If Dora still took Arithmancy she would totally have given it to Henry to keep him walking back to the common room he came from... alas, Dora had dropped it before OWL year. Useless subject when you wanted to study languages at uni. Sidling up beside him she offered a smile his way, though.

Study group? Hmmm. She wasn't a part of any of those. She tended to learn better solitary. "Who is in it? Doesn't it get difficult to listen to all those people talking at once?" Although, he likely wasn't studying with a bunch of Gryffindors. Heh. And if he was, they were likely the better behaved ones. "I'm just killing time, really. Need a hand with all those books? I'll walk with you to the library. If you like, anyway." He could totally tell her to shove off if he wanted. She was known to be distracting sometimes.

"A bunch of people in our year, different houses," Henry told her about the study group. "I guess we'll see who's there today. It's not always the same," It just depended who felt like coming or who had the time. "You should join us sometime."

"Yeah, it can be a little distracting sometimes," he added with a laugh. Truth was though that Henry was easily distracted. Maybe a study group wasn't the best thing for him, but it did actually help some since he'd likely not study much at all without it.

"Oh, thanks, but I got the books." It was nice of her to offer, but he was good with them. He didn't have more than he could handle. "I wouldn't mind the company though," he added with a smile. "Come walk with me then."

Gaston laughed along with Cami. "Phantom is the other way around," he said. "She gets on better with other animals than people." He added jokingly, "I think I'm the only person she tolerates!" So that was a huge understatement... the possessive Persian followed him everywhere and attacked anything she thought was taking up too much of his attention! Speaking of whom, Gaston's gaze flicked down and he saw Phantom swat the ball back toward Bonsai. Her eyes followed the other cat, as if expecting him to swat ti back to her.

He smiled and nodded in reply to what cami said next. "Apparently we don't!" he replied with a slight chuckle. The thought of Bonsai playing with dirt and pebbles was funny! Thankfully that was something he didn't have to deal with with Phantom, though. She was a dignified old girl and hated getting dirty. "The only way I've found to keep her out of the plants is to levitate the planters." He shook his head at the crazy kitty.

Oh, so Cami knew the movie? He might've guessed. Phantom looked up at the sound of Cami's voice, drew herself up a little taller, and started flicking her tail back and forth. If Gaston didn't know better, he'd think the cat knew Cami had just complimented her and was showing off for her. "I think that means 'thank you'," he said. The little black and white cat's eyes darted from Cami to Gaston and back again, as if debating whether or not to accept the offer for petting. After a moment or two, she sauntered right up to Cami and rubbed against her hand. Gaston was surprised; usually Phantom wasn't this social! Oh well, at least now he didn't have to pet both cats at once!

"Really, is that so?" Cami appeared a bit surprised by this as most cats she knew enjoyed being around people for the attention it brought them. "Has she met River's dogs yet?" Bonsai had several times and the silly cat seemed to like the big dogs! "Well at least she tolerates you!" It would be horrible if she didn't like her own owner. It was the soft jingling of the bell inside the ball as it rolled in his direction that had caught Bonsai's attention, the smaller cat pouncing on it and rolling around with it before swatting it back towards Phantom.

Nope, they didn't. At least not i the eyes of their feline companions. Levitating the planters. Now that was a good idea. "I might have to give that a try, at least with my bonsai planters." Those were the ones that her kitty enjoyed most.

Cami saw Phantom looking at her and the way she moved and posed herself. Lookit her proving she knew that Cami had been talking about her. "Well you're certainly welcome Miss Phantom," she commented laughing softly. The cat making her way over to her was met with another warm smile and a nice petting. Such a sweet kitty this was! Her own cat seemed to notice the attention Phantom was getting but he didn't move from Gaston since he was getting attention too.

