She had come to a point where it was too early in the year to really study as much as she wanted to. Everything from the past few years was still fresh enough in her mind after last term's studying, and she simply hadn't learned enough yet this year to go back and drill it into her brain. So Lucy decided that Wednesdays and weekends were safe to use to just finish homework, and relax, do something she loved.

And she loved her guitar.

She took Harrison out of her dorm and perched herself by the clock tower. She was incredibly curious to find out what the acoustics would be like. So just after the clock chimed and the echo died down, she started to strum.

Althea was tired of studying and tired of being tired. September wasn't even over and she was overwhelmed. She'd left the library, shaking her head at all the time she spent pouring over notes and books and flash cards - because she couldn't just rely on one form of note taking in order to keep up with her studies - and wandered around. She wasn't really paying attention and didn't really care where she ended up, as long as she was away from her studies.

Somehow - and she wished Helga would give her some indication of just how she got downstairs - she'd arrived on the third floor. Huh. Her ears picked up on the sound of music - a guitar?? - and she followed the sounds until she came upon her dorm mate, Lucy, playing her guitar. "Lucy," she said softly, smiling right after. "What are you doing here?" She looked so relax - Althea wished she could look that at ease - and she didn't want to bother her friend, but she also didn't feel like going back to the dorms so...."What are you playing?"

Aslan just so happened to be nearby. She was laying on her back and staring dazedly up at the ceiling of the clock tower. She was burnt out and just sort of.... feeling everything. Her dream had been full of pitch black crows with crystal blue eyes and as much as she had tried, the smell of dust and feathers had stayed with her the whole day.

rubbing her eyes with her lightly tanned knuckles, aslan was vaguely aware of two familiar voices coming from just behind the pillar she was laying behind, but she had very little energy or intention to see to whom the voices belonged or what they were speaking of.

However, she was finding the dull murmurs comforting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekraken

Althea was tired of studying and tired of being tired. September wasn't even over and she was overwhelmed. She'd left the library, shaking her head at all the time she spent pouring over notes and books and flash cards - because she couldn't just rely on one form of note taking in order to keep up with her studies - and wandered around. She wasn't really paying attention and didn't really care where she ended up, as long as she was away from her studies.

Somehow - and she wished Helga would give her some indication of just how she got downstairs - she'd arrived on the third floor. Huh. Her ears picked up on the sound of music - a guitar?? - and she followed the sounds until she came upon her dorm mate, Lucy, playing her guitar. "Lucy," she said softly, smiling right after. "What are you doing here?" She looked so relax - Althea wished she could look that at ease - and she didn't want to bother her friend, but she also didn't feel like going back to the dorms so...."What are you playing?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole black

Aslan just so happened to be nearby. She was laying on her back and staring dazedly up at the ceiling of the clock tower. She was burnt out and just sort of.... feeling everything. Her dream had been full of pitch black crows with crystal blue eyes and as much as she had tried, the smell of dust and feathers had stayed with her the whole day.

rubbing her eyes with her lightly tanned knuckles, aslan was vaguely aware of two familiar voices coming from just behind the pillar she was laying behind, but she had very little energy or intention to see to whom the voices belonged or what they were speaking of.

However, she was finding the dull murmurs comforting.

Music is healing, Althy. Music is relaxing. Literally, the only thing that can put her mind at ease when it's stressed and wired.

Well, one of the only things.

Lucy didn't look at all surprised to see her dormmate approach. She grinned. "Playing," she answered simply, "In My Life." The only song she properly learned by heart over summer. And one with just that calming melody that felt so good right now. She patted the ground beside her for Althy to sit.

Looking behind her quickly - for some reason, she was just acutely aware of people these days - she took a seat next to Lucy and placed her bag on the floor. "I can't believe I'm getting to see you play," she said excitedly, pushing her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ears.

"Is this how you wind down?" Because she could definitely see how relaxing playing music could be. Especially given how stressful this year would be - Althea wrinkled her nose at the thought - she was glad at least one of her friends found a means to keep sane.

The voices were distinct and the more Aslan paid them attention the more certain she became of knowing one of the owners. One, was undoubtedly Lucy Potts - Evidence of the mention of guitar and the strumming were enough to convince the Gryffindor completely- but the other... She was speaking softly, and there were no hints in her calm words to describe the speaker.

