Originally Posted by XanaSnape (Post 7901035)

Professor Kazimeriz listened intently. "We can rule nothing out: accident, illness or intentional attack... I presume that no natural cause has been found by the Healer or we would have heard-- at least, that is my hope. But from what you say... There could very well have been a person in the room, concealed either by a charm or an invisibility cloak... there is something else we must consider. The perpetrator could very well have been one of the so-called witnesses...perhaps another student, either under cover or right there in plain sight. I have been instructing students on curses; I sincerely hope one of them did not take the initiative to experiment with the Avada Kedavra..." he sighed. It wouldn't be the first time one of his students had made such a poor decision, after all.

"I presume the boy crossed over- if only he had remained as a ghost, so we could question him!' He contemplated for a moment, trying to formulate a plan. "I suggest this course of action: post a notice on all common room bulletin boards asking that any student that was present at the scene report to a common location-- perhaps the headmaster's office -- at a specific time. We can question the students and perhaps even remove and review some of their memories of the event... perhaps there is are clues that, once pieced together, will help us uncover the cause of the student's untimely death."

Originally Posted by XanaSnape (Post 7915045)

Wh--Whaa? Professor Kazimeriz furrowed his eyebrows, utterly bewildered. He considered calling after Alessia, then abandoned the idea... he would speak to her later. For now, he had Maximus to deal with. "Quit your whining. I have no issue with you and your hexing of Cooper. That was years ago. My issue with you stems from the events of the here and now, disobeying my orders and undercutting my authority in front of my students. As a head of house and fellow professor I expect you to behave in a more professional manner, especially in a crisis situation. Your behavior, Vindictus, is most erratic... why would you think I am punishing you for a transgression resolved years ago, anyway?"

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater (Post 7915096)

"Because you're jealous," Vindictus retorted arrogantly. "You know that I'm going to be a famous Quidditch player after I graduate and the thought just irriates you!" His portait began posing and swinging a Beater's Bat. "You're gonna be stuck in this stinking school while I travel the world basking in fame and glory!" His eyes glazed over at the thought and then he suddenly shuddered.

"Are the tea biscuits not to your liking?" he suddenly asked and looked directly at Kazimeriz. "Did you happen to speak with Headmaster Bontecou regarding the demise of that unfortunate Hufflepuff student? He was reserved when I broke the news to him but poor Professor Shackleton is taking the news hard. Tonight, I plan on patrolling the corridors after curfew because whoever the perpetrator is might come out of hiding after hours."

Originally Posted by XanaSnape (Post 7915328)

Kazimeriz narrowed his eyes at Vindictus suspiciously. "Maximus, I feel there is something very wrong with you. Your behavior is erratic... strange... I apologize. I must be going. " Kazimeriz stood and turned toward the door, then suddenly turned back, swiftly drawing his wand and casting with a jet of light silently at Vindictus.

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater (Post 7915356)

Max's eyes went wide as the bolt of red light hit him directly in the chest and he keeled over. His body hit the tea table, causing everything on the table to become airborne. THUD! Vindictus hit the floor and the tea service came crashing down around him.

Originally Posted by XanaSnape (Post 7915382)

Kazimeriz lips peeled back in an evil leer. He rose his wand again and cast again. "Mobilicorpus!" he said softly, levitating Vindictus' body and taking it with him out the office door.

Originally Posted by XanaSnape (Post 7915398)

Professor Kazimeriz walked out of Professor Vindictus' office, levitating the body of Professor Vindictus himself high in the air. With a slow, almost funereal air of solemnity, Kazimeriz began to make his way toward the castle.

Originally Posted by SeerCassandraTrelawney (Post 7936886)

"That's it!" She said not really understanding what he was saying. Whatever... she had no more patience... and why should she. "Jack, for being mean to Raiden, I'm taking 5000 points from Hufflepuff." she said and then stuck her tongue out. "So There!"

