Humming on a tune Ursula shouldered her way into the deserted bathroom with a loud satisfied cackle. Perfect. She could wash the stench of children out of her clothes in privacy. No disturbances. Ursula would though like it very much if that handsome adult with the glasses and seer sight were to join her. She longed to inspect his aura more closely.

Placing her clothes into a washbasin Ursula got to work her bird having flown up to perch himself on top of one of the mirrors squawking eerily.

Rachel was off exploring on her own. Yes, she knew she had planned to do this with Noelle but they would still have lots of time to do that later because the Castle was so huge. See? She wasn't even sharing her adventure with any of her friends. This privilege belonged to her second year Gryffindor friend.

The girl soon found herself in very unfamiliar territory on the sixth floor. She pushed open the dilapidated looking door, her eyes scanning the area within. "Oh, it's an old bathroom,'' she said to herself but also wondering what the boxes contained.

Then she saw something... someone... that made her freeze. Oh, no. Not the creepy lady! Rachel had been doing her best to avoid the creepy, crazy lady and yet here she was. The eleven year old suddenly found herself wishing Professor Finch or Mr Kitrridge was around.

It had been a little while since Ansley had last been to Hogwarts before his appointment as History of Magic professor, and that was when he was a student. He had done quite a bit of exploring in his day, having found some of the nooks and crannies the castle had to offer to be rather fascinating. There was one particular secret passageway that he remembered and he was fairly sure it had been on the sixth floor.

Ansley had some free time on this particular day and he thought that this was as good a time as any to take a walk around the castle. He headed up to the sixth floor, wondering if that secret passage was still around. Of course, he couldn't quite remember exactly where it was, so he walked along the corridor, wondering if anything would jump out at him to jog his memory.

What was this door? Ansley stood in front of the rickety old door for a moment, trying to determine if it looked familiar. Strange and unusual, but he couldn't place it. And so he pushed it open to see what was behind it, soon coming face to face with young Rachel Watson and Madame Black.

Oh, oops, was this the ladies room? Really, here should be better signage. "Uh.. pardon me," he said, starting to back away, slightly embarrassed to have walked in on them. Though the place looked awfully dilapidated. "I'm.. not sure anything works in here.." Did they know? Another bathroom might be more suitable.

Hearing footsteps behind her Ursula turned and grinned crazily at freckles girl from the train as she cackled. "Hello dearie, have you come to use the loo? You are safe, you will not meet your doom here. All though i'd stay away from the Hogwarts Lake if i were you. Dark things lurk beneath the water there. They eat all live things."

Well, Well if it wasn't professor handsome face from the train. Cackling excitedly a quite horrid sound one might add Ursula trotted forth to grab the man's left arm as she cackled to him and pulled him towards the sinks. "Everything works in here, see? The water just has a bad murkey tone and smell. You'd have to beware of spreading rashes and diseases. Doom is coming."Dun de dun.

Rachel turned to escape from the woman but she practically ran into someone just as he spoke. Looking up, she saw it was none other than Professor Finch. She breathed a sigh of relief. Oh, thank goodness in the name of Ariel's love for all things human!

"Hello, Professor,'' she squeaked and hurriedly half hid behind his frame as the old woman spoke. Rachel refused to look at her. "I was just exploring,'' she said as she focused on Professor Handsome's hand which she was standing behind. Her doom? See? This was why that woman scared her. She was always predicting horrific things. "None of us will meet our doom,'' she whispered. "Don't you ever predict positive things?'' Yes, she was feeling brave now that Professor Finch was around. He was like her knight in shining armour, wasn't he?

She flinched at the cackle then... oh no! Ursula had seized Finch's left hand and dragging him towards the sinks. Rachel seized his right hand, clinging to it as though her life depended on it. There was no way she would let him be with the woman alone, no matter how afraid she was.

Before he could make his way out of what he was now sure to be the ladies room on the sixth floor, Rachel hurried behind him, almost using his body as a physical barrier between herself and the haggard-looking old woman. Not that he could blame her. Madame Black was somewhat intimidating, especially to the youngest students.

