Zelena had to force herself not to smile at Healer Reed's "surprise" regarding the feline festive chorus. She adjusted her antlers and kept on singing. She then heard her name being called and stopped singing. A candy gram for her? Zelena thanked "Santa" for the gift. She read the message with a mix of joy and puzzlement. Who had sent her the candy gram? She held the candy cane in her hand and continued to sing.

Noelle was on a patrol. With all the weird happenings that have been going on around the school, the patrols were more frequent. It was needed though. The portal seemed to have a mind of its own. Just being near that thing was nerve wracking. What if it sucked you in?

It wasn't past curfew yet, but Noelle had her wand out. You could never be too sure now-a-days. She had homework to finish and other things to plan and attend to. Every creek or bump seemed to be magnified. It was daunting to say the least. She should have gotten Ace to patrol with her. Or asked Noah out to walk to corridors with her.

Leon was walking along the corridors heading back up to the Ravenclaw common room from the kitchens. Az and Wes had made them all dinner and desert and now Az was heading down to the Slytherin common room, Wes back to the Gryffindor one and Leon?

Well he was loitering around trying to see if he could find Juno on one of her patrols! He rounded the corner and spotted a figure with their wand out and he instantly jogged up to them, his protective instinct activating as he saw a prefect.

"Hey there, everything all right? " He asked the girl with a smile.

So, nothing better come jump out at her. Noelle wasn't usually this cautious, but with the portal around, it seemed to make her that more cautious. She couldn't help it.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps. Running footsteps. Loud, heavy footsteps. Her wand pointed at the guy running at her, she was about to shoot a bat boogey hex at him when he asked if she was alright. Phew.... okay. He was not a threat. Noelle eased her wand down. "Sorry. You can never be too cautious. Im alright... just... patrolling." Because she was.

"You're Leo... Leon... Levi... something with a L right?" She'd seen him in numerous classes. That didn't mean she remembered his name.

Leon blinked a little and put his hands up when the Prefect pointed her wand at him, just to show that he wasn't going to hurt her. It seems the portal had everyone around here jumpy lately, not that he could blame her.

He nodded as she spoke and smiled at her. [b]"Well I'm glad to hear that you are all right, I thought there might have been some random portal opening or something.. that's why I came rushing up to you." The grey eyed boy explained with a smile as he put his hands in his pockets..

"Patroling? Mind if I walk with you for a bit? " He asked her before nodding..

"Yeah, I'm Leon, Leon Kennedy.. " He said as he politely stuck his hand out for her to shake.

Harmless, this kid was.
Noelle smiled at him, and lowered her wand. She should have probably sent him on his merry way to his common room before curfew, especially with all this portal things happening but... she was going to be selfish. "I'm alright. Maybe next time just like... shout that you're not going to hurt me? Because... Im pretty good at some hexes. And I would hate to have hexed you when you were just trying to help."

Noelle nodded at the older boy though. "But I wouldn't mind some company. I should probably tell you to get to your common room before curfew starts but... I think a professor would understand."

"Noelle Grace Summers. Fifth Year Gryffindor Prefect." She said as she put her wand to her less dominate hand and shook his hand.

Leon grinned a little at the younger Gryffindor and smiled. "Well you may be excellent at hexes, but I'm pretty quick with the Shield Charms. " He said with a warm grin, he was a future Auror after all. But he didn't doubt this girl could hex him pretty well, she looked fierce.

He nodded, "Well I will gladly provide some company, I've walked around with Juno, the Hufflepuff Prefect a few times.. this Portal thing has everyone a little spooked. " He said with a nod as he shook her head and then tilted his head as she spoke..

"Noelle? Do you happen to know an Azura Snow? " He asked her curiously.. was this the Noelle Az was always talking about?

Noelle couldn't help but get a little smirky and challenging when Leon said that he was good at shield charms. Older student or not, she didn't back down from a challenge. "[b]Oh yeah? We might have to test that out one day/./b]" When she found the time. Lately, her nicely arranged schedule had been a little scrambled up due to things happening. She could just add him to that scramble.

"That portal is creepy. I think.. its more daunting to me because its unknown. Like... is the portal itself a monster? Especially with it pulling people in. Or is it a monster in it? How do we get rid of it? How do we save people taken?" Noelle had all the questions. Ones that she was determined to figure out. "I hadn't had much time to hang out with Juno. She seems lovely." Noelle offered.

Az!
Noelle's face lit up at the mention of her best friend. "That's my best friend. Pretty much the best person I've ever met." She lifted her wrist. "Friendship rings."

"Alright, Poltergeists," he mumbled, stepping into the third floor corridor. "Come out, come out wherever you are." Of course, he was only half-joking. No way did he expect a family of poltergeists to hear him, just poof up from out of nowhere from out of the other dimension, and have a cordial chat with him. IF they did, and that was a big IF, he was positive it would be accompanied by dungbombs and glitter.

