"It will work" Chloe mumbled at Slytherin's words. She had all the faith in their headmaster and after the years of interactions with him, she knew he could and would outsmart these portraits. She felt no danger with him here. Listening to everyone else she stayed quiet and just watched and listened. Keeping track of the founders and their positions while trying to keep a look at a few of her younger friends.

Her eyes did search the crowd for Morgan, was he here with all of this? Was Gunnar? She was sure Gunnar would be and figured Morgan wouldn't miss the action, but she wanted to make sure they both were safe.

Moving along one of the walls she started to sweep the area for any curses just as she was told.

Gabi had been MORE than a little disappointed when Gunnar's spell didn't connect with Slytherin before he had taken off, but she had made her way down to the underground chambers, tailing him the whole way. For someone who was apparently not a real person, he sure was FAST. Granted, running in heels wasn't exactly fast moving either - maybe this term was a sign that she needed to switch to flats lol yeah right.

Leading her group into the area, she saw that Slytherin AND Hufflepuff were both in the area. They were already halfway there! Panting slightly from her unexpected workout, she made her way through the small group of students who had caught up and hurried over to Trent. "I think...if we can get them in the portraits...I think a modified impenetrable charm might help keep them in," she said, her voice so low that only Trent would be able to hear. No one in, no one out. It was something she had been brainstorming since they had started their little hunt, and while the main problem would likely be getting them IN the portraits - once they were in, she had a gut feeling that it would work.

It had to, because what other choices did they have??

Claudine could not help but stare at Hufflepuff in disbelief for a little while. What was with the woman and the determination to feed them all cupcakes at this moment? Shaking her head slightly, she instead drew her attention to Trent. Not that she was actually looking him in the eyes for reasons but she understood that it was important that they check for hidden curses and other traps.

Finally. A use for her wand.

Without a word to anyone and one eye kept on Slytherin, she began the task of checking the Chamber.

Hufflepuff was still over there offering her cupcakes, and at this point, Isla just wanted to try one, so she'd quit screaming about them. Besides that, she liked cupcakes, but this was the wrong time to be thinking about a snack. Speaking of Hufflepuff, though, it was weird enough seeing her walk around the castle like she was a part of this generation and time, and then to see her all roped up was even weirder.

Isla overheard Trent tell them to look for hidden curses. She had no idea what a curse looked like and had a feeling she wouldn't know one if she saw one...until it was too late. Hopefully the founders hadn't put any deadly curses into effect. Nevertheless, the first year looked all around, trying to see if anything out of the ordinary caught her eye.

Then Slytherin showed up, and as happy as Isla was to be a part of his house, she was equally as unhappy to see the founder. She had the impression that out of the four of them, Slytherin and Gryffindor would do whatever it took to obtain power. She tried to ignore him and continued to look around for a possible curse.

He had assumed as much, but if nothing else it showed something about how the Founders felt about their frames. Or at least Helga Hufflepuff's given that dramatic reaction. That second year, Claudine, could go take whatever eyes she was always attempting to do and a hike.

Salazar Slytherin snapping though...that was telling as well.

Though Eiji wasn't entirely sure the purpose of looking for curses at the moment considering they knew these pseudo humans could not produce magic on their own and any curses that MAY have been in place from the Founders themselves were so ancient that they were beyond the comprehension of students like themselves who had no proper cursebreaking training. But sure...Eiji could go through the motions and perform what he knew to perform. So far...nothing though.

"....still think we should just run the frames through with the sword," her muttered under his breath.

Also...was Godric Gryffindor just...tied up and rolling around up in the battlements? Because THAT was hilarious.

"Noted." The Headmaster replied to Slytherin. He was beyond arguing with them at this point. If they wanted to convince him this wouldn't work, they could blabber on for as long as it made them feel better.

In the meantime, he was also searching for anything out of the ordinary. There was no telling what magic drew them from their frames. If that magic lingered around the frames, it might not end well. Thankfully, even his own spells revealed nothing. "Looks good." Could the founders tell that he was ignoring them? Because......

Yeah....

He nodded at Recard's suggestion. Once they got them in, they would definitely need something to KEEP them in there. "I don't think they've left us much choice. Grabbed them. Tie them up. Whatever it takes." Trent accioed the portraits over to the main force of the group, pleased magic at least worked with them.

