Rayna strolled into the second floor corridor and eventually reached a collection of suits of armor. She stopped suddenly, and just took in the sight. There were lots of them. And they were all well polished and some were rather ornate looking.
"Well, this is-" Rayna paused mid sentence and walked over to one rather fantastic piece, "This is really cool." 'I wonder if any of them were actually used...'
The girl held out a hand, but thought better of it than to touch the armor pieces, and instead just tucked her hair behind her ears. "Never seen a collection like this before. Definitely not in the muggle museums." Rayna stated aloud and started to casually glance behind the suits, just in case there was anything of interest behind them, and then down the corridor. If she was correct, the Headmistresses office was on this floor.

With a pop Pips was now in front of the armor. He looked around before he started to polish. It needed to be shiny for the students and all the guest that were coming. They were getting more students and that meant the castle had to be perfect and the elves were going to be busy.

Polish

Polish

Polish

Rayna jumped at the sound of what sounded like a *POP*, and actually bumped her head against the suit of armor she was peering behind.
*CLANG*
Rayna rubbed her head and looked behind her. A few feet away from her down the hallway, was what appeared to be house elf.
'Never seen one in person before.' Rayna thought, and looked more intensely in the direction of the elf, who was busy polishing away.

The girl stood up straight and took a few steps towards the house elf and asked in a polite voice, "Excuse me?" Maybe the elf would like some help?

Daniel was just following Reyna when suddenly.

*POP*

Was one of the suits of armour alive, if it was then he wasn't getting involved. You see moving pieces of armour were always bad news, he had watched films and boy could he tell tales.

OH it was just a house elf, that's wasn't nearly as fun as flying armour coming towards them.

"Reyna, don't disturb the house elf, it might want to just get on with it's work." He felt a bit sorry for it having to clean up all the castle, since Reyna had disturbed it Daniel felt like being nice. "Do you need a hand cleaning?"

Okay, so Noelle heard about her brother getting into a bit of a fit with another student. This was not acceptable. She'd been looking for him and received a little birdie that he was around the suits of armor.

Noelle ventured over there, her sister ears tingling. She was not happy that her brother was already causing trouble. Luckily, Olly found him.

Just.... where was he?

Noelle looked around the suits of armor but didn't see him. Lifting the ... face.. of the nearest suit of armor, she peeked into it to see if she could see a blonde haired boy hiding inside of it.

Nope...

Moving onto the next...

This wasn't the armor gallery, so there was no reason for that nagging little thought in the back of his head telling him to cast a protective charm around him. It wasn't like Storm or Miffy were around anymore for some attempted murder fun times; the portal had taken care of that. Or maybe the monster had taken care of them. Ultimately, it really made no difference, he supposed. They were gone and that was that.

He was probably being dramatic.

Levi stopped on his tracks when he spotted the familiar back of someone's head. "Noelle? What are you doing?"

Polish

Polish

Pips was doing a very good job at polishing. He knew he was a good polisher and he had been busy in his work until he heard the students talking. "Oh hello misses. Pips wasn't bothering you was he?" He wasn't a bad elf, so he didn't want to bother the students.

Looking at the mister as he started to talk pips shook his big ears, "Oh no master sir she wasn't bothering Pips at all. She just said excuse me which was very polite." He liked polite students.

Rayna gave a small smile at the elf, "No, you aren't bothering me. Us." She added tilting a head towards Daniel. "We were just exploring the castle."

Rayna moved a little closer to the house elf and extended a hand to shake in greeting, "I'm Rayna, by the way. Your name is Pips?" From what she gathered. "Would you like some help?" She asked. Rayna's classes were done for the day, so she had some extra time to help the school staff.

James Summers. I will find you!

Noelle thought to herself, peeking into another mask. She was almost scared that it would come alive and speak to her. There had been stranger things that had happened at Hogwarts. So far, so good though.

Nope.

James wasn't in that suit. The little birdie had specifically told her that she had seen James over here. Now where was he? Moving along, she tapped the next suit of armor before hearing an all too familiar voice. She turned around slowly and gave her best grin. " Oh heeeey. Levi. Hey..." She calmly wiped the suit of armor she was just tapping. "Oh you know... just.... um...." So Noelle was not a good liar. She couldn't think of one on the spot.

