Minerva felt sick.. yep sick.. it was the last task, the final task and it was on them. Her and Kitty side by side. It was pretty much what was getting her through those gates. She glanced at him once more with the worry on her face, but she stepped into the arena with him jumping at the sound of the gates closing. Minerva's eyes widened and she jumped at the noise and the feeling of maybe an earth quake. Reaching and clinging to Wade's arm as she saw the grass growing. WHAT THE.... this was transfiguration and creatures.. not herbology!!

O_o

Were those hedges.. a maze.. of all things a maze with vines, and tress, and plants. She steady her breath and looked up at Kitty. He would be right next o her, he would protect her if needed, he said that. She would do the same. They were a good team, she knew this. Still clutched to his arm she held her wand tightly in the other. "I.. I guess we should start up that way." She pointed straight ahead, now did he agree, because if not she would take suggestions. At the moment her head wasn't working with thoughts of creepy vines, but a growling noise made it come back into reality. They had animals to go against and she needed to calm down or transfiguring wouldn't be happening.

A maze.. Wade blinked at his and Min's surroundings. All the hedges and leaves and everything. His brows furrowed, this was somewhat like his Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL years ago. There had to be animals around, but what kind?

He wasn't exactly sure. "..You okay, Mousie?" He looked down as he felt her hold onto his arm. "Let's stay close." He was not going to let anything hurt his bestie despite some of his own nerves choosing now to creep up on him.

"Sounds good.." Nodding as she pointed ahead. He drew out his wand before walking with her, keeping his imaginary tiger-kitty ears perked for any sign of trouble. Flashes of many creatures from re-reading his books flowed through his mind, prepping himself for any surprises.

She was still blinking around trying to calm her rapid heart beat when she heard Wade call her mousie. Blue eyes dodge up to his hazel, yes she knew Wade's eye color she looked at them before. A small smile crossed her face hearing the nickname a few of the guys had called her starting last term. This was so stupid to be this worked up over plants.. She had gotten passed it and it wasn't like she'd be forced to hug any on fire here. Nope this was a competition for transfiguration and Creatures.. She could do this.. She was good at this.

"I'm fine Kitty, we got this." She gave him another grin and slowly took her hand from it's tight grip around his arm. She nodded about staying close. Of course she was staying close they were in this together. She just wished it wasn't so creepy, seriously she would have taken the train and snake over these hedges.

She kept her eyes open still trying to figure out what kind of spells she would use for something like this. Everything that was coming to her was anything but transfiguration. Hopefully when it was time they would just jump right to her mind. She could do this.. she could. Keeping her wand in a close protective position she began walking forward to the straight away part of the maze.

As the students started into the maze, a deep silence grew around them. The hedges, for all intents and purposes, seemed capable of muffling out all sounds from earlier... except for that soft clacking, tearing, and chomping noise up ahead. Hmmmmmmm. What animal could THIS noise belong to?

Least the good thing going for the two was the sounds of the maze. It definitely gave life to the area as Wade carefully walked with Min. He grinned back when she said she was doing alright, "That's right.. they had to have some reason to make us leaders." Even if this test was quite a way to prove it, in his mind.

Going straight on, Wade kept his hair ruffling senses going. They hadn't tingled just yet.. until the silence. It slowed him down, slightly, while his heart beat picked up the slack. Those nerves were kicking in.. as he could hear a distance clicking noise. His hazel eyes, that showcased green temporarily in the sunlight glanced at Min's blue eyes. Did she hear that? He wanted to ask, but wouldn't that draw it out? He grasped his wand tighter.

His mind went through the images of creatures while the noise continued. "Is that.. an acromantula?" He lowly whispered. The clicking noise sounded distinct, as he tried to think through other creatures that sounded so chilling. "think it's already eating?" He very much hoped so. Hungry carnivorous creatures were one of the most dangerous to deal with.

Wherever it was, it wasn't all that far away from them, and they didn't have any choice but to press on. So Wade continued, with a much tighter grip to his wand.

