It was always amusing to study the Barnabus the Barmy tapestry whenever he walked past it going to the Gryffindor Common Room. Sometimes he would just stand still and watch the trolls attempting to do ballet and ...he sometimes tried a turn or two when he was sure that no one was looking.

Which was the case now, the Head Boy did a kind of pirouette which failed dramatically, he tripped over his own feet but was still able to hold himself upright by grabbing the tapestry. Oops. Good thing that no one saw that....right? RIGHT?! It wasn't like he was in to dancing or something he just ...felt like it every now and then.

Arista skipped out of the Great Hall and decided it was time to return home aka her bed. She climbed up the stairs up to the seventh floor and almost died because those stairs were dreadful how she made it up there every single day she wasn't sure. Bed...She made it up here for her bed.

As she walking to the Fat Lady she saw The Head Boy about to call out a hello she watched as he attempted a pirouette. "Dang you almost had it! Try again, practice makes perfect." She said in the moment even forgetting to say hello.

He... read... it... too!

Katherine was clearly excited. With every word he spoke, her smile got bigger and in the end, she said "Exactly! Finally, someone that appreciates that book. It should be the prerequisite for attending here." For sure - a book of such a size must be the prerequisite for everyone. Mhm. "I read it two times." And she still had to read for another two at least...

Ahem.

Katherine didn't know why, but she held her breath as he thought. WHERE would he want to see? WHERE was special for him? WHICH adventures had he - wait, he had a detention??????!!!!! She believed him about its not being his fault, though. Someone who read Hogwarts, A History could not cause trouble on their own. No, he was one of the people she could trust 100%, so she had decided.

Barnabas the Barmy though, she knew that place! "Let's go, then!" she said as she followed him.

And... well, it was only a few metres anyway, so before she could ask anything else, they were there. She looked at the portrait with that posture of well-known critics: arms supporting her head as her index finger tapped her chin. She didn't want to laugh, she really didn't... but...

"Hehehehe!" Ahem, yes, he was listening to the story he was about to tell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

He... read... it... too!

Katherine was clearly excited. With every word he spoke, her smile got bigger and in the end, she said "Exactly! Finally, someone that appreciates that book. It should be the prerequisite for attending here." For sure - a book of such a size must be the prerequisite for everyone. Mhm. "I read it two times." And she still had to read for another two at least...

Ahem.

Katherine didn't know why, but she held her breath as he thought. WHERE would he want to see? WHERE was special for him? WHICH adventures had he - wait, he had a detention??????!!!!! She believed him about its not being his fault, though. Someone who read Hogwarts, A History could not cause trouble on their own. No, he was one of the people she could trust 100%, so she had decided.

Barnabas the Barmy though, she knew that place! "Let's go, then!" she said as she followed him.

And... well, it was only a few metres anyway, so before she could ask anything else, they were there. She looked at the portrait with that posture of well-known critics: arms supporting her head as her index finger tapped her chin. She didn't want to laugh, she really didn't... but...

"Hehehehe!" Ahem, yes, he was listening to the story he was about to tell.

David smacked his own forehead lightly, miming the action of someone who just remembered something. "You're right! Why isn't it a prerequisite already?!" He should get his mum to talk to the Board of Governors people about setting that up. REQUIRED READING. Duh. If Katherine could read it over twice before attending Hogwarts, everyone should be able to read it at least once. He approved of her dedication immensely, and his expression showed this approval.

So that was a short trip, and now that they were here, David also chuckled at the tapestry. He was pretty used to silly, ugly Barney the Barmy, but he wasn't the REAL reason they were here. Davie turned so his back was to the tapestry and he was looking across the corridor a blank stretch of wall. He gestured for Katherine to do the same. "You've probably figured out why we're here, and it's not for Barnabus. Right across from us is the Come and Go Room, or the Room of Requirement, which changes to suit the needs of whoever requires it. This is also where I had a detention last term." He nodded seriously, then took a breath, because he could tell that little bit of explanation wasn't going to cut it with Miss Moss.