Gaston nodded. "Phantom is a little... posessive," he said. Okay, so that was an understatement! "She dislikes anything she feels is taking up too much of my attention." Cami should see the way she terrorized Rosalyn! He shook his head when she asked about River's dogs. "She hasn't, but it would be fun to see how they got on." He'd have to remember to ask River about a pet playdate sometime! He smiled at Cami's next words. "Yes, it would be awkward if she didn't!" Not to mention it would make him sad if his own cat did't like him!

The black and white Persian's eyes followed Bonsai as he rolled around with the ball, and she eagerly pounced when he sent it back to her. She smacked it around a few times then batted it back toward the other cat. The sight made Gaston laugh. "It seems we have a game of catch on our hands!" he said. He nodded at what Cami said about levitating her plants. "I just wish I could levitate my mother's flower beds!" he said with a slight chuckle. "Phantom seems to think her garden is a buffet; it annoys her every time we're home!"

Gaston's eyes flicked toward his cat as she posed and preened for Cami. The black and white cat was purring loudly as she continued nuzzling against Cami's hand. Satisfied that his own cat was happy - and more importanly, not causing trouble - he went back to petting Bonsai. The little Bengal cat seemed to enjoy the attention just as much as Phantom! He laughed. "It appears we've switched cats!"

Camilla laughed softly nodding her head with full understanding. "She just wants to make sure you're aware that you belong to her," she joked. Some cats and even dogs were just that way. Luckily Bonsai didn't appear to mind all that much if at all when she was around anyone else just so someone gave him a pet her and there the cat was happy. "River's dogs are lovely, very well behaved so Phantom will be safe around them both." If she wasn't sure of this fact herself she wouldn't bring her own kitty around them.

Bonsai crouched down his tail flicking back and forth as he watched the ball roll back towards the other cat. When the ball came back in his direction he pounced on it patting it around as well as picking it up in his mouth and flinging it into the air, smacking at it with his paw when it fell. "It seems we do! At least they're getting along!" she agreed smiling. "Maybe Phantom is just trying to do some rearranging." Cami laughed. It wasn't likely but still funny and a thought worth tossing out there.

Camilla knelt down more as she continued to lightly rub behind the cats ears. The nuzzling of the fluffy head into her hand reminded her just of Bonsai when he wanted attention. Her brown eyes shifted towards her own cat whom was happily sucking up any attention Gaston offered him. "Yes we have. At least we know they can tolerate sharing us just so their both being petted!" Hopefully this meant her little baby could have some real kitty playdates now.

Gaston laughed along with Cami. "I don't think there's any chance of that happening!" he said. Not the way Phantom reminded him! At best, she acted like a ham to distract him; at worst she attacked whatever she thought was taking up too much of his attention. The only other person she seemed to like was his father! The mention of River's dogs got a small nod from him. "i know," he said. He liked Roscoe and Bumi; they'd been perfectly lovely when Rose was in the hospital wing! "Honestly, I'm more worried about Phantom behaving! She's been known to terrorize dogs sometimes."Phantom was quite a feisty feline!

He watched the two cats playing together, his eyes following the ball as they batted it back and forth; it was beginning to make him a little dizzy and he had to look away. "This is the most active Phantom's been this term!" he said. "Usually she just lays around my office. I think Bonsai is a good influence on her!" The black and white Persian's normal exercise routine consisted of jumping onto his desk, batting quills out of his hand while he was writing, and following him everywhere, of course. Maybe that would change now that she'd made a friend...

Cami's next words made Gaston laugh. "Maybe so," he said, "but unfortunately my mother doesn't see it that way." While he was still petting Bonsai, his eyes momentarily darted toward Phantom, just in time to see he flop onto her back and look up at Cami with a pleading meow. He wasn't sure whether to be surprised or amused at his cat's antics! "Well, she must like you!" he exclaimed. "Apparently she wants her tummy rubbed."

It was so funny how much animals really knew and understood things. The way Bonsai never failed to amaze her with how he reacted to different situations even if he had been in that same situation before. That was one of the things she enjoyed most about being a pet owner...she never knew just what to expect. "Is that so?," Cami laughed glancing at the cat in name. "She likes letting those dogs know who's in charge, hmm Phantom?"

