Whaaaaaat are THOOOOOOOOOOSE!? Charlotte had been on her way to go say hi to Professor Sabel and stuff but on the way she had found a little slither of light just happen to fall across her face as she passed a couple of double doors.

Double doors WHICH were slightly ajar.

SO OF COURSE she had popped her head inside, and in the next moment she had seen a whole ton of exciting gargoyles and so then she had followed her head with her body and in a flash was inside the hall proper.



OOOOOH.

SHE WAS GONNA STICK HER HEAD INSIDE A DRAGON'S MOUTH YEAH!

With his stomach now filled with pumpkin juice from the Great Hall, Adi took off for the rest of the Castle and soon found himself before the Hall of Statues. If he remembered correctly, Beatrice had used statues for the younger students to transfigure them into mushrooms. Yep, here would be perfect to continue with his practice then.

The moment he entered the Hall, he found the Hippogriff statue. Even in marble the creature looked majestic and real. After casting a fond look at the thing, he moved over to the statue to the Griff's right. A grindylow. You, Mr Grindylow, had the honour of being turned into a mushroom. LOL.

Adi started off by practicing the wand movement and then the incantation silently. When he was pretty sure he was ready, he raised his wand. ''Fungifors!'' Annnnd there went the 'n' shaped movement. Adi waited for five seconds before figuring no mushroom was coming. Drat!

"Fungifors!'' he tried again silently. Nope, still nothing. Ahhh, what a stubborn grindylow! He tried twice more before FINALLY! A pinkish umbrella mushroom lay before him. Wheeee!

There was little that surprised him these days. Or maybe it was that everything surprised him, so it was such a natural occurrance he really didn't have to think twice about it. Like a constantly runny nose. Always sniffling, but eventually it became just habit. Similarily, questioning the choices and habits and actions of students was a constant thing, but a background conversation somewhere at the base of his skull that persisted day in and day out.

Today, in the moment of walking by the hall of statues (and immediately doing a back peddle), was no exception. Naturally, the hall had been designed for study and learning and the intriuged mind.

And naturally, that of course meant students were liable to get into some predicament or another. Like this one. Who had found one of the dragon statues and was giving it's open mouth that look. That calculating look that said there was a bad idea, and said student intended to go along with the bad idea, no matter how bad it was, just to see if it could possibly be a good idea.

And this student he knew. So, of course, he just couldn't walk on by. Instead, he walked right up behind the young girl, put his hands on his hips and stared up at the dragon's mouth himself.

"Need a boost?"

For what, he couldn't imagine. But there was a bit of a height difference between the dragon, and the girl.

Char bent backwards to see who was there, hands on her hips. OOOH HI SABEL!

"Yeah!" A boost! "I was just going to climb." She admitted, "But a boost would be good. I'm going to stick my head in there!" She pointed at the dragon statue, expression both fearless and delighted. Because why NOT put her head in there? WHY NOT?

"OH Sabel! SABEL! Is its insides hollow? MAYBE I could go all the way in and then scare people by ROARING and stuff when they walk by!"

Ohwait. Pausepausepause. "Professor Sabel." She corrected herself belatedly. Hard to remember sometimes!

So that's what was going on inside her little head. Sabel put his own hands on his hips, looking very much like he might be ready to give a stern lecture. At least he would have, had not there been an amused twinkle in his eyes and twitch at the corner of his lips.

"Well, that wouldn't have been very safe, would it? Almost more dangerous than climbing inside a dragon's belly." Swallowing back the laughter getting ready to build, Sabel tilted his own head back. "It's a loong way up."

And of course, that meant there was only one option. After glancing about to make sure no one was watching, Sabel squatted down and pointed to his back. "Climb aboard. I'll give you a boost."

And if anyone asked? Children were going to do what they were going to do. The difference was how they did it, and if they told anyone. If they learned to do things with some responsibility and trust in adult figures, any unfortunate circumstances that followed would likely be easier to handle and hear about. If there was only sternness, it was likely they would never confide in times of trouble.