Blue eyes blinked up at him as they walked, so much so that she tripped over her own two feet, but caught herself before she had fallen. She still even this late in term was questioning why they made her a student leader and him saying that she just wanted to sigh and argue, but this wasn't the time nor the place. He knew all to well why she felt that way, especially now.

As she walked her eyes stayed wide, probably on the hedges more than they should have been, but plants made her shudder and shudder she did. She stopped when it felt like things went quiet. Why did it go quiet. No where was the noise at, this was unnerving. Feeling eyes on her she looked up just as she heard the noises. "What is that.." She looked around, but nothing was there.

Then Kitty said nonkitty things. She blinked at him before searching harder. He wasn't serious was he, "Do you really think it could be that." No it was a fluffy kitty or maybe she could make it a fluffy kitty. Minerva wondered if her transfiguration skills could do that, but she wasn't sure. "I'll turn the stupid thing into a hat for you." Yep that sounded better at least in her head it did. No eating the Kitty or the mouse today.

As they hit the first corner she looked up at him, "Left or right?" Which way did Wade think they should go, maybe the way the animal wasn't. That would be the best pick in her eyes.

The clicking and now, crunching, seemed to persist and grow louder as the students crept forward. There might have been the sound of something pawing the ground and stirring up a little bit of dirt as well.

The students wouldn't know what was to the left, though, if they never go...

Wow, the noise was getting louder. Wade furrowed his brows as they were slowly reaching the fork in the maze.

Wade wasn't really sure on what to think of this. Yeah, whatever it was, needed to be taken care of right away if possible. The eery silence from the the hedges of the maze stopping earlier was so deafening, making the noises sound less inviting as they continually kept going forward.

Wade grinned, wanting to laugh at Min's suggestion to use that spell from Transfiguration class. It was brilliant! But he knew such a sound escape would potentially draw the creature's attention. Hmm.. left or right. He remembered one theory from his OWLs that somewhat helped. In a maze, usually going where the right hand is would lead the way out. "Let's try right." If it ended up a dead end, they could always go back to the left and take their chances, otherwise.. Well, they would surely see.

Minerva kept looking from left to right and right to left when she heard that noise again, jumping a little. What the hell was it and where was it. She wanted to scream show yourself now, but at the same time she wanted to silence it so she didn't have to hear it anymore, maybe even freeze it so it wouldn't move, but where to shoot a spell. Since she wasn't the animal expert she figured she shouldn't do any of that anyway.

"Right.. got it" She glanced left again, "We need to keep eyes everywhere, don't want whatever that is coming up behind us or out of one of these hedges." Nope she had enough of plants fourth year and last term to last her a life time. Plant boy boyfriend could deal with them she wasn't. She turned right and started next to Wade.

"You got this right.. no matter what kind of animal it is. I know you can do it and I'll figure out my end." She hoped at least. She was still trying to figure out what transfiguration that she had learned over the course of seven terms could help her here. Her brain was in every direction at the moment and she just hoped it would come to her when it was needed.

The clicking and crunching stopped as something let out a soft squawk, and then seemingly went back to eating. Even that faded away though as the two students went to the right.

Soon they were surrounded by total silence and hedges on all three sides. Nice choice, picking the dead end. It looked like they would have to go left.

"Yeah, that's true," Wade nodded while continuing with Min going towards the path to the right. He was so lucky to be here with his animal bestie. She had her skills and he had his hair-ruffling senses, eyes and ears ready at the whim of anything going to pop out at them suddenly. But luckily there was no such thing.

Instead his brows furrowed as he thought he heard a squawking noise. Was that a..? Hm. He looked back towards the sound as they walked further.. yes, whatever it was had definitely been on the path to the left. He was sure now thankfully that the sound made couldn't have been an Acromantula.

Facing forward again, he was only meant with a.. "Dead end.." Yep, he somehow knew they would need to face the creature. "Sorry," It made sense in his head now, there wasn't going to be an easy way to the end. "We better go back to the left path then." Then face whatever it is, it was. He had a little hunch on the noise.. but was going to save it until they really faced it now. So it was back to heading towards the path to the first fork, and onto the left path now.