"Well then we'll have to get them together to play more often!" It would benefit both cats to run around and play together. The interaction with another animal his species was also very nice for her furry loved one. "That makes me happy to hear. I love seeing Bonsai make friends and play." He was her child.

Well of course his mother wouldn't like having her plants messed with but that's just something cats did. Cami laughed softly. "Maybe there's something that could be placed on or around your mothers plants that would keep Phantom away from them? I'm sure Paul would know." Well worth at least finding out anyhow. The brunettes attention was drawn back onto the cat she was currently petting as she rolled over showing her belly and meowing up at her. Aaww! Cami was happy to give Phantom some belly rubs. "Bonsai does this same thing only he wraps his paws around my hand," she laughed.

At the sight of said frown one painted her own festures. She hadn't meant to be prying... but genuinely asking a question. "I was just wondering what makes you different. Because different is okay. " And his thoughts on her weren't exactly wrong, but currently she was getting all of the attention she needed from one Casper Greenwood... so this wasn't about that. "But if you don't want to answer, that is alright too." See, not meaning to be rude. Contrary to popular belief.

His question elicited a soft laugh from the blonde next. "Merlin, no. My uncle is the previous Defence Professor. He has always helped me. Tutoring and pushing me. Hirsch and I worked together on several spells also. I have self taught some things, but not all. Not by a long shot. We're currently working on nonverbal magic. We think I could be using it before term start next year. " She didn't mind HELP, but she didn't like classroom settings either. She preferred one on one teaching... which was why she worked with tutors even while she was away from Hogwarts.

Ah. "Gotcha. Egyptian magic is not my cup of tea. Fascinating, don't get me wrong, but I don't think I've ever considered practicing any of it. I like the idea of amulets and stuff for protection, though. Kind of like Rune magic... but not really, " She said with a grin. She had stumbled across some stuff about Ancient Egypt when she was studying some information about Cairo WU. "If I may ask, what brought you to that type of magic? " It was all curiosity, the reason she asked. Nothing more.

"OH! I love Potions. My cousin is a Potioneer! But I am planning to study Wizarding languages and maybe foreign policies... or linguistics. Mermish and Gobbledygook can't be the only other languages, you know. " Associated with the Wizarding World anyway. "That's brilliant, though, Declan. You'll be brilliant at it. " She just had a FEELING!

"I see," Declan remarked simply. It wasn't really a topic he wanted to expand on but he didn't want to be impolite so he nodded as respectfully as he could as they walked down the corridor? Where were the stairs again? Declan turned right.

"Ahhh, I see!" his eyebrows rose with the realization. "That explains it then. Well, good luck with that. I understand nonverbal magic is something that's more difficult to execute."

Declan nodded in understanding and shrugged quickly after. Most everyone reacted the same way to Egyptian magic. He didn't think most really understood what he got from it that he didn't get from other subjects. "Well, I wanted to understand where magic really came from. I came across Egyptian magic in my effort to trace our origins." It all started in Africa. At least that was his understanding. "It's all the same spark. It's just executed a little differently." Spells were more specific, written down and formulaic. There was a certain science to it.

The stairs were before them and he inspected them quietly, thankful that no portal had yet popped up on their way. Declan chuckled at the girl's enthusiasm. It seemed there were a lot of things she wanted to do. "That's cool. I think you'll be good at it. Lots of conversations to be had." She definitely had the gift of gab. It would be a good career to put her talent to use. "Thank you," he said humbly. He wasn't as confident but he appreciated the encouragement.

