Joyce simply folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes at the young Gryffindor. Was she trying to say that she was doing all that scratching without even realising she was doing it? Nonsense. Absolute nonsense.

"Have you been getting your uniform laundered regularly, child?" Perhaps, she hadn't? That would explain it. And everyone else for that matter. Honestly, children could be such filthy little so-and-so's.

Stella looked up at her and sighed, she was telling her the truth, why was she all the sudden in the wrong places at the wrong time? Honesty she been tingling alot lately but thought nothing of it to be honest, as for the itching she didn't know she was doing it so much. "Honestly Professor I don't even realize I am half the time, I guess it became a habit I wasn't aware of." she said shrugging. Speaking of itching and scratching, it was making her itch now that Professor Darlington was talking about it.


Stella nodded. " Yes ma'am, I can't stand wearing stinky and sweaty laundry, it's a bit of a pet peeve of mine.""she said wrinkling her nose at the thought of it. She didn't mind getting dirty or getting dirt on her, but she wasn't the one to wear dirty uniforms, that was disgusting in her opinion. Although she knew boys did that at times, but that was pure laziness in her opinion, how hard was it to put your clothes in the clothes hamper to get them washed?

Well, if it wasn't dirty laundry causing all the scratching, Joyce wasn't sure what it could possibly be. Perhaps a reaction to something? Regardless, it just wouldn't do to have students itching and scratching all about the place. It wasn't sanitary.

The professor took a step backwards, fearing that whatever the ailment might be it could possibly be contagious. "I'm glad to hear you've been keeping your uniform clean, Miss Starson, but I fear a trip to see Healer Adara may be in order. Perhaps you've developed an allergy to something."

Stella looked at Professor Darlington and frowned before nodding. "Yes ma'am, the sooner I know the sooner I can fix this. " she said sighing. She wasn't aware she was itching herself or anything of that sort, weird she seen some kids around the school itching as well. Was she getting sick or something, should she be worried? She was getting worried, she didn't know what was going on with or or around the school.

Maybe the school healer would have a better idea of what was going on, maybe it was magical flu or something like that, was that even a thing? Her mind was racing going a hundred miles per hour, she couldn't stop thanking that the worse was going to happen. Biting her lip she itched her arm looking up at the Transfigurations Professor. "Thank you Professor, hope whatever I got can be fixed quickly. " she said sighing sadly. She hated being sick, it was the complete worse then ever as a kid or heck even a adult.

Heading over to the stone covered paths know as simply the pathways by the student's Joshua had resorted to levitating the cage by his side. It was a heavy and robust cage and he wanted his hands free if they we're to happen upon some pink cute creatures.

Glancing sideways at Amelia he asked "Have you encountered these pink creatures in the castle? How do they look? Like pink baby nifflers?" If he had a better idea how these creatures looked he wouldn't be so caught off guard he hoped if they ran into one of them. He then started to search the stones and trees for creature tracks.

Ah good, Amelia was glad the two Hufflepuffs had made it out here. Meant the Hufflepuff Dormitory was likely safe territory. She gave a nod at Aaron and Maxie to follow, as she took off after the Groundskeeper. Pink nifflers?

"I'm not sure that they're babies... in the sense that I mean, they ate a Professor." Just saying. Also, nooo she did not see them personally, other than a brief glimpse here or there, but it really did not constitute having seeing them enough to know what they looked like. "I reckon we'll know when we spot one?"

Having rushed from the castle doors when they opened, a few of the fuzzballs found themselves rolling toward what they hoped to be the entrance gates. They had seen the big men with cages and they must get out.

Escape. Escape.

The castle was not safe anymore.

With everything that had happened this week, some fresh air was exactly what Ewan needed. Taking a deep breath, he stretched onto the tips of his toes and plunged his arms into the sky, stretching as far his body would allow. With a small sigh, he was back on the flats of his feet and ready to continue his walk around the grounds of the castle.

With the crunch of gravel under his shoes and his mind on better days spent in the room of requirement, Ewan couldn’t help but smile. Everything was finally falling into place. And then he froze, his feet planted firmly on the floor as his eyes drifted to several pink fluff balls in front of him.

“Uhh, how are you…”

Tentatively, Ewan took a small step back towards the castle, his mind already forming a plan to alert the closest staff member.

Joshua had first thought that it was just Amelia following them but then noticed the two badger boy’s trailing in her wake, Maxie and Aaron. He flashed both boy’s smiles of encouragement before he focused on what Amelia was saying. Nodding he responded "You make a fair point Professor Adara. It can’t be common for a small creature to eat up a whole human though." There were some plants that were carnivores and wouldn’t say no to feasting on a limb but a creature of small size? It was puzzling. He was going to leave that riddle to the experts though.

