Salander strolled into the kitchens, hungry for something.... meaty. There was an overabundance of sweets around Hogwarts and for a carnivore like him, that could get pretty underwhelming.

"Hey yo awesome Elves..... can you rustle me up some nice porterhouse steak and a side of fries?"

Escape from the awkward situation that had developed in her common room? Yes please. The s'mores had not stopped the hunger. After tickling the pear on the portrait, Lexi entered the kitchen was not at all surprised to see Salander was in there too. Smiling brighter now she said, "Hey Sal. Need a snack also?" She was SO craving some chowder and bread. Mmmmm.

Oh wait.. He said steak and chips? Mmmmm. "Ooooo. Can I have the same? I would like my steak cooked medium," she said sweetly to the elves. Yummo. Plopping down beside Sal she leaned her head on his shoulder and yawned widely. "Good first night back so far?"

He twisted around in his seat at the familar voice. Well look at that its "Lexi!" he greeted her smiling warmly. "Yo Elves, you heard the lady make it snappy!" After all, one should never let a lady wait. And yeah he wanted to start chowing down too.

He shifted his eyes too look at her as he felt her head on his shoulder. "Its ok so far....pretty uneventful, so I guess thats a good thing." he laughed. Of course there was that Ministry dude but Salander barely registered what the man was talking about. "How's your night coming along? Everything good up at the tower?"

Salander was so uncomplicated it made Lexi at ease the instant she was around him. Oh no. He was speaking rudely to the house elves. Furrowing her brows she shook her head at him. "Salander! That is rude." Turning her attention to the lovely little elves she said, "Excuse my friend. Please, if you would, fix us the food? Thank you very much."

Uneventful. Gah. She wished she could say the same. Anytime Sabel was around she got eventful in double doses it felt like. All her own fault though, so whatever. "We roasted marshmallows in the common room for a bit. My Head of House was actually humanly affectonate, which is amazing to me, and... that is about all I want to discuss really. So, yeah, my night has already been eventful. Unfortunately."

Drama, why must you harass Lexi so? It isn't kind and it certainly isn't condusive to her mental health.

His brow went up slightly as he smirked at Lexi. If that was rude these Elves probably wouldnt want to be around if he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. But he has to hand it to the Gryffindor girl for being very thoughtful of elfish welfare.

Hmm, why does that sound familiar?

But oh ho ho did she say "Marshmallow roasting? Cool! Like what with a bonfire or something?" Which was something Salander kinda wished the Slytherin common room had-- a chance to open the windows and let in some view.

Which was never gonna happen for Slytherin. They try opening the windows they'll let a whole lot more in than just the view.

And speaking of the Gryffindor Head of House-- "Hey I didnt see Professor Carlton at the feast tonight... is she ok? I mean, no hard feelings over last term right?" yeah still feeling a little plenty guilty over a certain homework.

And there seems to be more than just marshmallow roasting "Thats all you want to discuss.... " he repeated slowly "... before you have some of the tasty steak?" he added, giving her a coy look. Hey if she wanted to let something off her chest, he was all ears.

Lexi smiled as the elves swept her a low bow and scuttled off to fix their food. Steak. Mmmmmm. Lifting her head off of his shoulder so she could look at him clearly she nodded. "Yeah, we roasted them on the fire in our fireplace and then made s'mores. I thought it would be a nice treat for everyone before bed," she said with a grin. Always thinking of her fellow Lions. Well... most of the time. "Do you lot not have fireplaces down there? That is tragic. If I could sneak you into ours I would. We have so much fun up there," she said honestly.

"Salander... Professor Carlton isn't at Hogwarts anymore. There was some guy sitting in her chair. I suppose he is the new Charms professor. Madame Donovan is the new Gryffindor Head of House since Professor CArlton left," she said a bit sadly. Boo. She missed Carlton. But, Madame Donovan seemed to be warming up to her, so that was no terrible. Not at all. "I think Professor Carlton knew that you guys were doing what you THOUGHT was right. Not wanting to lose points. But, little did you lot know... I was rewarded 10 points for standing up and saying that Potions assignment was wrong. I am sure the rest of you would have gotten them too. Gryffindor stubborness does have it's upside sometime," she said proudly.