He paused to turn and see what the Kenning Bros had to say. Too bad he never really saw Kane anymore. Who would have ever thought the second and fourth years would have such a different schedule of classes? Or...KANE WASN'T IN THE PORTAL, WAS HE? ... Brent's eyes showed a momentary hint of 'freaking out', before he reminded himself to act cool, because...peers and stuff.

Levi had saluted the professors and the other students on his waay out of the library before rushing after Brent and Declan. He'd also for good measure hooked his arm with Cassie's and taken the Ravenclaw girl with along because--well, he had no idea why other than she was a familiar face and maybe it'd be good luck to add a little bit more of a balance to their group, gender wise. As a girl, maybe she'd have a different insight? Or maybe she'd be able to handle Miffy better?

......Was he being sexist?

The Gryffindor was left to puzzle this over as Brent started to quite weakly call out to the poltergeists. The dungbombs he'd summoned from his dormitory had to make an appearance, so Levi shot the Slytherin boy a skeptical look, and Declan sideways one before saying as loudly as he could--

"LADY MIIIIFFYYYYYYYYYY" Levi could not remember the last time he'd raised his voice so much, and he did clear his throat before continuing in a considerably lower tone, "If you could us please DELIGHT us with your presence--!"

Well, she did strike him as much more sensible than the men in her family.

Was he being sexist AGAIN?

While everyone was busy yelling, Declan got busy summoning. He was currently waiting for the haul to arrive--hopefully without knocking anyone out. "Come on, Brent!" Declan encouraged with his wand out. "You can do better than that."

He was leaning against the wall on the corridor, still waiting.

"You can't just call a lady like that, Levi. You gotta think what would Mum say?" His Mum would say not to holler first of all and not to call unless you come bearing gifts. He saw items flying around the corner and he smiled as he pushed off the wall. "Are you a fan of fireworks, Lady Miffy?"

Cassie had been debating in which direction and which group to head off with as she headed out of the library only for Levi to take her arm and rope her into his group with the Slytherin boys. Okay…she supposed that was one way to see who wanted her assistance in their midst. At least it meant she wasn’t going alone and might have SOME protection if they decided to play an awful trick on her. The Ravenclaw obediently followed along as they moved towards the third floor corridor, her midn trying to think on a good way to get the attention of the poltergeists. Usually she was taken by surprise by them. Come out…come out…whereever you are. Yeah…not sure that worked.

And then the Gryffindor raised his voice in extended pronunciation of Miffy’s name and polite title and she found her self chuckling in surprise, especially as he was called out on it be Declan before she caught herself. This WAS serious stuff after all. Cue Cass trying not to be embarished. “Look…students just chilling around and ripe for the teasing.” She finally decided to call out herself, trying to intice the poltergeists to want to be around to cause havok. That was their pride and joy after all.

Wait, say whaaaaaat?

The Kenning bros just came out here and owned this, leaving Brent to look like a weak idiot. He couldn't blame them, though. Brent figured this little episode would leave him to be the likely target of some major dungbombing. Unless he could redeem himself, of course.

He didn't have anything to offer Miffy, but it did seem like a good idea. ... ...
... OKAY, FINE. He'd call her like he meant it, but only because he looked like the weak link now, and not because he was a fan of whatever she'd do to them once she got here. "OH, LADY MIFFFFFFFFFFFY!" he called out, agreeing with Levi that a little polite title before her name might make things a little better.

Brent's eyes got HUGE when Declan called out his offer of fireworks. FIREWORKS?! Holy Merlin, they were about to have some FUN! "Freakin' brilliant idea, dude!" he said. Also, heyyyy, Cassie. Brent hadn't seen her join them, but maybe Miffy would take to them better with a girl in the group.

Maybe it was the fact that they were doing this for the greater good, or maybe it was that he was happy hollering away for a poltergeist or three, or maybe it was that he was working as a team with Brent, Declan and Cassie. And they were all contributing! But Levi was enjoying himself far too much for something that had to do with something so serious.

He tried to arrange his face into something that looked less like he was ready to be entertained and more like he was bracing for war. Because, right. Kids had been abducted, the portal could literal show up anywhere (presumably) and there was a monster inside. Hungry and very willing to feast on any or all victims it managed to get its claws on.

Levi wasn't clear the monster had claws, but claws were surely something you HAD to have to be considered a monster. Surely.

"MY LAAAAAAAAAAADYYYYYYYYYYY," Or Peeves' Lady. But, whatever. "We've GIFTS for you!" Or his brother had. Again, whatever.

