Boxes stacked against the wall, trays set on transfigured shelves, Healer Poppy was reeeeaaddyyyyy.

There had been announcements put up in the common rooms, inviting any who wanted to help with her redecorating efforts. She could do it on her own, heavens she could, but it would be SO MUCH MORE FUN with others to help and it would make the whole process go faster. For motivation, she of course had her famous bread, the scent wafting through the entire great hall. It filled her lungs and likely would any who showed up.

Mmmmm, good bread.

Healer Poppy began unpacking some of the candles, she had brought, thinking them a VAST improvement from the dreary, plain ones the castle now had. These would make the place both more elegant and relaxing. The perfect lighting under which to enjoy some bread.

And now to wait, see who would show up.

He didn't want to go. He really didn't. He wasn't particularly fond of Healer Poppy and rather thought she was a poor choice for what Hogwarts seemed to want to be doing. And he was fully intending to ignore all of the posted notices about helping with redecoration and yet... as he walked by the hall.

The bread trapped him. That delicious scent. And he couldn't stop his feet from carrying him towards it, glancing at where it was all laid out scanning for the melon bread and grabbing himself a roll to munch on. Not wanting to disappoint his parents by forgetting the manners they taught him, the moment his teeth sunk in to the yeasty goodness, he realized he was stuck and would not need to help for at least a bit.

Sigh.

Turning to the Healer, he tried to make his face look a little less... disinterested, although no smile was offered. "Hello, Healer Poppy. Thank you for the bread. What would you like me to do to assist?"

He sincerely hoped there was not a box with ridiculous motivational posters that were about to appear all over the castle.

Remy was booored, and hungry, and not for sugar quills like she usually opted for when a little peckish. Her natural instinct was to head to the kitchens or go to the great hall, where they had some fantastic feasts. She decided to head to the kitchens, but passed the entrance hall on her way, the smell of bread drawing her in.

The Gryffindor didn’t notice that Healer Poppy was sorting out candles as she walked over. She gave a polite smile to the other boy who had gone to speak to her as well, remembering his face from a few classes.

She picked up a piece of bread and quietly chomped on a small piece whilst watching the boys interaction with Healer Poppy. Wait… Healer Poppy wanted assistance with something? Is that why she was tempting people with bread????

ABORT MISSION, ABORT!!!!!!!

Aaaahhhh… but she’d already eaten some, she couldn’t walk away now. With her mouth still full, “Mmmh, did you make this bread, ma’am?” Remy covered her mouth to stop her from spluttering everywhere.

Kamran really needed to ease up on the bread, but his resolve was forever faltering, which was saying something. Kamran resolves were not the kind that faltered easily. The stuff just smelled so good, it was a wonder anyone was able to resist, and naturally he had ended up exactly where it could be found in great quantities. By design.

Even if he didn't eat it, he'd just hang around and smeeeeeell it.

All that day, Kamran had been casually reminding students about Healer Poppy's redecorating endeavours, particularly those students who seemed a little on the lonely side and might benefit from some kind of mingling with others, or from hearing that their presence would be appreciated. There had been no coaxing or cajoling, only reminders, and a 'no pressure' here and there for those who seemed on the fence about joining in. The Healer was clearly trying her best to get the kids engaged and focused on something positive; Kamran thought it a much better approach than the group therapy stuff, but opted not to voice that thought.

And he was joining in too, of course. "Hello, Healer Poppy," Kamran greeted the woman herself, having turned up through the front doors. Nice bracing chill out there. Nice warm bread smell in here. Win win. "Mister Nam, Miss Gaeltheos, good to see you both. Are you here to help too?"

He wanted some bread. Had she made the banana one? Kamran's favourite by far, but he'd work for it first. Build up an appetite, make it taste all the sweeter.

... Even if he really wanted it now.

Misa thought this would be a good opportunity to get to know more people and get more comfortable with the castle. She didn't really go out of her way to help usually but this really found her and was easy enough.

She stopped in her tracks seeing all the bread though. She frowned slightly and edged around it. She quickly wiped at her eyes. She needed to stop tearing up at the sight of bread. Someone was going to notice one of these days.