Still feeling fuzzy and light, Aslan sat up and pressed her back to the pillar in an attempt to better listen. Brows furrowed. It was not Charlotte Kettleburn, or Julie Bellaire or Ava.... What was Ava's last name? Turner? Spellman? her her tongue tripped over the poor sounding names, this would be irking her the whole day.

Ava...? Green? Gardner? Samuels? She'd only heard the witch's last name nearly every day in class, it should have been etched into her brain.

"You haven't?" All summer long, she never played for Althy?

...They were busy with other things, she supposed.

Lucy nodded. "One of them," she answered, meeting the other girl's eyes. "The one I'll be relying on this year." Because fifth year will be stressful. Fifth year was already stressful.

Althea shook her head at her dorm mate, smiling sheepishly. "No, I haven't." To be fair, they definitely were preoccupied otherwise when they did hang out, and Althea's work schedule had infringed upon what little freedom she did have. "So you can imagine my excitement." Well, she wouldn't have to, the girl was grinning, very eager to hear Lucy show off her skills.

"Makes sense." She needed to find something to help her out too; eating was not enough, she needed something else. "Will it be alright to just...play here?" The thought of those interloping prefects interfering briefly crossed her mind. "Well, no one's around, so..." At least, she thought so anyway. She hoped there wasn't anyone listening in, waiting for the right moment to catch them.

Peeves was ecstatic. He was a new poltergiest, it seemed. No more commitment. No more spoiled brat getting in the way. He was free to do as he liked again and nobody was going to get in his way. LET THE REIGN OF PEEVES THE POLTER-KING BEGIN!

And his first act as king of the school was ... slimey. It maybe would even a scrumdiddlyumptious meal for some of them.

Swinging from the pendulum, King Peevsie came in like a wrecking ball, "A SLUG FOR YOU AND YOU! AND ANOTHER FOR YOU! EAT UP, STUDENTSIES, EAT UP! THESE SLUGGIES HERE WILL HELP YOU POO!" Once his hearty lyric was over, he aimed a juicy slug at each of their faces. There were more where that come from!

OoOoOoOoOoOh! Was that a guitar one of them was holding?

"Play, you peasant! Play! We must have music with this fine meal!" Slurp, slurp. Down the hatch went his own slug. He belched loudly, followed by a cackle. Peeves wasn't a monster though, for another batch of slugs rained down on the girls.

was it... Bedington? Belfort? Aslan was still running through names lazily in her head. She had completely forgotten the reason why and had effectively tuned out the voices of the other two girls. She felt half-there, only half and that half could only really focus on one thing at a time, the mystery of Ava's (Boulder, Benton, Brewer) was somehow more interesting (or rather agitating) than the conversation between Lucy and...
Oh, Althea Kenning, it all clicked now.

Playing with her tie, it was too late by the time the brunette glanced up only to see the newly divorced and just as unwelcome Peeves. She scowled as best as she could in her hazy mood and tugged her wand from behind her ear-

But it was too late- she'd been effectively slugged and as the goop and slough sunk into her messy hair and onto her shoulders Aslan shivered and gasped with displeasure. "Of all the unfunny... Peeves!" She growled. she stood unsteadily moving from behind the pillar and away from the sap of slime that head pooled in her seat. Aslan's gaze shifted from the slugs sticking to her robes to Lucy and Althea who had been similarly effected and gave them both a look: could they believe this? she couldn't. Muttering curses in her native tongue under her breath, she tugged off a particularly fat slug from the front of her robes.

Text Cut: Y'all

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekraken

Althea shook her head at her dorm mate, smiling sheepishly. "No, I haven't." To be fair, they definitely were preoccupied otherwise when they did hang out, and Althea's work schedule had infringed upon what little freedom she did have. "So you can imagine my excitement." Well, she wouldn't have to, the girl was grinning, very eager to hear Lucy show off her skills.

"Makes sense." She needed to find something to help her out too; eating was not enough, she needed something else. "Will it be alright to just...play here?" The thought of those interloping prefects interfering briefly crossed her mind. "Well, no one's around, so..." At least, she thought so anyway. She hoped there wasn't anyone listening in, waiting for the right moment to catch them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peeves

Peeves was ecstatic. He was a new poltergiest, it seemed. No more commitment. No more spoiled brat getting in the way. He was free to do as he liked again and nobody was going to get in his way. LET THE REIGN OF PEEVES THE POLTER-KING BEGIN!

And his first act as king of the school was ... slimey. It maybe would even a scrumdiddlyumptious meal for some of them.

