Maxie had gotten over his most of his general shock and terror during the relatively quiet weekend - most being the keyword, but what remained of said shock and terror wasn't enough to keep the 12-year-old locked away in his dorm.

Actually, nothing could have but that was a totally different story and Maxie didn't want to think about that story at all, at all. So, he'd shed his Hufflepuffs robes and pulled on his actual comfortable clothes and went wandering around in search of??? anything really.

The antechamber hadn't caught his attention earlier in the week (probably because of the 1001 things happening) but it certainly had now. The games - some very familiar and others not at all - lured him with the promise of fun but what really caught his attention were the books.

He plucked a tome at random and flipped it open, he didn't know what he'd been expecting but logic puzzles weren't it. He didn't understand half of it, but the symbols and curved lines of the text were enough visually to keep the boy's attention. Without peeking up from the page, Maxie walked over to a big comfy chair and plopped right down.

Charlie had heard a thing or two about an antechamber. One with, like, games and stuff....

Expecting Pac-Man and Galaga machines and Monopoly boards, like the muggle she was, the girl scoured the halls of Hogwarts for the chamber as a post-History of Magic pick-me-up (she liked history, sure, but it was quite dreadful to learn in the classroom, and it seemed dull in comparison with the other classes). Charlie has been walking for quite some time when she came across what was apparently a statue muttering in a strange language.

Huh? She furrowed her brow and walked towards it to get a better look (or listen) but did not here another peep; however, it did sit by a room which, when looking from a distance at the different board games and whatnot in it, matched the description of the antechamber. With a triumphant smirk, Charlie stride into the room, itching to buy some property and pass go a number of times.

Imagine her disappointment when she saw that all of the games were wizard games. Her smirk turned into a frown as she came to the realization that this room was of No Use To Her, seeing as she had no idea how to play any of them.

Maybe the boy sitting in one of the chairs and reading a book could help her out — he looked wizardly.

Plopping down into the chair next to his, she waited until he appeared to reach a stopping point and asked, “Do you know how to play any of these games? Cos I have no idea.”

Or maybe she could read a book, too....

Maxie was much more into this book than he'd expected to be. There was something very... satisfying about solving these puzzles, and even just going over the ones he couldn't make a lick of sense out of was fun. Cuddled up like a cat, Maxie didn't even feel the smile that had worked it's way across his face let alone the presence of another human-being.

If he had noticed he would have sat up straighter- or even dumped the book - or even just tried to vanish into the air. Actually, probably, definitely the last one. He licked his thumb and flicked to the next page, his grey eyes peering through the runic letters with hungry interest. Maybe he'd ask that guy, the Head-Puff-Guy about Runes later.

Uhm. Wait. Hold Up, rewind. Uhm.

That was a person, right? Maxie's eyes flickered up quick to meet the face belonging to the voice. He didn't say a word. He was doing that thing. The-trying-to-vanish-thing.
Was it working? Maxie still felt resolutely solid. "Uhm." He began. "I, uh... " These games? He knew them very well, unfortunately. The hufflepuff nodded, still curled up and showing no signs of life other than his large blinking eyes and the steady rise and fall of his chest.

Emma had been spending a lot of time studying than she had in the past few years at Hogwarts instead of building book towers like usual (she still built the book towers, but not before reading the books). Between that, quidditch tryouts, AND classes, she felt like she hadn't seen her little brother in DAYS (possible exaggeration, but it definitely wasn't their usual visits like back home) and so she'd sent off a charmed noted folded like a bird to go and find him so that she could get that quality time.

Because it felt too cold to be outside, but she still wanted to do something fun, the fifteen year old had packed her satchel with snacks and headed down to the second floor where there was a designated spot for games.

She patted the medieval wizard on the head, walked by and set down her satchel. Then, while she waited, she started up a game of wizard skittles by herself.

Lucas missed Emma. Like a LOT. He knew that she was an older cool kid who had important exams coming up that she had to study for but that didn't mean he didn't miss cuddles with the big sister or hanging out with her and talking and eating snacks and all of that. It wasn't the same, really.