Walking down the path Minerva kept her wand tight in front of her. Her eyes darted around and she jumped hearing the squawking behind them. "I don't think that is an Acromantula, Kitty." Those things didn't squawk did they? She looked behind them a bit before looking forward again. Her nerves really had calmed down a lot even if the hedges were still there to drive her nuts.

Slowing up as her eyes widened, of course.. of course they would hit a dead end. She sighed loudly, "Of course.. I should have known we would have to face the animal." She felt kind of dumb thinking they could get away from it, but it was a shot. Looking up at Wade she smiled and linked her arm around him, "Sorry for what? It was a worth a shot. Now back the other way to face whatever that is." She looked behind them. Yeah what was that thing anyway, "Any thoughts on what it might be?" Maybe they could get prepared before it tried to eat them or scratch them or whatever.

With her arm linked with Wade's and her wand still in front of her she started back the other way. "We got this.." She gave him a reassuring grin. She was feeling more comfortable even if her nerves were still on edge.

The hippogriff was waiting just off to the left. He let out another raucous squawk at the sight of the pair and locked his eyes on the nearest student.

Waiting.

"No, it's definitely not that." Acromantula's for a fact do not squawk. He smiled back at Min when she insisted a silly little mistake was natural. They still had each other no matter what. "Yeah.. but we'll be alright together." They were the Animal Besties for a reason, you know.

Wade furrowed his brows more. He tried to replay that squawk in his head over, and over.. The pawing in the ground and clipping and clicking noise.. "It had definitely been eating, and there's nothing around here but the ground.." and a fresh kitty and mouse. What more could the creature want? His thinking aloud spilled out through his lips at Min, "Hmm.. only thing in the grounds is worms and bugs.." Regular birds wouldn't be too much of a threat to these two. "Is that.. a Hippogriff?" Somehow, it was like he knew deep down what it was.. but was hesitant on being absolutely sure that it would be going against them.

He looked at Min again. "Unless you've seen people die, it's got to be a Hippogriff." A raucous squawk filled his imaginary tiger-kitty ears just then. It was like a joyous feeling had entered into the pit of his stomach. He wanted to smile, but knew that couldn't happen just yet. They had invaded the hippogriff's territory.. "Min.. if you look at it, don't blink." It was all he could say, before his hazel-green eyes met with the orange glow in the Hippogriff's. He just wanted to cry in happiness at the sight, but kept his gaze.

Wade knew what to do. "Stare.. and bow." He had done this before, but the hardest would be gaining its trust. Walking ahead as his linked arm left Min's alone behind him, he stood in front of her, protectively. Keeping his gaze at it, his eyes were not tempted to blink when he lowly bowed, keeping eye contact with the hippogriff. He thought, Please, trust in me and her. Wade's full respect and loyalty was all on the Hippogriff now.

Minerva sighed as they walked, yeah they were good one little mistake no big deal, right? As they walked she kept hearing the noises, the closer they seemed to be getting the more nervous Min was feeling again. Her arm stayed linked so she kept moving on listening to Wade talk aloud. Yes it had sounded like it was eating, which was good, because maybe they wouldn't be dinner. Worms and bugs, what on earth was he talking about. Minerva looked up at him confused until his next thought, "No.. I haven't seen anyone.." her blue eyes flashed up as she saw what was standing in their path.

A Hippogriff, wow.. her eyes flashed towards Wade as he spoke, don't blink well of course that made her blink, but at least it wasn't towards the beast, she wasn't looking at it at that moment Wade was in front of her. Kitty was such the protector at times. She watched still with her wand close in case something went wrong. Stare and bow.. was he talking aloud again or was she suppose to be doing this too. Her mind raced not sure what to do, but she followed his lead and bowed towards the creature.

Not taking her baby blues off of the beast she didn't even realize she was holding her breath. This was so cool, but so scary at the same time. If this thing didn't like them they could be in trouble. Hopefully it would like them and they could just pass and let it continue with it's meal.

It was wise that both had bowed, because the hippogriff wasn't budging until they both showed due respect. He did, though, eventually buckle his knees, and a slight glint off the scroll tied round his neck became visible.

