethoscope this time.

Lux said the incantation a few times under her breath and then worked on the wand movement.

If it was up to Tia she would probably skive off Divination and fail her exam for it because it wasn't as if she really truly believed in the art. But alas, this inner conscious told her she had to at least make some effort, which was why she'd agreed to meet up with Lux for the homework. Even if it was weird - listening to stomach noises? Was that even practical?

Nonetheless she had a container of penne with tomato sauce, doused in the gas potion. No stethoscope though, so she hoped Lux had remembered that one or had some other plan to enhance the gastric sounds.

"Hey Lux," she greeted as she approached the fireplace, setting her bag on the armchair and removing her notebook, a quill, and the container of penne. "You ready?"

As Lux was finishing up practicing the wand movement, Tia arrived. Awesome. Now they could get started!! "I'm so ready!!" she said as she watched her friend remove some things from her bag, and it looked like one of them was a container of PASTA.

Yummy. She loved pasta.

After pulling her notebook and pencil out of her bag, Lux sat up straighter in her chair. "You want to trade food at the same time then take turns listening to each other's stomach?" That seemed to make the most sense to her, and it shouldn't take long for them to eat and have active stomach noises. Smiling, she held out the brownie container for her friend to take. Hopefully Tia would like it because she liked to think that she was becoming a better baker with practice and help from the wonderful house elves.

"I was thinking we could use the spell because I don't have a stethoscope." Or would it be preferred if she ran off and got one from Professor Cassie? Because she could do that if her friend preferred.

Ah excellent! That made one of them.

"I think that works for me. Then we'll have a chance to digest for a bit, though I reckon with the gas potion it shouldn't take as long as in class." Tia held out her pasta dish for the older girl to take as she accepted the brownie container and popped a piece into her mouth.

Chewing, chewing, swallow. "I don't have a stethoscope either. The spell is just the sonorus charm, correct?" She could handle that one. And she popped another brownie piece into mouth. Yummy chocolate.

"That sounds about right! Professor Cassie said it speeds up digestion or something." At any rate their stomach noises should be noticeable right after consumption. Well, more or less.... They might have to wait a little.

Happily Lux switched foods with Tia and settled in to her pasta. Mmmmmmm. That was GOOD. She could get used to eating a lot of pasta, though it would probably end up making her fat. Oh well. There were more important things to think about now, like the spell they would be using. "Yep. Sonorus. I used the stethoscope in class, so I'm not sure how well this will work..." Well, only one way to find out.

It didn't take long for her to finish the pasta, and then Lux was good to go. "I'm ready whenever you are! Do you want to listen to me first?" Whatever Tia wanted to do was cool with her!

Okay good. Whilst Lux sped through in eating up the pasta, Tia polished off the brownies. Nevermind the fact that she would probably be constipated from all the chocolate sweetness; the brownies were GOOD! Lux was definitely earning her approval to bake.

"Sonorus works pretty well, so I'd say we'll be good in terms of hearing, ..." Tia bit her lip nervously, feeling the brownie digesting inside her already. "Unless of course our tummies are quiet, which is an interpretation of its own."

"I think, mine is quiet, so maybe I ought to listen to you first?" Give her stomach more time to maybe produce some noises? "Sonorus!" Tia cast, pointing at Lux's stomach and had her quill out promptly after to take some notes.

They were both done eating, which meant that it was time to do each other's readings. Awesome. Tia was going to go first, which was totally cool with Lux. Maybe it would be a good idea to cast the spell now so that it gave things a little bit longer to get warmed up.

"Sonorus!" she cast at her friend after the spell had been performed on her own stomach. "Hopefully that will help wake up your quiet stomach." Because otherwise there wouldn't be very much for her to do a reading on and she'd have no idea what to tell Tia about her future. At least her own stomach should be active due to her fast metabolism. That was how she managed to eat so much food and still stay skinny!

Patiently she waited for her partner to begin.

Okay good thoughts, Lux. Tia hoped there would be some noise from her own stomach but then again, even if there was no noises than that meant something too, didn't it? Like it didn't mean she was DEAD? Because she was sure even some dead people had more noises than that - given the graveyard atmosphere at the start of the lesson.

"Hmm..." Tia listened patiently to Lux's stomach. "Small gurgles, but I should time in between cause i think the meaning varies based on how far apart," the fifth year trailed off, flicking through her notes. "Yes, yes." She glanced at her wristwatch to calculate in between gurgles. Ooh, very short intervals, it seemed. "So your gurgles close together, I think that means something like..." Tia inhaled quickly swallowing the burp that was about to surface through her words. "... You're worried about something."

