After she had a chance to get settled after the feast, Emmalyn decided she needed to be alone more than hang out with her fellow Hufflepuffs. She hadn’t been hungry, so the endless piles of food were of no consequence, and if she had to stuff back her emotions for one more moment, she thought she might explode.

As she roamed the corridors, she remembered a place on the seventh floor that was a good hiding spot. One where there was hope of not being found, at least for a little while. Her eyes immediately found the statue of Lachlan the Lanky when she entered the seventh floor corridor. “Yes” she whispered as she fit her little body behind the statue and exhaled with relief.

The hard, cool floor was oddly soothing and she soon felt her heart rate begin to slow to a more normal rate. She made a mental note to not forget the spot should she need to seek the refuge of a quiet place again.

Chloe was skipping. She skipped nearly everywhere, in all honesty, but she was particularly bouncy at the moment. It had to do with being back at Hogwarts and being ready for harder classes and FIFTH YEAR things and...

Merlin, there was a girl squeezing her way in behind the statue up ahead. Chloe paused in her skipping and took a look around, just to be sure there wasn't an epic game of hide and seek gonig on that she was interrupting. No? No. She crept up to the statue and peeked around, giving the girl a little wave.

"Hi? Is this a private game of hide and seek?"

It wasn't long before she heard a strange, sort of rhythmic sound headed her way. Not a normal thump thump of footsteps, so she decided to stay still where she was behind the statue until she was sure it wasn't some sort of creature or ghost moving along the corridor.

Just as her curiosity was about to get the better of her, a head peaked around the side of the statue, followed by a greeting. Once she was sure of her safety, she smiled up at the girl and replied "No. Not hide and seek, but that's a great idea." She wriggled her way back out from behind Lachlan the Lanky and got to her feet before continuing. "I'm Emmalyn Walsh, second year Hufflepuff." She shrugged her shoulders and blushed, wondering to herself why she always felt the need to say her full name, followed by house and year. It wasn't like she was part of the military and needed to fully identify herself or be thrown in the stockades.

She also felt a bit silly because she was probably introducing herself to someone that she had classes with last year. The girl was older, not a Hufflepuff, and she was notoriously horrible with names.

"It is my pleasure to meet you, Emmalyn Walsh, second year Hufflepuff. I'm Chloe Kettleburn, fifth year Ravenclaw." And that wasn't a terrible way to introduce yourself, since it cleared all the nonsense right up front and allowed them to talk about actually important things more quickly.

"I didn't mean to cause you to get out of there. You looked cozy. I've actually dragged pillows out here and made a study nook back there, but then it's really tight." Chloe peeked back in there with interest, just to see if Emmalyn had set herself up with any accouterments. Nothing of note... perhaps Emmalyn didn't know about all the possibilities.

She smiled at the older girls mirrored introduction. "Hi, Chloe." She almost held out her hand for a handshake, but changed her mind at the last moment. "I was cozy, but it's quite alright. I probably would have fallen asleep back there and gotten into trouble. Pillows are a great idea though." Pillows. She made a mental note to remember pillows the next time she needed to hide a way for a bit.

Emmalyn smoothed her robes and brushed off her back side, hoping her rump wasn't covered in dust from behind the statue. "What are you up to?" She glanced at Chloe, looking for books or homework she might have been working on. Not that she was carrying anything with her on her roaming the castle for places to hide trip.

"No harm in falling asleep when you have a warm, safe place to do it. Napping in beds is so first year, don't you think? LIke there's a chair in the library that's perfect for sleeping. And one of the stalls in the barn, if the sun it out and it's clean. And..." Merlin, she napped all over. That was weird, wasn't it?

Chloe propped her hands on her hips and surveyed the hallway with a little lift of her chin. "As for me... and my not at all weird story about sleeping in odd places... I was heading to my common room. Not for a nap. Studying. I have OWLs. What about you?"

She smiled at the fifth year and nodded in agreement. Naps were amazing. Bonus, she now had multiple new ideas for places to take them. The barn would have to go to the top of her list. She loved being around the animals, and the smell that came along with them didn't bother her one bit.

"Oh, you have to start studying already? I'm not looking forward to OWLs at all." That would mean she would have to not only study, but actually figure out how to do a lot of the things they were teaching in class. Showing up and participating was one thing, but remembering and execution were quite another. "I'm really just up here to get some alone time. I do so love my fellow Hufflepuffs, but it's hard to be around the same people for so many hours of the day." Only child problems. She had spent the majority of her life having her own room, being the center of attention, and not having to share anything. The love and friendship of her fellow Hufflepuffs was more than she could have ever dreamed, but the little bits of alone time still called to her.

