SPOILER!!: Hads

Hadley was feeling anxious being inside again. She still got those feels, but they were much more infrequent than they had been right after summer. Maybe it was because she was nervous about going back to London for the Christmas Break. She was happy that the Watsons were willing to let her stay with them. It meant she wouldn't have to stay, alone, in the castle. But at the same time, being so close to home, where her Dad could possibly come get her and force her to come home wasn't the...

The...

...

...huh?

Everything she had been thinking about was forgotten as she neared the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A hauntingly gorgeous lullaby that grabbed her attention like an iron vice. Without meaning too, Hadley Denaker found herself being drawn, step by step, toward the source.

Obviously there was something worth hiding in the Forest, there was no way that McLeod would be that much of a jerk just 'cause he was afraid that animals would come and eat them. He probably had some weird hidden occult in there and didn't want anyone finding out about it. Mel and Mason WOULD have found out IF he hadn't been like a hawk, seeing them before they even got to the edge of it.

But they hadn't been the only ones there, Haddie and Curly-Top had been on some kind of date-thingy, which was weird since Mason thought that the only loves in Haddie's life were her ferret and mischief.

Speak of the devil. Haddie was here as well. Was she going on another date with Curly? Or maybe, just maybe, she was on the exact same mission as Mason was. . . hmmm, she did look a little distracted, like seriously. . .

. . . distracted . . .

What was that. . . ? What was she thinking about earlier. . . ?

"Had-"

The sentence died in her throat and her mind just seemed to shut off. All she could think about was that sound . . . was that. . . ? A lullaby. . . ? And that light. . . it was so pretty, and green. It was calling her, beckoning her to go to it. . . she needed to follow it, it was drawing her like a moth to a candle, and the song only edged her on to take those first few steps. . .

Azura had spent all year avoiding the Forest.. She was terrified of it now due to.. what could be lurking inside of it.. Also.. The idea of them made her nervous now.. The dark.. the closed in trees.. What if something was in there? Would she be able to protect herself? What if there were..

Vampires?

The small girl gave a shiver as she turned away.. but she had spotted Torie headed towards the Forest and her eyes went wide!! What in the,,

What was he doing?

She started to sprint after him! "Torie!!" She yelled out as she got closer.. and then noticed the glow.. and the soft song!

"Hey! What are you doing? You can't go into there!!" She said as she grabbed his arm.

Hadley's feet were working on their own now, drawing her nearer and nearer to forest. Even if she hadn't wanted to descend into those dark woods, she'd have a hard time stopping the slow march of her feet.

She was in the shadow of the forest now, inching her way closer and closer when vaguely, from some place far far away in the back of her mind, she heard the start of her name. "Huh?" she asked, dreamily. She didn't turn around or stop though. She didn't even look away from the forest.

He was in a daze as if hypnotized by the song his eyes were unfocused as he looked through the trees, when Azura grabbed his arm. "The song" was all he said as he kept trying to go forward. He wanted to find where it was coming from, and that shiny green light was drawing him in. He didn't hear her say what was he doing nor that he couldn't go in there. "We have to find it." Yep, find where the music was coming from.

"Listen" he said as he stepped further into the forest his mind still focused on the lullaby and not really taking in her words.

Bundled in a warm coat, Esme let her feet lead her wherever they wanted to. She was feeling restless from being cooped up inside and wanted to get some fresh air and do some serious thinking. OWLs were coming up next term and she needed to have some idea of what she wanted to do for a career. One possibility was related to divination and the other was related to creatures.

...

What was that she heard? It sounded like a lullaby.

Not paying attention to where she was headed, Esme followed the music. She had to get closer to it no matter where it was coming from. The green glow didn't hold her back. Ignoring the people around her as if they didn't exist, she continued walking.

SPOILER!!: Hads!

Hadley's feet were working on their own now, drawing her nearer and nearer to forest. Even if she hadn't wanted to descend into those dark woods, she'd have a hard time stopping the slow march of her feet.

She was in the shadow of the forest now, inching her way closer and closer when vaguely, from some place far far away in the back of her mind, she heard the start of her name. "Huh?" she asked, dreamily. She didn't turn around or stop though. She didn't even look away from the forest.

