The old ship was milling with students, and Tate watched for a long, amused moment before clambering up the gangplank. Now where was... ah. There.

"Max! You look like you almost have enough for a proper crew here." And some of them seemed not to realize just how old the ship was. He glanced at the feet of someone hanging from the rigging and a few others nursing splinters and bruises from their own trips and falls.

Holding on to the rail looking down in to the water. Mikey turns when hears the headmasters voice " Hello Headmaster" holding up his camera " Do you mind if I get a shot of you ?",While adjusting Fstop and awaiting an answer to his request. " Sir Did Yall ask the Merfolk who live in the lake if they know any thing bout it " big old boats dont just fall from heaven not even in the magical world.

Lola giggled when the girl was frightened.

She'd scared someone! She!

A bit proud of herself, she eyed Sierra from the ground, excited to explore. Animals were excellent explorers and if she followed her instincts ... she would find the treasures. The girl was still motioning her to get down and when she was ordered to stand up, Lola immediately stood on both feet. "I'm sorry, Sierra, did I displeaaaaaase you?!" She frowned and then held on the girl's shoulders.

It was dark. Daaaark. What if all the Lumos spells suddenly disappeared and she would have no one to hold? This was precautionary! "It is me, Sierra! It's me, Lola Jones AKA friend!" The girl probably knew that, yeah? Yeah she did. With that thought in her mind, Lola grinned, proud that she had a friend like a Sierra. THE Sierra. HEHE.

Why was she all nice all of a sudden? Lola was curious. Lola was confused. PERPLEXED! She eyed at her with caution, wondering--WONDERING IF THE PIRATES HAD ABDUCTED THE REAL SIERRA GREINGOTH! "Uhhh uhh," she said nervously, leaning in towards the girl to see if she was a faker. As an actress, she knew if a person was a person. Years of studying. A slight bit of curiosity, she had--a sliiiiiiight bit.

"I don't know, Sierra! But c'mon, this looks fun," she stated and then started walking... pushing the girl's shoulders while she hid behind her. Sierra Greingoth was tough, bossy--A TRUE LEADER. She should be up front!

--IT'S NOT LIKE SHE DIDN'T NOTICE THE GIRL LOOKING AT SOMEBODY ELSE.

It was like, like she was... looking at someone. Brainwashed. Yep. Pirates definitely got her. "SIERRA! LOOK AT ME," she ordered, poking the girl cheek to cheek, obviously worried about the girl. Why was she looking at them like that? Now Jones didn't know who she was looking at but she had that dreamy look about it. Was she not the only pirate accomplice in this room? Hmm? HMM. Blushing even, she could see that hint of red in the dark!

Interesting. Lola only giggled. She continued pushing, taking out her wand in case something happened.

Oh Good, The Headmaster came aboard. Maybe then something could be done about the crazy Ravenclaw swinging his swords at Vindictus.

Then it hit him, maybe Oakey should ask him for help. He decided to leave the group he was going to follow down below deck and walked over to Headmaster Tate. Ta... I mean Sir,Oakey started (he almost just called him Tate. Oakey was so used to calling SHAW!, "SHAW!" now that he almost did it to the Big Man In Charge.)

My name is Oakey sir, and Captain oops I mean Professor Vindictus appointed me to be his ships Navigator was he even following what Oakey was telling him. Well, he just told me I can look at the maps carefully. But I'm having trouble reading them cause they're so old. It might tell us where this ship has been or where the crew was headed.

He was gonna ask him if the Captain's Log would have that kind of information in it as well, but Oakey had left Mordred to that task. So Mordred could ask him about it.

Where had Mordred gone to as well, He always disappears on Oakey?

"Fight? You'd lose in the blink of an eye," Vindictus grinned and he continued to observe the action on deck.

"Of course! Just exercise extreme caution," he warned because he had no idea what was below.


"If you want to come aboard, you need to walk the gangplank like everyone else did!"


Hehe.

"Almost. They're all excited about exploring this old relic," he replied and watched as Finlay and Ivan stood by the ship's wheel. "Even the Head Boy has taken an interest."

"I don't like it here." Salmandrius Beaugustus Malfoy dismissed the dusty, creaky, disgusting mouldy structure that floated on the surface of the Black Lake. He had already marked the lake itself on his "To avoid" list, but now there stood this place which was definitely taking precedence on said list.

