Angel suddenly noticed two new people in the room, they were surely not from Hogwarts and they did seem familiar from somewhere but well she would talk to them later. Coming out from her hiding place behind the Librarian she smiled at him.

"Mr Librarian, Sir, music please." Angel was ready for this now, she would attack the spiders and he could help right. "Something like kung fu fighting would be great." Angel thought so too, "If you don't know it then I'm sure I can sing it.

"Can I charge now sir?" Angel wanted to charge at these spiders, she didn't care what happened to her, She looked at the Librarian. "Please say I can charge at the spiders?" Angel was totally ready for this.

Within moments the noise in the hall got louder as more people showed up. More was better but the noise level certainly wasn't. That wasn't the point though. As her Head of House finally arrived she nodded her head that all was well with her. No more bites or injuries for her. At least not yet.

Professor Quigley had said something about some of them staying and doing charm work. That she was good at but where was she needed more? Hady wasn't fond of the thought of going up against those huge spiders but she'd do it. She would do whatever it took to help out. "I'll do whatever needs to be done Professor Quigley!," she called out towards him. Surely he'd let her know if she could join the search and rescue group or if she needed to stay behind and work with everyone else.

Pushing the sleeve of her robes up her fingers brushed against her wand. Just making sure it was safely in place and easily reachable. Her eyes glanced over her fellow Slytherin's taking notice to the fact that some wheren't there but they'd be getting them back. All of them.

"I'm fine, just a little shaken up," Nessa told Adi as he thoughtfully asked about her and she had a chance to catch her breath. Upon closer look, she wasn't so certain that Adi was fine. In fact, he appeared to be injured. "Are you alright though? Were you in the Herbology class that had gotten attacked?" She had heard about it from Kate and feared the worst for some of them, which reminded her. She needed to make sure everyone else from that class was alright but maybe the prefect could tell her more if he had been there. And then she frowned as he said that all Puffs were not accounted for, but she tried to mask her concern a little for his sake. "I'm sure Professor Botros is making sure they are all accounted for in the common room and will be escorting them." That's what the Heads of House would be doing, right? She was hopeful that they'd be alright and she took a look around at the Hufflepuffs that were already there before glancing at the table the prefect gestured to. "Oh.. sure, I will take a look at Toby and check on him." But she didn't blame him for wanting to hide away from this whole situation.

As Adi turned to talk to some of his friends, Nessa noticed Cassie headed her way. Thank Merlin that she made it in safely behind her too. "Oh, of course.. Adi was starting to gather them in here and I think Professor Botros must be making sure the rest are safe in the common room." Of course she knew that Lux was missing and Kate had said something about another Hufflepuff from Herbology, but she was unsure of just who it was that was missing.

As Cassie turned towards Leo, Nessa started to make her way towards the table Toby had crawled under, stopping as she heard a loud voice. Oh good, there was some sort of plan to end all of this. She looked around as answers were thrown out among the chaos, her eyes turning back to the dais as the plan was detailed. A daydream charm to make the acromantulas this there were basilisks... how ingenious! She glanced around as she heard Cassie's voice. Oh adding scent of basilisk would be perf too! Nessa gave her some snaps. And of course Nessa's mind turned to something she felt she was something of an expert in - costuming! "We can use some of the tablecloths to transfigure into the snakeskin. The volunteers could drape it over themselves to appear as the basilisks." And if they stood in like a line, it would totally be long enough to look like one. She knew that the elves used tablecloths for special occasions in here and she started to go get them when she remembered she needed to check on Toby.

Now at the table, Nessa bent down and saw no one underneath. Where did he go? Looking up at the same moment she heard his voice, she finally saw him out from under the table and she gave him a reassuring smile. Good, he seemed alright even if understandably shaken up, but he was near Airey and Cassie. "I'll be staying here too," she said in general. She was much more suited to being compassionate to those who might need it rather than being on the battlefield. "Do you have your necklace, Toby?" She was certain she had a few more in her pocket and she took a moment to check in case anyone else needed one.

They were going to TRICK the spiders into thinking they had a basilisk in the castle? Caleb had doubts about that. These things weren't STUPID after all. But maybe with the daydream charm and all that...they COULD be successful. And look! Hogsmeade people were here! They needed all the help they could get, and with their presence, Caleb felt a bit more confident. Maybe this WOULD work...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Professor Quigley had Kate's full attention. How could he not? Number one, he was talking some serious business, and number two, he was the loudest person in the Great Hall. Yeah. Full attention. Plus, he was the one with the PLAN, and that's what Kate had found nobody else had--a good plan. It was a smart plan, too, and Kate thought it could work.