Phantom's yellow eyes glanced up at Cami at the sound of her name, and she gave an emphatic MEOW! Gaston laughed; that was a 'yes' if he ever heard one! "You should see the way she torments the neighbors' dogs when she's home!" he said. She'd already managed to annoy all the dog owners in their apartment complex, but her favorite targets were the two bichons in the yard next to his parents'. "Last summer she got into a lot of trouble. The lady next door came banging on the door and threatened to call the pound if Phantom didn't stop hissing and swatting at her dogs." He left out the part where the neighbor and his father got into a heated exchange because... let's just say it wasn't a civil conversation. "She had to spend the rest of the holiday in her cat carrier, and she wasn't happy about it!" He gave the back and white Persian a sidelong glance.

Gaston nodded at Cami's next words. "I think that's a great idea," he replied with a smile. He was glad the compliment had made Cami happy but even gladder to see Phantom doing something besides laying around or terrorizing Rose. "Maybe Bonsai would like to visit Phantom in my office sometime?" He looked down at the small Bengal cat to gauge his reaction to that then quickly realized how silly that was. What was he doing? The cat probably didn't understand a word he was saying...

Another nod from Gaston as Cami suggested talking to Paul about his little plant problem. Or was it a cat problem? Either way it was a good idea. "I've offered to put a protection spell around her garden, but my father won't let me," he said. He ran a hand through his hair, and his expression darkened slightly. "He doesn't much like magic..." Gaston was still petting Bonsai as he glacned at his watch; it was much later than he thought. "Merlin's beard! Is that the time?!" he exclaimed. He had to get back to his office and start grading those assignments he'd been putting off for a couple of days. "I hate to spoil the fun, but we should be going." He turned away, expecting Phantom to follow, but the little Persian clearly had no intention of leaving while she was getting a belly rub. "Phantom? Here, kitty..." Gaston pulled a small toy mouse out of his pocket and dangled it in front of the black and white cat's eyes, hoping to entice her to come along.

Ha! The way Phantom just meowed in time to her question was perfect! Camilla laughed softly giving the cat a nice rub behind her ears. Oh, my gosh though. Listening to Gaston tell about how his cat torments dogs and gotten herself into trouble of the summer was hilarious. One just couldn't stand there hearing this and not laugh. "I'm sorry...but-but I probably would've just laughed if I were you. Look at her though, she's so well behaved here." There wasn't a problem so far as far as she herself was concerned. Then again there weren't any dogs here at the moment.

Kitty playdates would be fun. Bonsai would be kept busy and out of trouble. "I'm sure he wouldn't at all mind where he got to play," she smiled. Bonsai lifted his head at hearing his name, tailing flicking back and forth. If there was toys he would be playing.

Ah, well that could be part of the problem there then. Camilla hoped that Paul would be able to help with the flower problem. "Well that certainly makes things a bit more difficult but not impossible I'm sure." Glancing at Bonsai she couldn't help but smile seeing how much he was enjoying the attention. Gaston bringing up the time caught her attention and she nodded. "We should probably be on our way as well." She laughed softly when Phantom wouldn't move to focused on getting petted. Cami stopped the petting and rose to her full height once more. "Sorry there Phantom, I'll have more belly rubs for you next time."

Declan didn't know what to make of Etta so he shrugged instinctively. "I think I'll be able to make time," he said. It wasn't like he didn't misuse his time all the time. He could be sleeping, studying, or doing homework and instead he was creeping around the corridors as he always did. "I have to warn you though, I'm not the hollering and whooping type." In case she forgot, Declan brought his thumbs up again. "Thumbs."

Thumbs were clearly not going to save him this time. There was a lot of giggling happening and Declan was not used to the sound. What were girls made of??? Declan watched her curiously. And what? "Ha!" Declan laughed loudly. He tilted his head back, pocketed his hands and started walking backwards. "Ha!" he laughed again at the ceiling. "Blush-Blushing?? Me?" He made a point to laugh again this time louder. "No, listen, I mean. I'm still human. Blushing is just...I have blood just like you. Sometimes it happens but I'm not blushing."

Declan hopped down the stairs quickly, and made sure to land first at the bottom of the staircase.