Sigh

"Im looking for James." She said before lifting the face of the mask of the armor and peeking in. Nope. No James. "Someone told me he was hiding from me, over here." That was some sort of explanation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChanceCoeur

James Summers. I will find you!

Noelle thought to herself, peeking into another mask. She was almost scared that it would come alive and speak to her. There had been stranger things that had happened at Hogwarts. So far, so good though.

Nope.

James wasn't in that suit. The little birdie had specifically told her that she had seen James over here. Now where was he? Moving along, she tapped the next suit of armor before hearing an all too familiar voice. She turned around slowly and gave her best grin. " Oh heeeey. Levi. Hey..." She calmly wiped the suit of armor she was just tapping. "Oh you know... just.... um...." So Noelle was not a good liar. She couldn't think of one on the spot.

Sigh

"Im looking for James." She said before lifting the face of the mask of the armor and peeking in. Nope. No James. "Someone told me he was hiding from me, over here." That was some sort of explanation.

Levi raised his eyebrows, waiting. Noelle seemed to be struggling with finding the words, or arranging her ideas, or--something. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, checked his reflection on the nearest armor and then, foolishly, looked over his shoulder to check Storm wasn't coming

Not that he would. But.

"Oh."

Her brother. Of course. James J. Summers, Gryffindors newest recruit and possibly the one who would end the house altogether by being so amazingly himself.

The sixth year snickered. "He has a lot of personality, your brother. I heard about that fight thing he did after the feast." Or during the feast. Some first years were something else. "He's going to make sure we're never bored." By we he meant you, of course. Levi pretty much walked the other way when he saw James Summers coming.

Noelle headed for the last suit of armor. She tapped it first. She noted the tone that Levi spoke of her brother. Merlin. That kid. "Yeaaah. The fight thing. That's why I'm looking for him. I didn't know people had heard about that." Merlin. Hopefully a professor hadn't. Levi was a Gryffindor so maybe James had been bragging about it.... it seemed something he would do. Sigh.

"He's in trouble with me when I find him." She said, a little to the suit of armor just in case that blonde eyed boy was inside. She meant to sound intimidating. She peeked into the mask and sighed because nothing was in this one either.

Her birdie had been wrong... or James had moved before she had gotten here.

"He's going to be a handful. I was hoping he'd be a hufflepuff like my mom was, then Henry and Etta would have to deal with him." She said with a little grin because now she was imagining Henry trying to tame her firecracker of a boy, brother. "Eh. Probably a good thing hes in our house." Gryffindors would be able to handle him.... right?

The students were always so nice and Pips gave a tug at his ears before giving a smile. "You are firsties then?" Firsties were always the most curious to the house elves and Pips always was willing to answer their questions. "Watch the stairs, they move to places you won't know." He had been there a long time and still got confused.

"Yes, Yes misses I'm Pips, I help clean and cook for the castle." His big eyes moved to the armor and back to her. "Oh no misses Pips can do this, I can do it quick."

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChanceCoeur

Noelle headed for the last suit of armor. She tapped it first. She noted the tone that Levi spoke of her brother. Merlin. That kid. "Yeaaah. The fight thing. That's why I'm looking for him. I didn't know people had heard about that." Merlin. Hopefully a professor hadn't. Levi was a Gryffindor so maybe James had been bragging about it.... it seemed something he would do. Sigh.

"He's in trouble with me when I find him." She said, a little to the suit of armor just in case that blonde eyed boy was inside. She meant to sound intimidating. She peeked into the mask and sighed because nothing was in this one either.

Her birdie had been wrong... or James had moved before she had gotten here.

"He's going to be a handful. I was hoping he'd be a hufflepuff like my mom was, then Henry and Etta would have to deal with him." She said with a little grin because now she was imagining Henry trying to tame her firecracker of a boy, brother. "Eh. Probably a good thing hes in our house." Gryffindors would be able to handle him.... right?

No one had gotten hurt so he didn't necessarily see a bad thing with a couple of first years rolling around pretending to punch each other. Or maybe they'd punched each other. He was unclear on the details. Levi supposed that it was not ideal, but both were alive, so was it really a big deal?

Then again, he didn't have a significantly younger sibling and nor was a badge pinned to his robes marking him as a student leader. Both of which were probably contributing factors to Noelle's reaction.