Sighing she pulled her feet up on the bench and leaned into Salander's side. "I don't know, Sal. I was so excited to come back here after being alone in the Leaky all summer, but now that I am here it all seems... weird. Do you feel weird being around me since I snogged you? I don't feel awkward with YOU. I was just curious though. I mean, I think you are awesome, Salander and that kiss was amazing... Was it too forward though?" she asked in a small voice as she looked anywhere but at him.

Smores? Now theres something he hadnt seen in a while, not since that one summer camp he joined as a child. "Oh right the fireplace...." well duh what was he thinking? A roaring bonfire smack in the middle of the common room? The Gryffindors stay in a tower, not a beachside resort doof. "Sure we got a fire place" he smirked, nudging the Gryffindor girl gently, "You know us Slytherins, when it comes to comfort, we spare no expense." No kidding.

Oh but then she did say "Sneak me into Gryffindor tower?" the smirk widened into a mischievous grin. Well he walked right into Hufflepuff territory last term and lived to tell the tale, so why not set his sights at the Lion's den? "That would be awesome Lexi if you could get me in" he nodded firmly and gave her a playful wink. He always wanted to see the view from up there. And their furniture heh.

Then Lexi said something that completely wiped that grin off his face "Wh-What? Professor Carlton is no longer at Hogwarts?" He looked away, wheels turning in his head, trying to understand what she just said. "Wh--Why? Why did she leave? Was it the Potions homework?" He hung his head, guilt written all over his face. "I said I was sorry." he uttered quietly. Did he really say that to Carlton? He couldnt even remember. The effects of the antidote was too strong to make him recall anything after his lunch made a grand appearance on her office floor. He continued listening to Lexi half-heartedly-- new Charms professor, Madame Donovan as the new Gryffie Head. Then Lexi added the clincher-- she received points for making a stand, refusing to do the homework that he struggled to get done in the name of house pride. Now when did he start caring more about that than common decency?

He felt her shift beside him, unconsciously hanging his arm around her shoulders, listening to her talk about her summer. Apparently after their gag with the fountain she was still unhappy. He tilted his head slightly and looked at her profile, wondering how she could be lonely when she probably had friends all over London and Diagon Alley. She knew Jake, who just threw a party that summer, and the other fellow she introduced him there -- Ivan something.

He shifted his eyes when she touched upon their intimate moment, then furrowed his brows on her question. Does he feel what? "N-No." he answered simply, looking back at her "I mean if anything, that kinda drew us a closer dont you think?" he grinned, hugging her shoulder and gave her a knowing look. "Certainly a lot closer than dodging a handful of rotten food." he reminded her. Yeah the first day they met, at DADA, and it was over rotten apples. Literally.

Was she too forward? He looked down, took her hand with his free one and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Well... I guess among all the other girls I've ever been with you sure didnt beat around the bush for very long." he grinned. In a way he appreciated that, certainly took out all the fancy social decorum that oftentimes confuses him. He chuckled self-consciously "I'm just surprised that you bothered with me at all."

Kurumi made her way into the kitchen carrying her cookie recipe notebook and looking for her favorite house elf, Twinkle. If Hogwarts was her second home, then the Hogwart's kitchens were her third home - our would that make it her second and a half home?

Upon entering the kitchens, she saw Salander and the girl she had smiled at after her charmed cookies at the Gryffindor table. Oh, were they on a date? Kurumi tried not to frown and instead tried to sneak off to the other side of the kitchen so she could try making one of her new cookie recipes using some fresh ingredients she had gathered over the summer.

Maybe she could also put up a few of her baking class posters while she was down here.

Katie walked into teh kitchen with her apron on her, So this is where I will be making the cupcakes? She thought, she looked around, oh ny this was awesome! She then saw Kurumi, oh no, Katie turned around so she couldn't see her face, go Katie! Katie looked at the oven, amazing! She then remembered why she was here, to bake! Katie stared to make some cupcakes from a recipe she had made her self, a secret one. Katie smiled at one of the house elves that had walked near her, she smiled at it and patted it on the head, cute house elf, the house elfs name was Dewey but Katie was yet to find out.