"Last year, I found this cool green quill on the grounds, and I carried it around with me for most of the year. Finders keepers, right? Well it turned out that the quill actually belonged to a classmate of mine, Blaise Bellaire, and Blaise wanted it back REALLY badly. I don't give up easily, so we got into a... a bit of a tussle over it in the Great Hall one lunchtime." Sigh. "Long story short, Professor Flamsteed made us spend a whole twenty-four HOURS handcuffed to each other, and since Blaise is a Gryffindor and I'm a Ravenclaw, and we can't go into each others' Common Rooms, we had to sleep in the Room of Requirement. It made up these cool little beds for us that were spaced just right so our handcuffs wouldn't cut off our wrists or anything. Oh and ALSO while we were handcuffed, we had to go on a field trip to the Royal Observatory still handcuffed to each other, and we only got the cuffs off after the trip and after we said nice things about each other in front of Flamsteed." And while that had been fun and all, it had also been awkward at first.

"After all that," he smiled at Katherine, to see if she was still listening, "I made friends with Blaise, and he turned out to be pretty smart and a good writer, and now the Room of Requirement represents both a detention AND a reward, you could say, because it's always a good day when you can make a new friend."

The end! Did she want to go check it out now after that kinda-cheesy but 100% true story?

They were clearly soul mates. And not in the icky, disgusting romantic way, even. No, sir! Their 'soul mates' satus was much more noble - they shared the same passion, the same idea. She imagined herself as the future Minister for Magic for a moment, and he'd become the headmaster like his mother and together, they would make Hogwarts the real best again. She smiled to herself. While politics could be dirty at times, she firmly believed that those who worked hard could do whatever they wanted. They were both clever, and they certainly could do it.

Thank you, David Truebridge, for strengthening her dedication to become big!

Oh, hold on, was she supposed to look at the other wall? She followed him, and watched the empty wall as she listened carefully. Room of Requirement, of course! This room was one of the most important in Hogwarts - the most important after each classroom and library, if she'd say so. Having a detention in there was rather odd, but she didn't interrupt and let him tell his story with occasional "Mhmm, yes, okay," to show she listened.

...finders keepers, for sure! She nodded vigorously. Oh, Blaise!!! She knew him! Even though... she didn't approve of him so much anymore, but that was another story. In fact, if David liked him so much, she could give him a second chance. She knew Blaise wasn't a bad person, anyway. She just... didn't want to be associated with a troublemaker. Ugh, making the right friend was so hard!

David was done soon enough, and she clapped briefly and cheerfully. "Thank you for sharing it with me." She eyed the wall again. "I met Blaise on the platform, actually. He did look like a great person." Except... the feast, of course, but she was too polite to talk badly about his friend now.

"Can we check inside, or do we have lots of places to go to?" It was up to him, basically. Though she did want to see inside.

Ever since her History of Magic lesson, Azura had been curious about the portraits that hung on the wall in the castle. She had been walking up to random one and actually asking them questions..

But did the same thing go for tapestries?

She honestly wasn't sure! She sighed a little as she looked up at it and smiled.."Any of you have any advice for how to stop missing someone?" She asked softly, as she pulled her black hair over her shoulder and looked around, before leaning on the wall.

She missed Jasper, Jace, Garreth, Austin even! Things had seemed to lonely for her lately! Maybe it was because things were growing colder.. everything felt lonely when it was cold outside.

Out of the common room, Genny sliiiiiiiid down the first flight of stairs facing their portrait singing some Scottish song she heard her mum listen to once. "When I've done my work of day and I row my boat away-- Oooh David!" Well, the song didn't have David's name in it but there he stood! David with some other Ravenclaw girl.

With no hesitation, the Gryffindor ran towards them with a wide grin and her two messy pigtails flying behind her. "Hi!" Why were they standing here?? Having a conversation with no food and worse-- close to an ugly painting. "Hi." To the stranger girl who must've been in Genny's classes because her face was familiar.