Declan was rolling up his sleeves when he first heard it. There was some clanging noise down the corridor. Was that laughter? He glance down he other way, the opposite direction his belongings were coming from. Declan turned around just in time to be slammed on the stomach with wrapped bundles.

"Ugh," he breathed out as he felt suckered punch. Declan wrapped his arms around the items but some fell to the ground. "Did you guys hear that? Like something loud was crashing down that way," he pointed with one arm before he bent over to pick up his things. "Should we move down that way? But first..."

While Levi continued calling out to Miffy, Declan found one of the wrapped up dung bombs. He was careful when he unwrapped it and rolled it out from the wrapper, under his arm like throwing a bowling ball, down the corridor in the direction of where his items came from.

"Just in case Lady Miffy is into a different kind of cologne."

Wait…had she heard that right?

Fireworks?!

As in he had them on hand or just messing with Peeves and Miffy and co? “That’s certainly something that seems right up a poltergeist’s alley.” What with being tricksters and all. She just hoped never to be on the receiving end of one of those explosive types of tricks. Icky fish were bad enough. Fireworks could cause damage and injury to people and things.

And then there was a sound of something and Cass turned just as Declan was hit by something. Something that appeared to be welcomed by the boy. Ah…so that was a yes. "Can't be sure," she answered truthfully before shrugging at the course idea. It could have been the summoning. The Ravenclaw wrinking up her nose at the thought as she watched the dung bomb roll down the corridor. “Yeah…well...she can have it.”

Brent was really starting to feel like an idiot. Wasn't it the GRYFFINDORS who were supposed to be out in the corridors trying to save the day? How exactly had he gotten roped into this?

Oh. Right. He'd volunteered willingly and without having to be convinced at all.

What a loser. "OHHHHHHH, MRSSSSSSSSS. MIFFFFFFFFFY!" he called out. Seriously. She can come out now. She was probably in the corner or something practicing her dungbomb aim. It suddenly occurred to Brent that he was too close to the wall. TOOOOOO CLOSE. What if the portal opened up right here and now? He jumped a little, while at the same time trying to mask the fact that he'd spooked himself.

"GIFFFTTTTTTTS! GET YOUR GIFTS HERE!!!" he continued.

Brent saw what Declan had done. Now he really felt like he was willingly walking into the line of battle and volunteering himself for something disgusting. Still, in a a weird sort of way, this seemed FUN, and he was down for some fun right now! Now, with the presence of the dungbombs, it was time to get this party started.

...they just needed to wait for the guest of honor to show up.

...and hope she didn't bring her whole family.

Though Levi had continued with the yelling and even added some more noise by jumping up and loudly landing on the balls of his feet, he became vaguely aware that all the chaos wasn't just coming from their small group. Mostly thanks to Declan's suggestion, but also because a scream made him snap into focus and stop what he was doing.

"Hey," He called to the group, immediately going to stand by his brother. The excitement of just moments before slowly vanishing. Levi began following the source of the clattering and screaming. "Did you--" He cleared his throat, "--did you guys hear that?"

..........."Declan?"

Peeves was annoyed. Angry and annoyed. Storm was stealing his thunder and all Miffy could do was coooo over him as if he was some kind of precious kid when he was NOT. His pranks weren't even that good!!

So now? Peeves swooooooooped into the third floor to avoid BOTH of them and make a scene of his own. Maybe this group of studentsies would do just the trick.

"Oooooooooooh!" Peeves hung upside down and grinned broadly at all of them. "Ickle studentsies are being baaaad! Should report this, I should. But if you're looking for Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiffy," Even saying THAT ANNOYING NAGGING WOMAN'S NAME was making him scowl. "You should try upstairs. They're making a HUGE mess up there. Should turn them in, you should."

Maybe he could watch.

And laugh.

The girl that apparently his brother knew seemed to be fitting in along and was unharmed so far. Declan kept an eye on her just in case, especially as he moved down the corridor towards the source of the noise. He brought some of his items with him, and held on tight to his wand on his free hand. Maybe it was easier to drop some things just in case, so he dropped items as he moved along just leaving them astray on the ground. His comrades could pick some up if they wanted.

Brent was really getting into it and Declan had to chuckle. Who would have known? He really needed to bring him around more often maybe Althea and him would get along.

A scream made his hair stand up on his arms and the back of his neck. The grip on his wand tightened and as he had begun moving his legs to start on a sprint Peeves appeared. Declan had to jump back in surprise.

Peeves asking them to turn in Miffy? What was that about? Declan glanced at Levi, remembering their moment at the Garbage Pond. Things didn't seem so smooth for the poltergeist couple

"I think to turn them in we're going to have to catch her red-handed, don't you think, Peeves? Maybe we should go together." Declan told Peeves and nodded at Levi, Brent and the Ravenclaw girl. "Better go before they move elsewhere." Declan pushed some of his items on Brent and the Ravenclaw girl. "Here you guys, some dungbombs and things."