Laughing she gave a little shrug. "I have no idea what goes on inside your common room, Sal. My brother never really discussed the inner workings of Slytherin house with me," she said honestly. Oh! He thought it would be AWESOME to hang out up there with the Lions. Well, of course it would be. Pfft she KNEW everyone wanted to be a Lion. "Yeah it would be pretty epic, but the others might ban me from the house for such treachery. We are a proud lot, after all."

Oh noes. He was sad? "Awww Salander! I hardly think it would have been the Potions assignment that made her leave. She was really not upset with you all after the apologies, I don't think. She wouldn't have let something like Professor Lafay being petty run her out of the school. She surely had something going on in her life," Lexi said quietly. Man. Sal was sweet.

Silence was never good in her opinion. Sal was quiet. Oh gosh. Oh wait... there was an arm around her shoulder. Good sign. EEP. He was HOLDING HER HAND. Awwwwww!

Okay he didn't feel awkward. Great. "I didn't want there to be these weird... Hell I just didn't want things to be odd between us. I agree that I think it brought us closer. Sometimes, though, what I think is socially acceptable was not really the case for others." Case in point, Sabel. He was mortified when Lexi kissed him. Made her self conscious, of course.

It was then her turn to furrow her brow. "Well, you don't see yourself very clearly then, do you? You are an amazing person, a very great friend, and look at you... In case you didn't get the memo, you are smoking hot, buddy. I wouldn't kick you out... I mean... Yeah," she said blushing furiously. Had she really just said that?!



The entrance of a little Gryffie did not catch Lexi's attention this time around. She was too busy being embarassed by her lack of self control. Who said things like that to boys? Her, obviously. HER!

EEP! Should Kurumi really be in here? As awkward as it was to see her Slytherin Prince kind of snogging a fellow Gryffindor, the desire to try out her new apple recipe was too strong. Relieved that her presence had gone unnoticed, for the moment, Kurumi began her prep for her Autumn Apple Cookies. First thing to do was finely chop a few apples and then make those into a simple apple sauce.

Apples, thankfully, did not have a strong smell, so she could chop those without being noticed. It was after beating together the yogurt, egg whites, margarine, her homemade applesauce and vanilla that the aroma began to pick up. After mixing all her dry ingredients together, scooping the mixture onto a cookie sheet, and putting it in the over. The heavenly aroma similar to apple pie began to fill the kitchen. Sitting down on the floor next to the oven, Kurumi opened a book and held it in front of her face as she began reading. Maybe...she would blend in with the cabinets...

Alice entered the kitchen, her stomach growling. She personally didn’t approve of demanding food from the house elves, they had enough work to do. But she had been talking so much at the feast that she had sort of forgotten to eat and now she was starving. Alice was about to ask for something from a small house elf when she noticed the other people in the room...was she interrupting? She didn’t want to get in other peoples way but now the smell of baking was making her even hungrier! Well she would only stay for a little while and she would try to be quiet.

A soft ding from Kurumi's mushroom shaped kitchen timer told her that her cookies were done. Throwing on her oven mitts, she went to open the oven door when she noticed Alice had entered the kitchen. "Hey Alice!" Kurumi waved with her mitten hands. Was that the first year's stomach she heard growling?

Alice grinned and waved back, always happy to see a familiar face. "Hiya Kurumi!" Her stomach then growled loudly, it was actually beginning to sound rather angry, an angry stomach. What an odd thought. Alice giggled quietly. "Hey that smells good, what are you making?"

Selina knew it was late at night, but the opening feast did not warrant her to eat that much. All of the excitement was too much and Selina had far too much to do than worry about eating. Trying hard not to be seen she sneaked into the kitchen to reveal she was not alone.

"Alice, what are you doing here?"

