Had anyone bothered to ask for her most humble, genuine opinion - Althea would've suggested gutting the Girls' Bathroom on the second floor and remodeling it from top to bottom. Not that she minded the wailing and Myrtle's drama, but it was honestly an ugly place - no wonder Myrtle was always crying. Althea liked to be brief whenever she stopped in, though she was taking her time today. Lack of sleep made her extremely sluggish as of late, and she took a long, hard look at herself in the mirror before pulling out some creme for her face.

She did not cry, she was not a crier; these are things you did in the comfort of your own bed at home - or, in a closet of sorts where no one could hear you. Althea had never been one to openly shed tears, and yet there she was, in the bathroom, doing everything in her power to get rid of her shame. Embarrassingly enough, her cheeks were still flushed - albeit lightly, but still! - so she splashed some cold water over her face before drying it off gently. There. She had to admit, there was something agonizingly beautiful about experiencing heartbreak, and if she were in a better mood, she'd admit to herself that despite how vulnerable she was, the crying had clearly made her glow and she could appreciate that.

"Get it together," she told herself sternly, still looking at her reflection.

Etta felt like she was constantly feeling stressed. She knew OWLs were still far away and she really shouldn't panic so much.. but she couldn't help it. And currently, feeling like she was on the verge of a panic attack, which seemed to be happening often these days, she made her way to the girl's bathroom. She needed a couple of minutes to herself before heading to the library once again.

She quickly entered the bathroom.. and abruptly stopped. Just. Her. Luck.

She eyed the other girl for a moment and considered leaving but.. why should she? And wait. Althea did look rather upset. Etta couldn't help feeling mildly concerned and considered talking to her but thought the better of it. Althea didn't appreciate kindness and she was in no mood to get into a fight right now, honestly.

Frowning and completely ignoring the other girl, she stood in front of the mirror and stared at her face, at the worry lines stretching across her forehead. Ew. She really looked terrible.

There were times when Althea really wished she had some seer ability so that she could avoid uncomfortable situations. Unfortunately, within the first few days of term starting, she'd already had several instances of uncomfortable moments that she'd much rather forget. If she knew that she was going to be thrown into another situation, she would've found an empty classroom to cry in. The bathroom door had opened quickly, and Althea wouldn't have cared much, had the person just stood further away.

And, of course leave it to Coretta the very expired, very under-cooked, noodle, to be the girl to stand near her. Of course.

"I would ask you what's wrong, but that would require sympathy on my part," she said cooly, carefully applying some creme under her eyes and massaging it into the skin gently. "You look terrible." And she would've left it at that but..."Here," she passed her the small tub over to her, "it's all natural and home made. Mum swears by it. You'll be glowing in no time." Because as much as Harrietta annoyed her, she also could not watch tragedy unfold before her. She was such a saint.

Oh, okay. Althea was talking now.

With great effort, Etta refrained from rolling her eyes. She continued staring at the mirror for a few more moments.. when suddenly something else crossed her mind. How on earth was her boyfriend going to find her even remotely attractive if she looked like this? And yes, she looked terrible. Thanks Althea, for pointing out the obvious.

--- WHAT. EVEN. She turned to look at her dorm-mate, her eyes slowly shifting to the tub in her hand, looking rather surprised. Uh. That was unusually nice of her. Who would have thought? She couldn't help giving her a small smile before accepting the tub. "Well, thank you." She carefully applied the cream on her forehead and under her eyes before leaning back slightly to study her face, hoping the cream would work.

After handing her back the tub, Etta turned to face the other girl properly. "Are you okay?" She finally asked, after a considerable amount of time had lapsed.. feeling unsure whether a conversation would be a good idea right now. But it didn't hurt to be nice, right?

Maybe it was all the crying she'd done earlier, or the ambiance of thr girls' lavatory, or even maybe she just actually felt like being nice. She wouldn't admit to that, though, and instead decided that it was because there was solidarity in misery and they were swimming in it. "Don't mention it," because she really did not want the gratitude. "Can't ever let them see you at your lowest," she said out loud (mostly as a reminder to herself, and also for Coretta.)

Her attention had returned back to her reflection - she checked to make sure that she'd applied an even coat to the areas that needed attention - before placing the tub back in her bag. Unfortunately, Coretta did not leave right away and was, instead, insistent on having conversation. Amazing. With all of the politeness she could muster, she replied in a calm, even tone. "Now that is a good question that I do not have an answer for." She didn't, she couldn't even tell Daisy about this, so what made Ethel think that she'd tell her? But, still. "I'm in mourning," she said simply, before asking her: "O.W.L.s stress?"