She didn't mind volunteering either, but she wanted to come with somebody. She didn't want to go alone, because ACROMANTULA. "I can go, too," she said. "Can I go with somebody? An older student, maybe?"

If she had to go alone, she was out. Sorry, Quigley. Not only that, but Kate didn't even know if she'd be allowed to go. She was only a second year, so she'd understand completely if they wanted somebody older. As a matter of fact, she'd probably feel really good about that decision, because she was...scared.

Caleb heard the little Ravenclaw girl peep up behind him, and when none of her prefects seemed to hear her, he leaned down and nudged her. "Stay with me," he told her. He'd go with her - he wasn't sure what it was about the young girl, maybe her blonde hair made her seem extra innocent to him or something, but he felt a weird protective vibe over her and he was NOT letting her run into the spider den without someone nearby!

Quote:

Originally Posted by The1HBIC

FINALLY!

After healing Heather's (lazykitty) ribs and grabbing as many supplies as she could, Healer Murdoch made it to the Great Hall dragging Heather with her. "You need to go find your head of house or your prefects to let them know you're okay," she told the girl.

Cece then scanned the room looking for any and all Slytherin students. She first spotted her prefects (Lissy Longbottom and Deezerz) with several other Slytherin students. In just a few quick steps she made her way over to them. "Prefect Newell, Prefect Wayne, have all Slytherin students been accounted for?" She had really wanted to run down to the common room to make sure there were no stragglers there, but she hadn't been able to do that yet thanks to needing to get the Gryffindor girl to safety first. She looked around the students gathered there. "Is everyone okay? Was anyone bitten?" Bites, those were the most important things to take care of right now. She was NOT going to have any of her students dying from acromantula attacks again.

Death was NOT an option here! For anyone!

As she was looking around she spotted Professor Bellaire up at the front of the room with Professor Quigly. Maybe she had gone down to the dungeons to check for their students before coming here.

And where was the Headmistress? Off hiding in her office trying not to get her hair shoes hands dirty no doubt.

FINALLY! Murdoch was here! Letting out a sigh of relief that their fearless leader had finally made it and wasn't DEAD or anything, he hurried up to her so he could report what was happening. "All the Slytherins we have gathered here have been accounted for, but we haven't seen a few - Cutty and Ethan, for example," he told her. He couldn't help but worry about his friend. Where WAS he?! "Everyone seems ok, no injuries or anything..." Just a few snakes who wanted to jump into the battle and go on a suicide mission but that couldn't be helped.

"As far as the Herbology class is concerned...the only people I saw get taken by them were the Headmistress and a Hufflepuff," he added. So no one had gotten dragged away on his watch. That was a win for him!

Lip wibbling was happening, as much as Toby didn't want it to, and he quickly stepped down from the bench so it wasn't that easy to see. Okay. Well. He regretted coming out from under the table, and wondered if he wouldn't be able to go back under there now and hope that the situation resolved itself. Though logically he knew that that... was not going to happen.

Then Airey was there, with a hand on shoulder, and despite everything it was mildly comforting at least. So Airey was STAYING, and that meant there would be work to do here, yes? Did that mean Toby could stay? He looked up at the man at the shoulder squeeze, attempting a smile but sort of failing miserably. He let out a sigh and rubbing at his face with both hands. This had to be a nightmare, right? Toby couldn't remember ever having a nightmare before, but he imagined this was what it felt like.

It was a good job Toby's face was hidden when Professor Cassie asked if he was okay, because Toby might have burst into tears right then and there, and he didn't want to DO that. He took a steadying breath and brought his hands away from his face again, by which point Professor Glendower was here too.

"I just... I just want to go h-home," Toby replied, his voice wobbling slightly and his eyes shining over again, but thankfully nothing more. He pushed the feelings down, waaaaaaaay down, down down down, and checked at his neck for the cord of his necklace, and then his pocket for the others. "Yeah. Extras too."