"Hello, Rachel." Ansley glanced behind him to give the Ravenclaw a small smile. He still thought Ursula was basically harmless, just overly dramatic, but if she needed him there for moral support, he supposed he could comply. Though perhaps she'd rather use a different bathroom unaccompanied. He did much fancy hanging out in the ladies room, especially this one.

But before he could suggest leaving, he was taken very off-guard as the woman grabbed his arm to pull him towards the sink. "I don't need a demonstration, thanks though." He maneuvered his arm out of her grasp. Did she not understand simple social conventions of personal space?? And then he looked back to see Rachel clinging to his other hand, almost as if she was trying to pull him away from the woman. It was probably a good idea to get out of there and leave Ms. Black to her business anyway.

Wait.. what? His eyes snapped to the Diviner as she laid some more of her dramatic predictions on him. "I don't have any rashes or diseases to spread," he retorted indignantly. Just what was she implying?

Crazily eyeing freckled girl that was tugging on Professor handsome's arm Ursula cackled. "I do predict positive things but most don't listen then. It's much more fun to see and share the danger and doom that surround people's aura's. You listen then to old Ursula."

Giggling creepily she responded, pointing a sharp finger at Ansley. "Silly professor handsome, you weren't really listening to me. The school's water is tainted. Something foul is lurking in the pipes. Drinking the water will get you rashes first and then you all will get sick and die."

Turning to her clothes in the sink Ursula giggled crazily as she worked with ridding the cloth of the prominent smell of children.

Rachel barely had time to return Professor Finch's smile when the woman was continuing her rambles. She still did not look at her because she just couldn't bring herself to though she did had a reply. "No, it's not. You scare them sometimes.'' She absently touched her freckles, remembering what the woman had told her on the train.

Of course Rachel was no match to pull Ansley away. She frowned at the bathroom floor, still clinging to his hand. Could Ursula be right? Was there really something lurking in the pipes? No, that was crazy. Yet it nagged in her mind.

She pulled on Ansley's hand after a while. "Professor? We should go.'' Creepy, crazy woman. They should leave her alone.

Professor.. what? Ansley raised an eyebrow at the woman. "It's Professor Finch, actually," he said, unsure if she didn't remember his name having not been formally introduced or if it was just some nickname she decided to bestow on him.

Was there something wrong with the water? The only thing foul about the pipes that he could see was the nasty old rags that Madame Black was washing in the sink, but he wasn't rude enough to say so. Her fashion sense, no matter how bizarre and misguided, was her own. "Why are you using it then?" he asked, tilting his head curiously as she turned back to wash her clothes in the tainted water.. Strange. But he wasn't really putting much stock in her "predictions."

He looked down at his right hand, feeling a tugging again, and glanced at Rachel's face, giving her a reassuring smile. "I think you're probably right. Let's leave Ms. Black to her uh, laundry." He was tempted to say something really sarcastic, and he might have to Ursula had he been alone with her, but he thought it might come off as disrespectful to Rachel. And no matter how odd she was, he still didn't want to teach her that it would be alright to do that. He just hoped that she wasn't planning on taking Divination. Hiring the woman seemed like a bad judgment call to him.

Free of Ursula's grasp, he turned to open the door and lead Rachel out of there.

Turning to look over at the girl Ursula cackled. "If you are scared you stay healthy and protected." What did they teach the children at this place of learning? Surely not how to stay protected that was for sure. They needed to eat more liver and onions.

Fixing her crazy eyes on Professor handsome finch she smiled broadly showing all her almost rotting teeth in all their splendour. "I've never gotten sick once in my life and if I get a rash from the water it will just keep the flees from nesting on me. Flees are a pain, you know? But awfully tasty."

As they made plans to leave Ursula cackled after them her tone creepy. "The water will lead you all to your slow deaths. It will start when the werewolves next howl at the moon. It will attack the youngest and weakest first. It's just a matter of time."

"We all will,'' Rachel replied, still very much avoiding eye contact with the woman who was to be their Professor. She instead focused on what was being said to Professor Finch. Fleas? Yucky! Rachel felt as though she wanted to throw up right there and then but held her composure.