She shuffled her foot against the stone floor "Would you like some help studying? I can quiz you, or help you practice some spells." It felt funny to her to be offering to help a fifth year, but she loved helping others and it seemed like a good way to get to know the girl better.

"Yeah, you basically have to start studying the minute you show up fifth year, or that's... what I hear." Not that Chloe minded it all that much. She was curious by nature, she enjoyed learning the stuff she found interesting, and it was fun to make all the little puzzle pieces of information fit together. Granted, it was a bummer to spend time studying subjects that were boring, but as a fifth year, she'd been able to weed most of those out by now.

"I have a study schedule. My prefect helped me make it, actually, and I'm not worried about getting it all learned in time now. So." She shrugged, all unconcerned, or at least trying to look that way. "You are what they call an introvert. My dad is one too, and I'm like that sometimes. It just means that you get drained by being social and need to recharge by being alone. You take care of yourself, Emmalyn, 'cause we don't want you to get sick." This was momma Chloe speaking.

Start studying the minute you show up? She was not looking forward to that. She did enjoy class, but not that much. It would seriously eat into her quidditch practice time.

"Yes, that sounds like me. Introvert." It really did fit her. She loved being around all of her friends, but it could get rather exhausting. "I'll do my best." She said with a nod and a smile. She didn't want to get sick either. That would not only ruin her practice time, but also her fun time. Plus, the professors would probably still make her go to class as long as she wasn't too sick. No. Naps for health would be on her to do list.

"So, do you play quidditch? It's my favorite. I hope to make the team again this year." They had to do better than their last place finish the previous term. They had started off so well, then tanked. "I don't want to keep you from your studying, that is if you need to go."

See, Chloe was an excellent mama bear. She smiled to herself, and counted it a job well done that Emmalyn would give herself the time and space she needed mentally. Maybe only first and second years would let her mother them, since her friends were becoming increasingly tired of it, but at least someone still needed her.

"I'm trying out this year, actually, but I haven't played on the house team before. Maybe you can give me some tips. And don't worry about me. I've already studied today." And yesterday. And tomorrow.

Her eyes lit up "That's great you are trying out! Best of luck to you." She shuffled her feet a bit "I'd love to help you, if I can." She felt a bit silly offering tips to a fifth year. Her little second year self hand't accomplish much, yet, but she had played on the team last year and spent the entire summer at quidditch camp.

"I guess the best tip I can give you is practice. Practice a lot. The quidditch players here are really good. Especially the ones on the Slytherin team. I think some of them play professionally." She really wasn't sure, but she thought she remembered Skylar being mentioned in one of her quidditch magazines, and it wasn't for Hogwarts. "What position are you trying out for? I played chaser last year, but I'm open to almost any position. Just not seeker. My eyes aren't sharp enough to play seeker." The more she talked about quidditch, the more animated she became.

"Thank you," Chloe responded sincerely. Honestly, she could take all the help she could get, and, more importantly, she appreciated that Emmalyn would share the Real Quidditch experience with her. There was a big difference between knowing how to fly and playing on a team during a real game. Chloe wasn't bad on a broom, but she hadn't played a for real game before.

And see? Emmalyn was already perking up considerably, sharing her tips and expertise. Granted, she was also scaring the pants off Chloe, what with her talk of 'professional' players at Hogwarts. Trying out wasn't a lark, and Chloe took it seriously, but she didn't want to die for someone else's ambition. She wanted to have fun and play well. "Chaser, I guess, but I'll be happy with anything. Not Beater, I think, since it's a bit violent for me, but I would play it if asked."

Daehyun had been awfully quiet on the way up the moving staircases, but in reality, his mind was loud - very much so. Honestly though, a toilet? Had he spent his entire first year looking for a secret loo that appeared only to people in need? The thought was life changing, he'd expected so much more from the great room of requirement! But now that he thought about it, the name suggested as such...

He's been living a lie.

"I don't know much about this room, but it better not be a secret loo," he grumbled under his breath as he came to a stop on the seventh floor corridor. Turning to look at Ewan, he said, "So I've been thinking it could be around remote areas, right? Surely it can't be near the Great Hall where everyone passes by it all the time." Or the founders of Hogwarts could have mastered reverse psychology and hide the room they were looking for right in the places most frequented by students. Now that would be a bummer.

Keeping the silence, he followed Daniel up to the seventh floor corridor, unaware of where he was really going. Amusement flitted across his face briefly as he listened to Daniel complain about the room.

"Don't worry, I know what you mean. I mean, it would be pretty bad if it was just a super toilet or something but hey, maybe it'll have some kind of magic flush?" Laughing now at his last suggestion just to show how much stock he put in it, he continued to follow.

