Zeke didn't HATE the library, but he couldn't say he was a fan of it either. And this was for no other reason except that it was a place of quiet and study. Study which usually left his head throbbing and wishing that he'd had a nap instead. HOWEVER... today he was here of his own accord. Not for study, not for snoozing on the couches, not for drawing and daydreaming... but because HE wanted information. The only trouble was, he didn't know what information he needed, all he knew was that he would find it here in this room.

Career come at him!

Though he was under no real pressure to choose anything NOW, he felt he needed to at least start looking into the possibilities. It wasn't like the muggle world after all, there were HEAPS of jobs he didn't even realise were a thing until they were.

Dropping his bag by one of the couches, Zeke grabbed a handful of pamphlets and dumped them on the cushion beside where he sat himself down.

This would take TIME.

Maggie was already IN the library when Zeke walked in. Yes. She'd even bothered to learn his name. It seemed relevant considering the Hady thing and stuff. Yes that. Whatever that was. She was going to find out, though. Yes. She was on a mission.

As of right now.

A spontaneous mission.

So, when he sat down, Maggie moved slightly, a book on unicorns in her hands so she could watch him. Actually no. She wanted him to see her. Without seeming like she was TRYING to make him see her. So she simply considered to pretend-read her book while moving into his field of vision.

There was no way he wouldn't notice her. No way. Nope. It was HER after all. She was very....noticable.

He really had NO idea what he wanted to do. All the law enforcement stuff looked cool, but then again he had seen some of it first hand, so it was perhaps simply from exposure that he felt a pull toward the area. He couldn't say he really knew much of anything else, and despite what his life path number had told him, teaching was not looking like a desirable career choice. Effort. Little action. Naaaahhhh.

Remembering his conversation with Kate and Hady, the thought crossed his mind about DRGONOLOGY, cause, hello, DRAGONS! They were cool. So he started sifting through the papers looking for anything and everything relevant to that.

As with any time he chose to study though, distractions were difficult to ignore, and there were PEOPLE or a PERSON in his vicinity which demanded his attention. He saw her movement from the corner of his eyes and it was difficult for him to ignore moving things.

"Hi," he said as he peered over at her, a small smile for the weird Slytherin girl he didn't know from a bar of soap. What was her name again? Maddie? Maggie? Madge? He really should know his peers a lot better.

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe.

OF COURSE he noticed her.

She looked up with an expression on her face that suggested she hadn't noticed him up until now. Or hadn't bothered to notice him rather. "....hi." Yeah. Did her voice sound unimpressed enough? She eyed him for a moment before looking back down at her book.

...

Maybe she should say more. "You're......." She flailed a little and looked over to one of the windows as if she was trying to remember something. "....Zach?" Maggie raised her eyebrows at. Yes?

She replied. Kinda. Well, she DID, but it didn't sound all that friendly. Meh.

Returning his attention to the pamphlet in his hand, Zeke re-read the sentence that he'd read five times already... this was hard work. He read it again just as the Slytherin spoke another work. Was something supposed to come after that?

He was staring at her now. Cause her level of weird just got weirder as she seemed to be looking for words to say. In the end she settled for a name that wasn't his. Hilarious.

"Actually it's Zeke," he informed casually. He could have guessed about her name, but he was more of an avoid-the-risk-of-failure type of person. Instead he read the cover of the book in her hand. "You like unicorns?" he asked, amused by the stereotypical nature of it all. Girls and unicorns, it was SO standard.

Ah, yes, she knew it was Zeke.

So Maggie just nodded. "Zeke, right." And she didn't mind the staring. She was used to staring. She was very pretty, you know. He probably knew her name. He'd probably asked Hady about her. If he hadn't then there was something SERIOUSLY wrong with him. Which was of course a possibility.

"Yes!" She said, maybe a little too loudly for a library before taking a few steps closer to him. So she wouldn't get in trouble. "You're Hady's............friend, right?" There was a rather friendly and conversational tone to her voice now. Just being nice here, yes.

Learning, the girl was learning, though he almost wished she'd have introduced herself - if only to save himself from an awkward encounter at a later date. Perhaps he'd ask around about her or simply pay attention to her in class. Sooner or later her name would HAVE to become evident to him, and then he wouldn't forget it.

Her yes though, was quite something. He smirked before seeing if it had drawn anybody's attention to them. Apparently not though. Shame.

Conversations with strange girls he didn't know were HARD, he decided and was glad for the fact that she seemed to be carrying it somewhat.