So instead she cleared her throat. "Here to help too."

Was that today?

Malachi headed down the grand staircase on his way to the Great Hall for a snack. Having been holed up in his office all morning, his stomach was grumbling and his mind was far away from the reminder that the borrowed healer wanted to get some help with her redecoration efforts.

Was it too late to turn around, head back to his office and pretend he hadn’t seen anything?

...Probably.

By now he was sure he and the healer’s eyes had met even for a second removing the option of saying he was so busy and had completely forgotten. Brilliant.

Oh was that bread? Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad. Walking up to the small group, the Headmaster helped himself to some of the cinnamon bread. ”Ready when you are.” He said, offering a greeting nod to Kazmi. That any of the students showed up was nothing short of a miracle. When he’d put the notice up in the Gryffindor common room, he was pretty sure none would.

She was here for the bread. The whole concept of “help” wasn’t really something Emmerson wanted to be apart of, but usually when Healer Poppy around, so was her delicious bread. All the Gryffindor had to do was follow the tantalising smell of the baked goods. Were she a cartoon character, she’d have come floating down.

Ready for the bread.” Emm declared, making it very clear why she was here at all.

Speaking of. Mmmmmm melon bread—and she’d have some of the strawberry one as well. Okay, NOW she was ready for....whatever this was.

Did they get snack breaks?

”You caaaammmeeee!” Healer Poppy clapped her hands in delight, both at the fact any students and staff had shown up at all and at the fact they were already helping themselves to her—if she did say so herself—delicious bread. “Please, please, help yourself to all the bread you’d like. We’re going to have SUCH a relaxing afternoon, ugh, I can’t waaaiiit!”

The healer got some of the candles sectioned out into boxes. “We’ll have to split into groups, cover more ground, all that fun stuff. These are the boxes, we’ll start with the lighting around the castle this time, then another time we can look into getting comfier chairs and oh this will be so fun!!”

Healer Poppy levitated a box toward both the Headmaster and Flying Professor. ”We’ll need some help carrying the bread along, too. Now then, who’ll be going with who?”

Time to get this organised train on the track.

Quinn came to the entrance hall because... well, he needed to do something besides twiddling his thumbs in his room. He had been thinking too much lately. They—she—he needed mindless work. He needed it.

He.

He walked up to where everyone was already gathered. Oh boy. A couple of people he was not too excited to be around. Emmerson was... not someone he liked talking to after the whole debacle last term (and he wasn't sure if she still used that word), and he was still a bit nervous around the Headmaster (though he was trying his best to get over that). Everyone else.. he didn't have a smidge of knowledge about.

And Quinn pointedly did not eat any bread. He still wasn't sure why Atlas had told him not to eat any back at the therapy session, but he listened. And he was still a bit wary of eating it now. Was there something wrong with the bread? An idea popped into Quinn's head. He could totally see for himself, couldn't he? He turned to Healer Poppy after her announcement. Excuse me Ms. Poppy, but... would I be able to help you make your bread sometime? I like baking and, um... I really wanna learn how to bake bread, so... could I?" Quinn did his best to put on an eager face. He genuinely did want to learn how to bake bread, so it was a win-win, right?

Claudine hadn’t any real interest in being in the Hall at that time with the exception of the fact that redecoration was going to take place. She valued creativity to an extent even when it wasn’t in the artistic department. The smell of bread greeted her even before she actually arrived. The girl thought that she might try some this time around as none of the others who ate the stuff hadn’t been poisoned.

When she actually got there, Claudine wasn’t surprised to see a gathering there already. Not announcing her arrival, she selected a bit of banana bread while listening to the Healer giving her instructions. It made sense there would be group work involved. While not volunteering herself for anything just yet, Claudine stood there nibbling the bread. She’d wait to see who went to which group before deciding where to go.

Now THIS was something Ivy could get behind.

Group therapy to talk about last term? No thanks. Working together to help redecorate the castle? Yes please!

The bread was also a win, so grabbing a slice of strawberry bread was her first priority. Then she listened to Healer Poppy giving them their instructions to spruce up the lighting around the castle. Alright, that didn't sound too hard.

