Boris here looks as bewildered and perplexed as usual, but the index cards attached to string tied loosely around his gloved hands are not normally present.

If you've made your way here from the collectors' club from the first floor, you'll want to grab one of those cards because written on them is your next clue.

If you're not attending the club at present, well, it's still a curious sight, is it not? Where could it lead?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Second Clue

Spring or winter, rain or shine, night or day,
This old map holds the clue to light your way.

Jude liked sweets but not as much as Ev. Clearly his friend might be the President of the Sweet Lover Fan Club, if there was ever such a thing. “You should bring that energy to this club since there’s always Chocolate Frogs. At EVERY meeting.” Was he trying to bribe Ev? Yes, he was In any case, since he cared more about the cards and Ev cared more about the Frogs, then this could all work out perfectly for them.

The Hufflepuff always appreciated Ev listening to him, even if the Ravenclaw was occupied with the Frog. Jude knew he could get talkative {one of his biggest flaws} but having someone who listened to it all was such a great thing. Huh. Here was something else that they complimented each other with. Jude appreciated the nods too. “Thanks!’’ Happily, he scooped up Ev’s card - Adalbert Waffling. “I think I’ve only one of him.” He’d have to double check his card stash; they all were kept in alphabetical order {by surname} in his box. For now, Jude added the card to his stash. He paused, hand resting on the lid of the now closed box. “I hadn’t but now I am. I’ve got a question for you in return: do you reckon a bit of the intended drinker has to go into the Potion? As with the Polyjuice Potion?” No matter the conversation Jude found himself in with Ev, he was always forced to do some extra thinking. It was always refreshing to his mind.

The comment about Boris being perpetually Confunded made Jude laugh. “He may or may not look like this.” And the younger boy proceeded to pull his face into a comical expression with his nose wrinkled and flaring, his eyes squinting and his brows furrowed. He was hoping to make Ev laugh in turn. Merlin knew that Ev could do with some genuine, lighthearted laughter.

The fourth year followed suit by getting to his feet. “Good idea!” He’d be leaving his cards here because Appleby was here to keep an eye on them, anyway. Then he followed Ev all the way up to the fifth floor corridor. What a trek this was. But soon enough, they were where they needed to be. “See? My imitation of his face was accurate,” Jude joked, peering up at Boris before plucking one of the index cards from the statue’s gloved hands. It was handed to Ev.

Wait. Did he just say chocolate frogs at every meeting? Like... every single one? "Professor Applewood always provides frogs? I would have thought it would have been like a 'bring your own frog' type of situation?" Although he supposed he had thought that about the Frog... toad? choir too. In either case, if it were true there was always frogs there, he certainly could have been tempted. Just... not until sixth year. He'd dropped a lot of his extracurriculars already for his study schedule.

Evan could only get talkative if it was related to school subjects or some matter of study or information. Otherwise... conversation was not something that flowed easily for him. So Jude being talkative and giving Evan things to respond to, was perfect in the Ravenclaw's mind. "Yer welcoome." He said, around mouthful of chocolate. Finishing the last frog, he considered the question before giving his head a small shake. "I imagine it works more like the love potion. Because friendship and love are closely related aren't they? And a love potion can work on anyone, not just one intended recipient. But I do wonder if you added an element of someone... if that would make the effects more potent?" Something he'd never really thought on before.

The replicated face did get the desired effect of a laugh on the male Nam. "Seems on point." His face was still in a smile too when his sister approached, asking if she could join... Juvan? Evade? "Only one of those is a word, Lees. And if it was Team Evade, wouldn't you want to join anywhere but?" The tease had been entirely lost on him. "But of course you can join us. " Hopefully Jude was alright with that anyways.

Allll the way to the fifth floor. If there was one thing that was always consistent about Hogwarts, it was it's ability to keep students in shape with having to go up and down all these stairs. Who needed physical education when you just had a full class schedule and back to back Herbology and Divination? Reaching their destination, Evan looked at the statue, laughing softly again before nodding. "Definitely perplexed this one is." He accepted the card, holding it down lower so Lisa could take a look as well. "Hmm... well the ceiling in the great hall shows the weather outside. But I don't know that I'd call that a map."

SPOILER!!: Happenings BEFORE all the stuff at this statue

”Uh huh,’’ Jude replied, grinning from ear to ear. Was it working? Was he luring Ev to future meetings of this club? “If there’s any shortage though, fear not because I always have a few frogs with me.” Then it occurred to him that Ev might not have time to attend all the meetings because OWLs were lurking around the corner. Speaking of OWLS… Jude found that he was enjoying this bit about brainstorming the Best Friend Potion. But… did Ev realise what he just said? If anyone who wholeheartedly agreed about love and friendship being closely related it was Jude. He felt that familiar hurt well up in him again and looked away, not wanting to burden Ev with feeling guilty for causing the hurt should Ev recognise the look on his face as pain. Then again, Ev rarely noticed certain things. “We can research it in the library or ask Hernandez.” And he was quite happy when Lisa joined them.