The second floor girl's bathroom wasn't exactly the bevy of activity the other bathrooms happened to be and that was reason enough for Aslan to have made it /her/ preferred bathroom of choice.

It could be quite quiet in here when Myrtle wasn't moaning about, not that Myrtle bothered Aslan, in fact, the Gryffindor was under the impression that the ghost perhaps wasn't her biggest fan, then again, she hadn't screamed at her to leave...

Aslan mused on this as she washed her hands, taking care to avoid getting water on her slightly dirt stained, rolled up white sleeves.

Why was Théodore on the second floor he had no idea but he did remember something about a bathroom being on this floor? Couldn't remember if it was boys or girls.he hoped it was a boys bathroom because he was running towards the bathroom and right on in until.............

there was an older girl there. He suddenly stopped and stared at her.

This was the girls bathroom.

Oops

Etta frowned at that comment. Can't let who see you at your lowest? Why would you even let someone know about your weaknesses? No, that didn't even make sense because she never did that.. mostly. At least, she actively tried not to. She simply shrugged and turned towards the mirror again, her face clearly reflecting her anxiety. Ugh. OWLs needed to be over already. Or maybe it was this conversation that was making her anxious.

Oh. Of course. She could understand. Etta nodded, thinking that she might as well leave. Althea didn't want to have a conversation and she had a few things to do. But, her dormmate spoke again. How nice.

-- wait. What? Mourning? Oh. She had no idea what to say to that. "I'm sorry." Oh, yes. OWLs stress.. was it that obvious? She sighed, absently fidgeting with the ends of her hair. "Yes. It's stressing me out way more than I had anticipated."

The solidarity she'd felt earlier? It was starting to slowly dissipate. The realization of what was currently happening slapped her in the face, as the brief silence between them hung like month old, dirty laundry. Althea blinked at her reflection and glanced carefully at her dorm mate. It was still alarming that, for such a pretty girl, Esther had still managed to have as much enthusiasm as a forgotten sock. And, in the spirit of irony, Elena did that fidgeting thing she did and Althea had half a mind to slap some sense into her.

What stopped her? The prefect badge, of course.

"Don't worry about," she said quietly, not even bothering to clarify exactly what she was mourning - it wasn't her business anyway - and instead focused on the fact that Miss Seemingly Perfect Prefect was stressed out and letting it show. Helga be a fence. "So you get tapped to be a prefect and you're stressing over O.W.L.s, life has really dealt you some difficult cards." She was mostly serious about this - though she did feel that even if Emily was suffering from the weight of academic doom, she should suffer more quietly so the rest of the student body wouldn't have to be subjected to looking at her stressed out face. Honestly, it was common courtesy 101.

"You need to get it together and find something to help you relax," she said, intentionally ignoring the fact that she too was also stressed over O.W.L.s (and other things) which had brought her to the bathroom in the first place! But, she would not let the other girl know this. "If you don't, you won't survive the year, y'know."

Humming to herself happily, Charlotte bounced into the second floor bathroom, heading directly over to the sink and mirrors.

"Hi!" cheerful grins for Etta and Althea and then Char was back to her humming. She opened her bag and got her make up kit out. She was meeting up with Henry sooooooon and wanted to just put a bit of effort in. It wasn't strictly FOR him so much as for that moment where when he saw her, his jaw did that little drop thing and then turned into a little smug smirk. So it was for her really, because making Henry Whittebrook react like that totally never got old.

Oblivious to any more serious air going on, Char happily considered a colour palette. Hmmmm a pink lip or a red???

Just when Etta was starting to think this conversation was going to go well.. she was too hopeful, wasn't she? The girl folded her arms over chest, properly turning towards the other girl with a look of distaste. "It's pretty amazing how you happen to judge someone or their character without even getting to know them. It's fine.. I don't want to be friends with you or you with me but the least we can do is be polite instead of making every conversation unpleasant." REALLY. What was her problem, even? They barely spoke, avoided each other on a daily basis and yet.. the one day they meet, Althea had to be rude.

--- Oh, yes. Etta was relaxing, thank you very much. But at the moment? Not very much. She nodded curtly, not caring to continue the conversation. So much for wanting to relax for a few minutes.. her mood just got a hundred times worse. Thanks, dormmate.

And the frown on her face deepened when someone else entered the bathroom. Awesome. They could just have a party there, maybe. "Hey, Charlotte." She replied rather abruptly, feeling unusually irritated. Etta wasn't sure what bothered her more.. the fact that Althea irritated her or that she let someone get on her nerves so much. The latter, probably. Why did she even care?