He was letting his eyes trail left to right searching, searching as the group moved forward when Ewan of the eagles came in to sight looking a bit scared and then Joshua’s eyes saw the pink fuzzballs further up the path. They were in luck. In a hushed whisper he called over. "Ewan, come over here slowly and quietly." With a silent hand gesture Joshua pointed out the fuzzballs to Amelia and the other two boys as he whispered in hushed tones. "We need a plan. Shall we try and surround the furry creatures and then herd them towards the cages?"

After having checked the boathouse, and finding no such pink creature, Hanna made her way back to find the group with her adult protector. Spotting Professors Wishart and Adara, Hanna quickened her pace to catch up with them. She didn't want to dawdle and find herself dinner.

"Professor Wishart!" She said, loud enough to get his attention, but not so loud that it indicated trouble. Once she'd made the final few steps towards the group, she said "We didn't find anything in the boatho-" oh. Well, they had certainly found something.

Hanna watched as Ewan, worryingly close to the creatures, was instructed to slowly head towards Professor Wishart. "Oh no," Hanna whispered. The poor creatures looked like they were trying to run away from the castle. "Well... w-we could try that," she said in response to Wishart's plan.

What was going on here? Why were those things there? And why of all the places they could be did they have to be in front of him! He stopped in place, frozen, his eyes glued to the sickly pink monsters in front of him now.

Giving his head a little shake, Ewan turned quickly to the direction that he heared his name being called from. “Professor! Thank Merlin you’re here! It’s over here!” despite his best efforts, he couldn’t help but sound slightly panicked. These things eat people! He wasn’t exactly sure who else was there but that didn’t matter. Slowly, he shuffled closer to Professor Wishart, his wand now clutched tightly in his left hand. With a sigh of relief, he’d reached the group!

Bent over slightly now, the adrenaline slowly wearing off, Ewan croakily addressed the person next to him (Hanna) “How did they get out? We can’t let them leave the grounds!” This simply could not be allowed. Nope. Not at all. Not if he could do something about it. Highly unlikely but maybe with some help.

Swiveling around to face Hanna that wasn’t shouting his name but, speaking loudly as she joined them. It was then Professor saw when she saw the pink furrballs and her reaction. Yes merlin flutterby bushes they had found several creature somethings. Nodding to Hanna he said in a hushed tone "I’m glad you’re here Hanna. Your help is appreciated and needed." Especially if they were going to get the creatures to do what they wanted and not run away.

"Relax Ewan, the creatures are not going to hurt you. Those questions you have though will have to be answered at a later time." Professor Wishart soothed as the boy came over with a panicked expression on his face and in his voice. The couldn’t keep stalling, they need to get things rolling since the creatures might flee and they didn’t need that.

"Right let’s get going! Ewan and Hanna you try and herd/coax the 2 pink creatures on the left into the left cage and Aaron and Maxie does the same with the other two creatures into the right cage. Professor Adara and i will help you guys out too. So get to work! Start coaxing and cooing the creatures closer and put on dragonhide gloves everyone to stay protected!" Professor Wishart as he bent to open up the two cages and put in some tasty looking carrots. It couldn't hurt, who knew if the furrballs were hungry.

The little balls of fur looked around at the group of humans with big, curious eyes. What to do? Where to go? They were cornered.

The biggest human (Wishart) had food and one of the creatures was feeling particularly in need of something to nom on and edged in his direction ever so slightly.

NOmnomNoMmm?

The other creatures stared expectantly at the smaller humans (Ewan & Hanna). Did they have food too? Or hugs?

"I know..." she said to Ewan, breathing a sigh of relief to see him safely next to Professor Wishart. "I don't want them to be hurt, but they can't get out." She was only thinking of all the people they might eat. She gave a quick little nervous smile to Professor Wishart, glad that she could be there to offer even a slither of help.

"D-Do you have any spare gloves, Professor?" Hanna asked. She also noted her absence of Dragonhide gloves, and in this current state of fear she wasn't sure she would be able to perform the summoning charm to get them. Surely he wouldn't, but perhaps he was skilled enough to summon some for her.

Seeing the creatures respond to the food in the cages, Hanna dove her hand into her robes and pulled out a packet of Bertie Bott's beans. It was half empty, and surely some of them were earwax flavour, but they might help. She pulled a few out of the package and squatted down near one of the cages, keeping eye contact with one of the creatures watching her. "W-want a bean?" she said in a gentle voice.

