Upon entering through the heavy wooden door, you step into a large, brightly lit room. The walls are painted in a warm, chocolate brown, broken up by sheer white curtains, while the plain wood floor is accented with a stark white rug. A sweet fragrance reminiscent of autumn leaves lingers here as a surprising draft comes through the open window.

Off to the side sits a large mahogany desk lined with pictures. Behind her desk, the wall is obscured entirely by floor to ceiling bookshelves. Her Meritorious Service awards from St. Mungo's hang on the adjacent wall surrounded by family photos. Next to her desk stands Vincent's cage, though you'll seldom find him inside.

From her desk, Professor Lawson has the most amazing view of the grounds. This is where you will often find her pouring over lesson plans or grading assignments. The small fireplace on the opposite wall is surrounded by oversized, cream colored leather chairs with soft, tiffany blue pillows.

Everything about this tranquil space seems to draw you to it. Don't fight it. Come inside and relax for awhile. Just remember to knock first.

Ellie found a... hut? Is this the Care of Magical Creatures office? Really?

She wrinkled her forehead in confusion. But she shrugged and sighed. There was no sign telling her to knock, but she did. Thinking it was rude to just enter someone's office. Or hut...

Knock, Knock, Knock.

She had told herself that she was looking for Ivory, but honestly she wasn't. If she had been looking for her best friend, really searching, then she would be up in the library where the Ravenclaw was most likely to be located and not out on the grounds were she could always be found. Maybe it was cause she was in no hurry to take all those stairs and pass the corridors that held bad memories, or maybe not, no one really knows.

Arya was glad to be back on the grounds, it was the one thing she missed the most about this castle. Chewing on a piece of gum, she idly blew bubbles as she slowly made her way to Lady Lawson's hut. How she went all of last term without visiting the woman was beyond her, but the second year was making sure she wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

As she neared the hut, she spotted a first year knocking on the door. Standing beside the younger girl, she joined her in waiting for the professor, smiling softly at her and popping another bubble before speaking. "Hey."

"Hi," Ellie said. She put on a polite smile. She really felt awkward. She didn't expect anyone else to be coming to see a teacher. At least not before class even started.

Ivory was running. Quite quickly too. Through the pathway, through the grounds, skipping over a small little hole, making sure to not land in any mud puddles...all for one reason. Well two. Well they weren't reasons so much as a person. Two persons. A people? Peoples? People.

Her first instinct upon arriving at Hogwarts at had truth be told been to head straight for the library, but that need was surpassed by a greater one. One that took great precedence over the one for knowledge. And that was- the need for company.

After how the last term had ended, Ivory had spent most of her summer either surrounded by family or by her best friend Arya and her family and friends. She'd tried to avoid spending alone time...because when one was alone the mind tended to wander...and well. It was suffice to say the last thing she wanted was for her mind to wander on past memories.

And that was why when she'd spotted her friend from outside a window she happened to be peering out of, she'd picked up the edges of her robes and ran after her.

It wasn't until now, as her legs prepared to give out on her (it must be understood she was not what you would call overly athletic, and by no means was a run down several flights of stairs and half the grounds a piece of cake) that she realized where exactly her best friend had been heading.

Smiling as she clutched her side, she tried to control her breathing to quiet wheezes as she snuck up behind her friend. Giving the other girl there a friendly smile, she brought up her finger to her mouth so she wouldn't say anything and then pounced up behind Arya and covered her eyes with her hands.

"Guess who!?!"

Arya smiled at the younger girl who didn't seem too talkative, then again she didn't say anything that would give her incentive to say more than a simple hello. Blowing another bubble she rocked back on her heels before introducing herself. "I'm Arya, second year. What's your name?" She didn't recognize the girl and seeing how she looked younger than her, Arya assumed that she was first year. It felt a little weird not being the youngest at the school, a good weird though.