Contemplating briefly, he agreed with his Daniels assessment of the situation. "Okay, that makes sense I guess. So... is there some kind of password we should be whispering? Or a magic brick to push? You know, like Diagon Alley". Thinking back to the conversation he overheard now, he stared around the corridor, taking in the various paintings and tapestries.

"Maybe we could... ask a painting if they know? Or a GHOST? They must know something. They've been here since forever!.

Daehyun had to stop in his tracks to give Ewan an unimpressed look. "No. This is Hogwarts we're talking about, I'm expecting something grand." And by that he most certainly did not mean a grand loo. It was supposed to be a room that shaped itself according to their needs... just not that kind of needs. Why couldn't he dismiss those ideas already?

As for Ewan's inquiries, he had no answer. "I wish I knew... I only know that it shows itself to people in need of something..." Then it hit him. "Maybe we're not truly in need of it now, so it won't show itself to us?" Maybe it only appeared if you were running and in desperate need of a place to hide, or even an emergency loo. For them it was only pure curiosity for the moment, so why would the room of requirement show up?

"That's actually not a bad idea," he grinned at his Ravenclaw friend. "I just wonder if they'd actually tell us anything." And some portraits out there were outright hostile. "Know anyone friendly that would help us?"

"I think you will do brilliantly." She nodded her head with complete confidence. "Chaser is a great position. You just need to trust you team and not worry about the bludgers that might be aiming for your head." She giggled a bit. "Really though, if you trust the beaters to protect you, you can zip across the field a score much easier." She hoped it was the same for her team as it was on the Huffelpuff team. Derf had never let her get hit by any of the bludgers. He was a fantastic beater, so she never worried.

"Are you friends with any of the other Ravenclaw's that are trying out?" It always helped to be friends with the other team members. Her best friends were on the team with her last term, and she hoped they would all make the team again for the current term. "Friends make playing a lot more fun." Chloe seemed like a nice girl, so she hoped she had friends trying out for the team with her. She shrugged "Either way, I'd be happy to practice with you any time you would like."

Smirking now, he was really tempted to keep dropping in the toilet suggestion. Not wanting to annoy his new friend, he decided it best to let it drop even though he thought it was a valid idea.

So... the room turned into what ever you needed it to? What if, they needed to hide something? Like, I don't know, a fanged Frisbee? They were still banned...right? "Okay, so what if we need to hide something? Something banned? Like a fanged frisbee? Maybe be could buy one from Hogsmeade and bring it back to hide?". If that didn't work, he was tempted to suggest Poly-juice potion. Although, in the grand scheme of things, that may get them in some serious trouble.

Taking a second to think, he answered Daniel with a small grin. "Maybe I could ask the Grey Lady? You know, the ghost of Ravenclaw. You could ask Nearly Headless Nick? Except, you should call him Sir Nicholas Dewhatever his last name is. You know, flatter him. He'll eat that up". His grin spreading now across his face, he looked at Daniel as a plan started to formulate in his head.

Hide a fanged frisbee? Why would anyone even have one-

Oh. Oh. He couldn't help but smirk at his friend. "Why, are you hiding one?" he asked, his eyebrows going up up up until they disappeared underneath his fringe. Why else would he ask such a question? "But I suppose it would show up." Since they weren't allowed to have any, it was quite a necessity to hide one. "I wouldn't smuggle one into the castle, but maybe we'll find something else? Less... dangerous?"

Glancing around to make sure no one else was watching two suspicious younglings up to no good, Daehyun moved closer to the wall and ran his palm along its surface, as if hoping to touch something that would trigger the room of requirement to show up. But of course nothing happened.

"De Mimsy-Porpington," he supplied automatically, well accustomed to Sir Nicholas' name preference. He would know the ghost's pain better than anyone. Well, him and Bartholomew, who also wasn't keen on nicknames. "I could do that," he said thoughtfully. "You think the Grey Lady would actually share any secrets?" Wasn't she just sort of... generally sad?

Despite his mischievous demeanour, he wasn’t actually a trouble maker, he preferred reading about it. “Are fanged frisbee’s dangerous?”. He’d only suggested it because he knew they were banned.

“I mean, I was going to suggest we look for the room to create some Poly-juice potion. We’d definitely need it to hide in then”, his grin wide and teasing. He honestly didn’t think he could make it, let alone get away with making it. Someone would catch them. He was certain.

Watching Daniel carefully, he considered the room.

“I think the Grey lady...I don’t know. I mean she might to a Ravenclaw but even then, it’s not guaranteed”. She really was unpredictable. He had a feeling that she knew but telling them? That would be another thing.

“What about Nick? Think he knows something?”. After all, the ghosts had been around for so long, they must know something, At least a clue that could help them. This gave him another idea. Who else had been here for a long time? The sorting hat? Paintings? House Elves!!!