Putting his panic behind him, Ewan nodded and watched carefully, ready to follow the Professors instructions. Okay, so coax them into the cage? Sure he could help Hanna do that. Watching Hanna carefully for a second, Ewan followed her lead and moved to another cage and placed what little food he had laying around in his rucksack in the cage slowly, not wanting to startle the pink creature.

Taking a deep breath, he took a small step away from the cage, not wanting to be in range of the creature without any sort of gloves or protection.

“Hey little fluff balls, you want a juicy apple?” he said, attempting to copy Hanna’s gentle and soft voice. Did they like apples? He had no idea but surely a small creature like this wouldn’t be too fussy. After all, it did eat a Professor.

Professor Wishart kept his eyes on the small balls of fur as they looked back with curious and cute eyes. They now had them cornered, but that didn’t mean that they couldn’t still escape. He kept alert and had his hand near his wand in case something happened when Ewan and Hanna started to try and coax the fuzzballs closer just like he was with the carrot.

Looking away from the carrot to answer Hanna’s question he said in response with a look over at her. ”Yes Hanna, I have two spare pairs of gloves for you and Ewan." He understood if they unlike him didn’t walk around with that in their robe pockets. Pulling the gloves out he offered them to them both. "Here you go, you too, quickly get them on!"

Joshua then watched Ewan and Hanna start to coax their furries closer with apple and bean. Focusing on his own furrball that had moved a fraction closer to him Prof Wishart coaxed softly "Come little furry, I have a tasty carrot for just you to nom on."

OH GOOD, Ewan and Hanna had made it out here too cause the more people the better use for distractions. No, definitely NOT common for creatures to be eating whole humans. But wait, was Ewan ... was ... her gaze shifted nervously to the younger students present. Oh, smart of Joshua to mention the dragonhide gloves, which conveniently Amelia had summoned her pair at that moment from her office. But she supposed as Herbology professor it was his nature to be prepared with protective clothing.

"Yes, no panic, good," she muttered in echo of Wishart, although inwardly she was definitely panicking. This would have been more her husband's ally but after over three decades together, surely he'd rubbed off on her some.

"I think maybe putting some food in the cages too to lure them in after we've giving them a taste?" She looked at the others and slowly, methodically, moved to sliding some of the carrots at the back of the cage. Now, hope they'd take the bait.

The fluff balls scattered around at the other two kids (Ewan and Hanna), bouncing to see what they had to offer.

Nomnomnom at the bean and the apple but they wanted snuggles now!! Who to snuggle? The scruffy faced man (Wishart) who fed them carrots or perhaps the redhead lady who was squatting down by ...

... what WAS THAT? OH NO HOHOHO, staying away from her, they bounced back over to the kiddos expectantly looking up for more snacks

Maxie was still every kind of struck (except star) as he stood by. Anxious? no, he was much too shocked to be anxious or fearful but not enough to keep from gripping his teammates hand with every bit of strength the Hufflepuff possessed.

The other students seemed almost excited to be part of this, like it was some kind of???????? exciting thing???? in his opinion this was not exciting, in his opinion this was threat level 10. The first year was unable to vocalize this, for he was far too busy currently trembling like a leaf about to blow away.

It was only Aaron and Professor Adara which kept him firmly rooted.

Anyway? anyway. Maxie shirked back as the Mutant approached their group, it's innocent fluff did not fool him- had actually never fooled him. it was like those little tree frogs with the bright colors and big eyes that were actually very poisonous.

Maxie right then and there decided that being poisoned would be a billion times better than being eaten. He clung then to Aaron, hiding partially behind the older Chaser. "S-s-Someone g-g-give h-him food." Maxie stammered, his water-colored eyes the size of dinner plates.

QuicKLY. QUIcKly.

Hanna sent a nod towards Ewan, with his apple. "Good thinking," she said quietly. Juicy, crunchy-ish, pleasant smell. It wasn't warm like human, but then it also wasn't hard like sapphires, either. "Come on," she said again towards the little creatures, offering more beans from her pocket.

Hanna quickly took the gloves from Professor Wishart and put them securely on her hands, offering a quick "Thank you," before returning her attention to the fluffballs. She didn't want to take too much attention away from them. No, not one bit.