"Shove them in if you have to then we can go have dinner." He himself began moving toward the old man.

Salazar spoke a big talk, but he was unarmed and magicless. Helga....just wanted to feed people. This was an easy fix. They could go get Godric after and find Rowena...wherever she got off to.

He may have somewhat agreed with Rasting, if he heard him. But there didn't seem need at the moment. They would use force and save the destruction of school property.

Watching the headmaster's lead she focused on Hufflepuff, the woman seemed very sweet so she felt a little guilty with what she was about to do, but it was for the best to get her back into the portrait. The other founders weren't as nice as this one, so it would have been easier. With Trent moving towards Slytherin she felt that focusing on the other was the best option.

"I am sorry about this." She raised her wand and quickly shouted, "Incarcerous" Ropes came flying out of her wand towards her target. She kept her focus and her stance not taking her eyes or concentration off Hufflepuff.

She really hoped the other two founders wouldn't show up for a surprise attack when they were focused on these two.

"HA HA HA!

Godric gave a hearty laugh as he struggled his way down into the chambers. They thought rope would stop him? Even with his sword STOLEN BY COWARDS, Godric Gryffindor would not be stopped. The portrait hopped and wiggled and skipped his way in. There was a smug smile on his face. Trent thought he won but the joke was on him.

"You can't just shove us back in. What do you take us for? That will never work. We are too powerful for that."

But surely they wouldn't listen to him. They'd try their luck and reap the rewards of their failure. Oh yes, he was quite amused. The most amused. THIS was their big plan?? Some were already moving toward his fellow founders.

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!! If this was all they had then everything would be fine.

There was no going back into those frames unless they chose to.

"I wish you all the best." HA HAHA HAHAHA!!!

Isla looked up from her curse-searching adventure when she heard the sound of Godric Gryffindor's voice. Oh, GREAT. She froze for a second, thinking maybe he'd be furious about his sword being stolen, but he only seemed oddly happy. Maybe since he was bound up by ropes in the battlements, he hadn't seen who'd taken the sword. He was honesty one of the scariest dead people she'd ever met. At least he was a scary dead person without a sword, though.

"I have a question, Headmaster. Remember in the beginning of the school year when some of the students got stuck in random portraits?" she asked. Blake had been telling her all about his own misfortune when they'd been tending to their Muggle Studies baby down at the lake. "When the swap happened and the wrong person went into the portrait, there was a blinding, white light. Then when the portrait went back in, there was another blinding, white light." She sighed. "I'm just a first year and not really experienced enough to get any further with that thought, but maybe it's a clue that can help us? Or maybe it's nothing at all but just the magic taking place."

Either way, she was trying.

So far, it seemed that Claudine nor anyone else had found anything out of the ordinary. Did this mean that there were no traps since Trent was able to Summon the portraits? Could it all really be this simple to get the Founders into their portraits once again? The answer was no for at that moment Godric Gryffindor made an appearance. The second year winced at the loud laughter. Great. Was there actually going to be a duel now that Gryffindor, Slytherin, Trent and Eiji were all in one place?

Why was Chloe attempting to bond Hufflepuff with ropes when Eris had successfully done that earlier? Claudine didn’t have the time to question it. If Trent was moving for Slytherin, who was going to take care of Gryffindor? Eiji? Poor Claudine didn’t have that much training with advanced spells that would pack a punch and make their task simple of putting the Founders back. But she did know… “Immobulus.’’ The spell was directed to Gryffindor.

"Can't we all just work together?" Bernie cried out, frustrated at seeing her heroes founders all tied up and restrained and grumpy with the staff and students including her, since the Transfiguration professor had refused to give her his cupcake. Surely they'd make progress and get to dinner faster if instead of struggling they just cooperated.

Bernie pouted and turned her big blue puppy dawg eyes on the nearest founder, Godric Gryffindor himself. Maybe he remembered her from the dueling arena; at the least he should see that she was wearing his colors. "Please, sir. It's not very chivalrous of you to carry on like this. Help us to help you." If only because she was losing respect for him by the minute. Bernie was hangry and tired of all this nonsense. Did they need to get a wizard portrait painter in here to fix this mess or would Gryffindor & Co. just fess up already???????????

