This...felt too easy.

Had he dreamed the entire episode at the armor gallery, then? Wouldn't be the first time his dreams were a little too realistic and specific for his taste. Levi made a mental note to question Declan about it, later, just to make sure. Or maybe he could corner Brent, since the other boy had returned.

Levi shot the Slytherin a look over his shoulder, nearly asking him just then for sanity's sake. Then he noticed him next to the boy who had strangely reminded him of Brent himself, and, well--were they related? Maybe? But. Right. Poltergeists. Compliant, non-murderous poltergeists.

What a strange concept.

"W--" It would be best to refrain sounding so surprised. Levi clamped his mouth shock, just for a second, before opening it again. "How wonderful." How charitable and noble. He was going to make himself sick. "Shall we lead the way, then?" Levi did his best at smiling, which was a very wide smile that showed one dimpled cheek. He really was going to make himself sick. "Or would you prefer to be the team leaders now?"

At which point he shot Professor Newton a look, clearly saying please do not let this happen, please take over, who knows if they'll change their mind halfway, etcetera.

Hopefully she'd get it.

If it weren’t for the fact that this could probably work, meaning she’d get to take Levi away soon, Daisy would feel a little sick about all the sweet talking of the poltergeist. Unlike Peeves, who tended to be almost always harmless, Storm actually felt dangerous. He had proven that by attempting to kill students if Levi’s words were to be believed. And this Slytherin did believe in him. There were a lot of people here and everyone single one of them was trying to be as sweet as possible towards the brat.

And then, despite feeling way too easy, it worked. Either because of their words or because of his Mum’s insistence, the polter!brat finally agreed to help them. Sure, he sounded a little reluctant but who cared? Soon they would have them … well, somewhere. Daisy didn’t really know that part of the plan because she had been hidden away in the wing. Anyway, surely someone here knew what they were meant to do now, but she’d bet her new broomstick that it was about that portal.

Also, trust that someone to be Levi.

She distractedly patted the arm he still had hooked on hers and smiled brightly at Miffy. Well, fakely too, but here's hoping she wouldn't get that. Weren't Mothers wonderful things? Capable of making their children do the very thing they didn't want to do. "Thank you, Lady Miffy. Hogwarts will forever be in debt to you." If she survived this, anyway. The others were being very tight-lipped about the rest of the plan but she wasn't about to ask anyway. It might give Storm a reason to throw a tantrum. Anyway, time to get a move on.

Team leaders?! She sent the Gryffindor a pointed look, clearly trying to tell him that she would not be led by polter!psychos, thank you very much. Storm might think if funny to led them to the sixth floor via the dungeons or something. Which, granted, wouldn't be too terrible because then she could finally get to her common room like she had planned all along. "We should get going, anyway. The sooner with deal with this, the sooner you can return to your pranks, Storm." The joy.

Duuuuude. So he was in? Just like that? Not sure what to do from this point, Brent turned to look at some of the others and caught a certain look from Levi. He mildly shrugged, not really sure what just happened or if it was really even real. Deciding just to go with the flow, Brent turned again toward the stairwell. "I guess we should," he said to Levi, who'd questioned if they should go. In all seriousness, though, they really didn't have much time.

Nobody seemed to be moving, though. Sensing that they were running low on time, and that Abey, Simon, and possibly even a number of others were in serious danger at this point, Brent decided to take the initiative. "Maybe we should just head on? As a team?" It took them this long to hunt down the poltergeists and convince them to help them out. Who knew how long it'd take them to get into a conversation about who went first and who followed along.

...and then to demonstrate that point, he headed off toward the stairwell en route to the sixth floor.

Stormy was being such a good boy, and it was filling Miffy's heart with more love for her little one.

"Good boy, my little Stormy." This was another way that he was better than Peevsie Poo, since he hadn't even offered to help despite what the students had done to help for her wedding day!

And this is why one was to never forget that words could have more impact than actions. Rose was very happy that Miffy had agreed to help them, and Storm was caved by his mother even though he clearly didn't want to help out.

Honestly she felt bad about not explaining exactly WHAT they needed to do for help, but as deceitful as she considered herself to be at the moment, it was for the greater good. The poltergeists probably figured that they would be able to get back to their pranks in no time, maybe even delivering a whammy during the end of term feast. That was not meant to be, however, given the way that things were going to progress. Rosalyn wouldn't be saying anything about THAT since it would most definitely get them to change their minds.

Nod towards Levi. Of course the poltergeists wouldn't be team leaders. There didn't really NEED to be a team leader. She was there as a professor and to make sure that things didn't go south in the same way that Gaston was. "Yes, let's go team. We need to get back to the portal quickly." Time was running out.

