Gwen was wanted to explore the castle. And that meant the whole castle. Including the dungeons. Also she needed to find the kitchens. Those would probably come in handy at some point. But dungeons first. Plus she was curious where the Slytherin Common room was and potions and stuff like that.

She hummed a little bit as she walked down the corridor. It was a lot gloomier down here. She couldn't imagine living down here and kinda was glad to be up in the tower. Even if it meant all those stairs. At least she'd stay in good shape. Now where was everything down here...

Back to the common room, that's where Devlin was heading. It took him some time, to get used to all the walking. Why'd it have to be so far away from everything? It was kinda annoying, though. Luckily, for the common room, and the house, they wouldn't be hearing much complaining from Devlin because he did get a nice show of the creatures living within the lake, so there was that plus side.

Step step step step and no. That person didn't say 'Slytherin' to Devlin. What was this silly little girl doing here? It didn't look like she'd last very long there, so Devlin was going to fix this. No intruders entering the common room, thank you very much.

"Tell me you're not lost, little one." Devlin said, internally thinking NOT SLYTHERIN. Because if she was, Devlin had much better things to do than help her out. Besides, these were his first few days in the castle, he'd manage to get the girl more lost if she was lost already.

Wandering wasn't an acceptable answer as well.

Gwen turned around as she heard a boy's voice. She was the only one down here so he had to be talking to her. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to make herself look taller. Because yes. She was very short next to this older boy.

"I'm not lost. I'm exploring." She put some extra emphasis on the last word. Pshh. Her lost. Never. She'd never let herself get lost. Even if this castle seemed to get confusing at some times.

The boy just gave the girl a slow nod at whatever she was doing. Why the crossing of the arms? Was she upset or angry already? Because she couldn't be. Devlin had done absolutely nothing but hoped that she wasn't lost. So don't get all cross with him, girl.

"Of course, exploring. Not many people find the dungeons a place that draws them in, though." Just saying. Devlin would though, but to everyone else maybe not. Unless they were looking for danger or some excitement. Ok, so maybe this girl was one of the rare ones. He gave her another look, then added, "You don't strike me as a person that would willingly come down here." He could be wrong, of course, but that was what Devlin could get coming off the girl's vibe.

Gwen just kinda eyed the boy. He was quite a bit bigger than her so her trying to make herself look bigger was definitely just something she did without thinking. It made her feel better about herself.

"They're pretty interesting, but I can see why." Dark and damp wasn't everyone's thing. It wasn't here thing either but she still had to see them. Plus she was going to have lessons down here. "Why do you say that?" She was just going to tell him the truth, but that comment made her a bit angry. Why wouldn't she look like a person that belonged down here? Even Hugo said he thought she would've been in Slytherin. Pshh.

"Exactly." Devlin simply said. He agreed on all points with this girl. They were interesting, yet, at the same time, other people might stay far away from a place that was deep within the castle, dark and cold. It wasn't exactly inviting for the warm hearted. Which was why Devlin found the girl here rather odd.

The curious kind over here, then. Devlin just gave the girl a short nod and thought about his answer to her. "Its your... persona." He answered, though his words faltered slightly. "You just send out that aura. But, maybe, I'm mistaken. You are here. And you aren't lost." Devlin said, letting all the thoughts click. Or rather, she said she was exploring which meant she wasn't lost. If she was, it wasn't Devlin's problem, she was more than capable of taking her steps back.

Gwen just kind of judged the boy. He seemed all right for now. Even if had completely misjudged her character and what not. Speaking of damp though, she was starting to get a chill. She should have thrown a jumper on before coming down here.

Persona? Aura? "What exactly about my persona and aura makes me seem like I wouldn't be willing to be down here?" Gwen was curious. It wasn't going to be her favorite place in the castle, but it wasn't completely awful. Just chilly. She smiled. Right. She was here and wasn't lost.

Questions questions questions. This girl was definitely going to keep at it till she got a true answer from Dev, wasn't she? Though, she wasn't backing down from Dev's words, so he had to give her that. Talking to an older student with a sense of confidence, or, at least, for her age.

"I... it just seems like it." Siiiiggghhh. His front earlier was now losing its traction and he knew his answers were becoming weaker. He could try and change the subject. "You're down here. Exploring. On your own accord. I'm wrong, yeah?" Had he just given in? Maybe. But, he didn't want it to seem this way. Taking in his defeat, he made it sound like he was complimenting her, just so it didn't seem like he'd backed off.

"So, you say you're exploring. Found anything worth our time?" There. Change of subject. Finding some secret passage or something like that definitely intrigued Devlin.

Gwen raised her eyebrow. She was waiting for an answer. She wasn't doing anything else that was that important today. Dormmate bonding. That was about all she had planned. She could stay down here all day.

And what was that? A falter? She smiled a bit, a little proud of herself. Hey. The guy was like double her size. Go her. "Nope. Just felt like exploring. Also didn't feel like getting lost on my way to my first day of potions." See. She could be truthful too.