So were they splitting into groups?

Nibbling on her bread slice, Ivy walked over to stand beside Misa. "I'll be in a group with you." Were they following one of the professors or just grouping on their own? Either way, she wanted to stick with her dormmate.

Seeing another girl {Remy} start to approach the table of bread and give him a polite smile, Evan tried to shake his head casually at her. A warning. Do NOT fall for the bread. She would then be STUCK with having to help.

But the message was not received as she took a bite, dooming herself to an afternoon of assistance much like he had done. He offered a small smile back at her, a silent Sorry comrade. He stopped paying attention as the girl tried to make polite conversation with the Healer, instead eying all of the boxes and the entrance hall. He wondered what she even planned to do? It seemed fine to him... At least... better than the end of last term.

That wasn't saying much.

Hearing his name, Evan turned again to see Professor Kazmi approaching. The third year nodding at the question. "Hello, sir. Yes, the smell of bread led me over." He could admit that this was not a conscious decision to be helpful. At the same time too though.. what else was he going to have done with his day?

More students started to arrive, and despite not knowing most of them very well Evan did eye them all for a moment. He wasn't even sure he fully remembered the names of most. He didn't really, but he could remember tidbits of them. Misa he had met previously, and she was nice. The other Ravenclaw boy {Quinn} ... Evan could remember hearing most of his commentary in class. Another insightful person that he liked the additions from, much like Claudine who was also approaching now. He simply offered a head nod towards all of them as they approached before turning his head towards the Healer as she offered instructions. Though he did slip in a quick, "Hello, Headmaster" for manners sake in a group so small.

Wait. They were partnering up now? He blinked at that instruction, looking around the group and... not knowing anyone that well. He supposed he didn't matter what group he ended up in as long as not with the Healer. "I don't mind going wherever I'm needed. So if anyone else has preference." He gave a small shrug.

She'd heard there was bread.

Plus, the entrance hall was really not that far from the Hufflepuff common room, so she felt she had no excuse but to show up and help. Plus, look who was here! Professor Kazmi and Real!Trent, and Evan and Misa, plus others she was um...not excited, but not un-excited about. She supposed she just didn't know Emmerson and Ivy and Quinn and the first year very well, but helping redecorate together?! This was her chance to get to know them better!

She helped herself to a slice of strawberry bread, then took a stance by Emmerson as Healer Poppy started rattling off instructions. "Can I help with you?" she muttered to her fellow third year between nibbles of bread.

Lisa had heard through the grapevine the obvious posting that Healer Poppy had more goodies and she certainly did want some more melon bread. That bread was so yummy - almost as good as her Eomma's.

Did someone say something about baking?

She came across the crowd in the Entrance Hall and approached the group. Was this a bread party? She noticed that even a few Professors and Headmaster were there to help. Yep. She was totally going to be on her best behaviour. She nodded to the Professors before looking at Healer Poppy. "Can I help too? Is this a bread party?" she asked with eyes as big as saucers. This would be the first bread party that she had ever been to so it was a momentous occasion to celebrate with more melon bread. Obviously.

Lisa's smile grew bigger when she saw Remy who was happily munching on bread, her brother who was ready to help, and more! Misa was here! And Claudine. And a fellow housemate (Quinn). AND MAMIE was here too. "Hi!" she waved to Mamie and the other older Gryffindor girl (Emmerson) near her.

She overheard Quinn mentioning that he liked to bake so she had questions. "Uh.. excuse me... do you know how to make bread? Can you teach me?" she asked the older Ravenclaw.

The more people who had arrived to the scene, the more her regret weighed heavier. All she wanted was a piece of bread, not to join in with whatever was going on, and even the professors were getting involved in... what sounded like... hanging lights around the great hall? Such fun. Remy finished the piece of bread she was munching on and eyed the pile for another. She decided not to go for a second just yet, though.

Remy was SO pleased to see her friend, Lisa, arriving as well. It had felt daunting until now, surrounded by strangers and professors outside of a classroom. She nodded towards Professor Kazmi. "Yes, sir, always happy to help." Remy LIED, beautifully.