“Maybe we could ask the Elves? They’d have to tell us, right?”.

It was so NICE of Emmalyn to take this time to make her feel better, and Chloe flushed in pleasure. "Thank you. I hope so... I hope we have the opportunity to play each other later this term. I promise not to take it easy on you." Big lie. Chloe couldn't be a Beater for the very reason that all she did was take it easy on people. She desperately hated hurting anyone.

"Oh, I am! Yes! My very good friend Juni is trying out with me. And Miss Prefect Jessa, of course." Who Chloe admired SO much. "Friends make playing more fun. I'll keep that in mind. And we can definitely practice together. I will fit you into my schedule for sure." Speaking of her schedule. "I should get back to studying. You'll be okay?"

Were fanged frisbees dangerous? Daehyun would've normally shaken his head or face-palmed, but he could only burst into laughter. "They're fanged. And they snarl- trust me, you don't want one thrown at you." And Polyjuice potion?! Why was he so intent on finding dangerous stuff? "I doubt it'll work if we try to trigger it..." Maybe they just had to wait until they were in real need... which might or might not happen in the seven years they spend at Hogwarts. He sighed. "We're going to need a lot of patience for this, won't we?" Siiiiigh.

"Sir Nicholas," he found himself correcting his friend, like his house ghost would. Better get him used to using Sir Nicholas before calling the ghost Nick. Really, he was only trying to avoid Ewan getting scolded or angering the ghost. "I could try to get him to give me at least a hint," he said thoughtfully, wondering how to approach the subject. Surely he'll find something.

But the elves! "Oh! They just might! I think that's a great idea!" Though, at the same time, he didn't want to take advantage of their kindness. Wouldn't they feel obliged to tell them if they knew, even if they didn't want to?

She smiled, thankful Chloe had friends on the team and that she would be a tough competitor. She didn't like it when the older students took it easy on her, just because she was younger. Her age had nothing to do with how well she played. Nope. She could keep up with the best of them.

"Sounds like a plan. I wish you the best with your studying. I think I'll climb back behind the statue and take a little rest before heading back to the Hufflepuff common room. No need for me to hurry back." She waved to Chloe and easily maneuvered behind the statue, using her book bag as a little pillow. She would have to remember Chloe's idea of bringing a real pillow the next time. It would be much more comfortable. And, snacks. Snacks were a must.

Sitting on the corridor floor probably wasn't the very best of places to be reading her book but that was exactly where, Rylee had chose to be. Knees pulled up to her chest, feet planted flat on the floor and her book resting on her legs she was completely lost in her own little world. As she reached the bottom of the page she already gently worked the top corner of the page down in order to turn it. Flipping the page when ready she continued to read taking notice of nothing around her.

Rylee didn't even pull her gave from the book as she reached into her bag which was sat right at her side rummaging around for a Sugar Quill. Pulling one out after a minute or so she happily nibbled at her favorite treat while enjoying some peace and quiet. Who knew how long this would last before she was right back to her usual hyper self.

"I think this should be enough for the week, don't you?" Jessa lifted the bucket she carried just slightly, speaking to her undead felines as if they would understand--not that they would've understood if they were alive either. There were certain, obvious communication barriers between people and animals, regardless of their current life statuses.

Both Archimedes and Tiberius walked alongside her, instinctively (if you could call it that) knowing that that bucket was where their dinner was stored. Every week or so, she went down to the kitchen to get what she could for them. Not too much as they still weren't eating big portions but enough to prevent her from making daily trips. The bucket itself was charmed both to mask odor and keep the meat well frozen until it needed to be otherwise.

Such a good thing she'd worked out the kinks from the birds. This time, her subjects weren't tearing away at each other which was a good sign in itself.

Walking just a few paces ahead--so she could SEE her at all times--Lise took measured steps. The once porcelain skin now held a different look....or rather...a different texture. One more bendable and less prone to breakages; human skin. This was perhaps the only doll she allowed to roam free on her walks, because this was the one she studied most, knew most about and would be comparing to the cat and kneazle who both occasionally received free reign. It was important to keep their environments as similar as possible.

Heading back to her lab, she may not have noticed Rylee sitting there on the floor until Tiberius pounced over to her, fluffy tail swinging lightly and his gaze intent on the tail end of the sugar quill she was munching. It didn't take long for Archimedes to follow suit, both felines pawing away at it as if the girl herself did not exist.

She thought to send Lise to get them, but didn't fancy having to stitch her up again like last time. "Alright you two." She said, lightly nudging them away with her foot. "Sorry about that. Their curiosity's only just started kicking in again." As proven by the way they would not be deterred by her gently prodding.