Oh. So now he was interested. "Not yet. But I've heard there's some passages down here." Secret ones obviously. Normal passages wouldn't make sense to be excited about.

Yeah yeah, get that look off your face, Devlin thought to himself, giving the girl another glance, and even an added sigh of his own. "Of course. This place is tricky. Don't believe the potions professor would be too pleased with late arrivals on his first lesson." So the girl had some logic, unless that was a cover up for saying she is lost.

Passages. To try and distract himself from the little girl Devlin went over to the wall and put his hand against it. Moving it up and down trying to feel for any openings or new corridors, things like that. "What you waiting for? Thought you'd said you were exploring." Devlin saw no signs that showed she was even attempting it.

Gwen gave him a genuine grin when she heard the sigh. She knew she'd win him over eventually. That or she could've just punched him in the gut and ran off. That was always an option too. "I don't think any of the professors would like it if we were late." She heard they took away points. She didn't want to lose points she didn't even have yet. Gryffindor was already in the negatives as it was.

Gwen watched as he went to feel the wall. She was a little confused but secret passages sometimes had buttons you could push to find them. "I am. Didn't know you were joining me." She just shrugged and walked a bit further down and started to exam another part of the wall.

Again, she could, for Devlin's sake, get the look off her. It was just like, rubbing into Devlin, you know? He didn't want to be constantly reminded that this little one over here had gotten to him. SO VERY EASYLY. "No. They wouldn't." he responded matter of factly. "Ya think any of them have severe methods to teach us a lesson on not being late?" Devlin asked. If the students were dramatic, who was to say that the teachers weren't?

Still going about the wall, Devlin was, but then stopped at the girl's words. "Unless you want to be down here all on your own? I can easily go, got better things to do." Lies. "But there'll be no one here at all, say, if, you manage to fall into some door that suddenly disappears and your body gets LOST... FOREVER." He was definitely overplaying his words. Trying to make the situation sound a lot more scary than it probably truly was.

Gwen shrugged. "I think the worse they can do is detention." Still she didn't want to end up there. That would make Hogwarts not fun and who knows what they actually made you do in detention.

Gwen looked over at him. She shrugged. "Suit yourself. Go and do your better thing." She really didn't care. She was just trying to figure out how the dungeons were laid out. And hey if she found a secret passage awesome.

She just stared at him a bit. "Was that supposed to scare me?" She didn't scare easily. Except for mega deep water. Maybe that's why she was a Gryffindor.

So.............. dungeons then.

The Slytherin was used to coming down here so, he knew exactly where to stand and lean while looking as hot as ever. He WAS still dressed up as Flynn Rider for Halloween, which meant that he had to keep in character for the whole day. Smoulder and all. Something that was currently being practiced by the fifth year as he waited for his companion.

Of course, Grayson had said he'd meet a certain Gryffindor down here which meant that he HAD come prepared. Chocolate frogs and all. One for the girl and one for him, because apparently, dude was in a sharing mood. They were currently sitting on top of his satchel that he had flung to the floor when he had arrived. Where he was gonna get a freaking crown from, he had no idea. But if the seventh year had a castle that she COULD give to him, he was all up for it. Can't say no to one of those bad boys.

Anyways. Where was that Alexa Cambridge?

Merlin....Merlin....everywhere she went people seemed to like saying the name of this man who was apparently a powerful warlock. Well just where would she find this fellow and how would she persuade him to join forces with her. Perhaps the boy would know. He spoke well enough of the man and boasted a knowledge she didn't have.

Maleficent swept down into the dark, damp corridors that housed the dungeons, her cloak trailing along the ground as she did her graceful walk. Even in haste, there must be poise--and yes, there was haste, haste to get a crown. She would give the fool a castle but it would be one she ruled.

Approaching the boy, she noted the mud frogs from that gathering earlier in the week, the ones allegedly made of chocolate. "What is the big obsession with those?" She pondered allowed, meaning to be answered. It was strange the girl's spirit was so drawn to them, she'd tasted better in her years.

And was her crown in his bag? Was it? She would take it now.

Honestly, Grayson didn't care about the cape or the way she was talking down to people. He actually found it freaking hilarious that the badge had gone to her head or whatever. And frankly, that was what HE'D do if he was a Prefect or Head Boy. Talking down to people would only happen to people he DIDN'T like, of course. And the cape? All part of her costume for Halloween. 'Course.

But when Alexa Cambridge asked what the big deal with chocolate frogs were, that was when he had to stop and stared.

"What the--" Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! Was she being her usual self or was she simply SO much into her role -- what in the name of merlin was she meant to BE?! -- that she had to PRETEND that she didn't know what was going on. That was simply it. The latter option.

"They're freaking brilliant!" he said, taking one and holding it out to her, "Nobody cares about the cards, REALLY. It's the big chocolate bit that you can really get your teeth into." So punny, so WHITTY. "But surely YOU know about THAT, right?" Nudge nudge wink wink.