"A new recipe of mine," Kurum smiled opening the over and releasing the savory aroma of fresh apple pie into the air. "I call them Autumn Apple Cookies," she said in a rather TA-DA! sort of tone as she took the cookie sheet out of the oven and set it on top of the stove. "They are a little too hot to eat now, so we need to let them cool for a bit. In the mean time...would you like anything to drink? Twinkle can grab something from the fridge for us," she explained gesturing to the house elf who stood beside her.

Kurumi turned the oven off and closed the door before checking on the cookies. Hmmm...they were a little too plain on top, so she picked up a small vile of a burnt orange spice and sprinkled some of it on top of each cookie. There, now they were perfect. She had made more than she had intended. No matter, she could bring some of them back to the Gryffindor common room and set them on the coffee table for everyone.

"Oh wow they look great!" One of Alice's sisters owned her own bakery but she had never made anything like these before. "And no I’m fine thanks" The house elves looked rather busy and she didn't want to add to their workload. She would probably just grab some fruit.

"Hey Selina. I didnt eat very much at the feast so i thought i would come down here and see what food i could find."

Fee made her way into the kitchen.She really loved that place and the houseelves.They were soo cute and always so nice. Besides a hot,white chocolate was always good hehe. Aaaand her new "i am a princess"mug needed to be tested.Haha.

Entering the huuge room the blonde noticed Kurumi there.Was she baking again?Fee admired how passionated her friend was when it came to baking.Her cookies were amazing.Smiling the Slytherin approached her friend."Heey Kurumi",she said,"baking?"Maybe she could teach Fee a little about it?!

Rene walked into the kitchen and was taking by surprise all the people in the kitchen but that was not going to stop her from doing what she had set out to do. She walked over and grabbed some flour and well anything she would need and set it on a table where others had not occupied. She turned to get a bowl and a cupcake pan. Put the need ingredents in a bowl and then placed the bowl on a mixer, and she wiated for them to mix. She was Fee and gave a nice wave "Hey Fee, How was your day?" she asked

Chloe headed down to the kitchens cause she was hungry after praticing quiddich for what felt like hours. It was not quite dinner time yet so she tickled the pear in the picture and entered the kitchens. A house elf appeared before her and asked, "Hello miss, what would you like?".

"Some dark meat chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegitables".

There house elf nodded and went off to prepare her food. Chloe waited but felt a bit lonely here by herself and would love to see a familiar face to bide her time with.

Cassie was feeling a bit hungry. She had just left the room of requirement that had transformed itself into a well equipped dance room. She had barely been back at hogwarts for a full day and she was missing her dance room already. Oh well, the RoR would just have to do for now.

She tickled the pear and entered the kitchen quarters and looked around. Maybe she would just make herself a fruit salad. She wasn't all THAT hungry after all. She made her way past the house-elves and started putting her fruit salad together

"Sane here. I did get lost on the way down here though. So what are you making?"

Chloe noticed a girl she recognized from the feast and said, "Hey Cass, what brings you to the kitchens?".

The kitchen. Enough said.

There was a lazy shuffle to Ivory's footsteps as she made her way inside. Having just woken up from a nap, a nap which had resulted in her missing dinner, the only logical thing she could do really was to come down to the kitchens.

Smiling cheerily at the few people already here and giving a little wave to Salander and Lexi who seemed other wise preoccupied on the other side of the kitchen, she went off a ways and hopped up onto a seat.

Closing her eyes softly she breathed in, taking in the smell of the kitchen. Clean, warm, tasty. Homey really.

Shrugging her hair so it fanned over her shoulders rather than on her face, Ivory leaned forward against one of the many tables that corresponded with the ones above, cradling her chin in her palm lazily watching the house elves as they scurried about with their duties. They always looked so busy.

Noticing a few familiar ones since she and Arya were what could only be called as a regulars when it came to after hours snacks, Ivory greeted them personally glad to see they were doing well.

Gratefully accepting a small Cesar salad, she grinned at the "Your usual young Miss?" comment. They knew her so well. She almost always asked for the same starter, it was her habit.

Fork in hand, she dug into her salad with gusto. "Oh bless you guys you always know exactly how much Parmesan cheese to add."