Maybe some house points would come out of this.

Steering clear of Emmerson, Remy politely smiled at Healer Poppy, and agreed with the boy still standing closest to her (Evan). "Same here... I'll go wherever you need me, Healer Poppy." She hoped she'd be put in charge of holding the bread.

Isabella left the sanctury of the snake common room and headed up to the entrance hall from the dungeons. She had heard talk of bread and redecorations. To sit in her dorm all afternoon alone and be all glum wasn't good. She needed to get out and do something to put her mind off things, particulary Apollo things.

Inside the Entrance Hall the 12 year old, dark haired snakette made her way over to the group where she counted a few professors and a handful of students from different houses. Before Healer Poppy started to give instructions, Bella snatched up a piece of bread to nibble on. Chiming in after Remy she said "I'm here to help too. I can go wherever you need too."

”Hello, Nam.” He greeted the Ravenclaw boy, still for the most part not getting into the thick of the small crowd. This was Healer Poppy’s thing. He was here to lend his support, nom some bread and hopefully replace some of the worn down candles, as well as restocking the empty candle holders. You’d think he could get the caretaker to do it—like he insisted when the woman first brought it up, but she was convinced this would be good bonding time.

“I’ll take a group down to the dungeons, I know for a fact those candles will need some replacing. Gonna need a scribe to make note of anything else down there that might need a little fixer upper....and....someone to carry the bread. We’ll need sustenance.” Because something told him this wasn’t a 5 minute stroll then done and he was still sneaking longing looks toward the Great Hall.

“Anyone who’s coming, come along. We’ve got a fair bit of ground to cover.”

They could get started down in the corridor. Malachi picked a box of candles, thinking someone would grab another then set off toward the staircase leading down to the dungeon corridors.

She wasn’t going with Kazmi...and wasn’t yet sure what she thought of Trent.

Well, that made things clear enough in her book. “I’ve got the bread, Healer Poppy!” The Gryffindor chimed, popping a piece of the one she’d taken into her mouth. She could be useful while being fed.

Did she mind Mamie wanting to work with her? Nah. While she didn’t know the girl that well—and knew she swore her allegiance to Fox—on her own she wasn’t a pain in her butt like some others gathered here, and hadn’t helped hex her then refuse to die like some others so the “Sure, grab some bread.” Rolled off her tongue easy. So did the, ”We’ll go with Healer Poppy and.....this one.” Little Nam who’d come over. Lisa, right? That was a decent team if you asked her.

Just...tell her Quinn wasn’t coming, too. Bad enough he was trying to learn trade secrets. Just sit back and enjoy delicious bread, sheeeeesh.

The group in the hall was getting bigger and.. he was surprised by the interest people seemed to have in helping with this project. Or had they all been just ensnared by yeasty goodness? Either way, he was glad when they were all breaking off. Not because he didn't like anyone here, as he hardly knew most of the people here, but just because it generally seemed to be easier to interact in small groups. Or uh.. attempt to anyways.

Hearing not many having preference of who went where, outside of the Gryffindor who established the group going with the Healer, Evan just decided to make it easy and go with the Headmaster as he already had a spot in mind. He had his bag over his shoulder, so he could certainly assist with the scribe job yet.. he decided to go for the most important role and grab a platter of breads. Naturally making sure his favorites were the heaviest hand, so plenty of melon bread, strawberry bread and banana.

He then followed along after Trent towards the dungeons with anyone else headed that way.

Violet didn't like being in the Entrance Hall since the war--she couldn't help remembering all the things that had happened in it during the battle and it always gave her a sort of chill up her spine whenever she walked through it. Which was unfortunate, since you pretty much had to walk through it all the time in order to get anywhere.

Violet also didn't like Poppy and she didn't want to eat any bread. She didn't like people being overly cheerful and trying to make you act cheerful when that wasn't how you felt. People should be allowed to feel whatever they felt and not have to put on a false face of cheeriness when they didn't feel like it.