After spending all morning studying for his O.W.L.S, Austin decided to go for a walk. He was feeling more confident in his subjects, even Ancient Runes. Although there wasn't a class or a teacher this year to ask about, he found a few books that would help. Mr. Kitridge was very helpful in that department. He guessed it helps to have your head of house also be the librarian.

He had left his messenger bag on his bed, and instead, opted for his typical 'scruffy uniform' look. Although every fifth year boy seemed to sport the same look. He didn't mind too much that he looked typical. There was no need to stand out and bring attention to himself. The Ravenclaw was going to make friends his own way, without them laughing at him.

As Austin left the portrait, and headed down the hallway, he found a familiar pair of purple eyes. Or what he thought were purple eyes. It was hard to tell under the mess of black hair. But from what he could see, it was indeed his friend Azura. Although she seemed a little down in the dumps.

"Hey there. You doing alright?"

Azura's bright purple eyes looked up as she heard a familiar voice and her face broke into a smile! "Austin! How are you?" She hadn't seen him in awhile.. A long while actually. Not since the History of Magic class.

She shrugged as he asked her if she was doing all right. "I think so, I just feel slightly lonely, everyone seems so busy with school work and stuff." She said as she looked up at him with a nod.. "I guess I just miss people.. Even you." She said with a soft laugh.

Austin's face softened. "I'm doing alright, Azura. I just finished up some studying, and I'm just stretching my legs." Studying was hard, even for a Ravenclaw. He realized there was more to just potions, but sadly he realized that at the end of last term. So he had a lot to make up for.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around a lot." He felt bad. The teen had made so many new friends this term and it was hard to hang out with them. Mainly because half the time he forgot he had friends. But there was no need to tell her that. "But I'm here now." He flashed her one of his famous smiles. Hopefully she didn't hate him too much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

They were clearly soul mates. And not in the icky, disgusting romantic way, even. No, sir! Their 'soul mates' satus was much more noble - they shared the same passion, the same idea. She imagined herself as the future Minister for Magic for a moment, and he'd become the headmaster like his mother and together, they would make Hogwarts the real best again. She smiled to herself. While politics could be dirty at times, she firmly believed that those who worked hard could do whatever they wanted. They were both clever, and they certainly could do it.

Thank you, David Truebridge, for strengthening her dedication to become big!

Oh, hold on, was she supposed to look at the other wall? She followed him, and watched the empty wall as she listened carefully. Room of Requirement, of course! This room was one of the most important in Hogwarts - the most important after each classroom and library, if she'd say so. Having a detention in there was rather odd, but she didn't interrupt and let him tell his story with occasional "Mhmm, yes, okay," to show she listened.

...finders keepers, for sure! She nodded vigorously. Oh, Blaise!!! She knew him! Even though... she didn't approve of him so much anymore, but that was another story. In fact, if David liked him so much, she could give him a second chance. She knew Blaise wasn't a bad person, anyway. She just... didn't want to be associated with a troublemaker. Ugh, making the right friend was so hard!

David was done soon enough, and she clapped briefly and cheerfully. "Thank you for sharing it with me." She eyed the wall again. "I met Blaise on the platform, actually. He did look like a great person." Except... the feast, of course, but she was too polite to talk badly about his friend now.

"Can we check inside, or do we have lots of places to go to?" It was up to him, basically. Though she did want to see inside.

Well, Katherine was simply the best audience a big dork like David could ever hope to achieve. He had her ear, for sure; not literally, naturally, but HE HAD HER CAPTIVE with his silly story of his first (and only) detention. Feeling a big smug at how rapt she was listening, Davie crossed his arms at the end of the story and gave Katherine a solid nod. He was just soaking in this applause. Soaking. It. In.

