"Over here I swear theres a short cut..."

Far from the Lions den they were, but the Gryffindor Prefect occasionally pokes his nose around the Snakes' turf, if only in fulfilling his patrol duties. Today though he was multi-tasking-- walking his rounds and walking with her rawwrship-- and maybe getting a chance to showcase his amazing sense of direction, because he's the kind of guy that knows where he's going....

.... well usually. This place didnt feel all that familiar to him, but he didnt let that show. So it was to his great relief that he saw stairs up ahead-- "See what I mean?" he grinned at Olivia as he hastened his steps towards it.

Slug pit? What slug pit?

A shortcut? She raised her eyebrows, intrigued that there was a shortcut around here. The only times that she had been to the dungeons was for Potions classroom and the occasional visit to see some friends but she had never ventured too far. Vi had absolutely no clue where they were going. It was kind of hard to see down here. A little bit too much doom and gloom for her? But the dark aspect of it seemed intrigue the Gryffindor. Adventures to be had especially with a special person like Tenacius. Besides accompanying him gave them a good chunk of time to just talk about things and enjoy each other's company. And there was something on her mind... but she would get to that later as they were trying to find a shortcut.

Vi glanced up at the curly haired Prefect when he pointed to the stairs and then followed his pointing to the staircase. He had known where it was. Wow. What a nifty short cut for sure. But as Ace began walking towards the staircase, Olivia couldn't help but notice something shimmering on the floor ahead of them. It looked like a puddle or something..? "So where does that staircase lea---" she stopped halfway through that statement and grabbed his arm to pull him back before stepping on the slithering shimmering surface. Something was moving but she couldn't tell what it was. Though it didn't seem like it should be there. "Watch out!" Olivia said, hoping that she could stop him; however, she wasn't sure if she could as she didn't have that much upper body strength. "There's something on the ground... Something shimmering or slithering..." What was there?

Ace was just soooo relieved that he didnt get himself and his this pretty lady lost that he wasnt even looking at where he was stomping those blundering feet on. Because floors are floors right?

But he did catch Vi's warning, and in the nick of time too, as his foot slipped on the slimy edges of the pit. Waving his hands about he tilts towards the side of the not-slugs, and lands on his bum with a resounding THUD. Hey at least its not slimy right?

"What the heck--" he warbled as he tried to figure out what just happened. But Vi said something about GROUND and SLITHERING.

HE was on the GROUND. And naturally the first thought that entered his head when the word SLITHER is uttered....

Fraaaantic scampering on his bum backwards "WHAT?? Theres a SNAKE???"

Merlin. Now that was a close one. She had watched Ace, basically in slow motion, walk forward and then suddenly catch his balance and fall on his butt. Was he okay though? Vi’s blue eyes glanced at him. It seemed like he was okay. She really couldn’t tell though but she suspected that he probably would have a bruised bum from that incident. She smiled. She was partially relieved that her Ace was okay and partially genuinely surprised that she hadn't gone with him on that tumble. Knowing her luck over the past few years, she would have. Hmm.. maybe it was the tattoo that was giving her good luck? Or maybe Ace and her had swapped their luck with each other and she had doomed him forever into being a PROFESSIONAL GRAVITY TESTER?!?!

Wait. No. Wasn't Ace just as clumsy as she was????

Vi couldn’t remember at this precise moment if he was or not (but she was pretty sure that he was) because her attention shifted towards the scooting boy and a very important question about a snake. Vi couldn't tell if it was a snake that was slithering or if it was something else. “I don’t know.. Maybe? I see something shimmering…. but its too dark to get a good luck at it…..” said the brunette. “If it is a snake though, we should get out of here….” Unless for some reason it was a friendly snake which she sorely doubted. Well there were friendly Snakes but as for snakes (with a lowercase S), Olivia didn’t know.

Though for whatever reason, Vi couldn’t help but be intrigued by the mystery of whatever slimy, slithering creature lay in the dark before them. She gripped her wand tighter and then stood up from where Ace was sitting. “I do wonder what it is…” she said glancing at Ace as she tried to look for her wand. She was sure that she had had it a moment ago... Unless she left it in her dormitory... Maybe investigating was the best option? "Are you afraid of snakes?" she asked. It'd probably be good to know that before investigating further.

Laurel headed down to the dungeons to make her usual night visit to the Slytherin common room, but she made a detour first. She figured that Vivian and Oliver could hold the forte until she had completed her mission. Clapping the basket she was carrying over her left arm the blond professor took one of the less travelled and sparingly lit dungeon corridors that she knew led down to the slug pit. Laurel needed to collect new slugs for her third year class later in the week that was going to perform slug and snail readings.

