”We can start with these and work our way down.” The Headmaster said, coming to a stop along the first corridor down in the dungeons. He lowered the box of candles he’d brought for anyone to start helping themselves while he himself moved to one section of the wall to begin the task.

While he worked, the only thing he could really focus on was...the amazing smell of that bread. Sweet Merlin, down here with limited ventilation, it just kinda seemed like it was all he COULD smell—not a bad thing by any means.

Malachi happily munched away at his cinnamon bread, nearly done his slice and ready for another.

“Do we have any melon bread with us?”

Remy took full opportunity of finally exploring the dungeons by following the headmaster there, she had been too scared to head there alone before. She had grabbed another box of candles and took in the surroundings. It was a little dingy down here, like expected, but it had a very exciting feel to it, which surprised Remy.

The Gryffindor set her box of candles down and started to remove some of the old candles before replacing them.

Speaking of the bread… “Uhuh, I have a piece in my pocket, sir…” Something told her, in hindsight, that the headmaster wouldn’t really appreciate a piece of bread from a first years pocket. There had been many sugar quills in there previously, and Merlin only knew what else!

Outside of potions, Evan did not spend much time in the Dungeons exploring. Though he supposed perhaps he should add it to his list for exploration at some point or another. He felt liked he'd heard something about slugs which seemed... odd, but considering upper floors also had a Swamp he wasn't entirely surprised. He kind of hoped they weren't going to be cleaning around a slug pit though... that would be preferable.

Hearing the question about melon bread, and Remy's answer, he still stepped forward with the tray of bread in his hands so she didn't have to give up her serving. "Yes, sir. I uh... grabbed the tray with a bit of it."

Please don't judge, it was his favorite okay?

Evan pulled out his books from his bag so he could create a small stack of them to set the bread down on so as not to put it in the way of candles or on the dingy ground - was there bugs in the castle? He then helped himself to a couple of candles as well, finding a way a bit down from Trent to also starting putting them up. "Is there a lot of things you were hoping to see redecorated, sir?"

Claudine had actually decided to trail after Trent. Well, it was more like she trailed after Evan. There was no particular reason for this but she happened to think Evan was an okay guy. Anyway, being down in the dungeons was like being home since her Common Room was close by.

Not finding the urge to talk to anyone in particular, the sixth year polished off her banana bread then went to grab some candles. The aroma of the bread really was distracting but there was a task to be done. Using magic, Claudine removed a few of the old candles.

Thank Merlin for spells and incantations.

Ollie was headed out of the common room. To do what, she wasn't sure, but she would find out soon enough. She didn't bring anything but her wand since she wasn't sure what she would be getting into. As she exited she overheard Headmaster Trent and a few other voices in the corridor. Was the Remy? As she made her way a bit further down, she saw that it was indeed Remy and Evan and someone else she hadn't met yet. Did she want to find out what they were doing... DUH!! She made her way over to Remy *very stealthily* and whispered to her "What's going on?"

In her where now?

Uhhhhh....”Thanks you, Gaeltheos, but...um, I think I’ll just have some that Nam brought. Don’t wanna deprive you of your personal stash.” Or have bread full of pocket lint. There was something decidedly unappetising about the sound of that and Merlin knew what else the girl kept in there.

The Headmaster levitated over a piece of bread, noting the newcomers. Was he surprised Blaze didn’t hightail it somewhere else? Somewhat, but not enough to bring it attention. Instead, he focused on the other first year now in the mix.

“Just replacing the candles around the castle.” Some were old and worn down and apparently it didn’t make sense to not have the others match. The man didn’t have the strength to fight the healer on decorations. He could choose his battles. But to answer Nam’s earlier question....

“We’ll probably look into the windows next and the furniture in some of the classrooms could use some replacing as well. I suspect a few maintenance charms will do the trick.” He said, replacing and lighting another candle.”Everyone here trying out for the play? Gonna be a good one this year.”

Remy was very excited to see Ollie. She whispered back, "Honestly... I have no idea. I'm just going where the bread is going." The blonde pointed over towards the pile of bread that Evan had brought. "Here." She handed Ollie a candle, literally putting it into her hand, giving her no choice but to help her and to not abandon her here!! "We're putting these candles up." Remy informed her.

"Oh okay, thanks, sir!" Yeah... she couldn't blame the headmaster for turning down her pocket!bread offer. She could have hit herself on the head after making that statement due to its sheer DUMBNESS.


OOOOH. Exciting topic of discussion, who she hadn't talked about with anyone yet.

"Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Remy exCLAIMEd. You could say she was putting on theatrics to prove that she was worthy of the main role. In fact she'd be pretty gutted if that wasn't how it resulted.

He surveyed their small group to see who had come along as well, giving a small smile towards Claudine who he found the most interesting of the older students he had met. And then there was Ollie who he also found he liked the company of, so Ev smiled towards her as well, nodding his head in hello as she joined the group.

See, he was trying the smiling more thing.

He couldn't say he blamed the Headmaster for opting to not eat someone else's pocket bread, so he made sure to offer the tray for the man to grab whatever he wanted prior to having placed it down to where it was accessible for everyone. He eyed it again but decided he'd save having another piece until they'd gotten some work done.

So now he was fully focused on swapping out candles. And listening to the conversation around him. Hearing the response regarding what else would be done, Evan nodded slightly in response. "Could we learn the maintenance charms as well?" His arsenal was not well loaded yet in terms of cleaning spells and fixing things. Sure, he could cast Episkey when the time called for it but... he was sure that the Professor's might be using more advanced types that they might not get a chance to learn in the classroom. He'd come help clean ups if he meant he could learn more, even if there wasn't bread.