.... and there the burp comes. Out the other end. Trying to hold it back, the fifth year couldn't any longer as a short fart emitted from her behind, which thankfully didn't smell too terrible but that didn't mean Tia's cheeks didn't flush from it. "Oops. Sorry." Well that was probably a put-off from Lux ever wanting to work with her again.

Patiently Lux waited as Tia listened to her stomach. So far so good; at least there wasn't a repeat visit from that weird 'voice'. Even if she was convinced that it had merely been a strange rumble, part of her HAD been slightly worried. Stomachs weren't supposed to speak, and she wasn't keen on being the exception to that rule.

Small gurgles close together...meaning that something was worrying her. Honestly she had no idea what that could be. So wrapped up in her thoughts, she failed to notice when her partner had stifled a burp. The fart, however, didn't go unnoticed. Before she could stop herself, Lux was giggling. "It's okay. I've heard MUCH worse in the classroom. And from guys in general." Just saying. They could really pack lethal and very noisy gas.

Moving on. "Okay, so I might be worried about something that will happen in the future. So let's see what your stomach has to say!!" First things first, she recorded the fart into her notes so that it wouldn't be forgotten about. Once that was done, she proceeded to listen to Tia's stomach. "I hear a loud noise that is lasting for a loooooong time." Patiently she waited for it to finish before continuing on. "Now there are a lot more loud noises, but these are close together." The new information was recorded into her notes as well. "Okay, so the fart means that you are not generally a stressful person and can handle a lot of things. But the long and loud noise means that you will be facing a lot of stress - there might be a very difficult challenge ahead. The loud noises close together also speak for a lot of stress, as well as the possibility of bad things to come."

Maybe not a HAPPY reading, but this was OWL year for Tia. Possibly everything was related to that?? Lux sure could remember how stressed and worried she had been last term!!

SPOILER!!: Lux's Notes

Fart - Generally not a stressful person. Can handle many things.
Loud long noise - Something will cause a lot of stress. An upcoming challenge may be very difficult.
Lots of loud noises close together - Highly stressed. Something bad might happen.

Okay good, her interpretation seemed to make some sense and thankfully despite her little mishap, Lux didn't seem terribly perturbed by it. Actually, she was laughing, which in turn flushed Tia's cheeks even more.

Chewing her lip as the older girl began her interpretation of her stomach noises, she felt herself holding her breath - which might have been good as she might have had another fart slip out if she hadn't been holding herself together. And her new information; was it just her or did her gastric noises seem rather CONTRADICTORY? "Okay, so basically, i'm going to be stressed, and a difficult time, but I'll get through it."

"The something bad ... does that mean ... I'm going to fail something?" because she didn't want that. At all. "Or well, it's just a maybe, so nothing bad has to happen..."

Glancing down at her notes of Lux's gastric noises, she glanced up and listened to see if she heard anything different. Or additional. "After those small gurgles, your stomach seemed to quiet very quickly, so I would guess that's part of the interpretation as well... good things to come in your future." Tia nodded. "And I think that's a wrap, huh?" At least she didn't have any further comments to add...

Woops. She was making Tia blush more. At least they had interpretations to focus their attention on!

Lux nodded slowly as her friend took a stab at what her stomach noises meant. "That's my interpretation on the matter, yes. And I'm sure you won't fail any OWLs. You're really smart." It could be more a matter of not doing as well on one as she hoped to. That had happened to her with Ancient Runes, but after thinking about how hard the exam had been...she was more than happy with her Acceptable. Tia was bright, so she could do really well on her tests. It was just a matter of hard work and studying!

Looking at her notes, she decided to add a little more to her observations:

SPOILER!!: Lux's Notes

Fart - Generally not a stressful person. Can handle many things.
Loud long noise - Something will cause a lot of stress. An upcoming challenge may be very difficult.
Lots of loud noises close together - Highly stressed. Something bad might happen.

From this reading, I gather that Tia will face some challenges in the near future, and as a result will experience stress. There is a possibility of failure, but it won't necessarily happen. Since she is a Fifth Year, there is a chance that this all relates to OWLs. That is a very stressful time in any student's life.