That done, he moved quickly, almost running down the corridor and towards where Peeves was mentioning.

Nope…that was definitely yelling and other loud sounds she and her group were hearing. “Yeah…now I do,” she confirmed in answer to Levi’s question. Cassie followed everyone’s gaze realizing someone found one of the poltergeists before them. She was about to suggest moving towards the sounds only to stop in her tracks as she felt the cold before Peeves appeared in the style of a Poltergeist in true form, the girl’s hand slipping near the pocket where her wand was in case of trouble from him.

Seems they had been found by a poltergeist themselves.

“Pfft…you enjoy pranks and trouble.” Turning them in would only cause that to cease…from their end. But wait…Peeves was directing them to the other two…UPSTAIRS?! “Upstairs? That sounds closer than upstairs,” she pointed out. That didn’t sound like upstairs unless it was really loud and travelling. Either way it was something to look into and before she knew it, the one boy was speeding up in the direction the yelling was coming from. And seeing as more people was better against trouble, she had to agree to the idea of going together.

“Right …” Cass said before finding herself with dung bombs and such in her hands. “Um…thanks,” she remarked uncertain before heading after him.

Duuude. Apparently people were hearing things, which was weird, because he didn't. Maybe the sounds really were there, though, and he was just too busy being loud in his yells for Miffy that he missed that. He paused, his adrenaline pumping in excitement as he listened.

...this was sort of turning out to be way more exciting than it should be.

Then with a quick and unexpected swoop, there was Peeves, and Brent found himself instinctively covering his head. He waited for the glitter or dungbombs or whatever other mess Peeves had brought with him. They never came, though. Brent slowly uncovered his head and listened to Peeves.

Was he trying to help them in his own weird way or something? COOL, because apparently he was ratting out Miffy while helping them, and he seemed to not really notice it. Or maybe this was just a trap to get them all to run into an area where all three of the poltergeists could attack them at once?

As long as he didn't have to go near that portal, he was game.

Feeling like he was suddenly in the midst of a SUPERHERO BATTLE, Brent accepted the dungbombs from Declan. "Thanks, man," he said. "Let's go meet some poltergeists."

...and then he was off to join the others.

Nat had been keeping to herself more and more. She was of course doing her duties as Head Girl, but she was feeling more and more like a failure at it. She wasn't being able to help much with the portal, she had landed herself into detention, and now studying for NEWTs was overwhelming her. She knew she needed to make another visit to Healer Reed, this was becoming a regular thing anymore. Though as long as it kept her going until the end of term she would visit and chat with him.


Pulling her bag up on her shoulder more she headed down the corridor. By her watch she was going to have just enough time to stop by for maybe fifteen minutes before she got back to her studying in her dorm, since she wasn't allowed in the library without supervision and Natalia just couldn't even deal with that sort of thing at the moment.

No avoiding the librarian was her newest game, avoid at all cost.

She ought to have been studying for NEWTs. In fact, Elle had tried to study. She really had, but there was only so much she could study with the books she owned. Also, there was only so much she could concentrate knowing that there was every possibility that she could be pulled into a portal and end up who knew where. At which point her studying wouldn’t matter half as much as survival, and given the mood at Hogwarts lately she was beginning to wonder if survival was becoming the focus here in real life. It wasn’t a feeling she liked, and she knew Marvin didn’t like it either. The hedgehog had been nearly clingy lately, but she didn’t mind.

It was easier to make sure he was safe if he was with her. When she wasn’t in lessons that could have been dangerous for him, like DADA. Either way, she had her pet in her bag again as she had headed down the third floor corridor, at least partially wondering if maybe Healer Reed had some books in the Hospital Wing she could use to study. The Hospital Wing was slightly closer than the library was, and also slightly further away from the sixth floor and the portal she had no inclination whatsoever of investigating. Plus, as she’d turned the corner and seen a familiar figure, she realized she could take care of more than one thing and a faint smile crept onto her face. “Nat!”

Her call trailed off at the sound of a voice echoing down the corridor, however. Oh, of course there was a monster loose in the castle. She wasn’t about to abandon her roommate though.

Her mind was else where like it usually was. She wasn't even paying much attention of anyone coming or going near her and even though she knew to be on guard at all times in the corridor she really wasn't. So when her name was called out the brunette jumped dropping her bag to the ground. Her books sliding out and scattering over the floor. "Oh hi El.."


What was..

O_O


"Did she just say that monster was out?" She pulled her wand and looked around. They needed to get to safety, but were pretty far from their own common room. Bending down she started collecting her books. "Let's get to Healer Reed's office for now. That should be a safe place." Truth be told she had been avoiding the common room because of the memories it held so she had been finding more and more reasons to be at the hospital wing.