"Yes, he's a lot of fun. I'm glad you know him." That made the story all the better, especially since Davie had left out the parts about how Blaise was such a BULLY to him at first. All that mattered was that they were friends now. He grinned at her suggestion to peek inside, and started to reply in the affirmative...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magical Soul

Out of the common room, Genny sliiiiiiiid down the first flight of stairs facing their portrait singing some Scottish song she heard her mum listen to once. "When I've done my work of day and I row my boat away-- Oooh David!" Well, the song didn't have David's name in it but there he stood! David with some other Ravenclaw girl.

With no hesitation, the Gryffindor ran towards them with a wide grin and her two messy pigtails flying behind her. "Hi!" Why were they standing here?? Having a conversation with no food and worse-- close to an ugly painting. "Hi." To the stranger girl who must've been in Genny's classes because her face was familiar.

...and then Genny Tate happened. "GENNY!" Davie yelped in surprise. It was about dang time they ran into each other here! Head's kids and all. There were only two of them at the moment, he thought. How old were Botros' kids anyway? And Moxley's? He was regressing here. Back to the topic at hand.

"Hi, hi hi," Davie cooled it and resumed his smug tour-guide pose. "This is Katherine Moss. We're taking a tour of all the cool places Hogwarts has to offer." And they had been about to go into the Room of Requirement, but since Genny was here, and Deniz and Ro have clones in the RoR already, Davie thought she might like to join in. And go someplace else?

David tapped his chin with his finger. "Do you wanna join us? We should probably skip going into the Room, although I highly recommend that you both check it out on your own time." It was a cool place to be in private, too.

Someone else recognised David. Well, it was no wonder he was a popular guy: he was smart, hard working, fun and good looking. She bet a few girls had a crush on him, but she also bet he didn't even care - he was smart and cool like that.

Anyway, she recognised the girl too. Her name was Geneva Tate. Katherine knew, because she took notes during classes about her class mates too, ahem. However, she would pretend to not know the girl, of course.

. . . had this girl read Hogwarts, A History? Could she keep up with their intellectual level? Katherine didn't know WHY, but she secretly wanted the girl to say No, I'll pass.

Ladies and gentlemen, Katherine Moss felt jealous for a friend for the first time in her life.

Azura smiled warmly up at Austin as he spoke. "I'm glad to hear that you are doing all right. She said with a smile. It always made her happy when her friends were okay. "I've been studying as well, since our History of Magic class I have been talking to the portraits more.. and I was wondering.. if tapestries were the same way!" She said as she pointed to the one by them..

"I don't think it's responded to me." She said with a shrug.

"It's all right, no one has been around much, I haven't seen Jasper much since the beginning of term." Well, she had seen him here and there while he had been studying, but they hadn't hung out much at all.

She smiled widely back at him and she nodded. "Yes, you are here now! And look, it's not crazy and things are flying around us and we aren't falling off walls." She teased him..

"So how have you been?

Austin studied the tapestry, trying to remember History of Magic. He had never put much thought into it. The pictures moving was normal in the castle. Actually, he wasn't sure there was a picture that didn't move. That would be an interesting adventure idea. Trying to find a portrait that didn't move. But for another time, maybe. "I'm not sure. I think I heard somewhere that the tapestries have feelings. But I'm not sure that they move." Although it would be interesting if they did. Magic was so strange.

The Ravenclaw let out a chuckle. "I wouldn't put it past the school though. The staircases move, and there are ghosts. So If things start flying off the shelves, it wouldn't surprise me." But he wasn't sure how to defend them in that kind of situation. He'd probably figure it out.

"I'm doing alright, Azura. Although I'm unsure what's going on this year. First there was that food fight earlier in the year, and the Divination's teacher is a hag that lives in a tent on the grounds." He just shook his head. What was going on? It seemed no one could get a break this year.

Azura nodded as Austin spoke and she looked up at the Tapestry and nodded. "I suppose I could see them having feelings." She said as she smiled up at the older boy warmly.