"Ancient Magical History" he called out to her from the bottom of the stairs, hands still in his pockets. "Bone readings. Maybe some ancient spells. Maybe something else," he mumbled turning around and brushing some dirt off the ground with the tip of his foot. Like, accidentally summoning an Ancient God.

Etta looked at him in disbelief. "Like I said.." Etta started slowly, like she was explaining to a four-year old. "I don't want you to whoop for me, okay? Be the 'silently supporting a friend' kind of a guy. She would definitely appreciate that. "And.. please no thumbs up. I wont be able to see you do that because I'd be busy dueling."

The Hufflepuff burst into another fit of laughter at his reaction. She shook her head, almost running to keep up with him. "Of course, you did! I saw. Your face was all.. PINK. It was adorable." She added with a grin. She knew she was probably making him feel a tad bit uncomfortable but well.. she didn't care. It was fun to watch, at least. "Do girls make you blush, Declan?" Etta asked after her laughter had finally subsided.

Huh------ WHAT? Etta frowned. "No! I mean.. talents that are NOT related to studies or books. Like.. how I love to draw. I mean, stuff like that?"

She made a good point about not being able to see him. Still, he couldn't resist...Declan grinned at her as he slowly brought up his hands to give her one last thumbs up. "Alright. Understood."

The subject was back, about the thing that definitely did not do. "I don't know what you're talking about!" he reiterated in a sing song voice. "My face is a very nice brown color right now. Not pink not that it doesn't get...pinkish, but I'm just saying it didn't happen."

However, it was happening, wasn't it? Because she was asking him a direct question, and even his ears felt hot now.

"That depends!" he replied a little defensively and looked her up and down. "On the girl and what she's doing." He was gonna let her figure that one out.

Declan cleared his throat and started walking down the corridor, hands in his trouser pockets. "Ohhhh!" Declan was stumped now. He glanced at the ceiling as he walked, then at the walls, and the wall ornaments they passed as they walked. What was he good at that didn't involve academics somehow? "Archery?" he asked her, as if expecting validation. "I'm pretty good at that. Does that count?"

Etta sighed dramatically.. before pursing her lips to stop herself from laughing. Again. Because, seriously. Did he even realise how funny he was? "But, YOU DID! YOU DID! YOU DID BLUSH, DECLAN!" Etta practically yelled and started to laugh yet again. Something was very seriously wrong with her... she almost seemed like a crazy person.

-- SEE? More blushing happening. Etta looked quite smug, casually observing his face. She so enjoyed making him feel uncomfortable. Did that make her mean? She wondered momentarily. "What she's doing?" She repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What does that mean?" She CLEARLY understood what that meant but it would nice to hear it, right? Heheheh.

Really? So long to think about it? Etta walked silently, suddenly realising how empty the corridor was. It was almost.. scary. --- HMM? Archery? "Of course that counts! We did that in Divination once.. and turned out, I'm pretty good at it. Not an expert maybe but yeah.."

"Salazar!" he exclaimed as he dug his hands deep in his pockets. Decland widened his eyes comically. "You're trying to wake up the entire castle or just getting the portals attention?" Would it be easier just to admit he did blush? How did even guys do that? Did they do that period?

Declan would have to ask Levi.

"Oh, I don't know," he said feigning ignorance and shook his head as he looked down at Etta. "You can look it up in the library if you don't know. That's where all questions are answered," he said pulling a hand out of his pocket to gesture at the air before quickly hiding it again. They reached the next staircase and Declan stopped at it briefly. "Well, that's cool. I like archery." Declan tried to think what else he was good at that didn't involve academics or secrets he'd like to keep. "And I guess I'm alright at Taekwondo." There was wrestling too but he didn't practice much and his only wrestling partner was Levi. There was no way to really gauge how good he was or not.

The Portal.. Etta abruptly stopped walking and looked around her carefully. Yeah, they were quite safe. She frowned and glared up at him, also poking him on the arm for effect. "Don't even joke about that!" Got it? She felt for the wand in the back pocket of her jeans, just to be sure. Better to be always prepared, right?