And then a sudden thought hit him, because he'd suddenly realised how glad he was about sending his pets home all those months ago, and his thoughts had strayed to the Creature Housing, and he'd suddenly gone very pale. "Th-the creatures... what about the creatures? Are-... are the creatures okay? Can I go check on them? And bring them back here?" They were HIS responsibility sort of not really but shhh and they were out there unprotected and Toby was supposed to guard them and he HADN'T BEEN THERE and he felt the emotions surge all over again when he thought about the students and the headmistress and it was too much to think about and he felt like he might cry or throw up or pass out and he wanted to hide again but he couldn't and shouldn't and everything was worse than it had ever been and it hurt and he was getting all wobbly again so he took another deep breath and tried so desperately to ground himself and be calm.

Leo let out an inaudible sigh of relief as Penelope appeared at his side explaining what had held her up. Eyes widening at her tale, he swallowed before he replied warmly. "Hi Penelope, I'm really glad the spider didn't get you or injure you. They have taken too many of us already." They had to start fighting back or this would never end. Hearing about the fire spell's effectiveness Leo echoed Tiara. "It'd be a handy fire spell if we were outside Penelope but not in this very crowded hall. We don't want to start a fire in here if we can help it." Fire was a last resort. He hoped they wouldn't need to resort to that in order to win this fight. Leo didn't have good memories of fires.



Leo watched as Tiara left to go closer to the dais but not before sending away three patronuses no doubt to Hogsmeade. They could use any assistance they could get if the shopkeepers felt inclined to help. But what Tiara did next made Leo's ears want to fold in on themselves. He had never approved of yelling even if this was to be heard over the clamour of all the other voices in the hall. Her idea was a good one too. Combined spells was just what Leo had been thinking of before he got surrounded by all his eagles.



Turning to the dark haired girl he regarded her for a moment before replying. "It depends on what you want to do Janelle? Do you feel brave enough to join the attack or rescue teams or would you rather stay here in the Great Hall and defend it with those who remain here?" She was a second year and in another circumstance Leo probably would have advised her to stay in the hall where she was relatively safe from harm but the situation was grave so he was going to let Janelle decide.



Turning his full attention to Henric's arm Leo used his wand to conjure up bandages and a brace which he fitted around the boys arm with some aptness. He wasn't a total novice when it came to temporary medical fixes. Tying the last knot he said "There all done. Have Healer Tillstorm take a look at it when you get a chance." Eyes flashed to Adi at Henric's news briefly before he said with a glance to Henric. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll check how Adi is right now."

Moving over to where Adi was standing he asked worriedly "Adi, how are you feeling? Henric said that you had a spider land on your head?" If it was bad he'd take him straight to see Cecelia who had just joined them in the hall. "Are you feeling dizzy or nauseous?"



Leo wasn't the one who got irritated that easily but Angel was quickly starting to try his patience. Shaking his head he huffed out to her. "I'm not singing. This is not the right place or time Angel." As the lioness got creative with her ideas and even wanting him to give her the go ahead to charge out to the forbidden forest right now all by herself Leo responded indignantly. "You most certainly will not charge anywhere right now Angel. I forbid it! If any student is leaving to go to the forbidden forest it will be in a group headed by professors." He wasn't really angry just concerned for Angel's safety. The spiders were fierce and deadly.

Pausing to take a breath he continued in a milder tone. "If you want to attack the spiders Angel then you can volunteer to be a part of the attack team."



So happy that Cassie was safe Leo didn't care that he probably had shown to the students that they were more than just colleagues. In the grand scheme it wasn't important right now. He'd worry about that later. Now they had spiders to fight. Eyes dropping to Cassie's kitty purse momentarily Leo said "I'm glad Aries and Gemini are unharmed." Lifting his gaze to hers again he said "Madonna is fine. She knows when it's time to hide. Knowing her she has probably climbed up on the highest bookcase in the library to sleep and wait for everything to blow over by now." His kneazle was smart and sensible.

Pulling his own basilisk fang necklace on top of his robes Leo grew quiet as Maddox spoke and Cassie let her voice be heard as she plucked out vials of basilisk scent from her bag. He'd have to ask where she had acquired those when they had hopefully won.

After Cassie had joined one of the teams Leo raised his voice too. "I'll join the search and rescue team too." It seemed like the place where he'd be of most use.