............ That was it? talk about dissapointment.

Mason stood leaning against the wall, still rubbing the top of his head where Storm had tucked on his hair earlier. If he had to believe that Gryffindor's stories from earlier he'd say he had exaggerated about them.

Or...this was another joke.

Making them believe they were going to help and then --- Mason casted suspicious glances towards Miffy and Storm but didn't say anything in case he might blow up the whole operation.

He didn't praise them for their good behaviour like the others were doing though and instead continued to look at the situation. So they were going to close the portal soon and he hadn't seen a glimps of the monster at all. Shame.

The Slytherin boy (Brent) seemed to be having the right idea and Mason pushed himself off of the wall to follow him and the others.

Stormy?

Daisy gigglesnorted and found herself having to bury her face on Levi's arm to keep from laughing out loud. Now that the fear of getting killed by the poltergeists had disappeared, she was having a hard time keeping it together. Maybe it was the hunger or simply the stress, but for whatever reason, the Slytherin was finding it very hard to keep it together.

Until someone mentioned the portal, anyway.

Right. Monster. Kidnapped firsties. That was seemingly enough to stop the giggling fit she was about to have and she straightened back up. To be quite honest, she was quite tempted to simply pull Levi in the opposite direction and head towards the hospital wing but she still remembered his words. It would simply be easier to let him go up and make sure this was dealt with before they made a run for it. So she followed the group, glad that Professor Newton had taken control, dragging the Gryffindor after her.

Gaston had to fight not to roll his eyes. That was exactly the reaction he thought they'd get from Storm. Well actually no, he thought Storm's reaction would be more over-the-top than it was. He was surprised by Miffy's reaction though... so much so that he had to fix his gaze on the floor to keep from staring at her in utter disbelief. She was actually agreeing to help them?! Was he hearing that right?

"Miffy, thank you," he said, giving the poltergal a look of sincere gratitude. He couldn't help but be a little touched by what she said about returning the favor for everyone helping her and Peeves last term. But there was still the matter of Storm. Gaston had no idea what more he could say to convince the polterkid to come with them. He thought the students (and Rose, of course) were already doing a good job playing to his ego by themselves, so he kept silent.

Somehow in the middle of the pleading and wheedling, he overheard Mr. Westwood asking his brother about Abey and Simon. He wanted to offer some reassuring words, but he let Brent answer since the question was directed at him. The elder Mr. Westwood was right, but still the thought of those boys or anyone else being eaten by the monster was more than he could bear! He had to bite his lip to stop it from trembling and stare at the floor of a few moments until he'd regained composure. He mentally shook himself. He couldn't allow himself to fall apart in front of his students; they needed him to stay calm!

Gaston was beginning to worry that their best efforts wouldn't be enough to get Storm to the portal in time when Miffy took charge. He half-expected Storm to balk, but he didn't. Another look of gratitude for the poltermom. Then there was the talk of team leaders. Blink, blink. He wasn't sure he liked that idea; he wouldn't put it past the poltergeists to back out of their agreement. Mr. Westwood spoke up before he had the chance, and he nodded along with what was said. He joined the group heading to the portal, hanging back slightly. He was going to bring up the rear and keep an eye on those poltergeists, just in case they got any ideas!

Upon taking the staircases to the fifth floor, Skylar frowned when it seemed as though everyone was brushing past her and continuing upward. Uh ... okay then? So the poltergeist convincing was over?

Looking back behind her for the first year, the brunette shrugged. It wasn't her fault the staircases decided to move right when she stepped on, thus taking her to a different route than planned. A longer route.

But what happened when they got the poltergeists to the portal and if the group who'd gone to rescue Abey and Simon still wasn't back yet? How long would they be able to deter the poltergeists before they grew bored of waiting?

"I guess it's back to the portal," Skylar said more to herself, and Derf, assuming he was right behind her, like she hoped.

He was LEAVING or rather, in a fit of giggles, was taking him with her. Which was just fine but Levi was still surprised--about so many things, really, he had no idea where to even start--that the girl took him with the rest of the group instead of the hospital wing.

Not that he was complaining.

Though maybe he should have. Hospital wing time meant more Healer Reed time which meant maybe getting to start his shadowing process earlier than intended. Assuming, of course, it came to happen.

But. Poltergeists first. So he just let Daisy dragged him to the portal where hopefully--well, he was still unclear on the hows of this operation but hopefully and before dinner, this would all be a thing of the pasts. Surely they'd all be laughing about it, later, together.

Remember how fun it was when there was a monster loose in the castle? And when it took two first years? And then when we had to grovel to a psychopath and his mother, the enabler?

Ha. ha. ha.

So funny.

Levi bitterly chuckled his way to the sixth floor.