As she waited for a response, Arya thought that she had heard someone behind her but passed it off as another student running around the ground. When she felt a pair of hands cover her eyes a grin crossed her face, of course she knew who it was. Had the hands been any larger she would have thought it to be Sabel or Raiden, but the small hands and the sound of the oh so familiar voice could only belong to one person, Ivory.

"Hmm, could it be my favoritest Ravenclaw?" Giggling she removed the hands and turned around, giving her friend a big hug. "I was looking for you."

Magnolia walked across the grounds admiring the huge lake, the forbidden forest and the view of the enormous castle. She was still in shock from the feast last night, and couldnt believe that everything here was actually real, actually happening to her! Magnolia regained her composure. She was on a mission, a mission to find the care of magical creatures teacher. Magnolia had always adored animals and was most excited about learning about the creatures she never knew existed! Finally she saw a small cottage and knew she had found the right place. Maggie was surprised to see a small group of students next to the hut. She walked over slowly, and knocked gently on the door.

Kevin wandered along the grounds to where the care of magical creatures professors hut was a saw there was a bit of a group already waiting outside so he stood with the rest waiting for the professor to show up

"The one and only!"

Ivory hugged her friend back tenfold while giggling. "So was I! I guess great minds do think alike."

Smiling, she turned to the other younger girl.

"Hiya!"

"Ellie. Nice to meet you." She said calmly. She watched as other student approached. Wow, I guess this teacher is a little more popular than I anticipated. she thought.

Haoto had managed to wander outside. He could hear Kioni calling from somewhere in the distance. The Philippine Eagle had found something and she wanted him to see it. He followed the whistling noises and heard a crowd of people outside what seemed like a small building. Cautiously he made his way over.

"Um... Excuse me... Where are we?" He asked the crowd hoping for an answer.

"The COMC professor's office..." Ellie answered him.

"Oh. That's why." Haoto said. No wonder Kioni was here. There was probably food around." Thanks for telling me. My name's Haoto I'm a first year. What's your name?"

"Ellie. And you're welcome." She said. She was using short, simple answers with this strange kid who doesn't know where he is or why he's there... then suddenly he does? Just doesn't make sense... Ellie thought.

Haoto listened around for Kioni She had gone silent." Have you seen a Philippine Eagle around by chance?"

Ellie shook her head. "Sorry."

"Sorry? Why are you apologizing?" Why was she saying sorry? Unless...He had done it yet again. It occurred to him not everyone noticed he couldn't see right away." Oh my bad. I'm blind so I can't see any movement. I'm sorry, I didn't realize I hadn't mentioned that."

Oh.

"I didn't know..." So nooowwwww it all made sense! That's why he didn't know where he was. Interesting... How did he manage getting around?

"I havn't seen an eagle." Ellie said.

"That's okay most people don't notice right away." He smiled at her.It was his fault in the first place."Are you sure you haven't seen her? She should be about 1m tall a bit hard to miss. Although she may have gone off to hunt in the forest."

Ellie's eyes widened. That was pretty big... especially a bird! She didn't like birds all that much...

"Maybe it came by just before I got here.." she said, trying to help.

"Oh that's okay. As long as she isn't eating owls I guess there's nothing to worry about." Although the forest wasn't much better." So what's with all the people around?"

Ellie shrugged, "I'm not sure. I came because I had a question, but I don't know why everyone else came."

"Oh well I was wondering if it's okay for me to switch out of flying into CoMC. Being blind makes flying very difficult." Haoto smiled. It wasn't often he actually got to talk to people. Living in the middle of nowhere was not exactly helpful." I hope the teacher gets here soon."

Ellie crinkled her nose.

"That does seem dangerous." She couldn't help giggling as she pictured someone who couldn't see flying in all directions. Then they ran into a tree. Ouch.

Keeping an arm around her friend, she listened as the other girl began to talk to a boy who had just walked up.

Her eyes scanned the skies before looking back to him with a smile. She had never known anyone to have a eagle as a pet, but then again there was a lot of interesting things she found out while being at Hogwarts.

"Why were here to see the professor of course!" She responded to his question, as if there couldn't be any other reason.