Although, Tracy had no intention of speaking to anyone else for the night, somehow, she found herself entering the library and making way toward the librarian's office. She always found comfort in being around so many books but was quite amazed at how huge the place was.

Knocking lightly on the door, she peered inside and smiled as the professor greeted her. "Hello..." she trailed off, finding herself at a loss for words. Tracy had no clue what she needed or what she was doing there.

What was up with these rules? Discrimination was written all over them, Issy noted, and it chilled her to read. It must've been a Ministry thing, wasn't it? Even still, she wanted to have a talk to the Librarian. Didn't she have any power to control the use of the library? And for it to be open all hours? That meant the poor woman would have to be in there at all times! The injustice reeked to Kingdom Come!

As the tiny girl approached the door, she noted that someone was already waiting outside the office. Very well, then. She would wait. Nodding acknowledgment to her, she paused a few feet away, leaning against the wall. Nothing could deter her from this. Her irritability had risen to the highest level.

Standing, she crossed her arms over her chest, tugging at the sleeves of her blazer. How nice it was that she'd gotten a new one - it fit her so nicely. Such petty thoughts were the only thing that kept her from getting too upset. Distract herself to keep her from throwing a tantrum.

Angela strode back to her office after the feast, her expression tight in thought. She had to do something about this. It was all too apparent that the students were not happy over the treatment of the Ministry, and to be honest, she wasn't either.

But for now she would....Well, apparently, she would have to speak to the visitors at her door. "Hello, girls." She greeted with a smile, seeming surprised to find students at her door so early. "Come on in." She invited.

Opening the door, she gestured them inside. Upon seating herself at her desk, she nudged the jar of Chocoballs towards the two girls. "Would either of you care for a bit of chocolate?"

Rian walked through the library. She stode past Madame Kohan's office and the door was open, so she decided to take a look. She saw two other girls in the office, and Madame Kohan. She knocked on the open door and asked, "May I come in?"
She didnt really need assistance with anything, she was just in the mood to talk, and her favorite teacher/staff member seemed to be a logical choice. She hoped it was alright.

As the librarian approached, Issy glanced up and then her eyes swiveled over the girl who had been waiting. Biting on her lip, she contemplated for a moment, whether or not the other girl would want her going in with her. But the librarian had invited her in, so she might as well be polite and do so, right? If the other girl wanted to discuss something personal, she would ask her to leave, Issy supposed.

Pulling herself from the wall, she obliged, and walked into the office. This was her first time ever being in this office - last term she'd rarely needed to come to the libary, let alone the librarian's office. With the mass amount of books that had been kept in the Ravenclaw Common Room, who needed to scour the library?

Seating herself in the desk across from the woman, she offered up a smile, though it felt almost forced. Her small stature in the chair, that little smile on her face, she probably looked to be ten years old (though she often looked that young). Swinging her legs, she eyed the candy dish. Ahhh, but weren't they not permitted to have snacks outside the Great Hall?

Smiling to herself, she reached over and took a chocoball.

"Hello there," she greeted the woman. "I er... came in to talk. Because there seems to be a lot of stuff going on around here and I want to find someone who has ideas. And can maybe help?"

Ack. That didn't come out how she wanted it to.

Tracy was just about to enter when she noticed two other girls waiting behind her. As she heard the librarian summon all of them in together, she let out a groan and turned around to scowl at the girls. Just great. Sighing, she walked past the two girls and out toward the exit but then came to a halt. She wasn't in no mood for a chit chat with all of them but perhaps it was better to hear what they had to say. Perhaps, after she'd heard what she needed to hear she'd send the librarian a letter. That seemed to be more ideal. She'd slip a letter for her later on that day. Plus, it was better to take a real look around the library before acting so hastily.

Walking in after the two girls and sitting on the chair in the farthest corner, she smiled sweetly at the librarian and shook her head. "No thank you," she responded. "Tracy Lindh, first year Hufflepuff," she added quickly, hoping to get through introductions as soon as possible. "How are you, Madame Kohan?" she asked, remembering her name from the plate on the door. If she'd ever get a chance to speak with this lady in the manner she had hoped, butchering her name on their first meeting wouldn't get her anywhere.

Just as she seated herself, there came another knock at her door. This time, it was the Ravenclaw that had earlier requested Hogwarts, a History again.

"Hello, dear." She greeted with a smile. "Yes, you may come in."

Madame Kohan listened carefully as the young girl spoke. "Ah....well, I can imagine that topic is something that is on everyone's mind at the moment." She began. "I can try to answer any questions that you might have, though I must caution you that I may not be able to tell you anything more than what the Headmistress has already said."