But Violet wanted to keep an eye on Healer Poppy--after the past few years, she intended to make sure she kept an eye on everything in the school and knew what was going on around her--before it was too late. She never wanted to be caught by surprise again.

So, here she was, in a place she felt uneasy in under the direction of a grownup she didn't like and didn't trust, and surrounded by a lot of bread that she didn't want. Well, she was not going to eat anything, she didn't care what they said.

Misa was snapped out of her daze when Ivy approached. "Sounds good." she said eyeing the girl's bread for a moment. She should really get over it. Misa loved bread and couldn't just give it up could she?

"Which direction you want to?" sounds like for some reason adult men were leading a decorating charge. Everyone knew teenage girls were the most skilled decorators.

Kamran was just a little distracted; he had nods of greeting for Trent and the students who arrived after he had, but kept sending looks of vague longing toward the bread, wondering if it was worth depriving himself of the stuff when it was just right there, warm and freshly baked and smelling divine and ready to be eaten. After a moment he remembered the box of candles in his arms, and quickly re-centred his focus.

He had not been entirely sure what to expect from the redecoration efforts, but this made sense. If there was one thing this place always needed, it was more candles, and certain kinds of lighting had been proven to make a difference on the brain, in some respect or another. He had little regard for the notion of comfier chairs, but it made little difference to him and his lessons. As long as Healer Poppy didn't start suggesting brooms fitted with armchairs or memory foam mattresses instead of the usual standard broomsticks, he had no complaints.

"Alright, whoever's with me, let's start heading up, in that case," Kamran said, shifting the box of candles so he could cradle it with one arm, and drawing his wand with the other to get a second box, levitating it ahead of him as he started up the stairs. He'd barely made it up three or four steps before calling back, "Don't forget the bread."

Someone. Anyone. He'd make two trips if necessary. #ForTheBread.

He wanted to help her make her bread? Well.

“I’d love some company down in the kitchens, aren’t you just a doll for offering! Why stop at bread?? Know what? I could use your help with this new sponge cake I’ve been trying to perfect, if you’re interested!” A second pair of hands and a taste tester were good things to have in the kitchen.

“For now, everyone coming with me, come along. We’ll hit up the towers, make sure they’re properly lit. Wouldn’t want anyone taking a nasty tumble from those heights because of poor lighting!!!”

Grabbing a box of candles, Poppy began behind the group already heading out, hoping she would have some company for the long walk.

Violet didn't particularly want any bread for herself, but she welcomed the opportunity to have a task--a task that got her out of the Entrance Hall and that didn't involve working with Healer Poppy. So she called out, "I'll help you," grabbed a handy platter of bread, threw some other kinds of things on top of it, and, carrying it carefully in both hands, began to follow Kamran. After all, she didn't have to actually eat the bread.

Quinn hummed with thought. A sponge cake, hm? An interesting deflection from his original question of baking bread. Quinn was a bit suspicious now, too... he wouldn't push the subject, for now. "That sounds lovely! Let me know when would be good for you and I'd be happy to help!" he responded inconspicuously.

Quinn looked round at Lisa and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Lisa, not bread. But I'd be happy to show you brownies. Or cookies! Maybe cakes, too," he smiled. He would need to find time to do so, though...

Quinn's face soured a bit when Emmerson declared she would be going with Healer Poppy... but now he wanted to stick around her, too. He needed to do some reconnaissance, maybe he could report to Atlas and Ash if he found something really suspicious. For now, he would watch and wait. "And me," he tacked on to the end of Emmerson's statement, shooting her a look. He harrumphed, picking up another box of candles and heading out behind Poppy.

Ivy did notice Misa eyeing the bread and also that she wasn't eating any. Did she not like it? Or had she already eaten? Not that it was a big deal, of course, but it smelled and tasted so good that it was surprising how many people weren't eating it.

But that was okay. It was nice for everyone to be able to choose again without some creeps lurking over their shoulders.

So it looked like they were following adults, splitting into three groups. "Let's go with Professor Kazmi." Going up sounded more pleasant than going down to the dungeons. And it looked like Violet had grabbed a platter of bread for that group too, so they were good to go! So off she went!