Swinging from the pendulum, King Peevsie came in like a wrecking ball, "A SLUG FOR YOU AND YOU! AND ANOTHER FOR YOU! EAT UP, STUDENTSIES, EAT UP! THESE SLUGGIES HERE WILL HELP YOU POO!" Once his hearty lyric was over, he aimed a juicy slug at each of their faces. There were more where that come from!

OoOoOoOoOoOh! Was that a guitar one of them was holding?

"Play, you peasant! Play! We must have music with this fine meal!" Slurp, slurp. Down the hatch went his own slug. He belched loudly, followed by a cackle. Peeves wasn't a monster though, for another batch of slugs rained down on the girls.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole black

was it... Bedington? Belfort? Aslan was still running through names lazily in her head. She had completely forgotten the reason why and had effectively tuned out the voices of the other two girls. She felt half-there, only half and that half could only really focus on one thing at a time, the mystery of Ava's (Boulder, Benton, Brewer) was somehow more interesting (or rather agitating) than the conversation between Lucy and...
Oh, Althea Kenning, it all clicked now.

Playing with her tie, it was too late by the time the brunette glanced up only to see the newly divorced and just as unwelcome Peeves. She scowled as best as she could in her hazy mood and tugged her wand from behind her ear-

But it was too late- she'd been effectively slugged and as the goop and slough sunk into her messy hair and onto her shoulders Aslan shivered and gasped with displeasure. "Of all the unfunny... Peeves!" She growled. she stood unsteadily moving from behind the pillar and away from the sap of slime that head pooled in her seat. Aslan's gaze shifted from the slugs sticking to her robes to Lucy and Althea who had been similarly effected and gave them both a look: could they believe this? she couldn't. Muttering curses in her native tongue under her breath, she tugged off a particularly fat slug from the front of her robes.

Lucy grinned and strummed her guitar. "Any requests, then?" Because she could likely figure out the tune of any song, given she knew it. And since it was Althy's first time hearing her play, she got to pick.

She shrugged. "I don't know why it wouldn't be allowed..." People played by the lake all the time. But that was for the attention-seekers. Besides, she was testing out the acoustics of the clock tower.

Her smile disappeared when she heard the familiar call of....Peeves. Lucy looked up at the poltergeist, only to wish she hadn't. The noise the slug made when it hit her face was most unpleasant.

And then...

...did he just call her a peasant?....

And then more slugs came raining down. Lucy let out a girlish scream, hopped onto her feet, and crouched over her guitar to protect it. She glanced at Althy to see how she was escaping, and turned her head to see Aslan, who appeared to have her wand in her hand...was she going to help?

She let out a whimper for every slug that hit her.

Something about Lucy's presence was always soothing to Althea, she liked hanging around her and wished that school wasn't such a factor this term. Oh well, maybe once things got a little less hectic, they could do something together. "I get to choose?" This was also surprising, and Althea thought briefly about what song she wanted and was about to tell her when she heard the shrill voice of one very unwanted, very annoying, very persistent poltergeist. Instinctively, her hand moved towards her wand, because with Peeves you didn't actually know what to expect. Didn't they eradicate them along with the portal and monster last term??? Why was he still here? Althea was moments away from telling Peeves off, when the most disrespectful thing (which was astounding, because she thought Peeves couldn't disrespect her any more than he had at the End of Term feast months ago,): he threw large slugs at them.

Her skin crawled. Literally. Althea took several deep breaths as she peeled the slug off of her face, and was suddenly very furious (her patience was thin these days.) "Peeves, I swear to Helga if you don–" she was cut off by the onslaught of more slugs and she leaped to hide behind one of the pillars, trying her best not to scream. Of all the wild, disturbing things Peeves could've done. "Ugh," she groaned, as she tried desperately to flick the slugs off of her, she wondered just how long Peeves intended to punish them.

"HEE HEE HEE! HO HO HO!"

A hand still holding onto the pendulum, the poltergeist threw his hand back as it slowly swung to the left and then to the right. The sight before him was absolutely hilarious!

Peeves' other hand threw down more slugs at the one girl who was scooting away and hiding behind a pillar. "Come out of there, you coward!" he shouted at her, his voice echoing throughout the tower. "Don't be so salty. Good ol' Peevesie here just wants to play!"