It was probably because of this that the second year was ecstatic - yes, ecstatic! - when a little charmed bird!note came for him in a handwriting that was very familiar. He dropped his homework instantly - History of Magic can WAIT - and dashed out of the common room as quickly as his small legs could take him. It was..... tiring but the exercises from last term had to count for something, right?

Eventually, he hurried down the second floor corridor and came to a stop riiiiiiiight near a statue. A statue of a wizard who was saying something Lucas couldn't understand and didn't want to understand right now. Instead, he hurried inside and over to a familiar head of very curly hair.

"Do you have room for one more?" BEAM.

Hello only favourite sister!

The little pink fuzz ball was sneakily exploring the castle. She was a very curious fluff!

Soon enough she passed a room with a few humans inside playing with things and a giant shiny metal human stood at the back of the room.

The little floof’s eyes grew wide as she saw the metal human! That human had to be the best cuddler! Look how shiny it was! She wanted to run straight to it right away, but then she saw another human (Lucas) that was closer by and became completely distracted by his beautiful, dark, curly hair.

She made a little noise that almost sounded like a giggle, and quickly made her way over to the boy, tapping his leg with her little paws and looking up at the boy hoping for snuggles.

Because Emma played this game a lot, she sort of was good at it. So it wasn't much of a challenge for her to be playing by herself. Thankfully a very familiar voice spoke up. Grinning, she turned on her bum to look up at her little brother. "I always have room for you." Giggle.

"Where have you been all day??" Because obviously, obviously it was his fault that she'd not seen him.

While she waited for him to respond, Emma started to dig in her satchel for snacks. That's when she noticed the small pink thing that was at Lucas' heels.

AWWWWW.

"Lulu, where'd you get that thing?"

The little floof hadn't noticed that another person was standing with the pretty haired boy, so when the other person spoke she was surprised. So surprised that she squeaked and quickly ran away.

She could be easily frightened sometimes, especially when caught unawares. She would have to get cuddles from someone else!

Goodbye pretty hoomans!

Lucas and he needed to chat. ASAP. So much had happened in so little time and Chase's head was spinning. Besides Lucas sounded as if he, too, had some updates which Chase wanted to hear. The Slytherin had always been there for him basically since day 1 of year three where Chase had an unfortunate run in with the Slytherin Head Boy at the time. He shuddered at the thought, remembering how brave Lucas was in standing up for his friend while Chase cowered in the corner. In that moment of bravery and awesomeness, Lucas became Lucas-hyung-- Chase's older brother.

So when Chase received Lucas' owl, it was time to separate himself from the books. Fortunately he had managed to do that when he had to escort a pretty blonde Lioness to the Hospital Wing (which by the way, Beth/Anna, if you're reading this- not my fault. I swear!). After they parted ways, he decided to explore the castle and just think about things... That kiss... He touched his lips momentarily thinking about how one thing had led to the next and the next and that moment... He needed not to think. So he decided on wandering aimlessly around the castle with nothing to do for a good fifteen minutes until he realized that he needed to meet Lucas.

Oh he was going to be late! Very very late! He sprinted down the corridor and nearly tumbled over as he came to a halt- fortunately he caught himself. Quidditch balance, y'know? Heh. He was very smooth. He smiled as he walked in, glad that this room hadn't disappeared like a few other objects had. He sighed, relived that this location was still the same. He glanced around looking for his friend before collapsing in the nearest chair. "I'm getting too old for this," he mumbled.

Uhhhh.....where....was Chase?

Lucas was waiting, mate. The younger boy was a little late????? He wasn't mad or upset, more wistfully shaking his head about it. The Gryffindor was a mess, honestly, but then again, Lucas felt like a whole mess lately, too. He did have a lot to tell Chase about, and it was less about girls and more about Uni stuff. Not fun Uni stuff. He did have the Violet kiss but....eh. He was feeling less and less enthused about that lately because Violet.........sigh.