His younger friend was more than enough to light up a room. “Hi there, warrior princess!’’ Then he was chuckling. “I think I prefer Team Juvan for exactly the reason Ev stated. And yes, you’re welcome to come along with us. You too, Violet.” For the Hufflepuff had spotted the Slytherin was sitting close to the small group.

Evan actually laughed. Jude was THRILLED! That was the Evan he had been trying to bring out, and he already made up his mind to continue with attempts to have Evan laughing more. But for now there was a clue to decipher. “Map, map…” the fourth year muttered, staring up at Boris’ face as though looking for inspiration. He was inclined to agree that the Great Hall’s ceiling had nothing to do with a map. “Hang on!’’ He looked excitedly at the group, positively bouncing on his feet. “Isn’t there a map on the second floor? The map of Arg… Ar… arghhh. Well, I never could pronounce it but you guys know what I’m talking about, right?” He eyed each of his friends hopefully.

Violet had made her way to the second floor and joined the group there in time to hear the next clue, but she was stymied by it. She couldn't think of any maps she knew of at Hogwarts--except that legendary map that Harry Potter and his friends were supposed to have used so long ago (and who knew where that was?)

But as soon as the words came out of Jude's mouth, it came to her all of a sudden--"Argyllshire!" Violet said excitedly, finally getting into the spirit of things. "I think I know where it is, too."

Evan was still considering the clue, continuously stuck on the great hall but also KNOWING he was wrong there. But thankfully Jude was able to think of the correct location, and Ev was already nodding in agreement and opening his mouth to correct on the pronunciation - when he heard Violet beat him to it. He turned to smile at the Slytherin, nodding again. "I think you're both right. It makes the most sense." And by that, he also meant the only sense.

Pocketing the current clue, Evan turned and started back towards stairwell to work their way down. "Second floor then?" He asked over his shoulder.

Oh dear, more walking up and down. But Violet was now committed, and she had to admit, feeling like she had some friends (or at least friendly acquaintances) made things go a lot faster. So she followed behind the others.

There was the envelope!

Aria tucked the camera in a pocket for safekeeping for the moment, grabbed the envelope and opened it. She could not wait to mull over this next clue! She read it silently, her lips moving to the words as she did so.

“Above? Like… as in being on another floor?” Hmmm! Aria reread the clue. “So the hiding place is confused… puzzled… bewildered.” She did a double take. “Bewildered! That’s it!” She knew where to go next. Replacing the envelope, she skipped off.

*******
Sure enough, upon arriving at Boris’ statue, a brief hunt ensued which led to her finding the popular book. Aria was ridiculously pleased with herself. Camera in hand, she posed before the book, doing her best to get at least part of Boris in the picture, as well as the book. She mimicked the statue’s expression, playing around until she was satisfied that she’d done it as best as she could. All set, the button was pushed and before she knew it, there was a satisfying picture in her hand.

Yay!

The gray book looked like it might be part of the statue if you hadn't ever seen the statue before, but looking closer you could see that the book wasn't part of the statue and was the Most interesting Wizards of the 21st century.


As the flash went off another envelope came into view.

Aria had gone ahead, but Violet was content enough to proceed on her own (at an unhurried pace, thank you very much) and soon arrived at Boris' statue. She struggled with the camera for a minute, having trouble making sure it had advanced to a new shot, but eventually managed to get a picture of herself with old Boris (though she suspected she probably cut off half her face).

Now for the next clue--'water where it shouldn't be'--oh, that was easy! The Weasley Swamp was right down the corridor, and that was certainly where a swamp had no business being. So Violet strolled down to the magical swamp while looking at the camera settings, hoping she had it set up correctly.

OOC: I can't post in the swamp without double posting, so Violet will arrive there after someone else makes the first post.

Celyn had forgotten that there was a book club meeting tonight after dinner, but luckily she was already in the library to grab a book for a study session in the common room. She felt so scattered lately, even more so than usual, but she supposed she could just slip in without notice when she saw the regular group assembled in what appeared to be a scavenger hunt. Oh, how fun!

Leaving her book on the shelf, she wondered near the girls by the restricted section, not quite making out the clue, but then followed them up the stairs to what would hopefully lead them to the next clue. She loved scavenger hunts. Cooper was especially good at those and she fondly recalled her birthday a couple years ago.

Anyway! Oh something about Boris the Bewildered? She hadn't seen the clue but she peeked over someone's shoulder to read the next one before Violet skipped away. "Water where is shouldn't be... oh that's the Weasley Swamp, do you think?" She glanced over at Aria to see what she thought before looking at Violet's retreating form, figuring that's where the Slytherin was headed to also. It made the most sense to her.

Another flash had another envelope waiting to be opened and read. The clues were the same as they might have found with the other, but now they had their very own clue to hang on to.