"I am," Zeke confessed, "are you close with her?" He would have assumed so, since they were in the same year, and the same house, and probably also likely to share a dorm. He shifted the pile of pamphlets off the spare side of the couch, if she felt she needed to, or wanted to sit with him. He didn't bite...

It was about time he moved those pamphlets to make room for her. Maggie had been about to just sit ON them.

"Oh yes!" She sat down next to him and crossed her legs, smiling. "We're really close." Sorta. They shared a dorm. And talked occasionally. "You know, I'm just-" She giggled softly and waved her hand in his direction. "-you'll think it's silly but...I'm just looking out for her." Yes. Because she was such a NICE PERSON and all that. Mhm. There she was looking out for her friends. "Making sure she won't get hurt and all that." That sounded like something people who actually cared would say, yes? "So, you're....good people right?" Pause. Letting that sink in.

"I mean, sorry, OF COURSE you are. Silly me." She laughed and leaned back in her seat.

She was a very girly and enthusiastic one, wasn't she? SO girly.

And there she went, Mystery Girl was confirming his suspicions, she was close with Hady... and then he felt as though conversation was going to lull (or completely die) he was terrible with talking to girly girls. They had ZIP in common. But he needn't have worried, girly girl was going to continue whatever conversation this was, all on her own.

Looking out for her?

"Okayyyyyyy..." he replied, his voice drawing out the syllables cautiously.

What was wrong? Why did Hady need looking out for?

...

Zeke had forgotten about his whole career dilemma 100% by now, and Mystery Girly Girl had ALL of his attention. Just WHAT was this?

...

And then there was THAT.

There were two things he had to somehow piece together, and it wasn't happening.

1. She didn't want to see Hady hurt.
2. She was questioning whether or not he was good peeps.

...

Was she testing him? Seeing if he was trust worthy? WAS SOMETHING REAAAALLLYYY WRONG?

But then apparently he WAS good peeps. So?

"Uhh... you can trust me," he said without really knowing what to say. "Is something going on? Is she okay? You'd tell me, wouldn't you?... if something wasn't."

He was trying to make sense of what she was saying.

And it was SO hard to keep the smirk from her lips. She managed though. Maggie was good at that kind of thing. So she just sat there, watching him, still smiling, waiting for him to work through what she'd just told him.

Take your time, Zeke.

"Well...if something wasn't okay I'm sure SHE would tell you, right?" That made sense, yeah? "Since you're so close and all." Now it was her turn to put on a concerned face. "Do YOU think something's off?" Like, why would he think that hmm? He was the one jumping to conclusions after all. Where had that come from? Hmm?

This was easily the weirdest encounter he'd had, EVER, and that was saying a lot considering this was Hogwarts. And then there was THAT.

Would Hady tell him?

"Of course," they were friends, friends shared things like that. But then... wait.. would she? Zeke paused for a second, his brows knitting together as he thought through the idea a second time. Mystery girl's additional comments only prompted him to think further.

Did he think something was off?

..

"She said she had to see Healer Murdoch," he confessed, though she did say it wasn't for her health. But if it wasn't for her health, then what WAS it for?

He could have sat and stewed with his thoughts for a while, but why bother when there was a perfectly good source of information sitting right beside him. Turning slightly so he was facing her head-on, a leg pulled up and tucked beneath his other, he pushed the pamphlets to the side, well and truly out of the way and officially DEprioritised.

"You said you were looking out for her, looking out for her how? What do you know?"

He was perfectly calm, though a part of him was itching to grab the girl by the arm and shake the information out of her.

Maggie gave him a 'there you go' kind of smile when he agreed that OF COURSE Hady would tell him if something was wrong. Of course she would. Mhm.

So, no need to worry, Zekey.

Her face didn't betray her but it was the first time she'd heard of Hady going to see the Healer. Interesting. She might have to find out what that was about. Not now though. Not from Zeke. So Maggie just nodded along with his words, pretending to be thinking about the whole thing too now.

Ah and now she had his full attention. Which she liked. Heh. "I know a lot of things. You need to be more specific." Maggie replied with a slow almost smirk-like smile. Running a hand through her hair she watched him for a second before cocking her head to the side. "Do you like her?"

This was getting more confusing by the minute. He had asked what he thought was a straightforward question, one which clearly stipulated he was CONCERNED for Hady. But apparently Little Miss Mystery wasn't in a forthcoming mood. "About Hady, what do you know that I don't?" he reiterated. WHY WAS SHE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT THESE THINGS AND STUFF?!?!?!!..........

....

Girls. Would he EVER understand them? He doubted it.

And then there was THAT question, and it smelled strongly like a trap. Was its trap? Was this a TRICK question? Was there a right answer? A wrong answer? He replied after a moment of CAREFUL consideration.