-- Well, that was no fun. "Oh, I know. But.. I.. would like to get your point of view, too." She insisted, her smile widening to a beam. "So, what you said earlier.. kindly elaborate." Also, the library didn't have the answers to these kind of questions. Gosh, Declan. --- Whaaaat? She frowned in thought for a few moments. "Is it somewhat similar to Karate? Why did you learn?" Maybe he could teach her, you know?

While the boys and Cassie went off to Merlin knows where to taunt some poltergiest, Noelle had Olly and Sky with her to find some poltergeists.


She wasnt entirely sure how you made them appear. They had appeared during a food fight once, and then there was just them popping up around the corridors taunting people. But.... one thing Noelle did know about the poltergeists was... they thought their relationship is the best.

Noelle intended on using that.

" MIFFY! PEEVES! I HAVE A COMPETITION FOR YOU! LETS PLAY THE COUPLES GAME!!" Because that would be fun right? Noelle winked at Sky. This was going to be good!

Daisy sort of knew that she shouldn't really be walking out of the study group early and alone; after all, the curfew was still technically in place. Nevertheless, it was May and, after the scare of the 'random-kid-snatching-portals' that had been appearing everywhere, not much had been happening. The Ministry was taking care of it, Mum had even wrote to her saying there had been a Board of Governors meeting.

And the school was still open! So where was the danger, really??

Besides, once won't hurt.

The Slytherin was literally dragging her school bag across the floor -- for once overflowing with schoolbooks and not sweets and Quidditch magazines -- and repeatedly throwing a small lavender stone with silvery cracks in the air before catching it. The sun outside looked wonderful and she had half a mind to take out her broom before she stopped in her tracks. Was it just her, or was the castle really noisy all of a sudden?

Meh. Probably just seventh years having mental breakdowns.

Okay, so Brent was just going to make this really quick. He had homework to do, and of all things, Brent had misplaced his textbook. He was just going to do a quick backtrack, and then he'd beeline back to the common room to get his assignment done. He'd been near the library earlier, so hopefully he could just snatch up his book (once it was found) and be done with this little mission.

He had to admit his heart was racing just a little. This school was about as a safe as a bludger to the face right about now. Besides, there was some weird dragging-type sound just up ahead, and let's just say he hoped he found his textbook before he figured out what that sound was.

No. He was NOT scared. Not him. He was a big, bad almost FIFTEEN year old. Fifteen year old dudes did NOT get scared. He was scared. The dragging sound got closer, and Brent's eyes got wider. What if the portal was opening up somewhere, and what if that THING was still in the portal, and what if he got sucked inside AGAIN and never came out? And what if...

"Oh, hey, Daisy. What's up?" he casually asked. HA. Dragging sound. Daisy's BAG. Just DAISY. Brent was officially a loser.

Once Kane got going, he didn't usually stop unless he had good reason to - and unless he ran into his brother OR the scary monster, he was NOT stopping. He had no idea where the thing had run off to, but it had to be around here SOMEWHERE. Kane couldn't just sit back and let it terrorize the school! He'd vaguely heard that one older Ravenclaw yelling at him to come back before he'd taken off from the portal, but he had, of course, ignored him. There were more IMPORTANT things to do!

He was ignoring that pesky part of his brain that kept trying to remind him that this was an AWFUL idea. Terrible. Potentially deadly. But if he didn't warn Brent, it could be deadly for HIM too!

So yes, Kane was going to keep on running until he found the monster OR Brent, and made sure he was safe!

Turning the corner, reaching DANGEROUSLY high speeds for a second year, he skidded along the floor before tearing off again, not even noticing until it was too late that there were two people already in his path...

SMACK!