"Yes, Professor,'' she told Finch as he led her out. Still clinging to his hand, she thought of the last few words Ursula said. They were ringing in her ear continuously. "Professor Finch? Do you-'' Rachel hesitated, wondering if she was being silly for thinking so much about Ursula's words. "Do you really think that something could happen on the next full moon? She implied that something would with the youngest and weakest first. That could mean first years.'' The girl was slightly worried now.

Forgotten Bathroom is like magical Sound for me before Transfiguration classroom,- say Stasya with dreaming in the MiddleNight about Your friend like Leader19

Honestly, it seemed as if the woman was talking in circles now, and thus losing any of the little credibility she had left. Which was minimal anyway. And as much as he'd like to say that it looked like she already had fleas, water or not, for Rachel's sake he would keep his lips zipped on that matter.

"Thanks for the advice!" he said cheerfully as he started to lead the young Ravenclaw out of there. "We'll keep that in mind." Or not, but he saw no sense in arguing. Ansley already saw where that got him with her - more predictions of gloom and doom.

Once they were out in the corridor, he looked down at the girl as she questioned him. "If you're asking me if I really believe what she says, I'd have to say no. It seems to me that people sometimes say outlandish things to get a lot of attention... and it seems to be working in Madame Black's case. I'm not sure why her approach is to shock people, but maybe it's to try to get people interested in Divination and come to her class." Who could say, really? But she was causing quite a buzz around the castle and he would guess even students who didn't normally take Divination might go to her class just to see what it was all about, or if she would offer any more crazy predictions.

Maybe he should pull some crazy stunt like that to draw more interest into his class.

As Ansley was speaking to Rachel, he noticed a student a little older approaching. Oh, was she intending on using this bathroom? Maybe he should warn her. He wasn't so sure he liked the idea of students being alone with Madame Black. He still had the suspicion she was a child-eating hag, even if he tried to convince himself that one of those would have never been hired to teach here.

"I might look for a different bathroom if I were you," he said with a small smile. "This one is somewhat occupied." It was just too bad there wasn't another one close to Transfiguration as it sounded like she was on her way to class.

Scrub. Scrub. Scrub.

Ursula scrubbed away all the stench of children from her clothes while she hummed on a crazy tune. Mr Handsome Finch and Freckles girl had sadly left in a hurry. Getting an idea she stuck her head in her big old bag and soon produced a foul smelling necklace and a can of live eels.

Smiling too broadly for her face Ursula gathered up her clothes and trotted out of the bathroom. Freckles and Mr Handsome hadn't left.

Trotting over to them Ursula pushed the can of eeles into the girls arms with a crazy cackle. "If you feed the eels they'll keep you safe from the doom that is coming." Turning to Mr handsome Finch she gave off a creepy wheeze before she grabbed a hold of his arm, pulled him towards her and let the smelly necklace of herbs and incense and heavy perfume come to rest around the man's neck. "Wear that necklace and you sweet dearie will be protected from all evil. It's a Madam Ursula guaranteeeee." with that Ursula trotted away down the corridor and out of sight.

Only thing left to be heard was her eerie cackle.

Rachel admired Professor Handsome Finch for keeping such a calm and cool demeanor. She had finally released his hand when they were safely in the corridor and away from Ursula Black. She listened to him, looking up to meet his gaze. When he was done explaining, she nodded slowly. "You could be right, Professor. I sincerely hope she's just looking for attention. I'm hesitant about trying Divination because of her negativity, however.'' She sighed just as another student arrived. "Professor Finch is right. You do not want to go in there.''

But then... Oh, no! Ursula was coming back! Rachel stuck close to her sane Professor, her eyes avoiding the insane one. She suddenly found her hands filled with a can of live eels. Startled, she jumped and almost dropped the can. "Feed the eels?'' she repeated, looking down at the revolting creatures. She didn't even have much more time to think about the eels. All she knew was that Ursula had grabbed Finch. "Leave him alone!'' But what could a petite girl under five feet in height do to stop a fully grown woman?