"Nice to meet you, Tracy." She greeted with a smile in the girl's direction before replying carefully to her next question. "I'm relatively well." The students didn't have to know her exact feelings about this school, at least not at this point in time. "And yourself?"

Reaching towards her jar, she offered a piece of chocolate towards Rian and then took one for herself. Chocolate always made things better.

"Of course," Issy replied, though admittedly, deep down, an annoyance nagged at her. The Ministry must've bugged everything - had to have. Why else would Professors be keeping secrets? Glancing up, she looked around the room, searching for any portraits of Minister Cooper (urrgh! Everytime she thought of him she thought of that awful toga picture, ich!) and Belle.

"First off... who's ideas came up with the rules for this library? This is like... segregation! Rules for how late we can stay? And Slytherin have to be out earlier than everyone for... social activities? What is this? It was implemented by the Ministry, wasn't it? And how fair is it to you for us Ravenclaws to come in at all hours - how're you going to sleep if you need to be watching over us at all hours?"

Issy's words came out in less organized thoughts than she'd originally planned, and suddenly with them out in the open like that, she felt rather awkward and slightly vulnerable. Unconciously, she tugged on the sleeves of her blaze and bit her lip. Heh. Hopefully the librarian wouldn't be annoyed.

"Oh!" Right. "I'm Issy. Isabella Cortella. Second year Ravenclaw." Oops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granger1814

Just as she seated herself, there came another knock at her door. This time, it was the Ravenclaw that had earlier requested Hogwarts, a History again.

"Hello, dear." She greeted with a smile. "Yes, you may come in."

Rian smiled and sat down in a chair. She was quiet for a moment and then decided to introduce herself properly. "Uhm, hi, I'm Sahrina Potter. a second year Ravenclaw."

She sat quietly for a moment while the other Ravenclaw spoke. What the girl was asked was exactly what Rian was thinking, only she didnt have the guts to ask them herself.

Nikita cautiously approached Madame Kohan's office, her bookbag bulging and weighing down one shoulder. There were voices coming from inside; clearly the librarian had a visitor. Hoping she wasn't intruding on anything important, Nikita knocked softly on the door.

Just a simple question, and then I'll be gone, Nikita thought to herself as she held tight the necklace tucked in her pocket. Students she could handle. Professors made her nervous.

Madame Kohan attempted to keep up with the girl as she rambled on about the rules of the library. She gave a tight smile. "Yes...you are correct about the implementation of the rules by the Ministry." She began. "And as much as I don't care for such rules, they must be followed. If one of the Ministry officials were to find out that the rules were not followed, then there would be consequences of course." She spoke frankly.

The girl's next words made her smile and chuckle. "Now that is one exception that I have control with. 9:00 pm during weekdays and 10:00 pm during weekends, the library closes and that's final. I will not lose sleep due to an inability to watch over the library. Besides, curfew for everyone is 9:30 on weekdays and 10:30 on weekends, so if they're in the library, then they're breaking the curfew rule." She confided with a wink.

"And it's nice to meet you Issy." She finished.

"Sahrina...yes, I remember you from last year, but I didn't catch your name. It's nice to put a name to the face." She remarked with a grin.

"Wondering the same thing, I imagine?" She inquired, looking over towards Issy and then back to Sahrina.

Oh goodness. Another visitor. Ah, well, she should have expected it. She had a feeling that there would be many more to come.

"Come on in." She called out. Once the visitor had appeared, she smiled. "Can I help you?"

Nikita looked around at the number of students already in the office and wondered if her question had been answered before.

"Hello," she began slowly so she wouldn't stutter, addressing Madame Kohan. "My name's Nikita Campbell, fourth year Slytherin, all though technically it's my first year here and so I don't really know all the rules, and I've heard a lot of them are new..." Calm down! she yelled at herself mentally, squeezing the necklace tighter.

"I really just have one question. This whole Slytherins 'should' be out by seven to go to other activities and what not - is that really a recommendation? Or is the should more like a have to?"

Hmph. Figured so much. Issy chewed on the inside of her cheek in contemplation, pondering over the words of Madame Kohan. The Ministry weren't supposed to be bad guys! Never before had Issy heard tales of the Ministry being so awful as of late. Sure, there was that incident, back in the late 1990's, when that Umbridge woman had taken Hogwarts. But this... was an outrage! After that, the Ministry was supposed to be fixed!

"This is utterly crooked," the girl muttered. "Curfews, segregation, absolute injustice! I can't even imagine why anyone would want to come, build two new schools and change them all around! And how they could have the permission!" It was too late - Issy's passion had gotten the better of her. "If they wanted a new school for whatever reason... why did they have to ruin Hogwarts? Can't they have built their own schools and then given people choices?" A wavering voice spoke these words and Issy had to pause and shove a chocoball in her mouth to keep her from yelling.