Kane barreled RIGHT into the larger of the two, letting out a yelp. WAS IT THE MONSTER?! Landing painfully on his knee, he let out a groan as he got to his feet. OH! IT WAS BRENT! Excited to see his brother, Kane's emotions went from shocked to ecstatic and he tackled his older bro in a hug.

"BRENT! You're alive! IT'S BACK! IT'S HERE, IN THE CASTLE! THE MONSTER! WE HAVE TO RUN!" he exclaimed all in one long breath. Yeah, he had to remember to BREATHE or he'd probably pass out. Then he'd REALLY be an easy target for the monster.

"It ran away, it could be ANYWHERE, IT'S ON THE MOVE!" he screeched, his voice cracking as it reached higher and higher decibels of panic.

For a while, Daisy was pretty sure that she had heard faint screams and even some explosions. Which clearly was some kind of sign of an overworked mind, or something, because the castle looked as calm as it possibly could -- you know, for an old castle with hundreds ... thousands??? ... A LOT of teenagers and a polter!family. So as soon as she made sure that neither Peeves, nor any member of his terrible family, were around, she restarted her walk.

And if her pace was just a pinch faster than it had been before, no one could really blame her.

....

Steps. Those were definitely steps. Solitary steps too and Daisy held tight to the stone as she moved her hand towards her wand...

"Brent!" Oh, thank Merlin! The girl's stance relaxed immediately and she pulled her bag closer to her. He was sort of coming from the direction she had headed, but if he could be convinced to go the common room, she would fine, yeah! "Are you going to the dun-" Dungeons, she meant to say but that was before something -- someone -- collided with her fellow Slytherin.

And then started screaming.

"What do you mean, monster??!" Like, the portal monster? Children eating monster??? NOPE. She was not here for this. Yes, hugs were very nice and she was very glad that Brent's brother had found him, but they couldn't stand here!! Instinctively, she looked behind her, hoping NOT to see anything that resembled a monster. It had been so long now!! She thought the portal thing was being fixed! Just what was the point of adults??? What had they been doing?"We need to get to our common rooms." She told the boys, pulling the strap of her bag up towards her shoulder. Right. Time to run.

They could also go warn someone but ... honestly, common rooms sounded lovely right about now.

What Brent thought would be a nice and quick 'Hey, how are you?' suddenly turned into something so different. He hadn't even seen it coming. It had just been he and Daisy one second, and then the next second, he was almost knocked out cold by...

...something.

Whatever it was. WAIT. What had that been?! Brent got his bearings long enough to realize Kane had smacked right into him. "Dude, what are you do--...?" He trailed off. "It's...it's back? The monster MONSTER? The one the boys talked about?" he asked, his heart starting to POUND again. Brent had had a small encounter with that thing, and it was terrifying.

TERRIFYING.

He looked down the corridor then back to Kane and Daisy. "It's out of the portal?!" he asked, trying not to yell. That thing had ears! He nodded at Daisy. "Yeah, we do. I have to bring my brother to the Hufflepuff Common Room first, though." He was NOT letting Kane just run off by himself. "Stay with us, Daisy. Just go with us to the Hufflepuff door..." Or whatever it was the Badgers used as an entryway... "...and then we'll go straight to our common room."

"Who else knows?" he asked his brother. "Prefects? Professors? And where was this thing last seen?" . And how could he form coherent thoughts right now?

Leon was maintaining a slow jog as he ran down from the fifth floor, he was peering into every classroom and hallway and so far there hasn't been any sign of the bloody thing..

Where is the heck was it?

Leon jogged around a corner only to see three people in front of him, one was the younger kid he recognized from the Portal who had run off just before him, the other was Brent, a kid who had been with him inside the Portal and then a girl he had never met!

"Brent!" The seventh year came to a stop. "The portals monster is out! We should probably not be lingering in the corridors. " He said as he looked around, "Keep your wands our just in case! " He looked at the girl whom seemed to be rather upset..

"We can walk you to your common room or Professor Hirsch if you would like? " the older boy said kindly..

Panic would not help in these sorts of situations.