"He'd have ruined Hufflepuff," Said the boy, laugh tinting his voice. "But he'll probably grow out of it--eventually." Possibly not anytime soon, he thought privately, but there was no reason to tell Noelle that. Though she probably knew that already. "You know how it is--coming to a completely new place, different from what you're used to." He flicked one of the armor's faces, where the nose would have been, and felt himself grin. "You either leave a mark or you let it leave a mark on you. Ideally, a combination of both should be the way to go, but--" He shrugged. Everyone was different. "He's your brother, though. He must be a kid then, at the end of the day."

"Yes, first years." Rayna said. Pips' information gave Rayna another idea. "I'll be sure and use extra caution. Thank you. Any place you would recommend we explore, Pips?" A resident of the castle must have some suggestions.

The girl looked to all of the suits of armor in the corridor, there seemed to be an awful lot for just one house elf to clean...all by themselves. "You're sure, Pips?" Rayna asked, eyeing the armor. 'I might be able to use a spell for this!' But she didn't want to be in the way, either. "If we're bothering you, we can leave if you'd like. I don't want to be in the way." Her mother used to shoo her out of whichever room was being cleaned. She was used to it.

Okay, James wasn't hiding over here.

Noelle sighed but turned her attention to Levi. She grinned and agreed with a nod about James ruining Hufflepuff. "Its funny. Im glad he's here. He's already showing like... an incredible amount of magical talent. But Im also like... not excited because.." Well... he was James. Noelle vaguely motioned towards nothing in an attempt to explain that. It was different having your sibling come to school. It was like home and school were colliding.

Noelle had a feeling James would always be this way. He was a Gryffindor through and through. Impulsive, adventurous, stubborn. It would probably dull down but he would never be.... standard. She sighed when he mentioned coming to a new place. "Yeah, you're right about that. Though... knowing James, he just goes full force on everything he does." Yeah, this big sister admired her brother in that form.

She nodded again at Levi's last statement. Of course he was right again. "Are you sure you're not a Ravenclaw?" She asked him teasingly. Only teasingly of course because there were some INSANELY smart Gryffindors. "I'll keep that in mind when it comes to my brother. I just feel responsible for him... more responsible than just being a prefect." Levi was smart, he could understand that right?

"Also, you wouldn't happen to know anywhere else an 11 year old boy would be hiding, would you?" This was Hogwarts. It was huge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChanceCoeur

Okay, James wasn't hiding over here.

Noelle sighed but turned her attention to Levi. She grinned and agreed with a nod about James ruining Hufflepuff. "Its funny. Im glad he's here. He's already showing like... an incredible amount of magical talent. But Im also like... not excited because.." Well... he was James. Noelle vaguely motioned towards nothing in an attempt to explain that. It was different having your sibling come to school. It was like home and school were colliding.

Noelle had a feeling James would always be this way. He was a Gryffindor through and through. Impulsive, adventurous, stubborn. It would probably dull down but he would never be.... standard. She sighed when he mentioned coming to a new place. "Yeah, you're right about that. Though... knowing James, he just goes full force on everything he does." Yeah, this big sister admired her brother in that form.

She nodded again at Levi's last statement. Of course he was right again. "Are you sure you're not a Ravenclaw?" She asked him teasingly. Only teasingly of course because there were some INSANELY smart Gryffindors. "I'll keep that in mind when it comes to my brother. I just feel responsible for him... more responsible than just being a prefect." Levi was smart, he could understand that right?

"Also, you wouldn't happen to know anywhere else an 11 year old boy would be hiding, would you?" This was Hogwarts. It was huge.

The armor he'd flicked sort of moved sideways and Levi immediately reached for its shoulders to stabilize it. He sighed in relief at the close call; the last thing he needed was to create a domino effect of suits of armor. The noise would along would bring over probably half of the castle, Peeves included.

Levi let go, took a step back. "I get it." He did have not one, but three siblings at school, after all. Though he supposed that his were mercifully not in his house, even if sometimes he wished they were. "You wish you still had a space to call your own. Completely your own, no family included."

He could understand that. Privacy and boundaries were two of his favourite things, which he seldom had at home for the holidays. To return to school was always like a breath of fresh air Levi sometimes forgot he even needed.