Must. Follow. Light.

. . .

That was they only logical thing that Mason could think of as the glow and lullaby lured her further towards the forest. But the beckoning-smoothness of the tune was interrupted by . . . a rather familiar-sounding voice. . . what? Where was the voice. . . ? It was only the light and her, she needed to get there. . .

. . .

"Go." She hissed at the voice, annoyed as to why it felt the need to interrupt the beauty and soothing-powers of the melody.

"Follow it." She spoke again, feet dragging across the twig-and-leaf-laden ground. "It wants us to follow it." Into the Forest, and that's exactly where Mason was going. . .

The closer Azura got to the Forest, the louder the song was getting and the less she was afraid.. She still had a hold of Torie's arm as they both looked towards the trees..

And that light.. It was Hypnotizing and she felt her panic ease a little.. as she stopped and listened.. It was very beautiful.. And it seemed to be calling to her..

"Yes, we need to go find it." The purple eyed teen was no longer scared, it had all melted away.. She felt peaceful.. and sort of in a trance..

"Come on.."

Glowing green light? Hypnotic music?

Why was he going towards it again? It seemed like the type of thing his mum would tell him to avoid. Only, it seemed like avoidance was going to be impossible, as the music seemed to be drawing him closer. Was this the work of aliens? Because it seemed like something they would do. He'd seen enough science fiction to be almost convinced that that's what was happening. But would they be friendly aliens like E.T. or mean ones like most others?

Here's hoping for E.T.

Go, said the voice. Follow it. Yes, she would follow it. "Okay..." Hads said dreamily. She was at the edge of the forest now. Bathed in the green light.

Hadley was just about to step into the forest when something else spoke. Not in words nor images and yet it was there. In the lullaby. Soothing, comforting. She'd do what the music wanted. She would go. She would find it. She would bring it.

In the same dreamy daze, Hadley turned around, and step by step, methodically making her way back to the castle. She'd find it. She'd bring it. That was her only purpose.

Just as Miranda looked to see more students join her by the forest's edge it was as if a wordless message were seeping into her brain... It was coming from the lullaby and she was about to leave , but.... Nothing other than a need to find it.....go find it.....go...............
she turned slowly and began to follow that person ahead of her , but stopped and went towards the Paddocks instead...Edging ever so slowly along the edge of the forest. she smelled what it was that she was searching for drawing nearer... Her blank stare unblinking as she crossed the grounds.

He faintly heard Azura speak but still his eyes were drawn to light that was in the trees and he walked barely realizing that her hand was on his arm. The music was so beautiful, he didn't want it to stop. He knew his mum would be furious as would his dad if they knew what he had done and followed the music.

But somehow that didn't even make a flicker of notice or recognition in his eyes. He just walked with Azura beside him. Slowly his face becoming blank as he listened to the music more. Nothing was going through his head, not Azura, not his parents or even his sisters. Just a calm, quietness came over him. He stood in the green light for a minute not even recognizing anyone was around him, nor that his arms went slack and Azura's hand fell from his arm as he turned walking back out of the forest and heading for the grounds again.

Yes.

Is that what you want? But where. . . ? And after. . . ? Yes. . .

Yes. I will find it. . .

The lullaby seemed to whisper the instructions in her ear, without even using words it controlled her, it said to find it. . . and she had to. Mason couldn't deny it it's wish. She wanted to please it, and she would.

No, no Forest.

Find it, find it, find, find, find, find, find.

GO. . .

Everything was calm.. Everything was happy.. Nothing seemed to be in her head or heart now.. Just that pretty melody.. She grew closer to the light and closed her eyes..

"Mmmm.." She said as she tilted her head and listened to what it was saying to her.. She nodded.. Of course.. Of course.. Anything..

She felt no sadness now.. Just warmth.. and peace.. and a strong desire to find..

She barely felt Torie's arm falling from her grip.. She barely felt anything! Her purple eyes were glazed over slightly.. as she turned around and headed towards the grounds.

Must..Find..