"Do... do you have any idea as to why this is going on?" In Issy's mind, librarian's were sneaky and could get around and listen to gossip. Plus, she probably read the Daily Prophet more than Issy had. "Not much was said in Headmistress Rae's speech."

Melanie walk nervously to Madame Kohan's office and knocked on the door.

Tracy remained quiet as the girls spoke amongst themselves. When Madame Kohan finally turned towards her and answered her question, she grinned in acknowledgement and replied, “Delightful. Glad that they didn’t steal all of you from us.” Tracy was just about to add something else when one of the girls went into a rambling fit and began to blurt out nonsense. Tracy tried very hard to keep her face composed but she could feel her jaw clench up as her anger rose. Way to go you idiot, she thought to herself and rolled her eyes at the girl while she wasn’t looking. Tracy was just about ready to excuse herself when yet another student – an older one from the looks of it--came in.
Tracy smiled as the girl calmly --albeit a bit nervously-- addressed her concerns. Even though most of Tracy's encounters with Slytherins had ended miserably, it seemed that they were the only ones who made rational decisions. Or at least ones that didn’t have them seeming like impulsive dimwits. Nodding in approval, Tracy turned over to the girl and coolly added, “Exactly what I was wondering about. Although it doesn’t concern me directly, I’m curious about what those “social” activities include.” She turned her attention back toward Madame Kohan and waited. “Surely you must know something about the very instructions you were given to direct. Unless that is, you didn’t care enough to question...” she trailed off. Hoping her questions didn’t seem too interrogating, she quickly shook her head and added, “Not to say that I don’t approve or will not follow the rules, because I most certainly intend to oblige for I’m quite aware of where the professors and students stand next to the Ministry, but it would seem rather disheartening that none of you chose to at least question such drastic actions.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granger1814

"Sahrina...yes, I remember you from last year, but I didn't catch your name. It's nice to put a name to the face." She remarked with a grin.

"Wondering the same thing, I imagine?" She inquired, looking over towards Issy and then back to Sahrina.

Rian laughed. "Yeah, I love spending time in the library." she looked around the office, noticing more bookselves. "I must be nice." she remarked. "Being a librarian." she added with a slight chuckle.

she thought before answering. "Yeah, I was. And I was kind of wondering if the ministry was....controlling....this school." Think, Rian! she mentally scolded herself. The words hadn't come out as she planned. And maybe controlling wasnt the best word to say. She started fiddling with her bracelet. She looked up and smiled at Madame Kohan, hoping she would realize she hadn't meant it in a completely bad way.

Madame Kohan continued to keep the smile upon her face. It was a subtle thing, but she noticed that Nikita seemed to be a bit nervous, whether it be the act of speaking to a professor or of something else, Angela was not sure.

“I’m afraid that’s a have to.” She answered with a look of regret. “I’m not entirely certain as to the actual pretense behind it, but it must be followed.”

Madame Kohan’s eyes widened slightly as Issy’s voice rose in apparent distress. “Issy…calm down dear.” She spoke quietly. “Now, I don’t exactly agree with the rules that have been set here, but you heard the Headmistress. We are being required to submit to them, even if some of us may think they are unfair. It’s according to the wishes of the Minister and whomever is with him in this decision.”

She sighed and shook her head. “The only reason I can imagine is the incident that occurred last year…” She hedged, unsure if Issy had been there the previous year. “Safety issues and all such.”

Glancing up as another knock resounded at her door, Madame Kohan drew in a breath before calling for the visitor to enter the office. "Come in!"

Madame Kohan smiled once more as Tracy remarked on the fact that at least some of the old staff members had returned to the school. "Yes...I'd have to say that I'm quite happy about that as well. It wouldn't be the same if I didn't have the opportunity to help the students through the use of the library."

Her smile turned into a frown at the direct implications that the girl was giving. "I'm afraid that we were not given much of a choice." She answered rather stiffly. "Just as students have set rules to follow, it falls upon adults to do the same. And just because we do not go about protesting outright does not mean that we are not looking out for the best intentions for our students, even though it may not seem like it at this very moment."

She nodded once more. "Very nice, if I do say so myself. It's especially nice when I'm able to share my passion with the students who feel the same way that I do."

Angela slowly nodded again. "I would say so. These rules were certainly not put in place by the staff of Hogwarts."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granger1814

She nodded once more. "Very nice, if I do say so myself. It's especially nice when I'm able to share my passion with the students who feel the same way that I do."