Professor Adara, putting the food right into the cages, seemed to be onto something. But then the creatures moved closer to her and Ewan. Just... looking up at them. It was a bit unsettling. She rolled some beans towards the creatures, even though her hands were safe-ish in the dragonhide gloves. "Come on, do you want to be in a nice warm room where nobody will hurt you?" she muttered to them, taking tiny little steps towards one of the cages. She said it because she thought it. These creatures would perhaps be given over to the Ministry to release somewhere safe. Safe for them, and safe for humans. She didn't want them to be harmed at all, and she wouldn't let that happen. Rolling some beans into the cage, and then putting some in a line from the cage and close towards the creatures, to try and lure them in. But she had her doubts. What creature would willingly climb into a cage?

..... Aaron was starting to regret all his current life choices, like tagging along for this search. Because in reality, all he REALLY wanted to be doing.. was raiding the kitchens for a snack before getting to bed for some much needed rest. The Puffer fifth year had been pushing himself so hard these last few weeks.

But loyalty. He was loyal.

If Maxie could hang in there, what was he complaining about? Despite the trembling, which Aaron was choosing not to comment on, the kid was being very strong. Just making the decision to help was something to be commended. He just wished he'd been more prepared for this? As in... his muscles were screaming at him to take a break.. and he'd missed dinner, so his stomach was loudly making it's displeasure known.

Yeah, Aaron Botros was not himself when he was hungry.

Gripping Maxie's hand (more snugly than what was probably comfortable for the first year), he trailed their mismatched group, keeping his eyes on Professor Adara. There was supposed to be strength in numbers... but he wasn't feeling at all confident in this plan. Those creatures had ate a whole person. Not half of a person, A WHOLE ONE... and the table he ate meals on. They weren't adorable. They were horrible and terrifying.

"You don't think they've had enough?" .... And could they not talk about food? His stomach was practically screaming at this point....

Taking the gloves and placing them on quickly, Ewan gave a quick thank you to the professor before returning his attention to the little balls of fluff that were advancing towards the food. Taking a small breath, he watched as they munched on the bean and apple with what seemed to be delight. Ewan shot a small grin towards Hanna as she placed more beans down for them in the cage.

Breathing out of his nose quickly, he braced himself for whatever was about to happen. Despite his slight fear of the little critters, his hands stayed steady, that was until they moved towards his feet and started to stare up at him somewhat expectantly. “Uh Professor? Any ideas?” he called out, unsure what to do next. If they didn’t want food, what else could a creature of this size and fluffiness want? They were far too cute to be in the cages really but waaay to deadly to be left to just roam the wild. No they had to be caught and put somewhere safe. Alone. Pulling his wand out, he swiftly yet quietly sliced an apple into small cubes and copied Hanna’s idea by placing several in a line as quick as he possibly could. Maybe food wasn’t all they wanted but if they could just get them into the cage, maybe they could figure that part out later.

No??? no. No??? No. No???????????

Maxie was holding his breath, terrified that any and all movement would catch the pink monster's attention and send him on a Maxie-snack-attack in the most literal sense. He did not know these other kids- if he did he'd be cowering the same way, except- perhaps with more emotion tied in.

He hardly even noticed the so-tight-it-hurt grip of Aaron's hand on his- he wouldn't have done anything even if he had. Maxie decidedly, very decidedly liked his hand in the older boy's. Aaron was homebase right now. he was safety. he was keeper.

shudder.
"D-d-don't g-g-get t-t-too c-cl-close." the Hufflepuff whisper warned the other older boy.

Any ideas? Yes she did have ideas, as she nodded at the two Hufflepuffs who seemed unsure of their role here. Even if it was just for moral support and to make sure they were safe from the potential people-eating creatures. Amelia was sure they didn't mean any harm though - they just wanted to be loved and adored. They wanted attention.

Biting her lip when the mutants went away from the cages, she sighed, wistfully thinking of something to get them away from the two young Ravenclaws. Ideas, yes... yes, "Uhhhhh.... We could try leaving a trail?"

At that suggestion, she began to put a trail of snacks from the cage door to where the young Ravenclaws were standing.

After nomming on some of the snacks from the kids and big people, the fluff balls were satisfied. As if understanding what the Ravenclaw girl was saying, it gave her a curt nod and moved slowly towards the metal box, nomming on the food that was laid out on the grounds.

NomMNOMom.

Food. Food.

A couple of the fuzzies eyed the Hufflepuff boys curiously. It didn’t matter that the one boy’s stomach was growling, because they were being fed and had seemingly bottomless stomachs of their own. And they were going to grab every last morsel of food … right up to including the food laid out prior in the cage, unaware that they were about to be enclosed.