And yes, there was a bit of his own childish nature coming out.

"I really don't know what's inside, if anything. I just ordered these things. Never thought to ask." And no, he wasn't about to admit to himself or anyone else he was going to let a child climb inside a dragon, stone as it was.

"And it's Professor Dakest to you missy." A statement that was said with the least amount of conviction and enforcement as anything else. Yes, there was a grin. And yes, he completely didn't mean it.

"Well I'm actually a really good climber," Charlotte informed him, "Ask Emma."

Not that she was setting a bad example for his small daughter or anything like that.

:Whistle:

.... at least not intentionally.

She looked UP at the dragon and nodded confidently. It WAS pretty high, but that was SORT OF what made it fun, really, right? Or there'd be no point because it would mean just anyone might come along and have the same idea and be able to do it instantly rather than actually WORK FOR IT.


She studied Sabel the professor for a moment while he looked around and then immediately broke into a full beam smile (with a hint of wicked mischief) when he pointed at his back. YEAH! TEAM CHARBEL! TEAM DAKETTLE! OOH. OOH. TEAM DABURN! As in dragon flame, as in FEEL DA BURN! She immediately took advantage and climbed right on his strong back. It was SUCH a dad back too, did he know? She knew, because she'd been on her own dad's back a ton of times. Dad backs were the best kind because no matter WHAT you knew that they were safe and you would be OKAY and never fall.

"Well we're going to find out! You know what, you might be able to use them to hide important things! Everyone needs good hiding places." Pause. "And I promise I won't tell!"

.... oh yeah. GIGGLE.

"Its not that I forget, its just that its hard to remember sometimes!" This was, in Char's mind, not at all the same thing. He was Emma's DAD. And if she started calling him Professor DAKEST did that mean she would also have to start calling Arya MRS DAKEST because that would be SO WEIRD hah!

And actually she was suddenly reminded about a question that had been BURNING at her for a long time.

"Professor Sa--DAKEST," Lulz, "How come chocolate is against the rules in your class?"

Cue eyebrow arch and as much of a disapproving look as he could muster. "I think I'd rather ask where you've been climbing about." Hopefully just trees and rocks and normal things like that. Still, he couldn't help the smile that tickled at the corner of his lips. "And Emma had better know if you're good or not. I taught her everything she knows about it."

So if there was anything evaluating climbing skills, he would leave it up to his daughter.

As for the matter of the dragon, well, this was supervised. So, no harm no foul. And if anyone asked, well he was trying out a new form of detention.

Once the young girl was on his back, Sabel took a second to make sure she was steady and secure. Then, slowly and with great effort and a lot of huffing and hawing and grawing, he stood up. All an act of course, but where was the fun in being normal about such things. He even added a wobble to his footing, one that nearly tipped her off but was completely safe, because he had her. "Merlin. What did you eat for lunch? Stones?"

And then, they were under the dragon's gaping mouth. A hiding spot huh? He tilted his head back to try and peer between her and the dragon. "Not a half bad idea. But what am I going to hide? Naughty children?"

He grinned at her. The name thing didn't bother him at all, and by her reaction she knew that. Charolette was a good kid. Raised right, with the proper amount of trouble mixed in. Such as that question.

Rolling his eyes, Sabel shook his head. "Because everyone keeps asking me, that's why."

"Well mum's friend Garrett told me that mum climbed the Whomping Willow and saddled it and rode it one time, so I want to do that eventually." Not yet though, she didn't know the spell to stop the tree from whomping long enough to saddle up a branch yet. But it was on the list. "Mostly just trees and walls and things like that. My cousins showed me how to climb walls and doorframes and inside things." It didn't occur to her to keep silent about these things, because it was professor Sabel Dakest, amd she had always found, of all parent people that she knew, he was the most reasonable about important things.

Char clinged a bit at the near-fall but also whooped in enjoyment because BAHAHA how funny if he fell over right? It would be.