Malachi visibly cringed at that voice. The voice he’d come to loathe. That one voice that came with an instance headache. The only bright side? The man was apparently still bound in rope and his problematic sword was pocketed. He was....somewhat less of a problem, if not an outright aggravating taunt with that laugh of his...

Merlin.

Malachi felt his eye twitch at Gryffindor’s boast. They...they couldn’t just shove them back in? Was he being literal? Because that was less straightforward and his own stomach was starting to grumble.

He listened a moment as Bellchant said her piece. Lights? Yes, he remembered earlier in the term. Back before this became SUCH a problem. “I’m willing to bet the lights were simply the magic taking effect.” As most spells had their own lights. “But that does remind me of something else. Back when we asked the Fat Lady to return Starson to normal.” She’d switched them back herself. It hadn’t been anything they’d done. Could that be what Godric meant?

The Headmaster paused and looked to Helga who was about to get a second dose of ropes courtesy of McCarthy. She’d been awful protective of the frames just now.

“Grantham’s right. There’s nothing chivalrous about the road you’ve decided to take.” And as it so happened, there was nothing chivalrous about the Headmaster’s feelings. “I don’t think simple reasoning will work anymore.” He explained you Rainbow Truffles the second year. That meant they needed stronger methods. One they seemed to care about. Malachi raised his wand toward the frames. “Get back inside or I’ll set them on fire.” A gamble, certainly but with how opposed Helga had been to Rasting’s suggestion of running them through, the man was willing to bet they needed these in tact. “I won’t say it again.”

Things were starting to really pick up around here, and despite the fact that this could turn into a serious situation, it was somewhat exciting for Isla. Nothing like this had ever happened to her, magical or mundane. Also, she had to hand it to Bernie. The slightly older girl had just straight up put Gryffindor in his place. Isla kind of wished she had some shade to throw out, as well, but since she didn't, she just decided to listen.

Besides, whether it had turned out to be a favorable decision or not, Isla had gotten to run into the face of battle with Gryffindor's sword in hand, and that was something she'd remember forever. She nodded at Trent when he answered her question about the blinding light. That had been her second thought anyway.

WHOOOOOA.

Trent was threatening to set the frames on fire?! THIS WAS GOING TO BE AWESOME! No, Isla. Get it together. We want the founders in the frames, not the frames on fire. Still. This was really exciting. She wanted to ask how they could prevent this again. As in, what would keep the portraits from just jumping on out a second time? For now, though, she just watched and waited.

Him....

Chloe looked to Gryffindor once her ropes went around Hufflepuff with the others. She didn't want to be too careful. Her wand was up even though Gryffindor didn't have his sword she still didn't trust him. It wasn't until the headmaster spoke that she turned her eyes on him.

Fire?

He was going to set the portraits on fire, but what if that happened and they never got these founders back, no, he really wasn't meaning it was he? She wasn't sure what his plans were but figured he knew what he was doing so she stayed focused and stayed quiet.

The question stayed in her mind though, where was Ravenclaw?

“Out of my way, fool!” Gryffindor roared at the Slytherin girl (Claudine) who dared cast at him. He moved with force, knocking against her as he walked by her. Their French man must not have told them what happened when he tried using magic on him. If only he had his sword, he would give her a taste, but now there were bigger fish to fry.

Godric was heading for the head man himself, him and his threats.

The words of the little lion who had helped him try to rearrange the arena gave him a moment’s pause but little more. “It’s not me who needs help! It’s this school I’ve worked so hard to build and your Headmaster is none too chivalrous either. Threatening to burn portraits. Why doesn’t he fight us? The winner takes all.”

Yes, a better outcome.

Godric turned to Trent, now moving slowly toward him again in his rope binding in case the man suddenly set the frames ablaze and sent the lot of them into oblivion.

“What day you Trent? A duel? Untie me and hand me my sword then we’ll settle this like men, not scared little girls with wands.” And a pointed glance to all present. “Will you really stand there and let him destroy valuable school heirlooms?? We must not let him. Fight with me!” If none else would, surely those of his cloth would.