Chris was going to hide. That was his answer. Definitely not fighting or whatever the older people planned on doing. Lifting his head off of Torie he slid underneath the table and pulled his knees as close to him as he could. He would be safe here right? His lip quivered again and he buried his head in his knees. It was too much. He'd never felt so scared before and it wasn't fun at all. Chris listened to what was going on and covered his ears. Why was everyone yelling? He glanced over at Jay and then sighed.

So many things were happening at once and Moxley would've called this a party had it not been for the human-hungry cluster of acromantulas waiting to get their many, many legs on those within the great hall. And given there were already many raised voices calling out directions and making sure people were accounted for, Meredith stayed quiet, keeping an eye on those that looked particularly scared. Also, her wand remained trained on the entrance way, just in case.

When volunteers were deciding where they would go, the muggle studies professor finally called out, "I'll stay here and help man the fort, as well!" She worked well with rocket man and she had a soft spot for the ickles so this was a good place for her. The best place, in fact.

Seeing a particularly overwhelmed ickle, Moxley wandered over and crouched down, her voice soft in comparison to the others in the great hall. "We're going to be okay, Mr. Jensen. We've got a solid plan. You're safe here." Gosh, she deserved a raise.

Abby smiled at her head of house and said "I will like to join the group of attackers, for some reason i am feeling brave and want to help protect our school from the spiders"

Echo did not like what was going on, not one bit. She hated the thought of some students and professors leaving. they should all stick together shouldn't they? Noticing Hady smile over at her Echo made her way to her friend. Thank goodness they were in the same house. Reaching Hady she gave her friend a hug. "have you noticed anyone missing?" she whispered... she was totally afraid to know the answer but she also wanted to know so badly.

"this is just crazy isn't it" she whispered again while also staying really close to her house members. Now they were all talking about tasks and who was going to volunteer? and she heard Hady say she would help, Echo turned her head really fast and looked at her friend... "noooo stay with me" she said in her head as she didn't want her friend to get hurt.

Rolling her eyes she piped up as well. "If Hady goes, I go with her... so I guess that means that I voulenteer too?" she let out a breath of air while clinging to Hadys arm.

Yes, the Ravenclaws. Gabriel was shakily taking note of everyone...Even those that had decided to stay wherever they were currently positioned within the Great Hall. It was really anything to refocus his mind at this point. Eden's hand was doing what it was meant to be doing...but his mind was still racing at the possibilities and his fears of all of them being killed over the course of the night.

It was early, still. The spiders could starve them out...or worse. It could always get worse.....He wasn't sure exactly HOW, at the moment...but that was leaving room for the unknown.

Looking to his Head of House as he approached, dazed, Gabe slowly nodded...and continued to do so for several moments, since his mouth had yet to catch up with his mind. ".............I think they're......they're fighting." Not Thornton, of course. Thornton was just over there...in the corner. Gabe had caught a glimpse of the younger boy, not trying to force anyone to move if they'd found an area of comfort. He wanted to be crouching in a corner, too. Let's just be honest here.

...Oh, and more Ravenclaw people were flooding into the Great Hall....Sophie, Tia....Benzi...Penelope........but they were still missing people. This didn't feel like the whole of Ravenclaw house.

...and while he'd thought there'd been a lull in the commotion, that turned out to be just an illusion. With the loud noises and external threats...came the stabbing spikes of fear and anxiety that usually plagued the Ravenclaw. There was too much going on. Continuously. Over the past several hours. He wasn't...build for these types of situations. Fighting. War...and this felt very much like war, or...what he perceived 'war' to be: mania, terror, death, injury...

Suddenly, Quigley's voice cut across the room and Gabe snapped to attention without meaning to. He focused on the older man almost desperately, absorbing every word, hoping to feel whatever comfort he could from the ideas of strategy and organization. There wasn't much...but given the situation, he was trying to accept what he could get.

...and...that was a brilliant idea.

...AND WHY HAD EDEN LET GO?!?!?!

Gabriel looked at his housemate accusingly, with a smidgen of fear, and then spoke up without really knowing he was doing so. "I'll also spread the charm."...He didn't feel comfortable with anyone else currently in the Great Hall. He needed to stay close to what was familiar. For his sanity. And...he wanted to contribute. Offensive attacks and search and rescue...weren't things he'd really be that helpful with. Unless they could get him to a chemical closet...in which case, he could make fire bombs for them to throw...

.

.