Pretending to be offended, Levi jutted out his bottom lip, pouting. "I am appalled you would say that, Noelle." Then he broke into a slightly rueful grin. "I'm sure I'm not a Ravenclaw. But I almost was." The Sorting Hat did work in mysterious, but accurate ways. After his sorting, it'd taken him a few weeks to come to terms with it, but it'd worked out in the end. "In the end, I s'ppose the Hat realized I bleed red and gold alright."

Courage came in different shapes and forms, anyway. "Have you tried the swamp downstairs? Or maybe he's off stalking Peeves, somewhere." Sounded like the sort of thing James Summers would be into.

"First years are always seem to have the most fun." They were the most excited about being here and exploring from his views and observations. "There are many places of the castle that are fun to explore. Students seem to enjoy the dungeons and the room of requirement the best." That's what he was told many times. "You could come to the kitchen, we would make you treats." He loved cooking for the students.

Cleaning wasn't his favorite though, he would rather be cooking than cleaning and she was asking again to help. "Does misses know the cleaning charm?" Pips had seen it done, but had never done it himself. "If you do you could do that Armor if you want." Pips would clean it, but if she would insist he'd let her have her fun.

Noelle glanced at the suit that Levi had almost toppled over. She held in a laugh. That was a close call. One of those had gone down, all of them would have gone down. "Lucky that those didn't go down. We don't need a Peeves around." The admiration for the poltergeist had not grown even since last term when he helped persuade the others to go into the portal.

The portal...
Noelle shook her head slightly, vanishing those thoughts and concentrating on what Levi was saying. Yep. He knew. He got it. "Exacccctly. I mean, its nice having him here. But..." No need for further explanation. Levi got it.

Noelle grinned at Levi's fake pout. "Were you really almost a Ravenclaw? The hat yelled Gryffindor out when it touched my head. I thought I was going to be put into Hufflepuff like my mom was." Noelle could see him as a Ravenclaw but... Levi was a Gryffindor. Definitely a Gryffindor. "Bleed red and gold. I like that." Should make banners that say that when he starts his competitions.

Swamp downstairs was definitely a thought. "Yeah, Ill have to check there. Definitely sounds like a place that James would go." Don't let the annoyed expression on her face fool you. Noelle loved her baby brother.

With a loud POP Algamus appeared on the corridor in the second floor. Second floor was where the Headmistressie lived so everything had to be squeaky clean, perfectly clean or Algamus would make use of his trusty broomstick.

The armors weren't just dusty now, oh no, they also had fingerprings because of the studentsies touching them.

The broomstick was abandoned by the wall and Algamus got between the two red studentsies, using his polishing cloth on the legs of the armors. "No bleeding on this floor, Master Kenningsie. The Mistresses wouldn't like it."

Rayna tried to contain her excitement, but she wasn't entirely sure of how good a job she was doing as she asked, "Where is the room of requirement?" THAT was the name!
And what was this? And open invite to stop by the kitchens for a snack you say? "So students can stop by the kitchen whenever they'd like? And you'd make something for them?" This was perfect! 'Hogwarts is amazing!' Rayna simply beamed at the house elf.

Yes. At last Rayna seemed like she could be useful. She nodded, "I've done it a couple of times, yeah." Thankfully, Charms was Rayna's strongest class.
She took a couple paces over to the suit of armor that Pips indicated to her, and with a flick of her wrist (for her wrist holster), had her cedar wand in her right hand and directed it towards the armor. With a deep, and calming breath, Rayna whispered with clarity and purpose, "Scourgify" and traced the air in front of the suit with an 'S' formation.

And it worked. In only a few moments, the armor was glistening and spotless. 'Oh my gosh....it worked really well that time!' Rayna couldn't help but give a loud laugh. Mostly out of relief, but also from the immense confidence boost she just received.
She turned back to Pips, "That look OK?"

Dora Umbridge was fascinated by the old suits of armor in the castle. It was true. Not only the SoA, but also the old statues around the place as well. Her bucket list even included casting Piertotum Locomoter in the castle and have them all do her bidding. Although she was kind of unclear about what that spell made them do specifically. Was it JUST to make them animate and protect the school from intruders?