But he had to at least look at it once so that he would be able to regale the commoners in the aptly named Common Room with the gross datedness of the ship.

"Seriously," Sally exclaimed as he wrinkled his pointed nose at the ancient sails, "How old is this thing?"

Jacob didn't even notice the Headmaster come on board... his head of house was being too cocky, and Jacob had to stop the man.

"Oh really?" he asked with a small laugh. Jacob then grabbed the blade of the broadsword, with the hilt towards the OLD MAN. "If you think that, then choose your weapon. Rapier, or Broadsword." He said offering either sword to the man.

"Put the weapons away, Jacob," Vindictus ordered, "Or else risk being grounded for the entire Quidditch season."

Sierra paused, looking at Lola but blinking at the same time. Had she just...obeyed her!? Sierra had told her to get up, and the girl had literally stood immediately to her feet. Oh, this was good--really good. She'd throw the girl a doggy biscuit if she had one handy. "Displease me?" she questioned, half-scolding herself for not snapping at the girl. She'd wanted to at least roll her eyes, but if she was going to win Lola over (for the purposes of having a loyal dog around), then she needed to sort of reel the girl in. "Of course not, Lola." Then she patted her on the back the way an owner would pat their dog.

Sierra was doing alright with the whole niceness bit until Lola started in on the screaming. "Yes, Lola, I'm aware that you're Lola Jones--aka friend," she said, her eyebrows creasing in annoyance. At least the girl hadn't used best friend this time. "...and if you push me one more time, I'm going to--." Be nice, Sierra. BE NICE. This just might not be worth having a loyal dog follower, though. She didn't have enough willpower to be this nice to someone. Especially Lola Jones.

"I was looking at you, you idiot, until you pushed me forward," she snapped. Exploring this ship with Lola Jones was going to destroy every last bit of niceness she might have on her body. She just knew it. "Let's just...get on with things." She waved her hand forward, urging Lola to get a move on.

"Well then that makes two of us," Sierra said, turning her head to regard a Slytherin boy who'd suddenly made his appearance. Her eyes stayed on him for a second or two longer as she tried to place him. He wasn't a first year, she could tell, but he didn't look very familiar either. She wasn't exactly the one to openly introduce herself and launch into a friendly conversation, so the next question out of her mouth was more in reply to what he'd said and less of her trying to make a new friend. "So why are you here?" she asked.

Not that she had much room to talk. Why was she even here? She could care less about this old, abandoned ship, so as long as it's inhabitants didn't start to attack. Although, if the look of the ship was any indication, its inhabitants were long since dead. Again, she shrugged. "I don't know," she answered. "Old enough. It smells terrible, and...we're meant to be exploring it." So said Vindictus, at least. She wasn't going anywhere until Lola ventured inside first and came out alive and well.

"Will do Prof- Cap'n!" Salander grinned playfully as he gave another salute to Vindictus. Just then he spotted Headmaster Tate climb up the plank. "Welcome aboard Sir!" he greeted the other man cheerfully. He had to wonder, if Vindictus was Captain, what did that make Tate? Admiral right? Admiral Tate?

Then again there have been times when there were two Captains for one ship

He then spotted a few more as they got on board "Finn!" he called out to his HeadBoy buddy with a quick wave of his arm, then spotted the other Ravenclaw beside him "Ivan." he nodded casually in greeting. He wasnt sure if this was a warship but that wasnt a reason not to keep civil right?

His eyes searched up and down the deck looking for some kind of hatch or even a doorway that will lead towards the bowels of the ship. Milling about he spotted the Slytherin youngsters, Sierra and Lil Sally looking a little uncomfortable for reasons he cannot fanthom, then a Slytherin girl that seems to have had way too many coffee or chocolate or both. Oh yes, the Three Stooges right there; most excellent combination.

Shaking his head as Jacob continued to challenge Vindictus, Simon moved to continue on in his search, looking around the litter covered deck planking for any clues as to get below. His passage taking him from near the quarters to closer to the central mast avoiding his fellow quiditch captain at all cost as no matter whether his Slytherin shadow thought he could take him or not he wasn't about to risk bodily harm.