Angela slowly nodded again. "I would say so. These rules were certainly not put in place by the staff of Hogwarts."

Rian nodded. "It thought so." she murmered, thinking about the portrait in her dormitory. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. "I guess it isn't that bad." she shrugged and took another breath, trying to convince herself that what she said was true. "I mean, besides the rules and decorations in my dormitory. I guess I can live with it..." she trailed off. She bent down her head to put her bracelet back on her wrist and looked up with a smile playing at her lips.

Nikita glanced over at the Hufflepuff, who looked to be a few year younger than herself. "Of course it concerns you, this concerns all of us. If we don't watch it, the rules could get even worse," she said to her. "And I have no idea what those so called 'social' activities are."

If Nikita had less control over her facial expressions, she would have grimaced in response to what the girl said next to Madame Kohan. These rules weren't the fault of the teachers, and Nikita was assuming they were all under plenty of pressure to keep the students as happy as possible.

Nikita frowned. Have to? That was not what she wanted to hear. She might actually have to do some of her work in the common room, even though the library was so much better. All those books, any information she might need...from now on, if she didn't watch the time, Nikita would have to check out enough books to complete her work.

"I'll bear that in mind," she said. There was no need for carefully picking words out now; Nikita was too angry to be nervous. "Thank you, and I'll see you around the library, Madame Kohan."

Tracy shook her head lightly as Madame Kohan replied but remained quiet until she finished answering her. "No, don't get me wrong, that's not what I'm referring to at all. I'm not speaking about our lack of...choice," she said quickly and felt her throat tense up as she muttered the final word. "I'm simply asking you what your take on such specific rules were implemented," she mentioned again, biting her tongue. She had done exactly what she had warned herself against. "As I said, I'm not willing to protest in any matter. However, there's a difference between respectfully questioning and radical protests," she said, nodding her head as she finally said the words right. Feeling something finally light up in her head she shook her head yet again and continued, "Never mind that. My intention is not to criticize you nor is it to attack any of you. It's a simple question with a simple answer I assumed." She sat back in her chair and sighed dramatically as the Slytherin excused herself and knew she was few seconds away from following suit.

Hazel eyes grew wide as Issy heard Madame Kohan's theory behind the Ministry intervention and for a moment, she sputtered, gaping like a fish, her mouth opening and closing a few times.

"...that... that's hardly fair!" she squeaked indignantly. "All because a few kids had candy or drinks that had been laced off Hogwarts grounds, we're being punished? Mind, I don't quite get why we're being seperated by sex, either, that hardly fits into the idea. I suppose this means we won't be allowed Hogsmeade visists, then."

The small girl's voice went from appalled and indignant until she ended on a rather depressed and mournful note. There went all hope of her being able to see the boys at all through the term. As she thought this, the corners of her lips turned down and she had to chew the inside of her lower lip to keep the slowly welling tears from forming. Oh, woe.

How she missed home. Hogwarts, that is.

" Er... If your not busies... could you please help me find a book?" asked Melanie shyly.

Madame Kohan nodded a bit sadly. "Yes...I can imagine that it is hard to get used to, but you're right. I think that if everyone makes the best of this, then maybe it won't be so bad." Try telling that to some of the students and staff, but the more people who felt as Rian did, the better.

"Sorry, Nikita. If I could do something about it, I certainly would. Believe me, I'll let everyone know of any changes if they come about." She promised the girl with a weary smile. "And you're welcome. Be sure to come by again if you need any assistance or just need to talk."

Sitting back into her chair, Angela folded her hands together, her lips parting in a quiet sigh, as her eyes raised to the ceiling. "My take...honestly, I don't agree with this." She finally said, looking back towards Tracy. "And I did not believe that you meant to critcize anyone. I can understand the confusion and the need for answers that everyone must be feeling at this moment. It's frustrating not to be able to give you the answers, or to give a reasonable explanation for these events."

"But you are correct, there is a difference between the two. I'm not certain who made the final decision of this separation, but I would assume that the Headmistress Rae and now Headmaster Branxton were involved in these dealings."

Madame Kohan rose from her desk and moved around to the front of it, settling down on the edge as she attempted to give Issy a smile. "The Hogsmeade visits, I'm not sure of. I believe you would have to ask the Headmistress that."

"And once more, I do not know the exact reason for the separation. It's all guesses. Who knows why people do what they do? But apparently something occured to cause the formation of the two schools."

"I'm sorry, dear. I am a little busy at the moment." She gave an apologetic smile. "But I assure you that I'll help you find that book just as soon as I'm done."

"Oh, It's okay Ma'am, I'll come back later"