Satisfied, she put her notebook away and let Tia continue her reading...though it looked like there wasn't much to report. Hehe, her stomach was being quiet right now. Maybe it was shy. No matter, because it sounded like she was going to experience good things. "I like the sound of that, and I agree that we are done here!" That had been really nice. "We should do another assignment together! Just not one where we shoot through the air." Because no.

Listening to the older girl elaborate on her own meanings, Tia felt bittersweet sentiments on what she said. "Aw thanks, but that doesn't stop one from getting stressed even if you do know the materials." Like Divination; she understood the underlying interpretations but it was getting to the interpretation that was slightly foggy because most of the divining methods weren't concrete. But anyone who could decipher the methods, she totally had respect for.

Glancing down at her own notes, as Lux did the same, Tia added a few things as well:

SPOILER!!: Tia's notes

Small gurgles close together - Worried about something in the future.
Quiet/no sounds - Calm, Stress free near future, good things to come.

Lux clearly is in for a more relaxed year, which given that she just completed major wizarding exams, it totally makes sense for her to take things easy in her sixth year. Although I'd imagine she might be worried about her future - in terms of graduating Hogwarts in less than two years and what that holds in terms of her perspective career options, her relationship with her boyfriend and such. But given her gastric noises fell silent, I think we can expect great things from Miss Lux. Good things.

She slid her notes into her bag, and laughed at what Lux said about shooting each other into the air. "Hah! You sure? I mean however will you learn to apparate? Isn't apparition supposed to be just like vanishing into thin air ..."

Hmmm, that was a very good point. She herself had been very stressed when it came to studying for her OWLs. Some subjects had been worse than others. Now Lux would have NEWTs to worry about, but that wouldn't be until next year so she had time to relax. "What classes make you the most nervous? And do you have any idea what you want to do for a career?" Both good questions in her mind and even though it wasn't NECESSARY to have a job planned out at this stage, it could be good to have some idea which areas to focus on.

Oooh, apparation came up. That was a good point Tia made, but it wasn't as if Lux hadn't experienced it before. "It's definitely a strange feeling and not my favourite by any means..." Yep, she was not a huge fan of the process. "But I think it's important to know how to do it if needed, and I wouldn't want to rely on others every time." Besides, the whole process was over with pretty quickly, so that was a plus. "Mostly, I just want to learn how to drive." Now THAT she was excited about!!

After turning a wall on the dungeon level corridor a blue color, Kate took the stairs and headed for the next floor up. She arrived on the kitchen level--home of the Hufflepuffs and house elves. And food. Let's not forget the food came from here. Kate wandered around until she came upon a fireplace. It was huge, with plenty of thing around to try and turn a different color.

She walked up on a pot and immediately thought it would be a good object to cast on. "I'm sorry, house elves. The professor said he'll come around and change this back to its original color," she said. Even though she didn't see any elves around, she thought they might be lurking nearby. "So this is only temporary..."

Kate looked at the pot and imagined it a Ravenclaw blue color. Raising her wand, she said, "Colovaria!" The pot began changing colors. "Colovaria!" she said again for good measure. A few moments later, the entire pot was a blue color.

Cosgrach hated this school and wanted to go home, but he couldn't, in case someone called him to say something. UGH. He was quitting this year. For good! He probably would laugh at his thoughts by tomorrow, but he was the world's most dramatic man and he was not thinking straight right now. He figured he would be alone here. He wanted to eat, but he didn't want to go to the great hall where he might be forced to answer questions, so he flopped on a chair, looked like he could kill anyone who dared to even look at him, and grunted something that might sound like he wanted food right now.

It was late. Far later than Sabel had ever stayed up in the castle, even as a troublesome student. Curfew was long since past, and the halls were empty. The chill of the silence only added to the cold that had seeped into his bones, and it was for that reason that he headed to the kitchen. He remembered a fireplace being there, and while he had one in his own office, it was about the last place he wanted to be.

Where he wanted to be was back in the forest, searching until all possibilities were exhausted. But it was too late for that, too cold and already too many hours of the effort had proved fruitless. There was a point, he knew, where one had to stop. He just hated admitting it.

Upon entering the kitchen, he caught the tail end of someone muttering into dark space, lit only by the glow of the fire at the far end. Sabel halted, the door swinging shut behind him before he recognized the figure all slouched about near the hearth. The hope that had briefly surged died instantly.

"You're still up?" Stupid question. Of course he was. Most of them would be.

