James rushed back to the shelves and picked up the golden cup with two handles, which was sitting on the first shelf. He raced back to the chest and placed the cup on it, hoping and waiting.

After setting foot into the common room, Mel's quick Ravenclaw mind went to work. She examined all items on the shelves carefully before deciding which looked most antique, which looked most likely to belong to Helga herself. She grabbed the one that had two handles and was gold in color. Placing it on the chest, she turned to the Friar with a grin. "Am I correct, good sir?"

No good... Jacob wondered if there was a way to know before they even tried. But there was really no obvious details, so Jacob stared at the trophies and cups. It was starting to kill his brain. Jacob shrugged and grabbed the cup with the brownish handle, and put the cup on the chest. He crossed his fingers... Please.

Rex walked into the HufflePuff common room. Fat Friar, I beleive Y have the right cup. " Rex told him. He whipered to the Friar about the cup.

On to the challenge!

Gold loved a good challenge. Loved it. Perhaps that was why she loved the hardest subjects at Hogwarts, the most -- Runes, artihmancy, astronomy. Green eyes alight, she stepped up to where the cups stood. This, she knew, would be fun.

But first, she had to decide which cup she wanted to choose. Only one would work. Gold looked at each, one by one, noticing each difference, each similarity, each little detail. It was the handles, she decided, that were important.

Those were her key, to the genuine one.

There were only two cups that had two, proper handles. But one was box-shaped. She picked up the second cup, the second on the first shelf, and examined it. Two handles, golden in colour. This one, she told herself quietly. I don't think I remember Helga's Cup as box-shaped. Textbook descriptions certainly said otherwise, but she could be mistaken.

At any rate, she wasn't going to know, until she tried to unlock the chest. So she did. Holding the cup of her choice gently - but firmly - Gold tried that, unlocking the chest.

The question was, would it work?

She could only hope!

As more students filed in to attempt the challenge, the Friar watched them happily. Ho-ho! This would be very good! Oh, there was one...and another! Very smart students indeed.

A few other students attempted to fit into a different cup or two, but the chest did not open. "Oh goodness, it doesn't appear that is correct."


OOC: If I haven't sent you a PM telling you that you were correct, then you must guess again.

So far, not so good. Hm. Vashti studied the cups again, thinking hard and trying to remember anything she might know about Hufflepuff's cup. Finally, she picked up the golden cup with two handles on the first shelf, went over to the chest, and placed it there. Please be it, please be it, please be it...

Rex decided to use the golden cup with two handles. He wondered if this would oen the chest. Helga HufflePuff - Gold-good?

Josey picked up the third cup that has a small handle and curved spout, and it was gold. She placed it in the indent on the chest and crossed her fingers. Pleeeeeeeeeeeease be tight, she thought.

The Friar watched the progress of the students carefully. Some were doing very well, and others not so well. Watching one girl attempt to place a cup into the chest, he became still and alert, expecting to see the chest open.

He deflated almost immediately as it became evident that this wasn't the correct choice either.

Daisy walked in and smiled. "Why, hello Fat Friar." She smiled and then proceeded to the trophies and cups. She studdied them each with great detail and dedication. She looked at the cup that was smooth and round with out a handle on the second shelf. Almost like a doorknob. She picked it up and pressed it into the chest fingers crossed.

Pushing open the door to the Hufflepuff common room, Mariel stepped inside and glanced around. Bright and yellow, yes, but also warm and welcoming somehow. As she peered around, a sudden voice to her right startled her slightly. "Oh, hello, Mr. Friar," she greeted the ghost after she spun around to locate the voice's owner.

Her eyes travelled to both sides of the ghost. First to the chest and then to the shelves full of cups and trophies. "Yes, sir," she confirmed as she peered at the items on the shelves. One of those must fit into the chest to open it. But which?

After some thought, the Ravenclaw figured that the correct item must hold some significance to Hufflepuff. She stared at each cup and trophy, trying to remember if there was anything learned in History of Magic... But there were so many, how could she be sure.

She tried to mentally eliminate a few and, still somewhat uncertain, she reached for the gold cup with two handles from the first shelf. Pausing for a moment, Mariel walked over to the chest and set the cup into the carving, holding her breath as she tried to open it.

The Friar watched as two girls began their search for the correct item; they were doing very well and finally picked a cup; though was it the correct one?

Ah! Alas, that particular cup did not open the chest. Oh my, oh my.

Teagan Blake was happy to enter the Hufflepuff Common Room and accept the challenge. The Hufflepuff room was by far the cheeriest of any, she thought. What a wonderful change from the Slytherin Common Room! She listened to the Fat Friar. Oh, so they needed to get the right cup. But how would she know which one to choose? Would she have to try all of them? Well, perhaps she could tell by the shape of the chest. She looked at the chest and tried to figure out what kind of shape would fit. She then turned and looked at the cups. After several minutes of studying the trophies and such, she made a decision. She went to the first case and picked out the 2nd cup with two handles that was gold in color. She brought it to the chest and hoped that it would be the correct one.