"Yeaaaahhhh... why wouldn't I?" Obvious. Right? Duuuhhh, Hady was awesome.

Zeke really needed to learn to ask his questions right. Because he did it wrong again. Maggie giggled softly. "I don't know what you know, silly." Obviously. "And maybe you should talk to Hady, not me. I'm not going to....spill any secrets." Like, excuse me.

What a preposterous thing to THINK!

It took him a while to answer this question and Maggie felt oh-so-proud of herself. Hehehehe. "Of course you do." Her smile suggested that that was a really SILLY question to ask in the first place. "Like I said, just make sure you don't do anything...stupid." She reached out to pat his knee before getting up. "It was SO nice talking to you, Zeke." Mhm.

And now she was going to leave. Yep.

......

Fksbusbsbfjfund!!!!!

Of course she didn't know what he knew, but she could still spill what it was that SHE knew. Gosh. Why did this have to be so hard?!?!?!

Zeke blinked in her direction, trying his best not to let his annoying show. But before he could really try to get it out of her, there was the SECRETS thing. Hady had secrets? If that was the case then he didn't think he really had the right to ask her about them... unless they concerned him? Did they? Why was life so hard?

"Secrets?" he repeated, still processing THAT.

And then just when he thought he was in the thick of things and walking straight into a trap... he came out of it unscathed. So, that WAS the right answer? "Stupid? Why would I do anything stupid?" and more to the point, WHAT stupid thing could he do? Really? Cause sure, he often did things without thinking, and 'stupid' was a word that had ben used to describe him on many occasions before, but he still didn't see how this applied to him NOW, not with Hady. What stupid thing could he do? Aside from maybe lead her into something dangerous, which indeed would be stupid. Was that what this was about? Their adventures? Was he supposed to not drag her along with him anymore?

The pat on his knee barely registered, and before he knew it Mystery girl was getting up to go. But... but... but... HE NEEDED ANSWERS! And though he was mentally protesting, his words failed him and instead farewelled the girl, "yeah, nice talking to you too..." or not.

Just WHAT had happened?

One thing he was sure of, he had bigger fish to fry than figuring out his life plan. No, first on his agenda was finding out WHO he had just spoken to, and the second thing was to go and talk to Hady.

On sunday afternoon, Leo entered the Corner Room to set up for the quill meeting. Setting down a tray of refreshments and snacks on one of the tables he pulled out his wand and enlarged said table.(Yes, he was breaking his no food and drink rule again). Fitting comfy chairs to the table, and a vase with sunflowers he felt satisfied. It looked like a meeting table now. From his many robe pockets Leo pulled out an agenda, parchments, a quill and ink bottle which he placed on the table before slipping into a seat. Taking out a battered carbon copy of a novel, he started to read while he waited for Maddox and the rest of the paper staff to arrive.

Quill meeting time. Eden came with her blue hair tied back in a simple pony-tail, and though she was tired and eye-rubby, she was here and ready to discuss QUILL RELATED THINGS.

Ahem.

It seemed she was the first to arrive, though. Well, besides Mr. Kitridge.

"Hiiii..." she said with a sleepy wave. She had just been asleep, obviously, you know? "How are you today, Mr. Kitridge?" she asked as she flopped into a comfy looking chair and yawned.

Merlin.

Were those.....refreshments?

Sophie Brown always enjoyed Kitridge-hosted meetings, as it meant they got to party it up in the library, and he ALWAYS brought refreshments, which was ESPECIALLY awesome as they were never allowed to snack in the library at any other time. That didn't mean it didn't happen on occasion, but it was nice to not have to sneak food under his radar and it was free food, which was the best kind, of course.

So it was no surprise to this Ravenclaw when she entered the corner room of the library to see the various snacks and refreshments the librarian had gathered for them today and - as per usual, as she never took it for granted - Sophie's face lit up at the sight of the tray. Food made ANY meeting worth going to.

"Afternoon, Mr. Kitridge," she greeted, flopping into one of the cozy chairs beside Eden as she set her bag on the table for the time being as she went to help herself to the food. What? Kid was hungry... one hundred percent of the time. "And Miss McGee. How ya doin'?" she asked both of them, giving Eden a cheeky sort of nudge as she inquired.

Don't mind her while she helped herself. Growing child, y'know.

It wasn't like he was tired but it wasn't like he was awake either. It was a delicate state for the Charms Professor in which he just felt all kinds of lazy and ready to flop on his comfy cushion back in his office. In fact, that's where he'd been until he remembered the meeting scheduled with the Quill Staff today.