Bernie's big eyes lingered on Gryffindor for a moment longer, but as the Headmaster spoke, she turned her attention to him. Fire! Oooh, fire! This was just like last year, only they were making the fire instead of dodging it from a baby dragon. She was tempted to clap and bounce in place, but didn't want to seem TOO excited for this display. Bernie was still trying to NOT get expelled and all that. She flicked her eyes back to Gryffindor and was disappointed yet again.

Bernie sighed. Still trying to fight people, was he?

The little lion nodded resolutely to the Headmaster, with a soft, "Light 'em up, sir."

Carsyn was here. She was mentally exhausted, but she was here quietly observing this all unfold before her eyes. The younger students seemed to be coming up with the critical thinking and Carsyn was completely okay with that because legit all her capabilities were being used up in the moment between owl studies and prefect responsibilities.

But she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment at her own House Founder not cooperating. Did he not realize this was improbable for him to be here in the flesh? Yes it had been great to actually meet him, but this had gone on for too long while she wasn't a Ravenclaw (although she had almost been one), somehow she wondered if maybe a duel of wits might be better than what he was suggesting.

Stepping from the back to approach Godric, she sighed, before quietly speaking, "Sir, excuse me, but if you don't mind, if you want to take the school back, can you just answer me one thing? What is the current year?" Perhaps he'd figure out from that how unlikely it was for him to be anywhere but his portrait. Maybe.

Helga chanced an apologetic look over to Salazar who was anything but pleased. He hardly ever was, the poor dear. She would offer him cupcakes too, but there were more important matters at hand here. Namely: The status of their frames.

On another note? These ropes were very restrictive. Perhaps she shouldn’t have eaten so many cupcakes after all. Now what was this everyone was going on about? Helga was doing her very best to remain quiet as to not receive more reprimand from Salazar. The men could take this one. Helga had done all of the brunt work of keeping the group distracted earlier. It was only fair and Helga was nothing if not a proponent of just and fair.

Of course, leaving things to the men hardly ever provided any true success. If left to Godric, the whole school would be up in flames before they got what they wanted. They were NOT going to put everything at risk! ”Godric,” she bellowed as she hopped over towards him. ”Are you certain it is worth the risk?” She meant to whisper, was she whispering? ”Without our wands?.... Maybe we should take the offer.”

Claudine wondered if reasoning with the Founders, as Bernie was doing, was a good idea. They seemed beyond the point of willing to listen to anything constructive and wanted to resort to violence, namely Slytherin and Gryffindor. At least Trent thought so too and it was not surprising to see him threaten the Founders with setting their portraits ablaze. Which Claudine wouldn’t mind seeing happen since Gryffindor called her a fool and almost bowled her over. She felt a hot surge of rage in her and she gripped her wand tighter. Oh, how she hated him. Trent should deal with him and make him regret even leaving his portrait. Scared little girls? Ha. As if any of them were here.

Claudine even doubted that Gryffindor would listen to Hufflepuff. He was blind for power and control. But you know what? She wouldn’t mind helping set the frames on fire if it came to that.

Oh, for the love of Merlin! Of course Gryffindor had to go and make things hard on them. Or try to, at least. Once again, she was pretty proud of her decision to take his sword. She didn't even want to think about what this whole fight would be like if Gryffindor had his weapon of choice on him.

"I say we just set the frames ablaze anyway," she said, finally speaking up in an attempt to call their bluff. "I mean, they're just portraits. They're all replaceable." Weren't there other people out there who could just repaint everything? "I mean, if they're not willing to represent themselves by hanging on our walls forever, then I'm sure we can find some other painted founders to take their places. Although, I wouldn't mind keeping Mrs. Hufflepuff over there." She was pretty tolerable and gave out free cupcakes.

She looked at Gryffindor with bravery in her eyes, a trait she honestly didn't see herself having before now. "You would be willing to duel all of us? Without your wand? When all we'd have to do to defeat you is cast one Incendio on your frame?" she asked. That wasn't bravery. That was stupidity.

Slytherin had been sitting there quietly, taking in all the information as everyone frantically yelled at each other and made empty threats. This was NOT at all how this was supposed to go! Slytherin was a smart man, and he knew when a battle was going to be lost - he wasn't like Godric, who was a complete idiot and was obviously going to go down swinging if it was the last thing he did. Gryffindors, h o n e s t l y.