He was shocked, she'd gathered that much but the question was meant to be answered. The girl's spirit liked them well enough--a little too much if you asked her and she wouldn't become slave to it therefore she needed to know what was so special about it.

"I..." Her hand rose to her chest in a gesture that she was lost in what he'd been saying. "I know nothing of these...these frivolous treats that appease the spirit of the girl inside. Just that they are made of chocolate and children cry when you take them away." Was there need to know more? "I'll be taking that one." She indicated, while they were on the subject. He would give it to her and she would hear no protests.

But they had business to discuss, did they not. "You said you could get me a crown for a castle, correct." Her voice got lower as she spoke and the Dark Queen shrunk the gap between them just a little more in case there were rats in the wall.

"Where is this crown?"

MORE PICTURES. Eden needed TWO more and she had been wondering around school AALLLLL day trying to figure out good spots to take them. Hmm. She found herself in the dungeons...it was kind of dark and...dank down here, but that was okay. Not all of her pictures could be bright and stuff. There were a few students here so Eden would just snap one, charm it, and head to warmer territory.

Because winter + dungeons = cold, shivering, teeth-chatterin, Eden.

She pulled out the camera, quickly, and focused on the corridor in general--and she took her picture with a CLICK. Hehe. As it fed out, she shook it around to dry it faster. She tightened the scarf more tightly around her neck before whipping out her wand and tapping the picture. "A-Al-Alac-c-cer--" she said softly. Nothing happened...and Eden couldn't help but pout.

SHE HAD BEEN DOING WELL. WHAT WAS THIS.

Eden flicked her wand a few times, sending out some sparks--CRAP--she jumped back and dropped the pictures! EW. The floor down here was GROSSSSSS. Eden leaned over to pick it up and quickly wiped the photo on her robes--getting all the dirty off---there. Time to try again.

Ugh.

She had to not chatter her teeth. "Ala-cer!" she cried, and once again...nothing happened.

UUGUGHHHH

Eden was now FRUSTRATED. She tried to not get so mad, but SHE DID. And now she was breathing all heavily and her wand was sparking at the tip--she rubbed her temples and tried to clear her head, using Professor Cassie's techniques.....breathing in....out.....until she was thinking of Charms and JUST charms and stuff. "All right Ed...let's go." Talking to herself was a daily occurrence. NBD.

"Alacer!"

When the spell shot towards the photo she WHOOOOPED her hands into the air and made a noise of DELIGHT. YAAAY.

Despite the fact that she'd been relegated to the dungeons for several months now, and the fact that the people she liked the best were way up top of the castle, Dot was starting to get used to the fact that she lived underground. At least she saw fish out her window and had a kneazle to cuddle when it got specifically cold.

She was warm today, with two pairs of fuzzy socks and the thickest jumper she could find, and she was wandering the dungeons at the moment. Just exploring, really, since Dot liked to be familiar with her stomping grounds.

Cosgrach was exploring the dungeons too, as if there was much to explore. He was completely bored, but he was also too lazy to go outside, so hoping that he would find someone down there, he started walking around slowly... AHA! A living person! SOmeone who -

Didn't visit him after class.

"Dot," he said suavely, hiding his anger, "how nice to see you! Are you alright?"

Hmm? Dot swung around, greeting the professor with a distracted smile. She hadn't seen him in, well... ages, right? Not since he taught her hate potion. Still... she liked him, and he'd greeted her by name, which meant he noticed her.

"M'okay, sir," Dot scooted in his direction. "I don't like living underground, but I was thinking maybe I'd like it more if I pretended to be a mole. Or a hedgehog." She mulled that over as she studied his great big eyebrows. Like caterpillars. "Do hedgehogs live underground?"

And she was smiling? Did she think being oh-so-cute-and-innocent would save her? Because guess what, she didn't visit him at his office like he'd told her to, so Cosgrach was too angry to hear her.

Never mind he was just realising she hadn't visited him. He had almost died, mind you, so Dot had been the last thing on his mind. Unlike now.

"Is that what you tried to do?" he asked her sharply, "Becoming a mole to skip your meeting with me after class?" HUH?

"No, I'm not a mole yet. I was just gonna pretend to be," Dot held up her hands to show Professor Culloden that she was, in fact, a girl and not a rodent of some sort. If she could choose, though, she'd much rather be a hedgehog. She'd just pretend they lived underground.

"I wouldn't ever skip meeting you, sir. Professor sir." Those eyebrows were awfully angry caterpillars now, and Dot took a step back. Her Oggie was big, so she wasn't necessarily cowed by large men, but angry... she didn't like angry. "After the hate potions?"

Was she mocking him?

...no, Cosgrach was sure she was a sweet girl. See how she was taking a step back and all. That didn't make him less angry, but at least he tried to look less scary.

Along with being a werewolf, was she also suffering amnesia? Cosgrach was worried for the girl. He hesitated between being angry and worried. In the end, he decided to be both: "No, after the discussion class. Where you were all kinds of weird and..." He dramatically paused.

"Are you bitten by a werewolf, Dot?" He was gentle now. She could trust Cossy.