"No stones, but I AM twelve now." So. That was probably why she was super heavy now. WAY heavier than she had been at eleven, back at the start of December.

Char stretched up a bit to grab towards the mouth but couldn't quite reach. The boost would have to be a bit more boost-y. She'd have to climb him first. His shoulders looked strong enough though, so she started scrabbling up a bit higher.

"Not children, TREASURE!" Probably. He had some right? Aurors probably found a ton of that, maybe even more than pirates.

She stretched up a bit more, listening about the chocolate (multitasking).

"Well chocolate tastes good and everything but I wasn't asking because I want some, I was asking because its Defense Against the Dark Arts, and chocolate IS defense against SOME dark arts, like to recover from attacks by mood-altering dark creatures like dementors and pogrebins, right?" So that was why she was asking, because it just struck her as a curious thing to be banned in a class like this one.

"Did she really? Impressive." Very impressive. "You just make sure you tell someone what foolish thing you are going to pull before you do it, okay? And make sure you have some good padding on too. And know some sheild spells and charms."

Was he encouraging? Maybe. But again, if she was going to do it, she was going to do it. Best to let a child know how to safely do something, than have them get hurt by not thinking of some important safety issue. Riding the whomping willow though? The kid had guts.

"Sounds like you've got some good practice going there. You'll be a little ninja in no time." And possibly a right terror to deal with, but he left that unsaid. For now, as Defense Professor, he was merely encouraging her practice of survival and evasive techniques. "At least I won't have to worry about getting you back out of this then."

As in, he wouldn't have to blow up the dragon statue just to save her. It would be a right pity.

Grinning at the girl's whooping and her return comment about her weight, Sabel shook his head and made sure to steady himself. Especially since she seemed taken to climbing up right onto his shoulders. He made sure to keep his hands on her feet, steadying her. "What? Twelve?! Surely not. You can't be a day over ten!"

Tilting his head back, he grinned up at the child. "Treasure? Aren't children treasure? I swear I heard that somewhere..." From his wife most likely, but at the moment that was besides the point.

And then his grin faded to a flat expression. Really? Really. She wasn't the first student to put forth such a sound argument, nor did he think she'd be the last. "True enough point. But chocolate is a tool. Not something to rely on. I want you all to get used to relying on different things, when you are defending yourselves. Allowing chocolate would give too constant a tool, and you'd get used to it."

Did it make sense? Would she understand? Or would she come up with a brilliant counter argument? Maybe stuffing her inside a dragon wasn't a bad idea after all. Would at least prevent her from starting a revolution on the chocolate front.

"What about if I don't realize its foolish until after I've done it?" Charlotte asked curiously. Because honestly, usually when she did things, she thought they were the BEST ideas ever. But the padding thing she thought could be pretty smart. She made a mental note to look into that. "Could you teach me some? I know mostly theory things." But OH she really wanted to learn!

"My cousin is practically a ninja! He can do kicks and things and run up walls and everything! He taught me how to climb up door frames!" But that was about all she'd managed as far as all that went, mostly because she lacked the discipline to practice and get better in something that was only a whim to begin with. "You don't have to worry anyway because I won't do dumb things that get you fired, I'd pretend like it was just me if it went bad." She informed him loyally. Co-conspirators, they were.

She was balancing pretty good with him steadying her feet and Char looked down and gasped. TEN?

"I really am twelve! Really!" Practically grown up! So what if her height hadn't quite realized it yet. And besides, it wasn't that bad being small because people always thought that you were innocent and couldn't possibly be up to no good and you never knew when you might need to use that to your advantage.

The 'children as treasure' thing got the look it deserved. "I mean things that would be treasure to everyone. Some people think children are pests you know!" Obviously not him! And she wasn't one! Nobody could think that about her, just OTHER children probably.

She tilted her head to one side and considered this chocolate thing.

"Okay..... but its weird that its specifically chocolate that we can't have, like instead of food in general. I have to admit it KIND of makes me want chocolate even more!" JUST being honest. "Is all that the REAL reason why no chocolate though or do you just not like it?" Out of curiosity. "Has anyone ever relied on chocolate too much and DIED?" She wanted to know EVERYTHING behind this one rule. It was SO INTERESTING.