Somehow he convinced himself to get up and make the trek one floor up to the library, his tail dragging lazily along the floor behind him.

By some great miracle, it appeared he wasn't running late. Excellent, no real rush to stretch back into a man then. Both Sophie and Eden got a pleasant enough 'meow' and Leo got a little nod before he hopped onto one of the chairs and curled up.

Not sleeping, nah, the walk up here woke him a bit but there was nothing wrong with getting comfy while he waited.

Toby had, um... actually forgotten about this meeting. Completely and utterly. He'd been down visiting his fairies in the creature housing area when he eventually did remember, and that was only 'cause he'd had the idea to try and somehow write an article about the adorable little creatures. He wasn't late, at least, but he had ended up having to say some very hurried goodbyes and apologies before sprinting back off to the castle and up to the fourth floor.

Reaching the library had been... dramatic, like he was a man on a mission. And then arriving at the corner room for the meeting, even moreso. Instead of skidding to a halt outside the door before entering (like he'd meant to), Toby totally misjudged it and ran - SMACK! - into the wall. From within it sounded like a dull *clunk*, followed by slightly muffled, "ow."

BUT HE WAS HERE. And... on time. Still early actually, wow. So... the panic had been totally unnecessary? Good to know. Toby winced, rubbing his forehead where it had connected with the wall, and pushed open the door into the corner room.

..... Had they heard that?

".......................... Hi." Ow.

They'd probably heard it. Merlin. Toby went for the nearest empty chair (almost, ALMOST, going for the one that housed a snoozing cat, ALMOST), and sank into it, recovering from the impromptu run up here.

He'd not even limbered up, probably ended up pulling a muscle. No doubt he'd know all about THAT when his headache went away. SIGH. He tried his best not to appear too grumpy.

Seventh year did things to a person.

Gabe wasn't late...but he WAS exhausted; dragging himself into the library bright and early as agreed upon.

You know you're a nerd WHEN.......you get lost in your Astro 'light reading' textbook, only to absentmindedly glance at your watch to note it's 3:00 in the morning. Black holes were fascinating, okay?...and Gabe was particularly interested in their 'magnetic fields' and how they could pull things in. It was both awesome and terrifying to consider.

Anyway...

Slipping into the corner room, he glanced around and noted those present. No surprise that Sophie Brown was one of the first. The urge to roll his eyes was strong...but he refrained. Somehow. The eagerness was a GOOD thing, he had to keep telling himself...and Eden...Well. At least, she'd came. Things were strange between them right now. Gabe thought he'd understood the reasoning...but it was stranger still...and he was just a boy. He didn't comprehend girls, okay? Also, his advisers. Kitridge and Quigley. They both received respectful nods...and TOBY. Toby got a small, pinkish smile.

"Good morning."...and snacks. He was....just going to help himself...before taking a seat.

Quiiillllllll. Rusty sorta felt like she cheated a little bit - cause she always wrote her articles on muggle paper with a biro. She just couldn't get the hang of a quill, and she didn't want what she wrote to be unreadable, so she just used what she knew. She was sure she'd get the hang of the quill thing eventually since they used them in all their lessons.

ANYWAY

She was already in the library - this whole vegan potion ingredients thing was becoming a bit of an obsession, and she'd been in the library pretty much constantly - so she just shoved a few of her things into her bag and made her way into the corner room. "Hey everyone!" She gave all her friends a cheery smile. "Are you okay, Toby?" she asked quietly - she'd seen him collide with the wall, since she'd been outside, and wanted to check he was okay.

Then she took a seat, smiling at the cat - "Hi Professor." - and resisting that uber strong animal-lovers urge to pick up the kitty and snuggle it. Cause that was a professor. And she'd recently learned that hugging professors made them scream like someone had accidentally set them on fire or something...

HUGH WAS HERE.

ISH.

He tripped on the entrance but he was technically here. After he got off of his face from where he was sprawled out on the floor.

Sup. YO. He was cool. He was chill. Everything was fine. No one saw that....because none of them existed. So he wasn't embarrassed. Hugh actually didn't even understand what that word felt like. Ever.

He saluted some people awkwardly and collapsed into his seat, "What's up? And if you said the ceiling...you would be correct."

So sincere. He said that SO sincerely. Because it was just true.

Jenna had gotten a little caught up in the homework she was doing down in her dorms, but fortunately she'd looked at the clock in time to remember she had a meeting to go to. So after quickly putting her stuff away, she hurried up to the library, slowing once she finally reached it.

It didn't take long after that for her to find the room, and she was pleased to see that she wasn't late. "Hello, everyone," she greeted them with a small smile, then took her seat.