Katherine had to visit the Greenhouses to check on plants (and hopefully earn extra points, ahem) and then the Barn to show to Professor Draper that she was still a worthy student to attend his classes. She hated going outside in winter, but this was for the classes, so she didn't whine. She just put on several layers of jackets, socks and gloves. One would wonder how she even walked, but she did so expertly, and soon enough, she was going to the Greenhouses...

...until she saw the light. What was that? She bet it was the call of the students that thought sneaking into the Forest would be fun. Well, she wasn't about to pay any attention - a lullaby was coming... and Katherine was oddly drawn to it... The plants, you came here for the plants...

She kept walking not to the Greenhouses, but to the source of the lullaby that was just... so... entrancing...

Katerina was doing her normal searching for new plants and things on the grounds. Even if it was cold outside there was different plants in different seasons so she was looking around for winter plants that were out already. The problem was the snow, and being bundled up to make it outside without turning into a Kat-Popsicle. The second year was walking hear the edge of the forest. She was on a misson, a mistletoe mission. She looked up wasn't it sometimes up in the trees?

A green light? Did some of the older students sneak into the forest? Anywho back to her mission. She didn't have time for that. But a Lullaby? So soft so calming, Katerina swayed a bit to the melody. Finding herself curious and drawn to it. Kat Followed until she walked right into Katherine. 'Oh, sorry Katherine," Or at least that's who she thought it was. The light was the only thing she could focus on. Where was it?

Kitty left the castle and began wandering outside, her mind restless. What was she going to tell the Headmaster? At first she had been so angry at Miffy (who she blamed for making a mess in her dormitory) that she had been determined to complain to the new headmaster and ask him to punish Miffy. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But when she was halfway there her shyness around unfamiliar grown ups came rushing back to her. She still wanted to tell him, but she had to find a way to do it that would not be embarrassing later, and she couldn't make it seem as if she were ORDERING him to punish Miffy. That would just get her in trouble. But at the same time she didn't want to sound as if she were whining. No, she wanted him to see that her indignation was righteous and that she had been suffering at hands of Peeves and Miffy for a long time and was now asking help.

Oh, and she had to be in uniform of course and wearing her best makeup. Couldn't let him see her without it. Taking out her hand mirror, Kitty sat down and began applying eyeliner. She was outside in the courtyard.

Then, in the mirror's reflections, she saw it. A mysterious green glow coming from the forest. It was beautiful. Her anger went away. In its place was peace.

She dropped her eyeliner. Then the mirror. It fell, smashing into pieces on the ground. That was okay.

Kitty turned around and began heading towards the forest. Vaguely, she was aware that the forest scared her - that that was where the Hag had run off to and that she still had nightmares about it.

And then the music began...

Must find them. MUST find them.

What was going to be done with them wasn't any of his concern. All that mattered was that he find them.

Ronan started on his way back to the castle, a slight, barely noticeable stiffness to his movements. If you knew him well enough, you would notice that something was.....off but what you wouldn't be able to put your finger on.

Must find.

Katherine didn't even feel the bump. The moment she could listen to the lullaby... or whatever it was, she had been hypnotised. And all she could think of was...

"Raw. Meat."

Katherine had to find raw meat. Without any expression whatsoever, she began her journey back to the castle in very stiff motions to find raw meat.

Forgetting that she had bumped into Katherine just minutes earlier. The lullaby had distracted her from anything she previously had on her mind. The only thing she could think of was gold. Beautiful gold.

She must find gold. Did she have gold? Shiny? No shiny. The tiny blonde headed off to find shiny gold. Moving stiffly back to the castle.

Scampering out from the colony's den deep within the forest, Aletag waved his large hairy legs in the air towards Hogwarts castle...where the preciouses were kept.

Slow roasted juicy goodness!

Goodness that MUST be protected!

Taking several more hurried steps out of the forest and into the light, his thick legs sinking into the snow and abdomen leaving a wide trail as he moved, he moved towards the castle on an urgent mission.

There weren't really too many places on the grounds to hide, when you really looked at it. After clearing the greenhouses and the treehouse, and assuming she wouldn't be at Draper or McLeod's places because why would his love be with the other men when she could be with him, the small boy made his way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. If she wasn't hiding inside a place, maybe she was walking along the treeline, waiting for him. It just... felt right, to be there. Which meant... she had to be around somewhere.