She giggled a bit as he spoke about things flying off walls and she nodded. "I swear things are crazy this year, is it usually like this? She asked him as she leaned back on the wall and tilted up her head to aim her purple gaze at the older teen. This was her first year and all!

"Well, I'm glad to hear it." She shivered at the mention of the hag.. "I haven't seen her and I don't want too! I hope I can make it through this year without seeing her." She said with a nod.

He was tour-guiding someone? Wow, David was such a nerd sweet boy. "I want to know all the cool places, too! I've done the outside, still has the inside." Genny supplied happily, then her eyes acknowledged Katherine Moss. "Hello, I'm Genny Tate. I think we're in some classes together." Although she wouldn't remember the girl's name... or house... or face... Genny had a very specific attention span, okay?

"I would love to!" Join them in their quest of exciting things, as a Ravenclaw would put it. Hehehe. "I haven't found The Room yet, but I promised someone I'd find it with them and we'll try and make it give us a pool." Ha?? ha??? She looked as excited as she felt at the thought. "So, what's so interesting about this place?" Her eyes glanced around where they stood with the quiet Katherine Moss.

Austin glanced up at the Tapestry, and hoped its feelings weren't hurt. He wouldn't want people talking about him when he was standing right there. But maybe it couldn't hear them. Which means its feelings weren't hurt, right?

"Lemme tell you, Azura, things aren't usually like this. Maybe a few things here and there are weird. But nothing of this magnitude." He ran his fingers through his messy black hair. Something about this year was definitely off. Maybe it was the amount of teachers who were new, that was making the balance off. Ancient Runes wasn't even a class this year. Something in the air of Hogwarts was different.

"You really don't want to. The first divination class I went to, we all gathered around a fire, and she used a spell that made us all glued to our seats." He was going to leave out the part where she almost ate them. That wasn't the best idea for a first year. Wouldn't want to scare anyone off now.

Azura nodded as Austin spoke and ran his hands through his black hair, she could tell that something was off in the school, just by how the older boy was acting. "It does seem a bit strange and scary." Or rather creepy, her expierences with the doll still had her a bit on edge! "Have you heard about the doll that is wandering around Hogwarts? She asked him curiously as she leaned back against the wall to look up at the taller boy.

Her purple eyes were on him as he spoke and she shivered a bit. "That sounds terrible, remind me never to go to her class! She bit her lip, wondering if the rumors she had heard about the class were true! Did she really try to eat someone?

She wasn't going to ask.. because she really and truly didn't want to know!

"Well, let's hope we can make it through the rest of the year okay! It's nearly my birthday and I haven't injured myself in a week! So, that's good huh?" She asked with a smile up at the teen.

Austin paused. "No. There's a doll 'wandering' around Hogwarts?" And he thought spiders were scary. Having any sort of run in with a doll, and one that was alive.. that was something else. If that doll started running by his ankles right then and there, he would have been on the next train out of here. O.W.L.S be damned. "Have you seen it?" What did something like that even look like? Who was controlling it? Someone had to have brought it to life.

"She did seem to have predictions, though," He mentioned about the Divination class. "Whether they were true or not is a different story. But she'd have a fun class if she put a little effort in it."

As for the rest of the year, who knew? Were students going to go missing? Was one of them going to die, like his friend, Gregory? This was not something he wanted to find out. So, he decided to focus on the positive. "It's your birthday next week? Happy early Birthday then. What day?" Next time he was in Hogsmeade, hew as going to have to figure out a present. Maybe candy. "Is there a certain candy you like?" He personally had a taste for cinnamon flavored sugar quills. But not everyone had that same love for it.

Azura slowly nodded her head at Austin, it was so super creepy to talk about that the little first year was now almost huddled against a wall! She didn't think hugging Austin because she was scared, would be a good idea! He wasn't Torie! So she pulled her hands up and sort of hugged herself.. "Yes, I've seen it. My dorm mate Rachel had it in her room and then she lost it.. and the other day a friend of mine and I saw it in the Library, before it disappeared again." And it left a super creepy note too! But she wasn't going to say THAT out loud again!