It was so beautiful. All hippogriffs were beautiful creatures in Wade's mind. He could not wait to be able to spend more time with them, as he thought of his future studying after graduating. He didn't know if Min had bowed too, but imagined she had to have done the same sooner or later in case the Hippogriff looked at her next too.

Eventually, it finally did bow, which made Wade breathe out a sigh of relief. They were safe, for now. "We did it.. I think we're good to go and pet it now Min." He slowly rose up and-"Whoa," Shiny, there was a shiny thing around its neck as he approached it closer to pet. The light reflecting off of it gave their area such a happy brightness. Wade loved shiny things too after all.

"It's a scroll," Wade said in awe once the shine dulled out. He then gave the lovely Hippogriff some good pets and stroking so Min could go on and take it. "Thanks, buddy.." Still giving it some gentle ruffles he looked back over at Min to see what she thought.

Minerva watched it closely still not realizing she was holding her breath. When the creature finally bowed she let out the breath she was holding. Oh light headed from holding breath, okay she made sure to take a few breaths to make it go away. As she watched the creature not sure to get up from the bow yet or not she noticed something on it just as Wade spoke and rose. She followed by slowly standing straighter, "Great job Wade." Her brain was every where so she was glad he had been talking aloud or she might not have remembered to bow.

Watching him closely she looked as he said what she had thought she saw, "I noticed it, maybe it's what we are to do next or what I'm to do to help this team." because they were a team. She watched Wade get closer and felt nervous, she knew the hippogriff bowed, but she couldn't help but feel protective as Wade went closer afraid he might get hurt, but she smiled as she saw him pet the creature. "You're good with them. You'll do well at Uni." She knew they were what he wanted to study and he was going to do awesome.

Now wasn't the time to talk about Uni though was it, nope she needed to do her part and she quietly and slowly walked towards the animal. Reaching out her hand wasn't it suppose to sniff her or something or was that a dog, her brain was confusing thing again. She took a breath and listened to Wade moving her hand to the scroll she released it and opened it to read.

The hippogriff nipped playfully at the male's fingers. He liked the ruffles, and made a pleasant cawing sound. He also side-eyed the female. Y she no give pet-pets?

The scroll, meanwhile, continued reflecting the moonlight. When unrolled, it would reveal the next direction for the task.

Text Cut: Scroll

Work your way to the center of the maze,
And animate me if you'd like some praise.
Face of stone, tongue of cement,
Please bring me to life. I'm heaven-sent!

"..Thanks Min." Wade couldn't help feeling touched by what she said. He couldn't ever help feeling like that when complimented on his favorite subject. Other than Indy, no other girl brushed his ego on how he got with animals since his late mother. He pushed those thoughts aside while by the Hippogriff. He could never feel as sad around them.

Now that Mousie could get to read the scroll, he got to do a little bonding with the Hippogriff. "Aww, aren't you a cutie?" Wade beamed as he felt the gentle nips. It he were big enough, he'd give it one of his nice big old badger hugs. "Yeah.." But oh well, these ruffles from him will have to do. He looked over Min's shoulder as she read the scroll, so he could read it too.

Hmm.. "A riddle.. great." They were fine with Wade unless it was academic related. His brows furrowed as his lips read out each line. Deeper furrowing went on. Was it meant to become another creature? He then added, "Kind of sounds like it needs to be a bird.. or something. Since wings belong in the sky." It was difficult to think of on the spot. "What do you think?" Things were getting tricky already.

Minerva read the riddle over and over again. She put her hand to the Hippogriff and gave it a few cautious pats. "Good boy.. or girl" Which was it she wasn't sure. Moving away a bit she continued to look at the paper. " Work your way to the center of the maze... Well that is a pretty easy part." That told them where they had to go. "And animate me if you'd like some praise, Face of Stone, tongue of cement, please bring me to life. I'm heaven-sent!" She walked near the hedge without even realizing it deep in thought, she began speaking out loud, but not really to Wade just herself. " Animate well that she knew would be Piertotum Locomotor, but animate what the scroll? You couldn't use Piertotum Locomotor on a scroll could you and praise wouldn't that be to talk? Pierotoum Locomotor wasn't really to talk." She couldn't think of any spells that made something talk other than the charm to record something, but this was transfiguration not charms.

