Kate shook her head no when Caleb asked if she'd read anything about how long rats can survive in the wild without any food. "I haven't, but to be honest, the wild is their natural habitat. They're not really meant to be domesticated, so I'd say it's a safe bet your rat knows how to survive on its own," she answered. "I'd guess that he can survive a lifetime out there." She smiled at him. Even though she'd just told him his pet really didn't need him, she hoped that he at least got the part where she assured him Beans wasn't passed out dead somewhere.

Kate gave Caleb a raise of the eyebrows when he seemed surprised that his twin sister wore make-up. "Of course she does. She's what? Seventeen?" Kate asked. Something like that. Kate thought it was a given that all older teenage girls wore makeup. Kate grinned when he asked her if she was old enough to wear make-up. "I think so. I'm thirteen, so it seems about right." She didn't know if there was some official age to start wearing make-up, but being a teenager seemed to be a good qualification.

She raised her eyebrows a second time when he mentioned that he and Sophie planned to take over the world. Those kind of dreams seemed kind of childish for their age, but Kate didn't mention that. Maybe he meant they planned to run for Minister of Magic one day or something. "Oh, well, good luck with that. Any good ideas so far?" she asked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Kate shook her head no when Caleb asked if she'd read anything about how long rats can survive in the wild without any food. "I haven't, but to be honest, the wild is their natural habitat. They're not really meant to be domesticated, so I'd say it's a safe bet your rat knows how to survive on its own," she answered. "I'd guess that he can survive a lifetime out there." She smiled at him. Even though she'd just told him his pet really didn't need him, she hoped that he at least got the part where she assured him Beans wasn't passed out dead somewhere.

Kate gave Caleb a raise of the eyebrows when he seemed surprised that his twin sister wore make-up. "Of course she does. She's what? Seventeen?" Kate asked. Something like that. Kate thought it was a given that all older teenage girls wore makeup. Kate grinned when he asked her if she was old enough to wear make-up. "I think so. I'm thirteen, so it seems about right." She didn't know if there was some official age to start wearing make-up, but being a teenager seemed to be a good qualification.

She raised her eyebrows a second time when he mentioned that he and Sophie planned to take over the world. Those kind of dreams seemed kind of childish for their age, but Kate didn't mention that. Maybe he meant they planned to run for Minister of Magic one day or something. "Oh, well, good luck with that. Any good ideas so far?" she asked.

"Eh, I dunno...you've never met Beans," Caleb told her. He stood up and brushed his clothes off, getting rid of the dirt and bit of snow that was stuck to his robes now. "He hardly even moves when it's mealtime. He prefers I hold it out to him - but if I resist, he gets up eventually," he explained. Beans took the term 'sedentary lifestyle' to a whole new level. But maybe if he was FORCED to find his own food and live on his own WITHOUT Caleb, he'd be fine. Circumstance and all...

But then, he didn't need HIM anymore. That was kind of...sad. Caleb didn't know if he wanted Beans to be independent!

"ALMOST seventeen. A little less than a month to go," he told her with a grin. Then he'd be LEGAL and - LOOK OUT WORLD! Hehe. "I dunno, I have a hard time thinking of Sophie as a real GIRL sometimes. She's my sister, it's like...a whole separate thing. You know? Do you have any siblings?" he asked. Maybe then she'd know what he was talking about...otherwise he probably just sounded totally insane.

But it was true. Sophie was just...SOPHIE. The only time he really registered that she was a girl was when boys were flirting with her.

Oh, she thought he was serious? Geez. Ravenclaw much? Taking things so LITERAL and stuff...he chuckled and shook his head. "Nah, we're just kidding. We jokingly refer to each other as our partners in crime and stuff...it's just always been like that, being twins. Although if Sophie wanted to take over the world I have no doubt she could. I'd probably just ride her coattails to the top," he said with a grin.

Kate raised her eyebrows. "Hmm. Maybe he's found a nice, comfy bed somewhere, and he's just lounging around all the time," she said. "Have you tried some 'Missing' posters? Maybe somebody found him, and they're keeping him as their pet, because they don't realize he belongs to somebody else." Kate tried to give him an encouraging look. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. I bet he's trying to find you as hard as you're trying to find him. Sooner or later, the two of you are bound to meet up."

"Oh, almost seventeen," Kate said. "Might as well say seventeen, though." It was close enough. Kate nodded. "I have a little brother named Ryland. He's two." She laughed when Caleb encouraged her he was only joking about him and his sister taking over the world. "I know. I was just humoring you." You never actually knew about some people, though. Adi was a sixth year, too, and he thought he had a Batmobile somewhere. Maybe it was just a boy thing. They could be so weird.