"Too old? Don't talk to me about too old, child!" he said as he kicked (LIGHTLY) Chase's knee with the toe of his foot. "You're still young in your bones!" He rattled his fist like an old man.

"Oiw!" The exclamation that escaped Chase's lips was a mix between the word "Oi" and the cry "Ow". It was an over-dramatized reaction to Lucas lightly kicking his knee with the toe of his foot. The dramatized reaction was really driven by him not expecting Lucas to do that. He glanced up at Lucas and within a few seconds was smiling playfully again. "Child? Who, Me? Noooooooo.... " He laughed. "Oppa... you're age is showing. You look like my grandfather when he's scolding me." Chase was almost going to fall on the floor because he was laughing so hard but realized that would probably be a recipe for even more scolding by his hyung.

Anyway, enough kidding aside because he was slightly afraid that Lucas would tackle him to the ground with a pillow or something. "Okay, enough kidding. Sorry I'm late... Ran into a situation and had to help someone out.... I'll buy you dinner next time we go out." That is if Lucas remembered... Hehe. No. Seriously. He would buy his friend dinner. Chase would endeavor to remember this time. " Sooo... What's up?"

Pleaaaaaase. He ignored the pet name and snorted. "All I need is glasses. And a wagging finger." He gave his finger a little wag just for the laughs. "You should work on being more prompt, you know, Chase." His own parents were SUPER prompt and thus...Lucas had been cursed in the same way. Promptness to the extreme UNLESS something super important or unavoidable came up! "Anyway...I didn't kick you THAT hard." He rolled his eyes.

...Had to help someone out? This got an eyebrow raise from Lucas. "What do you mean? Did a cat get stuck in a tree or something?" because that's what it sounded like, though Lucas was playfully teasing him now. "You gonna elaborate on that or what?" It seemed purposely vague.

Also. DINNER? That made Lucas laugh. "CHASE. You? Gonna buy ME DINNER? It's a date then!" He nudged his pal and shook his head as he laughed. "But as for me...and my life....well...it just all feels very messy right now. Like..a not fun messy. A mess messy." Duh, Lucas. But he felt like there could be a few different kinds of messy, and some of them might be okay...

Chase smirked and readied his wand, ready to cast a spell to summon some glasses for his Oppa, here. "That can be fixed, Lucas," he smirked mischievously. Heh.... He'd be glad to fix that. But then his hyung was back to telling him off about being more on time and prompt. He nodded in agreement. Yes, he should have been earlier and shouldn't keep Lucas waiting. Or, in fact, anyone waiting. "I know... I know... I got... " He was about to say that he got lost on the path of life using a phrase from an anime that he had been watching the previous evening but decided against that. Instead, he sighed and leaned back on the couch. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you next year, Lucas..." he sighed dramatically. Even though he was slightly exaggerating that last sigh, the boy did wonder what a Hogwarts without his mate would be like.

Did a cat get stuck in a tree? "Well.. It wasn't like that.." He blushed furiously at Lucas' teasing question. He didn't know exactly how to explain the situation without being very upfront about it. He wasn't sure if anyone would believe him if he told them truth. The situation that transpired seemed like it would only occur in a rom com movie... unless Chase had been transported into a romantic comedy and would not be able to escape!! To be honest, he wouldn't put it past something as bizarre as that to happen at Hogwarts. "I was studying with Maeve and she seemed sad so I tried to comfort her.. Then we started dancing because we needed a study break and then I asked her what she wanted... Next thing I know is that she murmured me and so I kissed her... and then she fainted. So I had to take her to the Hospital Wing," he explained before turning bright red at the next moments that had transpired. He still couldn't believe that she had asked him to kiss her again in front of the Healer. He covered his face as he uttered the next sentence. "And then she wanted to kiss me in front of the Healer!!" It wasn't like he hadn't wanted to kiss her again in that moment but.... in front of the Healer... He was unsure if he could ever look at the Healer eye to eye again!

"Anything for you, darling," he played along, throwing a teasing wink at his friend before becoming quiet. He tilted his head to the left as he listened. "Messy Messy.... Like what? What happened?"