Come play with me? EEEKKKK

Predictions hmm? Well then.. perhaps not eating children would help her keep a job? Just.. a thought. "I see, is she still around?" She asked curiously. Almost expecting to see the Hag or the Doll at any moment now! And if that happened.. Austin better be prepared for a hug!

"Yeah! It's coming up so soon! December 22nd! I'm going to be 12!" She said with a warm smile as she looked up at him.. somehow 12 just felt so much older than 11!

"Hmm.." Azura thought for a moment. "I like dark chocolate, Watermelon flavored sugar quills and sherbet balls." She nodded. Yup, those were all her favorite candies.

Cats. James had about six of them. All on cat leashes.

It had been easy enough to get them to follow. Two were moodier than the others, but it wasn't anything a bit of catnip couldn't handle. Besides, James knew creatures. It's what he did best. So of course keeping control had been the easy part.

The only hard part had been getting them in the first place. And even that was rather easy. All he had to do was announce a Cat Checkup Clinic. And students came running. It was really all too easy. The only thing that was missing here was some help. Which is precisely why James hadn't taken his cat crew to the final location yet.

He was still scouting.

An eager student, hopefully.

It was true, that the more Austin heard about the doll, he found it gave him chills. But it was also interesting to say the least. Who gave it life? Where did it come from? And did it have anything to do with the fact that there was a professor who was trying to eat people? This was such a crazy year... Austin could barely keep up with everything.

"Wow, that's close to mine! Mine's January 13th. And next time we head over to Hogsmeade, I'll make sure to buy you something." Austin spent his summers helping his dad in the pub, so he had saved up for the school year. Helping out mainly meant cleaning the tables at the end of the night, but it still made decent money. The tables don't seem as clean without you his letter had said. Maybe over the Holidays, he'd help out again. It would give him a chance to save up for the second half of term. Maybe even buy some Christmas presents.

Just as his mind had wondered from the 'crazy year' topic, the COMC professor came wondering down the hall with cats on leashes. Cats. On leashes. They never caught a break, did they? At least they seemed to be normal cats, and not cats on fire, or rabid ones. Both things Austin wouldn't be surprised about. "Um, professor," He called out. "Do you need any help?"

Just for today, Ava wanted to take a break from dueling practice and decided to walk around the castle with her precious Russian blue cat. Who knew that the days after Christmas break is getting crazier? It's too much for her twelve-year old brain. Why oh whyyyyyyyy the Professors were so cruel, torturing them with SO MUCH ASSIGNMENT???!!

And speaking of the Professor... Right now at her twelve o'clock direction, there was the strict creatures Professor.

Just hoped that he wasn't a mind-reader because she was bad-talking about the Professors in her mind. Well, there's no such thing as a mind-reader, right? It was just the stuffs from muggle superhero comic book.... Right. She was safe, cue dramatic sigh. "Hello there, Professor Draper." The young lioness greeted the man.

As he leaned against the wall scouting out for a victim student passerbyer, he noticed the older Ravenclaw call out. James almost considered enlisting this boy for the help he needed, however, he decided against it. The boy was much older than what James needed. Probably more knowing, probably more resistant. So he shook his head. "They're not difficult," he said, referring to the cats. Aside from the one rogue, they were all quite calm.

As he settled back into the wall, he considered exactly how he was meant to go about this whole ordeal. The execution would be easy, it was the plan that would be a little more taxing.

"Miss Burton," that was her name, yes? He couldn't ever be sure. All the kids were starting to look the same, honestly. There were far too many of them. Too many names to remember. Honestly, it was a lot to ask for.

With a quick glance down at the cats, he turned his attention back to the little girl standing before him. She would prove to be an excellent subject. "You like cats, Burton?"