"I think I'm heading back to the castle," she said, edging toward the exit. "I hope you find your rat."

The treehouse it was. It was another scheduled break from her NEWT study, and Zhenya had gone for a walk. She could barely remember how she had walked so far, her mind full of arithmancy equations and runes, yet here she was. Standing in front of the treehouse. There was a rope ladder, which looked sturdy. Zhenya reached out and climbed up to the treehouse. Once up there, she went inside and sat where she had a nice view of outside.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

The treehouse it was. It was another scheduled break from her NEWT study, and Zhenya had gone for a walk. She could barely remember how she had walked so far, her mind full of arithmancy equations and runes, yet here she was. Standing in front of the treehouse. There was a rope ladder, which looked sturdy. Zhenya reached out and climbed up to the treehouse. Once up there, she went inside and sat where she had a nice view of outside.

There was no wonder as to why the astronomer had gone unnoticed by the passing student or wandering creature as he slept in one of the comfortable chairs in the treehouse. With his copy of Foundation lying unceremoniously at an angle on his stomach, looking as though it could take a tumble to the floor at any moment, the Astronomy professor lay with his head hanging over the back of the armrest while he legs hung off the other end, his toes just barely not touching the floor.

He made no real sound, save for the occasional and especially loud breathing, and his mouth DID twitch into a smile from time to time, however.

Zhenya found herself settle into the corner chair, as she watched the happenings outside. It was a few moments until she leant away from the window and looked around the treehouse that she noticed a body. Zhenya frowned, how had she not noticed it before? And was... was that Professor... It was! What was Professor Flamsteed doing in the treehouse? Asleep? He certainly wasn't dead; dead people don't breathe or... smile. Was he just daydreaming? Zhenya decided it best to clear her throat. With noise. HEM HEM. Funny things happen when people wake up when there appears someone who wasn't there before. Best to make herself present. Even if he was asleep. Thinking about it, she realised the loud throat clearing might have been a bit rude. Perhaps this was the only spot in or outside the castle he got some rest, and here she was disrupting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Zhenya found herself settle into the corner chair, as she watched the happenings outside. It was a few moments until she leant away from the window and looked around the treehouse that she noticed a body. Zhenya frowned, how had she not noticed it before? And was... was that Professor... It was! What was Professor Flamsteed doing in the treehouse? Asleep? He certainly wasn't dead; dead people don't breathe or... smile. Was he just daydreaming? Zhenya decided it best to clear her throat. With noise. HEM HEM. Funny things happen when people wake up when there appears someone who wasn't there before. Best to make herself present. Even if he was asleep. Thinking about it, she realised the loud throat clearing might have been a bit rude. Perhaps this was the only spot in or outside the castle he got some rest, and here she was disrupting it.

Waking with a start, Airey book dropped to the floor and he grunted while flailing to sit up. Never mind the little dribble of drool that was trickling out the right corner of his mouth. It had been quite the peaceful sleep, most likely thanks to the fresh air of being outside of the castle. Making some sort of soft grumbling noises, the sort one would expect from a person who was just waking up, he turned his head look towards the source of the noise.

"Ah, Miss Burton," he greeted with a small yawn. He looked down at his lap and pursed his lips. "Have you seen my book by any chance?"

It had just been right here...

Zhenya had to bite her tongue to stop herself from giggling. Oops... she had woken Professor Flamsteed, and his BOOK dropped to the floor. "Er... hello Professor," she greeted nervously. Perhaps she should have just backed out of the treehouse and left him to sleep. Too late now. "It's... it fell off you, it's just there," she pointed to the floor. "I'm sorry to disturb you, I hope I didn't just spoil your secret napping place." That sounded like something Zhenya wanted; a secret napping place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Zhenya had to bite her tongue to stop herself from giggling. Oops... she had woken Professor Flamsteed, and his BOOK dropped to the floor. "Er... hello Professor," she greeted nervously. Perhaps she should have just backed out of the treehouse and left him to sleep. Too late now. "It's... it fell off you, it's just there," she pointed to the floor. "I'm sorry to disturb you, I hope I didn't just spoil your secret napping place." That sounded like something Zhenya wanted; a secret napping place.

Giving the Slytherin another groggy wave as his eyes readjusted to the light flooding in through the treehouse's windows. "Oh there it is, thank you," he whispered, accepting the book as he retrieved his bookmark from his enchanted breast pocket. Now...where had he left off?

"Hardly a secret napping spot," he mused, flipping through the pages until he found an unfamiliar chapter heading and stuck the bookmark in. "Just looking for a place to read and relax that was not covered with cobwebs. Had the unfortunate experience of swallowing some in my coffee the other day."