.......

Aslan starred at the reflection of the younger Lion boy with some mixture of amusement and downright disbelief.

"Theo." she said, uncertain as to whether she had remembered his name correctly or not. "I believe you're lost." Her tone was casual and faraway. "Unless you're looking for the Chamber of Secrets, the rumour goes it was this bathroom."

Of course, she knew very well it was this bathroom. Aslan remembered vividly back in her second year when a ravenclaw and a gryffindor had opened it up, letting in the acromantulas that still haunted her nightmares. Why had she lied? she'd felt like it.

As Ethel started her diatribe, Althea's mind started to wander - what was going to be served at dinner? Would she finish her homework in time before she went to sleep? What if she spent another sleepless night agonizing over things she couldn't control? - and then when she resumed her selective listening of the conversation, Eleanor was still talking. Amazing. "I wasn't being rude, I was being sincere in my statement. You need to relax before you have a meltdown." What was so hard to understand about that?

Ever-so-merciful, Helga granted her wish, and brought her a distraction in the form of one very peppy, very intense Gryffindor. Charlotte. "Hi Charlotte," she said, a smile forming on her lips. The girl had calmed down a lot from her shrieking days in the Great Hall. And, she was dating Hidalgo, so Althea had given her bonus points for that. "Go with the red," she said before picking up some lip balm to apply to her own lips. "Also, do yourself a favor," she started, not bothering to look at Coretta as she spoke, "stop frowning so much. You're too young for those kinds of wrinkles." See? Helpful. Althea only carried on with the best intentions.

"Théo" Like TAY-O. It has become like an instinct to correct people on this. And yeah Théodore was lost but uh nobody was yelling at him or telling him to leave yet. So maybe he was good. He didnt know. "Yeah, you mind if i use the bathroom in here?" Because he did not want to run all the way to the boys.

He was shifting in place because he really really needed to go. But well. Oh wait this was the Chamber of Secrets bathroom. While cool.

He did not really care about that at this moment.

Ummmmm............ had Charlotte walked in on a moment? A bad moment? Should she say something? Would that make whatever was brewing between the two Hufflepuff girls worse? Um....


She would just carry on and do her thing because she didn't want anyone to bring her down and maybe she could run interference and bring them UP.

And she liked the red too so when Thea suggested it, Char nodded, eyes still watching the other two in the reflection. Wait, Etta needed to relax? ... she had wrinkles?? Or like.... laugh or frown lines or something??

" Ellsberry makes a really great smoothing potion! Its super refreshing too, like great for first thing in the morning if you wake up a bit tired." Char told Etta, trying to be helpful. She smiled encouragingly at the younger girl then started applying her v. red lipstick.

Yep, good call, Althea.

Etta was already staring to get a headache. Or maybe, just MAYBE, she was stressing out way more than necessary. She sighed and stared into the mirror once again, adjusting her hair a little. Tilting her head a little to the side, she realised that she actually didn't look all that bad.. except for those tiny worry lines all over her forehead, of course. Not that she cared about her looks all that much and boyfriend liked her the way she was.. didn't he? Too many thoughts.

"Oh." Etta responded to Charlotte, literally having next to no knowledge about make-up products in general. She just used a lip-gloss and eyeliner on most days and that was about it. "That's very helpful. Thank you." She smiled at the older girl, thinking she was rather nice. Surprisingly nice, actually. Hm.

"I don't have wrinkles.. I have worry lines. There's a difference." She side-eyed Althea for a moment before looking back at the mirror. Uh. Sudden thought. She'd never spent this much time in front of a mirror before. "I'll be fine. Thanks for the concern, though." See? She could be polite. Etta turned to give her the sweetest of smiles. Ehh.

Tay-o. She gave the boy a dimly sympathetic look. it wasn't easy being a Gryffindor with a strange name. She knew the experience first hand, you see. Aslan shrugged her lithe shoulders, coming out her hair with her fingers as she looked at the young boy through the mirror. "It's not my bathroom." She replied, meaning that he could do whatever he liked here, it hardly mattered to her.

Why had he even asked her? With all his shifting and moving from one foot to another he seemed in an awful hurry. Funny, really, sort've. Aslan smiled when she thought the boy wasn't looking.

Talking to Etta was giving her a headache; she didn't want to do it anymore, so Althea tried to think about ways to politely exit the conversation without being entirely rude. Thankfully, Charlotte was functioning as a buffer for Eliana's craziness, so that Althea could gather her thoughts. "The red was a good choice," she said, after watching Charlotte apply it. She always felt that red was the epitome of beauty and confidence. Plus, with a boyfriend like Hidalgo, Althea couldn't blame Charlotte for wanting to look even better than usual. The fifth year gave her a nod of approval.