Minerva let out a frustrated sigh, why wasn't this just coming to her. Why didn't she just know what to do. She looked at the riddle again, "Face of stone, tongue of cement.. well that seemed like a statue, but a scroll isn't a statue and not cement. Please bring me to life. I'm heaven-sent! What on earth does that mean. Heaven sent unless it's wings or bird or something." She let the words go over and over in her brain as the confusion stayed. She could transfigure it into a bird, "Maybe Avifors, but that doesn't explain the stone and cement... No that can't be it." She looked up at Wade feeling really stupid. Why was she picked for this again? She was suppose to be the best and right now she felt like the dumbest kid at school.

"Wade I'm not sure... " She looked back at the parchment again reading it once last time and her eyes widened, "Wait.." She started to get a bit more excited, could it have been that easy, was she over thinking it and not seeing the big picture. Of course she probably was. "I totally lost track of center of the maze, I think we need to go to the center of the maze and whatever I'm suppose to animate will be there. I think it will be Piertotum Locomotor by the sounds of it. What do you think?" Did all her rambling confuse him, most likely it did.


She looked towards the right, "Well we already know that way is a dead end so I'm thinking if we keep heading this way it has to head towards the center don't you think?" Well she hoped at least.

Wade smiled as Min went to pet the Hippogriff, "That's it Min, he won't hurt you." His head titled curiously, as she moved away with the paper a little bit. She was definitely concentrating as she spoke aloud her train of thought. His brows furrowed as he tried thinking too. His mouth opened a few times to agree, only for her to already be on the next part of the riddle. Well, luckily they were on the same page. No pun intended. This was one crazy riddle.

He blinked curiously, about to frown in the end when she admitted defeated.. or was she? "..Yeah?" Instead his almost frown turned upside down into a beam feeling as excited as she when she mentioned going to the center of the maze. Huh.. It was in the first line, so perhaps it was meant to be treated as a step by step instruction. "I think you're right about heading on over through here." It did seem kind of over their heads to try and make the scroll into a bird or something right now, and they only had one way to go for now. "Let's go for it!" Beaming before looking at the Hippogriff he was still ruffling.

Hmm.. He was going to have to leave it be, if looked like. "See you, boy.." He gave it one last ruffle, and a somewhat sad smile before stepping away to continue on the path with Min.

See you, boy? No, the hippogriff was coming with them! It let out a sad squawk and plodded after the humans. They smelled nommy good. Maybe they knew where the ferrets were in this maze... maybe they had some in their pockets?

He nipped the male human on the leg and fluttered his wings. Where did they need to go?

Minerva sighed in relief that Wade understood her rambling. Usually she would have kept all the crazy inside her head, but it was easier to workout aloud, plus if she was way off she had hoped he would jump in and tell her, but he seemed to be on the same page. That was a plus. Now that they both felt they needed to find the center of the maze, but how far was that. She stopped thinking long enough to watch Wade with the Hippogriff. Reaching over she pet the beast once more, "He is beautiful isn't he?" She really did love animals and on a normal day would want to stand and play with the Hippogriff longer, but they had a task to complete.

Seeing Wades face she couldn't help but suggestion a few things, "Hey, maybe he likes us as much as we like him. Maybe he'll follow us and then you won't have to say goodbye just yet." It was a possibility right? She chuckled a bit, "You could be Kitty king of the maze riding his trusted Hippogriff." If the beast let Wade ride him. As for Minerva she would be happy on foot.

"Wonder how far we have to go until the center." She looked straight ahead and started walking only to chuckle once more. "Umm Wade, I think our friend is going to come with us. Maybe he will be our good luck charm through the rest of the maze." That would be nice, plus other creatures might leave them alone if the hippogriff was bigger. Well it was a hope at least. Minerva kept her eyes wide as she started up the path.