Originally Posted by SeerCassandraTrelawney (Post 7940093)

"You... I... " She sniffled the snot dripping down to her sugar covered upper lip. She wiped it with the back of her hand letting a string of it pull until she sniffled again. "You believe I was right?" Well that was good, right. "Uhmmm... so if you were me..." she said shoving the half licked acid pop she'd dropped on the floor into her mouth, "How many points should I have taken? Like 1000?"

Originally Posted by lemondrop13 (Post 7940216)

Originally Posted by SeerCassandraTrelawney (Post 7940323)

"Uhmmm it was a bad word hex. Raiden called me all sorts of bad words, cause Jack had hexed him. And I put him in detention but then Raiden wasn't talking and I realized, cause I'm smart, see, that he was under the influence, are you ok? Does your tummy hurt... Sometimes when my tummy hurts I close my eyes and I count to 10... Anyway Yeah, and Jack knew about the hex, but he didn't tell me and he was all I didn't do nothin... and I was like, Ya hah, he he was like nah ah, so then I was like 5000 points, and he was like... MEANY and I was all like," and she stuck her red covered tongue out to her, "and then he said he was going to come talk to you..." Bahhhh... that's how SHE remembered it anyway.

Originally Posted by lemondrop13 (Post 7940474)

Originally Posted by SeerCassandraTrelawney (Post 7936886)

"That's it!" She said not really understanding what he was saying. Whatever... she had no more patience... and why should she. "Jack, for being mean to Raiden, I'm taking 5000 points from Hufflepuff." she said and then stuck her tongue out. "So There!"

Originally Posted by Grey Lady (Post 7979774)

"Wonderful!" Helena exclaimed. "Some stones are enchanted and used for protective purposes, yet other stones are used for entertainment purposes. The former stones have been placed for safe-keeping in a vault, but the latter stones were taken as a joke yet she knows not they are gone." She stopped and wondered if her strange riddle made sense for it made perfect sense to her Ravenclaw mind.

Originally Posted by Grey Lady (Post 7983138)

"This poor lad tickled the sleeping dragon and was the recipient of such foolishness," Helena replied. "Now the dragon is awake and the door is locked."

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Anna frowned when the Grey Lady confirmed that she was indeed sad. Anna'd had that sneaking suspicion, but she'd sort of hoped she would end up being wrong. The Grey Lady seemed so nice, the exact type of person, erm...being?...Anna hated to see in this type mood. As it was, though, the Grey Lady wasn't very happy, and it was Anna's nature to figure out what was going on and try and help. "What was the mistake, and why do you feel horrible?" Anna asked. She couldn't imagine the Grey Lady doing something horrible to someone of something. Maybe someone else made the mistake, though.

Anna glanced down at the book she'd tossed to the stool. "Oh, I, erm...didn't notice," she mumbled. "Sorry about that." Anna picked up her book and then sat down on the stool. "I'm sure you'll find your book soon. Does the book have something to do with this mistake?" Anna glanced over to see Kayla Winters, her friend and fellow prefect. Anna narrowed her eyes when Kayla mentioned what the Far Friar had instructed her to do. Hmm...interesting.

Originally Posted by Grey Lady

Helena looked sadly at the child whilst shaking her head slowly. "I'm afraid that I can't say; it was our fault though; and here we thought that we knew the reason for it all. How wrong we were." She whispered.

"Perhaps." She stated simply, lowering herself from her high perch near the top of the bookshelves to be at eye level with the Gryffindor. "There must be a way to reverse it."

Originally Posted by Grey Lady

As the Hufflepuff spoke of the Friar's apparent distressing consequences of dancing, Helena's eyes widened in surprise. Had he told? Had he honestly confessed all? She must reach the Spirit Room at once! The ghosts must reconvene!

The young girl's next words, however, caused a change of mind quickly. With a sharp gasp, the Grey Lady spun around and began to flee towards the double doors of the library. "The Mirror! The Mirror!" She wailed as she disappeared through the doors.