Jaemin was letting out little puffy breaths as he walked, ignoring the dull ache in his face and the slight ache in his chest from hitting the ground. He was wandless, he was cold and wet from snow, and his socks were damp inside his shoes now... but that didn't matter. Not one bit. Only his true love mattered. He just... had to find her. He wouldn't let Airey Flamsteed take her away from him, nor would he let his prefect have her. And there was no way the Gryffindor prefect would be allowed. No. Way.

Absently rubbing at his bare arms as he walked, shivering as the cold went up and down his spine in waves, Jaemin walked along the forest's edge, eyes fixed inside the treeline and searching for any sign of her. Whether she appeared herself, or her footprints, or even just a suggestion that she was near... his heart yeaaaaaaarned for just a hint.

Searching the whole castle from top to bottom without finding Jaemin anywhere Leo concluded after asking every student he past if they had seen the young Slytherin that he had left the castle and was somewhere outside on the grounds. For someone with short legs Jaemin moved incredibly fast. Leo had though granted not left to chase after him immediately. He hadn't left the trophy room until Art had showed up to assist Sora and Headmaster Mo with the crazily acting students. If Leo didn't know better the students seemed to have been love potioned. But Art he was certain would get to the bottom of the mystery. It'd be nice to have a sane Airey again.

Following the snowy path down from the castle Leo conjured up a coat, gloves and cap which he put on against the late feburary weather that was showing itself from the cold and wet side. He hoped that Jaemin had been sensible enough to wear something warm and water proof. Leo doubted it though. As he walked he followed smaller footsteps on the path that possibly could be Jaemin's. Nearing Justin's hut he glanced around and called out "Jaemin! Jaemin where are you?" Pausing he hoped for and listened for a response from the boy.. Getting none he continued past Justin's dark and shut hut.

Continuing onwards he debated whether it was likely that Jaemin was hiding out in the greenhouses but since no footsteps except possibly Paul's were going down in that direction Leo walked on. The boy he feared was heading for the forbidden forest. It had sadly always been too alluring to the students. Walking and scanning for the young boy Leo thought he saw a small figure up ahead very near the forest edge. Putting his hands around his mouth Leo called out. "Jaemin! Jaemin wait there! Don't go into the forest."

The cold was starting to make the underdressed tween walk a bit slower. It was hard, after all, to keep up too brisk a pace when you were freezing and shivering. But he hadn't stopped walking along the treeline, looking this way and that; all he needed was a sign, any sign, that would lead him to his love.

Though his ears were red and cold, he could still hear well enough, and Leo's voice made him stiffen a bit in apprehension. Why didn't he want Jaemin to go into the trees? Was he trying to find her too? The boy glanced in the librarian's direction, silently trying to decide what was best to do, before looking back into the forest again, still moving along the trees and away from Leo. He only stopped when something caught his attention. Was that a footprint?! (No.) Was it a sign to lead him to his love?! (Nooooo.) The pre-teen, usually so apprehensive of the forest (and for good reason) abandoned all caution and stepped just inside the treeline, eyes fixed on a spot several feet away. He had to see. He had to find her first!

He wasn't about to let Leo Kitridge take his woman!!

Something suddenly cracked within the forest, Was it a fallen tree branch being stepped on? Or something worse? The small boy was being watched. Another crunch of leaves proved something was indeed there and moving closer. The sight of the professor made the forest go still. It watched cautiously for a moment before silently retreating further into the forest. This could work to an advantage.

Soon music was softly coming from the forest. The same hypnotizing song that had danced from the branches before. The forest started to glow and became inviting as if singing come all children, come and see.

Azura was out by the lake, it seemed to become her favorite spot to be lately, not to mention she was outside to be visible should her mom's patronus decide to visit her again. She was doing some homework and attempting to keep her mind on it and not Chris.. Or Cour..

When she heard something..

Her head titled a little.. As she stood up.. And moved towards the forest as quickly as she could.. She stopped as she saw the glow.. And heard the music.. This seemed vaguely familiar.. But.. Why?

She was walking slowly..pondering why it felt like she had done this before.. and yet not really caring at the same time.

Ooc: feel free to delete if I'm not supposed to be here.