Zhenya considered that. No, she supposed it wasn't. Anyone could access the Treehouse. It looked nice and cozy, and it wasn't until Professor Flamsteed pointed it out that the Treehouse was the only place not covered in Hogwarts that she realised it was true. It was free of cobwebs. Zhenya looked around inside the Treehouse and took it in. It was nice, not being around those creepy cobwebs.

But at least she hadn't swallowed them. "Eww, that wouldn't have been a nice experience." Ugh, could she even imagine swallowing them? "The cobwebs are giving me the creeps. It's getting harder to concentrate knowing the... the..." gulp, "The spiders are somewhere close. I hate spiders." she shivered.

''Race you to the top!''

Adi laughed as he took off before he could even finish his statement, leaving Benny behind. He grabbed the ladder and began climbing it at warped speed. Yay for speed and agility! In no time he was up in the Treehouse. He peered down at his bestie. "Need a hand up? Those Beater arms may be out of shape.'' Hehe. Adi liked teasing Benny, you know.

The duo was up here play that game they had come up with in History of Magic. Well, not came up with. It was more of modifying Chutes and Ladders into something MUCH better. Adi had it with him. That, the dice and the Gobstones and he couldn't wait to get this game started!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Zhenya considered that. No, she supposed it wasn't. Anyone could access the Treehouse. It looked nice and cozy, and it wasn't until Professor Flamsteed pointed it out that the Treehouse was the only place not covered in Hogwarts that she realised it was true. It was free of cobwebs. Zhenya looked around inside the Treehouse and took it in. It was nice, not being around those creepy cobwebs.

But at least she hadn't swallowed them. "Eww, that wouldn't have been a nice experience." Ugh, could she even imagine swallowing them? "The cobwebs are giving me the creeps. It's getting harder to concentrate knowing the... the..." gulp, "The spiders are somewhere close. I hate spiders." she shivered.

Shoving his book gentle into his breast pocket, it was a bit tricky to do so without bending it too much due to width differences, he gave a playful shrug of the shoulders. "You know, spiders are in fact present here as well. Plenty of bugs in the great out doors for them to eat," he winked. "Apparently...they are rather important little things. Read about it in one of my books, actually. Entire story's premise was about the extinction of arachnids which, as it turns out, the world would face famine if such a thing existed."

Just some food for thought.

Although the thought of food only brought up memories of swallowing spider webs all over again and he instinctively began flicking his tongue in and out of his mouth like a snake; all while rubbing it against his top teeth as if scarping something off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

''Race you to the top!''

Adi laughed as he took off before he could even finish his statement, leaving Benny behind. He grabbed the ladder and began climbing it at warped speed. Yay for speed and agility! In no time he was up in the Treehouse. He peered down at his bestie. "Need a hand up? Those Beater arms may be out of shape.'' Hehe. Adi liked teasing Benny, you know.

The duo was up here play that game they had come up with in History of Magic. Well, not came up with. It was more of modifying Chutes and Ladders into something MUCH better. Adi had it with him. That, the dice and the Gobstones and he couldn't wait to get this game started!

One minute he and Adi had been walking out of doors and out towards the treehouse where they had agreed to play their game. For real this time. The next...his best friend had issued a challenge before cheating and trying to beat him. Benny was quick to move despite the delay but alas, the Hufflepuff was the first to reach the rungs of the ladder and the first to make his way up to the main platform of the tree house. It wasn't like the Gryffindor was really going to push him out of the way.

"It's the legs that fail..." he mused, continuing up himself, accepting the offered hand once he was close enough to take it. "Thanks," Benny said as he climbed onto the platform with Adi. The sixth year looking around for a perch for which to set up their game and finally pointing at a spot along one corner. "There?" he suggested, moving over.

Adi just had to laugh at what Benny said. "That's why you should fly,'' he suggested, his eyes wide with pretend shock that Benny hadn't known that. "Spread those great big wings and flyyyy!'' Cue the flapping of the arms from him. Hehe. Pay not attention to his craziness, peoples.

"Welcome!'' He clapped Benny on the shoulder as he surveyed the familiar Tree house. ''There's good!'' The sixth year Puffer bounded over to the corner indicated by the Lion, flopping down comfortably on one of the cushions. Now, he pulled the cardboard and other materials they would need for their game. "Get ready for more awesome beards, Benny.'' And Adi had his wand ready to snip away excess hair. Mhmmm. After setting up the board, he handed the dice over. "You go first.'' that was to make up for his bit of cheating just now. In the meanwhile, he would just watch the Hippogriffs fly around on the cardboard.

He should fly.

He would fly if he could, but Benny didn't have his broom and his state at the moment didn't have wings. The Gryffindor didn't even have a vial of his potion that had successfully gotten Gus to fly during the winter. "Funny..." he mused as Adi flapped his invisible wings before helping him up the last couple of feet. A clap on the shoulder while he was welcomed into the treehouse.