Originally Posted by Nearly Headless Nick (Post 8041343)

Nick hovered in the hallway outside the room waiting, waiting for the others to approach. There was another job that needed to be done and it required the presence of the Grey Lady, the Bloody Baron and the Fat Friar as well as himself to make sure that things were done right.

Originally Posted by Bloody Baron (Post 8041975)

"Sir Nick..." The Baron said in greeting as he drifted in and looked at the Portrait. "Is the Lady Ravenclaw here yet?" He said visibly uneasy...

Originally Posted by Grey Lady (Post 8049703)

Helena was purposely late. How could she have been so very wrong about the adults at the school and how will he react to her overzealousness? Finally she floated through the wall and over to Kazimeriz's side. "Dearest Valon, please tell me how bad it is," she pleaded somberly with her ghostly hands covering her mouth. "I didn't mean to."

Originally Posted by Grey Lady (Post 8049730)

"I thought I was protecting our treasure from evil hands," she wailed. "I didn't mean any harm." Helena looked over at the Friar. "Will you tell the children your story? I only whispered parts of it to my dearest Valon."

Originally Posted by XanaSnape (Post 8050327)

Kazimeriz's normally pallid, wrinkled cheeks pinked up slightly- for but a moment- before he regained his composure. "I am afraid the situation has gotten quite out of hand, my dear Lady. Perhaps it would be best if another course of action were taken now, and we can attempt to remedy the situation before it gets any worse? You know I would never betray your confidence, dear Helena... I leave it to you to decide what of your story is revealed." His eyes twinkled uncharacteristically as he smiled and bowed to her slightly, ever the gentleman in her presence. As it always was; so it always would be.

Originally Posted by Grey Lady (Post 8050360)

If she could cry, Helena would have at that moment. She reached out and caressed Valon's cheek with her hand. "Oh, Valon," she sighed and turned to face the students in the room.

"I remember the day Dumbledore placed the Mirror of Erised in here for safe keeping after brave young Harry Potter saved the Sorcerer's Stone from falling in the evil clutches of Voldemort." It was simple but it was at least a starting place. "Gradually, the Mirror became legend and was only found in the pages of history books, but us spirits of the castle knew about it including those who regained their physical form. It was then that we began to fear that our secrets would be revealed to those who meant to do much evil." The Grey Lady paused in her story.

"Our secrets - the secrets of this school must always be protected. My mother and her friends trusted our humble Friar to record the original history of Hogwarts as well as other secrets that must remain just that - secret." She smiled slightly and bowed her head. "Our presence was no longer needed after the great battle and so we faded away behind the stone walls of this castle that we so lovingly call home. Then one day, four stones were brought together as four Houses united in a task. Thus, we reappeared before human eyes for the first time in many decades. However, do not blame my friends - they told me I was foolish for assuming that evil deeds were about to occur at the hands of the adults and then the Mirror's location was revealed."

"I panicked and convinced my friends to help protect our dearest treasure. They obliged and even the Baron danced with me on that fateful night. But alas, you have seen the effects of this spell. I can rectify this - this mess I've caused." The Grey Lady turned to Kazimeriz. "Valon, do you forgive me? I was only trying to do what I thought was right and never meant to harm the innocent."

Originally Posted by Grey Lady (Post 8050393)

"I shall do what needs to be done, my dear." Helena floated over to where she had cast her original spell and her ghostly lips moved in silence as her hands made an upward scooping motion. A faint lavender glow arose and vanished. "What was done has been undone, now let the remedy take hold." She reached upwards with her hands and moved them about in a fluid, circular motion. A pale tangerine light appeared between her hands and she placed it before the mirror.

"Bring your beloved professors to this room and beckon them to touch the glow. Once all who have been afflicted pass, this glow will cease to last."

Originally Posted by Biochemkris (Post 8087044)