More cackling escaped his lips at the sight of the other two girls. It was the guitar girl that amused him the most. Each whimper was accompanied by more of his laughter and a pointing gesture. What a great way to pass the slime! This was better than whatever music the girl wasn't going to play for him.

Then there was the curly-haired girl who mentioned swearing Helga. Without warning, he leapt down and floated right in front of you. "If I don't WHAT?" he asked loudly, a devilish grin on his face. He was sooooooooooooooo scared. NOT. The poltergeist then blew her a raspberry and plopped two slugs in her hair before floating up, up, up.

Aslan grit her teeth, Lucy's whimpering her was making her feel just as nauseated as the slime she was coated in. It was the kind of noise- like nails on a chalkboard- that left her skin prickling. Where was her wand, she searched her pockets and her hair while Althea threatened the un-shaking Poltergeist, but found the rod nowhere on her person- she scowled, holding back her heavy hair and looking to the slick-slimy ground and there it was, right by her foot and just as soaked with slug goo as his owner.

Clumsy, Aslan kneeled down, taking up her wand and pointing it at Peeve's from just behind.

Skurge, Skurge, Skurge, Skurge

the non-verbal charm shot several vivid green lights from her wand tip towards Peeve's semi-corporal form.

Aslan Evans was over this.

Lucy couldn't take it today, Peeves. She came out here to play her music and DEstress because she was very stressed lately and didn't have much time to do what she wanted. To relax. Or, at least, she didn't allow herself to too often. She had so much homework and studying and anything else felt helplessly unproductive. And now, the poltergeist's antics might just break her so early in the school year.

Not to mention slug slime was getting all over her new guitar.

The fifth year couldn't move other than curling up tighter around her guitar. Hot, silent tears began running down her face. She was so done.

No amount of convincing would ever get Althea to change her mind about Peeves and poltergeists in general. She would never understand how or why he did what he did, but she was honestly tired of it. He seemed to have a penchant for showing up unannounced and insisted on wreaking havoc unnecessarily. Peeves, in all his dramatic glory, felt the need to taunt Althea and push her annoyance. Which had now turned into anger, because he blew a raspberry in her face and hit her with more slugs.

With one hand balled up into tight fist - to keep herself from acting irrationally - she sidled around the pillar to face the poltergeist. It seemed that Aslan - she didn't even realize the older girl was there with them until the whole debacle started - already had the right idea. And even though she'd sent some spells - she assumed they were the result of the Skure Scouring Charm - and figured she might as well hit Peeves where it hurt. Literally. He was so smug and Althea refused to let him have the last laugh. After pointing her wand she recited the incantation for the Skurge Charm and sent the spell his way.

Loud cackles sounded as he continued to soar up into the air. Their little spells did nothing to him. King Peevsie was just too quick for them. Darting left, then right, and left again, each time the poltergeist stuck out his tongue at the girl waving her wand about without saying anything. "Too slow! You and the slugs belong together!" So he threw another at her. HEHEHE.

And then there was that crying girl. What. A. Big. Baby.

"OH! BOO HOO! WOE IS ME!" he shouted at the curled up girl, tossing a couple more slugs her way. "Here, CRY-BABY! Have another slug! Eat up! High in protein and rich in minerals. It'll help a girl like you not be such a SOFTIE like that SAD, LONELY, PATHETIC MOANING MYRTLE!"

Just as he finished taunting the little baby badger when another flash of light came his way again. It, of course, missed him because Peeves was just that good. He had been dodging spells casted by students for YEARS and YEARS. His eyes narrowed at the girl, only to be followed up by his trademark grin. "SHEESH! If you wanted more slugs, all you needed to do was ask. I'm not greedy, you know. I always take care of my loyal subjects."

Swiftly, the poltergeist flew downward and quickly dumped the remaining slugs on Ms. Curls. One moment his high-pitched laughing could be heard, the next he had gone invisible and, feeling that his work here was done, ran off to find some other victims. His laughter followed after him.

Since Ancient Runes was not a subject that Noelle enjoyed, but felt that she really needed to study and actually... GET... she was trying to find ways to become more interested in them.

An idea had struck her when she had seen runes around the castle. In certain places she'd notice that there were rune markings in places. So in an attempt to 'study' runes and make it more fun for her, she was going around the castle to mark down the runes and study them later. You never knew.... a secret passage might be here somewhere with runes to get past.