Rachel just looked up cautiously to see something being hung around Finch's neck. Then, not quickly enough in her opinion, Ursula departed with a cackle. The girl started after her, still clutching the eels. "She's lost her mind,'' Rachel muttered.

Rounds. Thornton was getting to know each and every weird little corner in this school and this weird little bathroom turned storage (he assumed) seems like the perfect place for trouble. So he'd made it a point to take a swing through as he made he way through the sixth floor.

But his curiosity as to the contents of those boxes had not grown so large, yet, to have him take a few moments to snoop through them.

Instead, he stood just inside the door, visually scanning for anything amiss.

Abandon bathrooms made perfect hideouts for mischievous dolls. She was propped next to a box, sitting in perfect formation. One of her shoes was missing, and her bonnet, too.

A light giggle escaped from her.

Thornton was about to leave, having thought that the bathroom was clear, when he heard a soft giggle. Spinning around, his eyes narrowed. A first year hiding behind the boxes, maybe?

Taking a step toward them, he was searching for a person, not a doll, and so for the time being, the doll escaped his notice. For all he knew, it had always been there and he'd just not noticed it before.

"Is there anyone in here?"

...more giggling.

Then, "ME!"

The doll was now standing.

.........

Merlin's fuzzy slippers, did that doll just speak. Surely it couldn't have, but never-the-less, Thornton had taken a step back and unholstered his wand, because the porcelain creepiness had stood.

"Good joke," Thornton looked around, still assuming that there must be a person. "Nice work on your animation spells... but it's enough now..."

He was not taking his eye off the doll, though. In case it jumped on his face or something...

It was silly of the human to think his wand would make a difference.

But enough was enough, wasn't it? She had everything she needed.

Without any warning, the porcelain doll exploded into tons of tiny, little pieces. Nothing was on fire, but as the doll became a mere pule of broken porcelain, a strong gust of wind burst forth, whipping into Thornton with the strength of an animal, enough to knock him backwards.

Two glass eyeballs rolled towards the door of the bathroom.

Maybe dueling club had been good for something after all... As the gust of wind knocked him backward, sending him crashing into a sink, Thornton instinctively cast a shield charm, deflecting any bits of porcelain that might have been looking to take up residence in his face. Of course. Of course this had happened to him. There wasn't a single thing he'd tried to do as a prefect that hadn't been an utter disaster.

He could add explosions to the list.

Rubbing his back where it had hit the sink, Thornton blinked repeatedly. The doll was gone... except for the two eyes rolling. But rather than follow those, he went to inspect the box the doll had been on. It was mostly unscathed, and it seemed the like contents wouldn't be damaged. He was, however, convinced that it had been just him and the doll in the room, and so it had been a foolish bit of magic for someone to set up an explosion like that...

The eyes... he would take them for evidence...

Ariadne hadn't explored the sixth floor yet. Sure, she'd been here for Transfiguration class, but that was all. She still really didn't know if anything else was up here besides a classroom and a corridor. If there was one thing she'd learned about Hogwarts during her semester here it was that the castle was FULL of secret places and new things to discover every day. She was just about to head back down to the dungeon corridor, when she heard the sound of something exploding, and then glass shattering onto the floor.

Her eyes widened, and she turned on her heels to RUN, when she thought better of it. Turn back? ...NO. Leave? ...NO. She was just standing in one place and torn between what to do, when she decided to throw all caution to the wind and just PEEK inside to make sure everybody was okay. She cracked open the door a little. OH. It was an old bathroom. Was it the BOYS' bathroom or the GIRLS'? That made a BIG difference. HUGE. She PEEKED inside. "Erm...is everybody okay in here?" she asked.

Surely somebody would answer if they were still here.

Penelope heard something. Nothing said suspicious like explosion noises. Upon opening the door, she found lots of ceramic fragments on the floor. "Blimey! What's all of this?" Penelope picked up a small glass sphere that was on the floor near her foot. Examining it, she noticed that it was an eye. What in Merlin's beard? Where had that come from? She looked up from the glass eye and saw Thornton standing by a box. "Thornton! Are you okay? What happened?" This was really weird. They should probably clean the mess up. Penelope picked up a few fragments of broken pottery for closer examination.