"...............!!" What was that about the basilisk's scent? Where did one acquire that sort of thing?....and could he get some to rub behind his ears? JUST IN CASE!!!.....Though, if any acromantula were close enough to smell it, he'd probably have already fainted on the spot and been eaten...

With his hands loose, and THAT THOUGHT firmly in his head, Gabe nervously tapped his wand against his leg; eyes darting around the room from face to face. He didn't like the idea of splitting up. STILL. That's how people were killed. Weren't they aware of the rules?! HAD NO ONE SEEN SCREAM?!

So, essentially, Gabriel was going to stay put and stress himself into a coma about everyone leaving the room to do the dangerous things. Especially if they were his friends.

Toby wasn't leaving............was he?

He nodded as Jay told Chris that mum had said they were really good at defense. Just, they didn't know very many spells! What was he going to do, shoot water at the spiders? Or levitate them? He certainly wasn't going to use the gravity one!

He watched as Jay went to where Toby was under the table. Even a big seventh year was frightened! Torie wanted to hide under the table too but mum might be a little embarrassed if she knew he'd gone to hide. He had to be strong and smart. He really just wanted to go home now. His eyes went to Chris when he slipped under the table now too. Now he was sitting there all alone on the bench! People were making plans around him and he was all alone with Jay and Chris now under tables!

He bit his lip and looked over at Jay as Toby got up and moved away. Jay seemed so calm about it all. he was sure that Jay wouldn't be so calm if he'd ran away from those spiders!

Javier was there all along after assisting Sabel with the firestorm on cooking up the remaining spiders. It was what they had planned all along as a last effort to get the remaining students inside the Great Hall. "Nicely done, I'll check the others." He clapped his shoulder before escorting the newly joined students to their respectable House gatherings.

It was near gut-wretching to see the student carried off, but what could he do? Get back at them that was what, it had been not so long ago when he had unknowingly gotten students into danger so it only wise of him to not want the same mistake to happen again. His eyes searched around to account those still here and who were not. It looked to be Annie with some students missing.

So when the rescue plan was being announced, the Creatures Professor made sure to step forward. "Allow me to assist in the attack," and then there was that voice, mentioning of the Creature Housing. The soon to no longer be a student, "They're fine.. Mr. Fuller-Thompson, all locked up with the charms necessary to keep them safe from any other entry. Checking on them now will only bring more danger." Which reminded him, "Those who have pets in the Creature Housing... They are safe. Now when this is all done, you are more than welcome to request them to return to you." There were quite a few fairies and someone's Crup still inside from his current memory. Now they just had to make it back safe.

First time at Hogwarts and this... madness happened? Of course Jackson didn't really expect this when he decided (actually his parents did) to move here. And there's no turning back now.

He just kept silent and tried not to panic. At least that was the right thing to do now, right? Not talking, not panicking, just kept silent and listened to the next instruction. Mainly from Quigley because he had plans. Hmmm... "I'm confident enough to attack the spider, sir." The Korean guy spoke up. He felt like he needed to do something. He couldn't just stay here so he wanted to help, but he's not really good in transfiguration and there were many people who joined the search and rescue. Well, maybe attacking the acromantulas wasn't easy. In fact, it was too risky but he was sure that his charms skill are good enough for that.

Botros appeared from the small room behind the staff dais, and came hurrying (as much hurrying as his body would allow him) towards the meeting. He saw several terrified students, stuttering and wide-eyed. A desire to blast the entire creepy clan emerged from within. Those poor kids. "We need the help of specialists," he spoke softly to the staffer directly next to him, which happened to be professor Glendower. From the tip of his wand a silvery eagle erupted and soared up to the enchanted ceiling. It was a message to the magical creatures department head at the ministry to come and assist them.

"Let's do as the professor say!" Botros went to the grab himself a tablecloth to appear as a basilisk as well.

Clara had run before, obviously, but this ..... this was a whole different kind of running. After Brian had woken her up - by splashing water in her face, thank you very much - he'd told her exactly what was going on and that they had been told to gather in the Great Hall. When she heard that, she knew she needed to get there as soon as possible, which was why she was now practically dragging Brian along behind her to make sure they both got there. If she was right, teachers and able students would be putting defensive spells as soon as they could, which would prevent herself and Brian from being able to enter. At least, not without taking them down, and she did not want to cause such a risk to the rest of the school.