"There's really no difference, you're fifteen, you shouldn't have either." That much she thought was glaringly obvious, but...she was trying to be polite so she added: "No problem. Wouldn't want Hufflepuff's own prefect not looking her best at any time of the day." Althea also gave her a sweet smile, because politeness deserved politeness in return, more or less. Whatever. "Let me guess," she looked at Charlotte as she spoke, "meeting up with the boyfriend?"

It was not a strange name. The Groundkeeper Professor Bald now he had a weird name. His was only french. Well, it wasn't his either. But well he could hold it anymore so he rushed to a stall. Yep he was good now and out of the stall, he comes smiling.

"Uh do any Professor's come in here. But i dont wanna get in trouble for being in a bathroom again"

He was even in the boys bathroom last time. All he was doing was helping. Jessa.

Professor Wayland was just being a jerk.

"I have no idea." He certainly was taking his time for someone who had been in such a hurry they hadn't even checked the title on the door. Aslan raised an unruly eyebrow. "The long you wait the more chance you'll get caught." she coolly said, keeping her smirk hidden away by brushing her hair through with her fingers.

well?

Well sorry if Théo got distracted easily and well she did look old enough to have an idea. So he did not know what to say now. And she was right. But he did not really want to say that so all he did was quickly look around once more.

"Yeah ill be going."

He quickly walked out.

Remember Théo this bathroom is not for boys and he hoped Wayland was not outside

Sniff, sniff. OH, WOE IS ME!

Myrtle was hiding in her toiler, even glummer than usual. Valentine's Day was her least favorite time of year! All the lovey-dovey couples exchanging gifts and holding hands and snogging while she was left all alone and dead. "Noooobody loves p-pooooor ugly f-fat Mooooaning M-Myrtle!"

She sobbed loudly. All her past boyfriends were just alike; they used her, then they left her forever. "H-Harry Potter, C-Cedric D-Diggory, D-Draco Malfoy... all the s-same, the lot of them! They d-didn't even c-come back as g-ghosts for me!"

SOB, SOB! She wailed louder than ever, and a gush of water overflowed the toilet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moaning Myrtle

Sniff, sniff. OH, WOE IS ME!

Myrtle was hiding in her toiler, even glummer than usual. Valentine's Day was her least favorite time of year! All the lovey-dovey couples exchanging gifts and holding hands and snogging while she was left all alone and dead. "Noooobody loves p-pooooor ugly f-fat Mooooaning M-Myrtle!"

She sobbed loudly. All her past boyfriends were just alike; they used her, then they left her forever. "H-Harry Potter, C-Cedric D-Diggory, D-Draco Malfoy... all the s-same, the lot of them! They d-didn't even c-come back as g-ghosts for me!"

SOB, SOB! She wailed louder than ever, and a gush of water overflowed the toilet.

It was valentines day, which for Isa just meant baking cookies and writing friendly valentines cards for her friends. None of that romantic stuff. Isa wasn't in to that yet, and she didn't have a boyfriend. At the moment she didn't even have a crush. Boys were stupid and she was just fine without any sort of romantic involvement with boys. She was only 13 after all. There was a whole lifetime ahead of her, and she just wasn't ready for having a boyfriend yet. She had plenty of friends, which was just what she wanted in her life right now.

Isa entered Myrtle's bathroom on the second floor with the sole purpose of visiting Myrtle. This wasn't the sort of the thing that most people did, but Isa cared about everyone, even Myrtle. "Myrtle?" The water on the floor gave Isa a clue as to what Myrtle was doing, probably hiding in her toilet feeling miserable for herself. Unafraid, Isa confidently strode over to Myrtle's cubicle. "Hi Myrtle! I'm Isa. How are you?" Chances were that Myrtle was going to get upset at Isa and cause a scene, but Isa did really care about Myrtle and wanted to at least try to be nice to her. Friends, even, if you could be friends with a ghost. Isa's hufflepuff heart wanted to make other people happy.

Sniff, sniff. Sob, sob. Myrtle was still loudly crying to herself when...

Voices. She suddenly heard somebody calling her name. Couldn't they see she was busy feeling sorry for herself?! She shot out of the toilet to give whoever it was a piece of her mind, but the question stopped her.

"HOW DO YOU THINK I AM?! I'm m-miserable, of course!"

She began to cry even harder. "A-as if I n-need some stupid holiday to r-remind me everybooooody has a b-boyfriend except MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"