His silence had been a good thing, apparently, as no one had cast any rope spells toward him. It was almost as if they had forgotten he was there. Maybe Godric causing such a scene had worked in his favor! He darted to the side of the corridor, watching as the students turned on Helga and Godric. He couldn't believe well, ok, maybe he could that Godric was STILL trying to fight all of them. The red haired man was going to end up with no place to go, and he was going to take all their frames down with him!

As far as Slytherin was concerned, there were two options here. He could either fight, or flee. Being a calculated, self serving man, the choice was obvious. He was not going to let his one prized possession - his frame - go up in flames!

So, the older man ran, not at his frame, but at Godric, who was still trying to challenge Trent and his students to a duel like a complete fool. He pushed the man in to Trent, shoving him with all the strength he had before running back at his frame. Hopefully the distraction worked and he would be able to make it to the frame without anyone stopping him. Why would they, though? He was doing what they asked!

"What the devil does it matter what year it is??" He barked at the Gryffindor Prefect. This was a dire situation and she was asking trivial questions, trying to be a...a Ravenclaw. She didn't deserve to wear the scarlet and gold. He would have dealt with that immediately but his portrait was at risk so he turned from her.

There was clear disappointment when no one rose with him to defend the portraits.

"No one will fight with me then?"

There was almost a defeated look as the man looked to Helga who was also gently suggesting they surrender. Give up? Just like that? He didn't know if he could. It was so against his design. To lay down and admit defeat was not something he understood.

"I didn't challenge you all, I challenged your Headmaster." Leave it to a Slytherin to not be able to keep up.

Speaking of Slytherin, the fiend had just knocked into him. The gall of that one. "Oh no you don't!" Try to be the first solution was he? Well, Gryffindor would get to his frame first. If this was how they could remain at this school giving their advice, he would let it be said that HE saw the way forward and HE led the OTHERS into this as a SHINING EXAMPLE.

Godric reached out and grabbed the man's robe just long enough before pushing forward and into his own frame.

There.

He won.

"Follow me, friends!"

Take that, Salazar.

Missa stared.

Honestly that was all she could do. Her wand had lowered a bit too - because it felt completely pointless at this point. Clearly they were nothing but pirated copies of who the original founders were. All talk, and no action.

Headmaster Trent alone was enough for them - which is also why she wanted to tell Isla to shut it. But that would be rude so she channeled Eiji and simply rolled her eyes as the girl continued to run her mouth.

But then something completely ridiculous happened. Salazar was running? And then so was Godric????

".....I think you are supposed to follow" she couldn't help but say to Helga with an amused look.

3 down, 1 to go? Where was Rowena?

Chloe still had her wand up and facing Gryffindor, but stayed silent. She watched as many things seemed to be going on. Hoping the full plan in Trent's head would come out so they could all see, but waiting in case she had to help or step in front of one of the young students again.

Her eyes fell on Gryffindor as he spoke and her hand gripped her wand, but it was Slytherin who made her jump. He had been so quiet and her mind was off thinking about the only person not in the room. She turned her eyes just to see the little tiff between the two founders.

"This seems to easy."

They weren't going to just go in like that. What was going on and what was their actual plan. She turned to face the Headmaster, "Sir, does anyone know where Ravenclaw is?" Gryffindor and Slytherin were very much the two to pay attention to, they were smart, but Ravenclaw was cleaver and Chloe knew she would know how to play her cards exactly how she would need to.

.......

Wait, why was that first year Isla wanting to duel with them?? Sure it would be a group duel and that seriously upped their chances but Carsyn's brain was far too tired to process all this. She barely had enough gall in her to ask Godric the trivial question about the current year, which most certainly DID matter and surely would be logic that Rowena would have appreciated. Probably even her mother too, having worn the colors of blue and bronze herself. She'd always thought of herself more like her father, but maybe she had her mother in her too. Weird concept.

Nevermind though because Salazar was running. And Godric ... followed? But huh? Did Godric just spin it around to make it look like his idea?

Talk about mind games. Who was he to judge her for the trivial questions, which he most clearly had, when he had his own mind games. HMMPPHH. Rolling her eyes, she was brought to the present again at Chloe's question of where was Ravenclaw? Good question, to which her light eyes gazed around the room curiously.