Walking in her own thoughts she first heard a curse "What the heck--" and then a resounding THUD. Curious as to what was going on and who was ahead of her Laurel upped her pace slightly. When she came into view of the slug pit she saw Tenacious Salander frantically scampering backwards asking about the location of a snake and Olivia Holden standing close by looking cool and calm wondering if Tenacious was scared of snakes which she clearly didn't seem to be.

Going up to them Laurel made her presence known by calling out kindly."Hi Olivia!, Hi Tenacious! What brings you two down here? You aren't lost I hope?"

One can argue that Tenacius Salander could well qualify for a Doctorate in Physics at this point-- speedster, gravity tester, breaker of alternate worlds.

Basilisk killer? Well not yet.... at least not today.

He scrambled to his feet as he whipped out his wand into the dimness around them, bumping momentarily into Vi before instinctively pushing her behind him. "I'm usually fine with snakes-- but usually they're behind an encasement or in the hands of real capable experts-- not deep in the bowels of a castle with a history of clandestine snake breeding." So he's not panicking, rather rapidly calculating their odds of survival.

His first thought is to cast a illumination spell-- because he'd like to see what it is they're facing. But just as he was about to utter the words he paused, hoarsely whispering to the Gryffindor lass "Do Basilisks petrify people because they see it or it sees them??" Geez now he's wishing he paid more attention at HoM class.




Suddenly there was another voice bouncing off the walls, and it was only so much he could do from leaping into the ceiling in surprise. He is never this jumpy. Then again how often was he in the presence of his biggest crush in the history of ever with their very futures in danger of being cut short?

"P-Professor Vance??" he turned his head, never been more relieved to see the blonde Seer walking towards them. "Uh.... there's something slithering and slippery over there...." he nudged his head in the direction of where he fell "Are we uh.... are we housing anything reptilian around these here parts? Cuz I didnt get the memo on that."

And before she knew it, Ace was back on his feet and in front of her with a protective hand to gently push her behind him. Welp. If it was a snake, basilisk, or some unthinkable creature, he was going to face it and protect her? She could normally handle herself and she hated feeling helpless and all but this was..... Okay. That was cute. Really cute of him. She kind of wanted him to protect her... Merlin. Ahem. Focus on the snake that may take them now or whatever shimmering creature. Her cheeks tinged a slight shade of pink as her hands rested gently on his back.

Vi glanced over her shoulder and then squinted her eyes. She swore that she saw something or someone (perhaps?) approaching them? She couldn't tell and turned to see her noble Gryffindor knight. She nodded in agreement. "And I don't have my wand on me...." she frowned. She had been practicing wandless magic but had only been able to cast relatively simple spells - up to third year level of normal magic with wand and all. "I guess this'd be the plot twist this year?" she laughed, making a silly joke. Merlin. Why did she have to make a poor joke like that at a time like this? This could be the end. There were so many things she wanted to do and say.... and say to him before....

VI's thought's were redirected at the current situation. Do Basilisks petrify people because they see it or it sees them?? His question stumped her. "I think it's both. When it looks you in your eyes. When eyes meet.... Like Medusa perhaps?" But then again not like Medusa. Then she heard footsteps growing louder and soon enough she heard both Tenacius and her own name being called.

It was.... "Professor Vance!" Vi beamed and sighed, relieved and VERY glad to see the Divination Professor. Since Ace had explained what was happening, Olivia simply nodded in agreement to his comment about housing a snake monster or whatever that thing was in front of them.... or multiple of them.

Something was slithering and slippery over there and by over there Laurel assumed the scared looking lions meant the luscious green pit ahead of them that blocked the route to the stairs out of the dungeons that was the home to the school's very own large infestation of slugs in all shapes and sizes.

Stopping next to the two jittery Gryffindor students certain that they were preparing to fight for their lives, Laurel informed calmly hiding her amusement. "What you heard slithering in the dark ahead of you Tenacious aren't snakes waiting to give you and Olivia poison bites that will give you a one way ticket to the hospital wing, but slugs. Hundreds upon hundreds of harmless slugs that at the most can give you a burn. You do know that you are standing on the edge of Hogwarts very own slug pit right?"

Shifting the position of the basket on her arm Laurel said as she started to walk towards the pit. "Come along, you two can assist me in restocking my supply of slugs for divination lessons!".

The way the Seer started answering their questions is making him even more anxious, at least initially, because she kinda used all the words that made him jump to all the wrong conclusions in the first place. And he was about to make another wrong conclusion-- that whats out there are WORSE than SNAKES-- but instead she said....