Wand at the ready, she drew closer to the Great Hall.

"Are you o-okay, B-Brian?" She called behind her, hoping the little man's leg were holding up.

We made it, she meant to call out, but she had very little breath left. She slipped inside and immediately collapsed against the wall ... eyes squeezed shut .... ears ringing .... chest heaving ......... "We made it," she whispered, catching her breath. Clara looked at Brian. "We're safe," she assured him, half lying. Technically, they were safe, but only for now.

Despite the fact she felt physically unable to, she forced herself to stand. She'd made it this far and not been eaten by an acromantula, she could more. She didn't want to be weak. She wanted to help.

She took a deeeeeeeeep breath.

Clara scanned the crowd and saw teachers, Prefects and students, all in a panic, all yelling. Strangely enough, she could see them yelling, but not hear them ..... everything seemed to be slower .... more distant and .... wait- she knew the back of that head. "Gabriel," she said quietly, squinting, and let out a breath. It had to be. Where was Eden, though? She was going to look for her, but her legs had other ideas. Before she knew it, she found herself sprinting towards Gabe.... She would ask him where Eden was when she reached him....but first, well, she had to reach him.

She called out his name.

Half watching the doors and half keeping an eye out for any and all his friends, Benzi waited impatiently for Quigley to talk about the rescue mission. Yes, he was impressed with the idea of making the spiders think they had a basilisk on their hands but honestly could they pull it off? Basilisks were more than just large snakes and animals had instincts for exactly these reasons.

BUT. Perhaps the spellwork would be so astounding that they'd fall for it. In any case, Benzi was half listening to this and half still trying to spot his friends. A lot of people... looked really bad. Toby and Sophie.. Gabe looked like he was about to faint and Eden wasn't really faring much better. Were they holding hands? In the beginning of the year they almost tore each other's heads off, what happened?! Even some professors were looking worse for wear...

Where was Evie? Hayley? CUTTY? Surely Cutty was alright. If anyone would make it out of here alive it would be Cutty. Abandoning his post by the doors - surely the Professors milling about would handle a surprise attack in the seconds it would take him to run back here? - Benzi searched around in the crowds looking for his hopefully uninjured friends. And one who wasn't a friend at all but was all the more important. He couldn't handle MORE people ending up as spider chew toys.

Speaking of, "Professor Quigley sir, I'd like to be a part of the rescue team!" he called out and made his way over. Noel was his friend, there was no way he'd be left behind to play pretend at being a basilisk while some other students went to rescue him. He was going on this rescue mission and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Noel was NOT GOING TO DIE. Not today. Not for a VERY. LONG. TIME. He wouldn't let him. No more dying.

The chaos that was the great hall was overwhelming for even someone like Damien, who's family thrived on disorder and mischief. A rescue mission, a fight, what were they going to do about the younger students? Damien's mind was on everything but himself.

It was a shame Amelia or Evie weren't around to keep him from doing something stupid, because bum leg or not he was about to do just that. "I volunteer for stunning team." He said, his smooth voice showing none of the trepidation he felt within.

He was thinking of Lux, of Cinna, of Rorie and even his mother and how idly he'd sat by while all of them had gone through some great injury. No more, Damien would stand and he'd help fight off the horde. It was time to stop being a cowardly lion.

Saul wasn't far behind the other shopkeepers who had come over to offer their assistance. He had made his way through the mayhem just outside the castle and managed to make his way inside the Great Hall where he hung back listening to all that was going on around him including the tail end of what sounded like a plan to get the overgrown spiders back to the forest.

A man of little words, he didn't have much to add to the discussion as he hung back to the side listening to the suggestions. But there was no doubt he'd join in the fight and there was no doubt he'd enjoy it. It was about time he got in on some action. For now though, he'd wait to see wait they needed to do first to enact this plan.

Angel looked at the Librarian as he seemed to get angry with her, she didn't like that at all and she blushed like crazy. "I'm sorry Mr Librarian, Sir." Angel sighed, trying to stop the tears from coming, he was mad with her and that broke her tiny little heart. "I just don't want to see you or any of the awesome professors getting hurt." Angel wanted to try and save them all, her friends and family and everyone else. "I'll help whoever goes to the forbidden forest." Angel really wanted to shoot some spells at something and a spider felt like the perfect target to practice on.