Char gripped the dragon's mouth. IT WAS TIME.

"That's when you say sorry." Smooth, Sabel. Real smooth. But really, what other advice could you give to such a question? There wasn't much. Aside from saying don't do anything foolish, and well, he knew that wasn't even a remote possibility. "And you have a 'Foolish Plan Backup', in case foolishness sneaks up on you."

As for learning, Sabel tilted his head back and considered the dragon maw of a mouth above them. "Teaching is what I'm here for. You know, besides shoving children inside the bellies of dragons." Priorities of course. "Your cousin sounds like a good source though. Evasion techniques are quite handy-dandy."

Really, even he wanted to know who to run up walls. Wasn't really his forte.

A frown worked its way across his expression at her determination to get him off the hook. "That's very adult of you. I now believe you are twelve." Really, what kid would take the rap for something bad they were both involved in? "But I don't want you taking the flack for my actions. Very noble, but also unfair. I'm a grown up, I can handle the heat."

And with that, he made sure she was steady and raised up on his tipetoes, lifting her slightly so she could reach the dragon's mouth. Really, he was a complete adult. As long as no one walked in the door at that moment.

Still, the laughter that came from him didn't do much for secrecy. "Pests. Really? Where'd you hear that?" Her mother no doubt. He laughed again. "Suppose, but once you have a pest for long enough it becomes like a treasure. Hard to live without all the irritating tendencies."

So yes, he did believe children were treasures, in their own ways. "Can you get it? Or into it, rather?" Or did he have to shrink her too?

As for the chocolate thing, he really didn't understand what was up with the kids. "See? You wouldn't ask that of an apple, would you? No, because very few people are dependent on apples. Chocolate is a dependency, that replaces other things. Things like focus, and trained thoughts. Can't really be self reliant and resourceful if you want chocolate to solve all your problems and stabilize your emotions. I'm sure there's been someone, somewhere that has died either because of chocolate, or because of a distraction caused by it. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ringing any bells?"

Did she see? Probably not.

"And of course I like chocolate. I have to. My wife does."

So he was giving her permission to just go on as usual and only say sorry if it turned out to be foolish after? What if she wasn't actually sorry? Did she just say sorry anyway? Was that enough? It SOUNDED LIKE ENOUGH according to Sabel anyways.

"Wait what? A foolish BACK UP plan?" Colour her intrigued. "Does that mean a back up plan for when you do something foolish, or a back up plan that IS foolish?" Both sounded kind of .... kind of.... FUN! YEAH!

Char nodded about her cousin. Yes. Yes Angelo was a good source, but also he wasn't here, and her attention was wandering now, because she was about to climb into a dragon.

"What's it like? Being a grown up?" Charlotte asked suddenly. "Are you a different person to what you were when you were a kid, just all of a sudden?" Because she wanted to avoid THAT if possible.

Pests. Treasure. Hmmm. Charlotte nodded sagely. She supposed she DID understand. "Some people think my snails are pests, but I don't let them eat their gardens so I don't even know why."

And now she was in prime position for getting inside that dragon.

"I can get it! I can fit!" Yeah! She launched up and lifted herself into the gaping maw of the dragon statue. Hmmm! ECHOEY IN HURRR!

She called back (with echo), "But apples don't make people feel better after dementor attacks." See? She knew things too. "You could ban all personal chocolate stashes, but allow medically administered chocolate, if it was you or the healer that gave it to us." She added, thinking herself very grown up and logical about this whole thing.

Char turned herself around nimbly and went feet first down the dragon's gullet, which was indeed hollow. Will he wonker?

"What's a wonker? What if he won't wonker?" She/dragon asked, the echo of the stone changing her voice rather remarkably. "Oh! THIS IS PERFECT! I'll do a ROAR voice. READY?" She deepened her voice as best she could: "ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR GHHH!"