SLUGS

....... What like his own beloved fat dumpling Jabba the Slug?

Relieved? Why yes, quite relieved, and it showed when his demeanor relaxed and he lowered his wand. "Hundreds of slugs Professor?" Ok now that changes everything. Jabba's people be here! Jabba can reconnect with his roots! Re-discover himself! Finally feel complete--

-- Wait they're getting more slugs out of that pit?

He glanced at Vi and nodded his head. Was she game for that? "Do we need any particular processes for..... Slug Emigration Professor?" Because thats kinda what it was isnt it?

SLUGS?

No snakes... just slugs.... Wonderful.

She stood up straighter, feeling incredibly silly about how scared and jumpy she had seemed before. Whoops. Who's face was bright red? Olivia's was. Who was really glad that it was kind of dark down here for once? Yep, that'd be Vi Holden. "Oh. Slug Pit?" she repeated, feeling half-relieved yet half-foolish. So this is where the Slug Pit was located. Vi watched as her knight in not so shining armor lowered his wand and looked very relieved. She slowly removed her hands from being behind his back and slipped out from having been pushed behind him to stand next to him as the Professor and Ace spoke.

Slugs. They'd laugh about this one day. The day they thought there was another snake monster on the loose and instead of it being a terrifying creature, it was just a bunch of slugs. Oh Merlin. How embarrassing.

But in the meantime, Professor Vance had asked Ace and her to help her out in restocking the slugs for Divination. She felt Ace's glance land on her and she offered him a smile before turning to Professor Vance. "I'm game to help out too, Professor!" she smiled. Hearing Ace's comment, she nodded. "Yes, what is the game plan? Do we carefully pick them up or...?" Was there something else?

Some people just had faces where every emotion was displayed as quickly it was felt and both Tenacious and Olivia were a perfect example of that. The lion students went from looking super anxious and like they were about to face their worst nightmares to relieved and relaxed in seconds all because Laurel had said slugs and not snakes. Reaffirming with a look from Tenacious to Olivia she repeated. "Yes SLUGS, hundreds of them." Did they really think Hogwarts would have a pit full of lethal snakes that students could come across and get snake bitten by or worse?

With Olivia blushing like a tomato probably feeling foolish for thinking of snakes slithering in the dark and Tenacious lowering his wand Laurel said as if she didn't see any of it. "We won't need much to collect slugs just our wands unless you two would prefer getting your hands dirty by carefully lifting the slime covered slugs with your bare hands?"

Starting to move into the darker part of the corridor she asked stopping only when she stood with her heels on the slime pit edge. "Haven't you two worked with slugs in CoMC or Potions class? Slugs are useful even if they might seem boring.."

HUNDREDS of SLUGS! Knowing what those were now, Tenacius confidently strode back to where he fell, peering into the pit. It looked like the floor was moving at first, but slowly he could make out the small wriggling creatures one on top of the other. Might've looked revolting to the uninitiated, but the Gryffindor Ace was just fascinated by them all. "I wouldnt mind getting my hands slimy, I mean I have a pet slug myself, his name is Jabba-- he came from your class Professor Vance, remember when we did some slug divining?"

He glanced at Vi, proud he was that she didnt shirk at the thought of ALL these SLUGS. With a jokey grin he nudged her shoulder and murmured "So... the wand or the hand?"

Vi glanced at the floor ahead of them. Yes, those slithering lines turned out to be small chubby little slugs. Despite the slime, she supposed they were rather... cute. Not her preferred creature but at least they were harmless. As Professor Vance asked them to chose between procuring the slugs with their hands or wands, Vi turned to glance upwards at the Gryffindor Ace briefly before returning her gaze to Professor Vance. Then she asked them about whether or not they had used slugs in Care of Magical Creatures or Potions. "I've only used them really in Potions." Though she hadn't used them in CoMC yet at Hogwarts.

But as of right now, they needed to decide on how they were going to procure the slugs. As she turned her blue eyed gaze back to the Prefect, she wondered what he was going to say. And then he spoke. Well Ace seemed keen for using his hands but then he turned to look at her and asked her what she'd prefer. "I don't mind," she said with a nonchalant shrug. "I'm game for getting my hands dirty." Besides, the slime was washable and could easily be dealt with at a later time, right?