With the fear, the excitement, the adrenaline, and the worry, the desire to throw up was the strongest emotion Evangeline currently possessed. She scratch on her arm was burning, she was pretty sure she had a fever, and her head was pounding like there were a thousand nargles in there, desperate to beat their way out of her skull. She pushed through the discomfort and the crowds of people to find a particular boy in particular. If she felt like this, she could only imagine how Damien felt.

Ah, and she found him, right as he volunteered his crippled self to try and save some people. "No, you don't," she urged as she walked up behind him, her good arm looping into his for support. "You'll get yourself killed." He couldn't RUN, let alone walk very far. Dumb Gryffindor.

Wait, was that Benzi? ALSO signing up to get himself killed?

Marsha was trying not to listen to anything. Between her fellow students freaking out and the teachers trying badly to reassure them, she’d rather NOT hear anything… but that wasn’t working either because her blood was pumping so loudly she could hear it in her ears and she swore she could hear twice as well as she normally could.

Though… speaking of impairments she should really find her Aunt Xandra… She was blind and her heart was suddenly racing at the fact she could still be in the Ravenclaw common room…. though she wasn’t deaf so she would have head Professor Kitridge and the others leaving… right? Right. Don’t freak out again. Not again.

… WHAT DID BELLAIRE JUST SAY? EATEN?

No. No. NO. NOPE. No. Just not happening.

Burrying her face in Adi’s neck again she muttered no no no as she listened to him talking to the others around them.

Woah. Wait. What?

They were going to rescue the others? Okay… she knew that would happen; wanted it to even but it made her heart hurt and her body tremble to think about loosing more of her friends. Looking up with sad eyes, she looked at the three older students who had protected her. ”I will find my aunt… Xandra? She’s a Ravenclaw, sixth year… I’ll stay with her. The Professors need... “ She paused sniffing, NO. no tears. She hoped they would recognise her aunts name, 'cause she didn't like using her blindness as her 'distinguishing feature'. ”They need their strongest students to help them… I won’t stop you from helping.”

That didn’t mean that she was moving from the hug that she was getting though. She would move when she didn’t too - but right now she needed to reassure herself that Adi, AJ and Yoongi (along with the REST of the school) weren’t away to all die a horrible death…

No, you don't.
Damien almost wondered if somehow or another Evie had begun to sense when he was having bad ideas, it certainly seemed that why to the young man, how else did the lanky black girl always end up at his side, ready to drag him away? Damien peered at her carefully before answering, she looked pale and sickly, in other words, she looked the way he felt. "I have to do something, I can't just sit back." He said, turning a little to face her.

It was strange. In this moment she reminded him of a lot of people, Amelia, Rorie, even in a weird way, Barton. Evie was looking out for him just the way they all did and in this moment he was filled with affection and fondness for her. Damien hugged her tight, arms wrapping around her small waist, bringing her close to him. "I'll be okay, but I'm overdue for a spot of good luck." He said, tugging lightly on a strand of her black hair, arms still around her.

Finally he pulled back. "You're not okay, you need a healer." Of course, Damien was one to talk, but he could deal with his injury, he was a man.

Or at least he was pretending to be one.

Yep, she was already headed towards Professor Flamsteed. Who was volunteering to stay. Which was a good thing, because then she couldn't be accused of not being a Gryffindor if she stayed behind as well. She didn't think it was a good idea to be out there fighting with a newly healed rib. It needed to babyed.

Also, Heather was wondering why it seemed like Quigley was in charge. "Where's the Headmistress?" she asked, coming up behind the group of Gryffindors. 'Cause, you know, she'd kind of missed the first part of the speech there. "Staying too, by the way."

For reals?

"Ooh..." he fidgeted a bit more, as if he had to go to the bathroom, but he was itching to go back and get his precious toad. Alas, professor's words were like...law, right? "Okay. Maybe." His stomach felt simply awful. Biting the inside of his cheek, he took a deep breath...

POUT.



Before he knew it, people were YELLING and SCHEMING and something about BASILISKS.

He'd heard his head of house say something about staying back and defending, which, the young lad couldn't have felt more relieved. Going out and rescuing whoever it was that was captured was great and all in his imagination, but the reality of it all... it was terrifying.

"MARSHA!" he called, suddenly spotting the familiar redheaded girl.

BOOM! Confidence boost.