Settling down into the spot he had suggested and his bestie had agreed to, Benny watched as the Hufflepuff took out their game that they had picked up along the way. Once it was set uo, the moving dragons and hippogriffs were mildly hypnotic. Until he was passed the dice to play with. "Alright," he agreed, giving the dice both a shake in his hand before letting them loose on the board. A three and a five....so eight moves for his gobstone.

One....two...three...four...five....six....seven.. .eight.

Still staring at the Hippogriffs... then at the dragons... then baaaack to the Griffs!

Adi LOVED looking at the two creatures flying about. It was like looking at him and Benny. Hehe. Anywhhhhoooo, Benny was getting ready to roll. The Puffer watched as things got on the way with a big eight.

Then it was his turn!

He shook the dice and let them roll. Three and a two which equaled five. Adi grabbed a yellow prank gobstone to move five paces along the board. Rats! Had he gotten six, he would be able to fly up on the Hippogriff onto number thirteen. Ah, well.

"Your turn again, Benny!''

SPOILER!!: Free Hippogriff

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Still staring at the Hippogriffs... then at the dragons... then baaaack to the Griffs!

Adi LOVED looking at the two creatures flying about. It was like looking at him and Benny. Hehe. Anywhhhhoooo, Benny was getting ready to roll. The Puffer watched as things got on the way with a big eight.

Then it was his turn!

He shook the dice and let them roll. Three and a two which equaled five. Adi grabbed a yellow prank gobstone to move five paces along the board. Rats! Had he gotten six, he would be able to fly up on the Hippogriff onto number thirteen. Ah, well.

"Your turn again, Benny!''

His gobstone had bypassed any of the special spots marked on the board as he made his way across the bottom row. Of course it was only the first move and as he watched Adi as his friend made his own opening move, his attention was drawn between the badger and the other fake animated creatures. That animation spell was surely cool and all. He would be remembering it for stuff outside of schoolwork.

"So close..." he said, noticing how close Adi had gotten to the first hippogriff ladder. Meaning he himself was still in the lead...for now. The Gryffindor accepted the dice back from his companion and have them another shake before releasing them back onto the ground to see what he got this time around. He got a four and a one, equaling a five as well, and as he moved to place the prank gobstone to the place, Benny realized it was right where the hippogriff would have left off on spot 13.

"Now that would have been interesting," he mused, handing Adi back the dice. Might have needed to make a rule on what would have happened.

"Soooo close,'' Adi agreed with a dramatic sigh. "I could have beaten you by taking a hitch on the Griff.'' But this was not the case. He watched Benny have another go. Hmmm... "It most certainly would have been. Maybe we can think of something for that.'' But right now, the Hufflepuff didn't really care about that. What he was focused on was watching this game unfold!

Dice in hand again, he gave them a healthy shake then a toss. Five and two which meant a grand total of seven. Adi moved his Gobstone along appropriately only to come along to a... dragon.

"Sugar, we're going down swinging,'' he sung happily as he moved his Gobstone back to number five where the dragon was flying to and fro. He totally forgot about the Gobstone and the trick, by the way, which was why he gave a gasp of surprise when he was hit in the face with the liquid.

The hair on his face grew until he was sporting a spectacular handlebar mustache and a hairy chin.



"How do I look, Benny?'' Was there a mirror in this place?

One minute his friend was moving ahead the seven spaces his dice role gave him...the next the gobstone was sliding down the dragon's back. And he didn't have to guess that was the liquid did....he knew from experience.

"Goofy..." he said, grabing the dice and giving it a roll, not caring what actually showed up on the faces.

Goofy. Yesh! Adi would roll with that description. Grinning to himself, he watched Benny have another go as he watched the Griffs and Dragons fly to and from their respective numbers. It was actually the same working of Snakes and ladders but much more fun, especially in the visual department. See, how it worked was that the Hippogriffs flew between numbers, let's say 24 and 31. This meant that if the Gobstone should land on 24, the player with that Stone would move on up to number 31 with no beard and mustache added to them. With the dragons, it was the opposite. They flew to and from their number, yes, but let's take the one flying between 78 and 99. Should the player's Gobstone land on 99, they would be taking a slide alllll the way back to 78 with a hairy face. Hehe. Pretty simple right? Adi loved his and Benny's version a whole lot more.

Anywayyy, it was his turn again. Shake, shake, roll! Six plus four equaled ten! The Hufflepuff scooted his Gobstone up to number fifteen. Wheeee! He was safely past all the dragons there but this also meant no hairy face. Bummer.

Now he waited patiently while he stroked his beard and peered at Benny over his specs.