The power of a single word shouldn't be underestimated. Laurel watched Tenacious stride over to confidently peer down into the pit with all the slugs in that where wriggling around on top and around of each other. She thought he'd take a step back in pure revulsion like most children did but he instead surprised her by staying where he was and taking her up on the challenge of getting his hands slimy. Smiling at the memory she nodded "Yes, I remember that class quite well Tenacious, is your Jabba still alive and healthy?" How long did a slug live anyway she'd have to ask Tristan sometime.

Glancing over at Olivia she wondered if the girl was going to pass up on the slimy job like most girl's would do in a heartbeat but she didn't surprising Laurel too. Olivia nonchantly shrugged and proclaimed that she didn't mind getting her hands dirty either.

Looking from one lion student to the other Laurel set her basket down and then took a step into the slime with her heels intending to lift up the first slugs. "The muggle way it is then! Be wary of the fire slugs they can give you buuuuuuurnssssssssss-------" the last was said with a shriek as the blond professor lost her footing on the slippery slime covered floor and slid straight down into the slug pit with a loud "SPLASH!" that caused slime to splash up in different directions..

It wasn't like the slug pit was that far off and honestly, Skylar was just heading to the Slytherin common room to change out some books when she heard something that did NOT sound good at all. Being familiar with this less traveled corridor, hearing a splash when there was SLIME and SLUGS around was never good, to which naturally, the fifth year went to investigate.

And was surprised to find two Gryffindors and her head of house as the one who had slipped. OH NO.

"Professor!" Sky blinked, in shock, glancing around for something to tranfigure. Thinking quick, she conjured some ropes to toss at the Divination professor. You know because rope to help get the woman up from the slippery slime would be helpful, maybe?

A big grin tugged on the Curly Top's lips when the Seer inquired about his adopted pet "Yup, he's doing real well, could probably use some exercise though--" he chuckled. "Not for lack of trying, I mean I even created an obstacle course for him-- maybe he needs an audience? Certainly got a good crowd here." A pit full of cheering slugs yeah?

Ok so he and Olivia are ready to get their hands dirty, and just as he began to shorten his sleeves he had to wonder what the Professor was doing-- was she actually going into the pit shoes and all? He shot a glance at the Gryffindor gal beside him. When he said he didnt mind getting dirty he meant it, but wading in wasnt exactly his first course of action yknow? Besides given his clumsiness gracefulness, he could end up squishing one of the poor little--

-- Uh oh. Professor's down. See thats exactly what he meant. Not that they were spared either-- he was drenched in slug slime! Meep sorry girl crush, not exactly his plan of impressing her that afternoon....

Was there another voice echoing around the hallway? The slug slime was getting into his eyes and he had to get that stuff out of his face first "Professor Vance you ok?" he called out

And the Professor was down! "Professor Vance!" she cried, reaching out to try to grab the woman but alas she wasn't quick enough and the Divination Professor went sliding along the bottom of the pit. Oh Merlin. Oh Merlin. Blue eyes widened and he panicked. Poor woman. It must have been really slippery down here. Slime was tossed up into the air and Vi managed to avoid it with a quick shield charm. Good reflexes she had there. She only wished that she had been quicker at catching Professor Vance.

And then she heard another voice. Was that.... "Skylar?" asked Olivia as she took a step into the slug to go help out the Professor. As she took a step, she miscalculated her foot placement and ended up reaching for a one and hopefully sturdy Tenacius Salander to hopefully grab his hand or arm to steady herself.

"Professor," she spoke as she ran over to help the woman up. She offered her a hand. "Are you alright?"

"Brilliant, just bloody brilliant!" Laurel muttered under her breath to herself as she surveyed the situation that she had slipped downb into. She was currently lying on her side in the deepest part of the slug pit and slugs had begun to slither and climb all over her and she had slime in her hair and face. Refusing the urge to visibly cringe when the slimy creatures came in contact with her exposed skin even though all she really wanted to do was to shriek out loudly, Laurel focused on Olivia and Tenacious worried voices.

Putting as much ounce of reassurance into her voice as could muster given the slithering slugs, she called back to the students. "I'm all right. No injuries." And then another voice joined the others which Laurel recognized as belonging to Skylar Diggory. Rising herself up into a sitting position she was about to reach out for Olivia's offered hand when Skylars rope landed in her lap. Grabbing onto the rope with one hand and boosting herself up to a standing position with the use of her other hand Laurel involuntarily gave the rope a very hard tug as she felt herself start to slip once more.

With one hand still gripping the rope she panicked and grabbed for Olivia's hand with the other calling out. "Stand firm, Olivia and Skylar! I'm almost out of the pit. Just hold on!" If she fell flat again then she was going to curse her heels and throw them in Moaning Myrtle's toilet.