Noelle was currently sketching down some of the runes near the clock tower entrance. She had another little notebook in her hand. She'd use these markings to look them up later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChanceCoeur

Since Ancient Runes was not a subject that Noelle enjoyed, but felt that she really needed to study and actually... GET... she was trying to find ways to become more interested in them.

An idea had struck her when she had seen runes around the castle. In certain places she'd notice that there were rune markings in places. So in an attempt to 'study' runes and make it more fun for her, she was going around the castle to mark down the runes and study them later. You never knew.... a secret passage might be here somewhere with runes to get past.

Noelle was currently sketching down some of the runes near the clock tower entrance. She had another little notebook in her hand. She'd use these markings to look them up later.

Levi was returning from a stroll out in the grounds, trying to soak in as much vitamin SUN before the summer finally made its long awaited arrival. Not that it was his favourite season--that would be fall, thank you very much--but the IMPS had kept him cooped up inside the castle studying and training for too long. Now that the whole thing was drawing to a close--THANKFULLY--he'd been itching to go out for a walk.

He found none of the 'clear your head' peace thing that people often mentioned came with walking out alone, but. It had been nice, anyway. He was making his way back inside when he spotted a familiar brunette head, and his one of his eyebrows quirked up in curiosity.

Coming up behind her, he tapped her shoulder. "This is a strange place to do some revision, Noelle."

As far as Levi was concerned, he ought to be exempted from taking those bloody final exams. Not that Levi had anything against studying or when said studying was measured in any way, but it had been an exhausting year.
If anyone asked him, he deserved a break. So, studying for exams?
This one? Nope.

Okay. What was that rune?

Noelle was doodling but she was also trying to see if she could even picture some of the runes that were listed up there. Her drawings weren't that great either. This is when she needed Olly. But he was currently busy and she didnt have a lot of time to do this stuff.

Finishing up the second to last rune on the door, Noelle heard a voice. She grinned while starting to doodle the last rune down. "Well hello to you too Levi." She said continuing to doodle until she finished that rune before turning around.

"I'm trying to figure out runes. Some of us aren't as great as you." She said teasing a little before giving him a grin. "Im rubbish at runes.... if you couldnt tell." In classes she definitely wasnt one of the top students.

"But how are you?" She asked peering at him curiously. Had the competition done any internal damage? Emotionally? "You've been doing great in the competitions." She said even though he probably didnt want to be talking about that. "But really, how are you?"

If she had any licorice wands, he would have gotten one. But alas, right now she didnt have any. One of her guilty pleasures.

He must have missed it at first but Noelle was quite clearly drawing on the door. A small grin threatened to flourish, but he attempted his very best and keeping it in check. "Yes, hello." He cleared his throat, trying to get rid off the laughter bubbling up in his throat. It was, in truth, only halfway successful. "I must say, damaging school property isn't at the top of the list of Things You're Likely To Find Your Local Prefect Doing."

Or maybe it was. Noelle was very much a Gryffindor. Not to mention that she was her little brother's sister; the mischief ought to run in the family, at least a little bit.

"I'm not great at Runes." This was true; he was only adequate. Levi stepped around her, and examined the door, trying to figure out just which rune, exactly, she'd attempted. "I know futhark, and I can transcribe messages, but in reality I only really know some of the galdr by memory. It's just too much." He shrugged. "By which I mean, Isa and Thisuraz--mostly because one is for freezing your enemies and the other helps you attack them." And confuse them and turning their own strengths on them. "But I can help, anyway--as soon as I figure out what is you were trying to draw here." He squinted, laughing. And looked over his shoulder. "I should tell you, you're not likely to have a flourishing career in, uh, Art."

He probably had no room to talk. It wasn't like his stick figures were anything to talk about.

"Hmm." Levi turned around, leaned against the door. His performance in the IMPS had been, presumably, good enough to lead him to the last challenge. And though Levi saw no problem with how he'd done, really, well--there were mixed feelings all around. On the one hand he'd proven he could raise above hardship and remain unscathed--some cuts and bruises aside. He could function under pressure and face extremely dire circumstances; not everyone could. But also, certain things had been appalling, if he were to consider being blunt. But that wasn't what Noelle wanted to hear, probably. "Thank you, I--don't really think I could do half of those things outside of those arenas." He smiled, though it wasn't really a lie. "I reckon that's the first and last time I'll manage to conjure a patronus." Even a non-corporeal one as his had been. "But I'm tired and I want to go home. Summer can't come fast enough. I'm very boring, clearly." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "How about you?"