Oh, the play? Evan glanced at Remy, and her enthused response, before nodding as well in response to the question. "I thought I might try to help with some of the background stuff." Like stage crew. Maybe dancing if he could wear a full body costume too. "Can you tell us what the play is yet, sir?" Or was it hush hush until auditions?

You don’t notice it at first, but with each passing second you are brought further and further into a state of...utter calm. The tantalising smell of bread wafts through the corridor with no place to go but your nostrils and if that doesn’t just warm your insides, it’s possible nothing will. Strawberry, melon, cinnamon, plain, sugar, goodness the smell quickly over lowers the scent of the candles and anything else I’m the corridor.

Not that you mind.

It’s a lovely smell. Soothing. So soothing....all your worries melt away. The fears, the anxiety, the thought of that homework you’re sure is due, what does it matter? Does anything matter? Right now, you feel very zen.

Zeeeennnnnn.

It came as no surprise that the group was being joined as others. Claudine supposed that the aroma of the bread was attracting them there. Whatever. The more the merrier, and the more hands there to help, that meant that the quicker they were done. She finished removing the old candles, then using magic, replaced them with the new ones. Only then did she pause to eat some of the cinnamon bread. Conversation was going on around her but Claudine opted to listen and eat as opposed to take part in any chatter. Her social battery wasn’t really up for it at the moment.

Even the talk of the play Trent brought up did nothing to urge her to utter a word. Yes, she had signed up for the play but to work behind the scenes. Her acting skills were zero. In any case, she hated to be in the spotlight. Oh? Evan had also signed up for behind the scene work? She was actually liking this Ravenclaw more and more.

Her eyes slid over the group there as she stood there nibbling on the bread. Claudine felt herself oddly calm. True, she had been this way from the moment she had come to this corridor but now she felt moreso.

Thankfully, there weren’t as many people in the corridor as she expected would follow. She was kinda glad she didn’t opt to follow Healer Poppy, too. Great bread, but she was a little… much.

Nom, nom… the bread was getting more and more delicious with every bite. “Mmmmmm,” she said, louder than she had intended, although she hadn’t noticed. In fact, it didn’t even feel like anyone else was in the room with her, suddenly.

Peaaaaceeeee…….

Oh, wooooonderful, they were signed up, they were excited this bread tasted and smelled good and suddenly...the Headmaster wasn’t concerned about anything at all. He wasn’t considering the paperwork up in his office, wasn’t worried about the kids looking kinda loopy....this was fine, everything was fine and there was more bread for him to keep being fine.

“Can’t tell you much about the play now, Nam. Ah, who cares? I’m sure it’s fine.” Everything, absolutely everything was and he was already digging the enthusiasm on Gaeltheos. “We’re doing Peter Pan. Gonna be great. Board of Governors are gonna come watch. Your parents too, if they want.” Where was this brilliant feeling during the last two years? If he felt like THIS inside the mirror, the man wouldn’t have nearly so many nightmares.

Not that he could remember any of them now, no, he was just sooooo mellow.

“Hey, hey let’s get these up fast so we can just....just chill here and have more bread.”

And to think he didn’t want to be here before.

Mm, mmm, mmm. Cinnamon.

He finished up one candling, moving on to another, but as he took in breaths of that delicious wafting aroma of the bread they'd brought with him, his movements got lazier and lazier. And yet, the Ravenclaw didn't even notice. Or... if he did, he didn't much care. This was surprisingly relaxing, wasn't it? Companionship with his peers and Professors, delicious bread, making the castle pretty again.

How nice.

He hardly noticed the rather loud noise coming from Remy. After all, she was just enjoying the deliciousness right? And who could blame her?

And oh? Peter Pan was it? "I imagine a magical production of the show will be even more pleasant than the muggle. No necessary use of strings for the flying portions." Yes, yes it sounded like it'd be a good show. The Board of Governors and parents were invited as well? How pleasant. Sounded like such a treat following the previous term.

Finish quickly so they could chill and eat bread? Sure but... "Or we've done a bit. We probably all deserve a nice bread break." Which was exactly what Evan was going to do now that he'd finished another candle swap, plopping himself down on the ground and reaching for a piece of banana bread to nibble on.

What a lovely day in the dungeons.

She had been in her dorm room, like she had been more than she would have liked to admit. Even though they were well into the new term, those who knew her well enough could tell something was that she was not her usual self, that the girl she had been her first year was gone. Being in the castle was just a constant reminder of what had happened there months ago. It was a reminder that her mum...

The blonde pushed the thought away, the best she could at least, before her emotions took over again. Cornelia Louise Hemlock couldn't spend yet another evening crying into her pillow again. She needed everything to be okay. She wanted to be strong for her dad since it was just the two of them now. She had to focus on her studies and get her grades up. She couldn't allow herself wither away. She needed a distraction right now, and the potions lab was her haven these days.

While the intent to brew was there, walking through the corridors presented her with a different distraction. The corridor smelled ... well, really nice. Really REALLY nice. Potions lab and other thoughts forgotten, the second year walked down the corridor, becoming more at peace with each step, until she stumbled upon the headmaster and a group of students.

"Hello, everyone. What's going on here?" she asked softly, placing herself right next to Claudine. She looked at the others before eyeing up what surely was the source of such a delightful smell. Could she have some?

Okay, then.

Remy was seemingly enjoying that bread a little too much. Then again, who was Claudine to judge? She herself was enjoying the baked good. Speaking of which, she polished off that piece she had been working on then turned her attention back to the candles.

Trent’s words were overheard. Chill here? In the dungeon corridor? Ooookaaaay then. Claudine continued to work, listening to the conversation as she did. At least this was what she was content with doing until one of her housemates joined the group. “Hi, Cornelia. We’re just replacing the old candles with these new ones.’’ The sixth year indicated to the box of new candles. “Oh, and we’re having bread… cinnamon, banana. You should try some.”