If so... maybe she could have them escort the Americans out of the school? That was a thought! The loud and obnoxious Americans were definitely getting on her nerves, dude. Not to mention the fact that they were making it difficult for her to enjoy her favorite places for solitude. Because now there was NO SOLITUDE. Ugh.

The blonde heaved a sigh as she folded herself down in the floor of the corridor and pulled her sketch pad from her bag. Pulling a pencil from her hair she looked up at the suit of armor and then began to move her hand across the paper. She was imagining the suit of armor used to belong to a lovely and noble knight. One who protected the castle from AMERICAN invaders.

Very noble. Much wow.

There was no point in saying that the school and grounds were much more filled now with the attendance of the Ilvermorny arrivals. With more people there was also more noise. It seemed that the only place that was truly quiet now was her own office but just how much could you keep yourself in one spot? Not to mention that this professor enjoying interactions and being out in the open.

While walking the corridors inside the castle wasn't the same as being outdoors it was a better change then being inside her office staring at lesson plans or students homework papers. A change in scenery had been in order this afternoon.

"Come along Bonsai, no napping in the middle of the corridor," Camilla called to her cat laughing softly. Said cat lifting his head to stare at her from his spot in the center of the corridor where he appeared to not want to move. "Alright then, I'm going to keep going." She knew that he was bound to come following her in a moments time as he always did when she got to far ahead of him. Just up ahead were the suits of armor a student standing there staring at them.

"They're rather fascinating, aren't they?" she commented quietly walking over to stand beside her. Bonsai having come after her just as she had expected him to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChanceCoeur

Noelle glanced at the suit that Levi had almost toppled over. She held in a laugh. That was a close call. One of those had gone down, all of them would have gone down. "Lucky that those didn't go down. We don't need a Peeves around." The admiration for the poltergeist had not grown even since last term when he helped persuade the others to go into the portal.

The portal...
Noelle shook her head slightly, vanishing those thoughts and concentrating on what Levi was saying. Yep. He knew. He got it. "Exacccctly. I mean, its nice having him here. But..." No need for further explanation. Levi got it.

Noelle grinned at Levi's fake pout. "Were you really almost a Ravenclaw? The hat yelled Gryffindor out when it touched my head. I thought I was going to be put into Hufflepuff like my mom was." Noelle could see him as a Ravenclaw but... Levi was a Gryffindor. Definitely a Gryffindor. "Bleed red and gold. I like that." Should make banners that say that when he starts his competitions.

Swamp downstairs was definitely a thought. "Yeah, Ill have to check there. Definitely sounds like a place that James would go." Don't let the annoyed expression on her face fool you. Noelle loved her baby brother.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algamus

With a loud POP Algamus appeared on the corridor in the second floor. Second floor was where the Headmistressie lived so everything had to be squeaky clean, perfectly clean or Algamus would make use of his trusty broomstick.

The armors weren't just dusty now, oh no, they also had fingerprings because of the studentsies touching them.

The broomstick was abandoned by the wall and Algamus got between the two red studentsies, using his polishing cloth on the legs of the armors. "No bleeding on this floor, Master Kenningsie. The Mistresses wouldn't like it."

"Yes." It'd been six years since the sorting ceremony but the memory was fresh. Noelle's anecdote made him smile, and wish he could remember anything outside of his own and his subsequent reaction it. "It was torn between both but I wanted Slytherin because of Declan and my parents." He shrugged. "I argued with the hat and something about that made it feel like Gryffindor was for me."

He was going to continue elaborating but then...the sound that announced an apparition made him jump and step back and before he knew it, there was a school elf cleaning.

Things had changed and yet the history that came with house elves and what it meant to have owned one in the past still filled him distaste.

"I'd say the headmistress ought to expect some blood, good sir. This is Hogwarts, after all. For all we know there's another monster lurking in the pipes right about now."

Wouldn't be the first time anyway.

Dora looked up from her spot in the floor and smiled at the Transfiguration professor. And then down at the cat. COME HERE KITTY AND LET ME LOVE YOU PLEASE! Animals were the BEST!

And magical creatures. They were pretty awesome, too!

"I was just wondering if maybe this one used to belong to an actual knight, or were they just like made and donated to the school." Not really what she was thinking, but it was less weird than her daydream, for sure.