Moving towards the fireplace, Sabel snatched a cinnamon bun from the table top and tossed it to Cosgrach as he neared. Whether or not the man wanted it, let alone could catch it, was of no concern to him. Upon reaching the fireplace, Sabel shrugged wearily out of his jacket, snow already turning to rivets of water down the leather, and in his hair.

Of course, it had started snowing. Of course. Even the weather didn't want them to find anything.

Cosgrach didn't notice someone entering because he was busy staring everyone (read: no one visible) down, so he only saw Sabel when he talked. Cosgrach nearly pointed his wand at the man - because WHO else would wander here at this hour, but he put his wand back in its place upon realising who he was. He grunted a "Yes" and watched the man. Lucky for him, because he was able to catch that.

"Thanks," he said and started eating it.

"You found something?" The answer was certainly a no, he was just asking to be polite.

"Of course we did. The groundskeeper and the Hipogriff. Didn't you know the both of them took a nap in the stables?" The comment came complete with a snippy tone and roll of the eyes. Something he just couldn't help in the moment.

Dropping his jacket onto the stone hearth, Sabel deposited himself wearily next to it. The heat from the fire was barely felt, but it did help melt his icy demeanor, if only just a little bit.

"Sorry." The mutter came from between his hands as he dragged them down his face. "Long night."

No excuse, but there it was.

Dropping his hands into his lap, he glanced over at the other Professor. "Anything on your end?"

WHAT even!?

Cosgrach looked at the man incredulously. That wasn't necessary at all. Did he realise he was some 30 year old professor? He seemed like he could need a reminder.

'long night' was barely an excuse, but Cosgrach wasn't going to chastise the young man. They were both tired. But, he would keep this short. Aurors. Typical. Thinking they know it better than anyone.

He shrugged. "None." He just wanted to sleep after eating.

He could almost feel Cosgrach's disappointment, much like the heat from the flames against his back. Except less welcoming and somehow less forgiving. He rolled his shoulders to shrug the notion off. Would have got a cuff across the back of the head from some people, and he would have well deserved it. As he did Cosgrach's stare.

Another heavy sigh. Nothing on his end either. That was the more important bit of their almost non-existent conversation.

Resting his head back against the stones, Sabel stared at the shadows in the kitchen for some time before speaking quietly, almost to himself. "First time I've never been able to find someone. Suppose there's supposed to be a first time for everything, but...." This? This was uncomfortably upsetting.

Turning his head slightly, he considered the other Professor for a moment. "Hopefully Scott's alright." The Professor had heard the screams, hadn't he? He'd be able to say, one way or another, if there was still a chance...

Cosgrach laughed dryly. Firs person I couldn't find... There was a first for everything, whether you were an auror or an average muggle.

His distaste for the whole situation made him extra sour on aurors, don't mind him. Or else, he didn't hate Sabel or anything.

"He's a grown up man," he said simply - he wasn't hopeful, mainly because he didn't hope. He just stated that fact - Scot was a grown up wizard who was capable of advanced magic... hopefully.

Sabel wasn't sure why the man was laughing, but he had the sudden urge to deck him for it. Frustration, fatigue and irritation didn't bode for a favorable mood. Especially not when he'd just confided in the man a point of failing.

Then again, they had all failed, hadn't they?

Instead, he settled for shooting the man a scowl. "Reckon we both are too, but look at us. Kept up late at night by a grown man missing." Which begged the question. "Why are you up?"

Cosgrach couldn't care less which look Sabel shot at him. He was busy enjoying the cinnamon roll. Very few things could make him lose his appetite. Thankfully, his stomach was immune to tragedies.

He wanted to wisely point out that they didn't follow a silly hippogriff into the Forest or mounted it, but he kept his tongue. Obviously Sabel blamed himself for all (see: traits of over-stupid gryffindors that became an auror) and he'd take offense at anything Cosgrach said. Therefore, he simply said: "Hunger." These were his last bites... then he'd go sleep.

Or....or one of them wasn't.

Though he had to wonder, as he started openly at Cosgrach, if being kept awake from hunger was less of a grown-man thing. What he did know, was that it wasn't worth it.

And the prickles or frustration and irritation were better spent as energy searching. So, despite his bones still being cold and his clothes wet, Sabel stood and pulled on his jacket. "I'm going back out. Enjoy your food."

Not every man needed to have a burning conscience. It would make for a right messy world if they all got wound up and stressed over everything. That, and there would be no one to guard the castle. They needed, he decided, people who could sit still, and conserve their energy.