He looked back up as Finn the head boy appeared with his trusty sidekick, holding back the remarks that came to mind as they fought over who was what rank and who could control the wheel of the ship. Nothing like an upperclassman making the younger ones look more behaved, Simon mused to himself with a shake of his head before moving along. Hearing the headmaster's voice, the captain looked back at the gangplank to spot the man come aboard just as Jacob strengthened his words with his Head of house and hoping with both headmaster and deputy headmaster aboard the younger boy might actually listen to reason and drop the sword act.

Distracted with the conversations, Simon nearly tripped over something himself, the Gryffindor managing to catch himself so he only stumbled slightly. He looked down thinking it was one or more of the items that seemed in abundance on the deck only to spot a ring standing vertical attacked to if he was correct the way below.

"Hey...I think I found the way down...." he spoke, looking back at the Ravenclaw professor seeing as he had been the one to mention it.

Ah. Why was he here anyway? Because he'd told Noah he'd better stay away from the Ship, and now he had to give the boy some reasons to do so, yes? Odd way of proving it.

Yet, some words caught his attention as he followed the Flying Professor from the grounds. Because, yes, he'd been THAT sneaky.

Everyone was following Vindictus anyway.

Except, Treyen wasn't doing that anymore because he'd found a little now-second year he hadn't seen in a very long time, "I don't know why you're complaining, Sierra, the Potions Lab smells far worse and you seem to be okay about it," she never complained about THAT while at the Lab, though, he was sure she was complaining about the company a couple times.

"Then show how brave Gryffindors are and start exploring the unknown!" Vindictus replied.

"At ease, Salander. Now go forth and conquer!"

Hearing her name, Sierra spun around, nearly turning herself right into Treyen Lockhart. She start to snap at him, but there was just something that stopped her from doing so. Merlin, why was she being so nice today?! After she got off this ship, she was going to have to go yell at somebody or she'd fill completely not herself.

She tried to move a few steps away from the Hufflepuff prefect but ended up getting caught in another piece of knotted rope, causing her to stumble a bit before regaining her balance. She did frown at Treyen on that note. He'd caused that...somehow! "The potions lab," she firmly said, "can be helped." She kicked off the piece of rope before turning back to Treyen. "This ship just...stinks of oldness."

Conquer? Conquer what?! Sierra looked around, thinking maybe some sort of attack had already begun. After all, whoever owned this ship wasn't going to be a happy camper when they saw all these children rummaging through it. Were they all meant to go forth? Just the Gryffindor and Salamander, maybe? Hmm. Suited her. Let them go in first, suffer through all the possible death traps, and then she'd go in.

Maybe. If Treyen was going in, though, she might consider--

NO! No, no, no, no, noooo. No more of that line of thinking!

Whaaaa--

Sierra will be falling off the Ship pretty quickly if she kept on not looking where she walked. Seriously. But Barty will help her resurface, no?

He was following her moves with his eyes, in case she actually fell and NEEDED some help getting up. Not that she'll be needing it, but it was something gentlemen did, no? And he was a gentleman, after all.

Treyen ignored the frowning. It wasn't the first time he'd done so, and then waved his hand as to dismiss the whole thing, "Nonsense, just pretend you're doing some research," wasn't that the same she did while on the Lab? "Or going through and old book or something," he commented, until his mind thought of something very important.

"Why are you still here, though? If you don't like it," he asked, bringing his eyebrows together for a moment, "It's not like someone is forcing you," or was there someone forcing her?

Simon nodded at Vindictus' instructions, just a touch of hesitance in his response. A touch of nerves but his curiousity and trademark Gryffie recklessness bravery not about to let him not go.

Take that Blunt ...dangerous enough for you?

Looking over to the Slytherin sixth year who had first come aboard the ship with him the professor, he had an idea. "Hey Salander...care to come with?" he asked as he leaned down to clear the edge of the hatch from the debris that had kept it mostly hidden. He seemed like one that wasn't too caught up in the fun not to be careful and Lexi did trust him so why not he?

Once he was satisfied it was clear, Simon pulled the ring to try and open it, the wooden door in the deck resisting at first. Giving it a few more strong pulls it finally came loose kicking up some of the must and dust and oldness the ship was filled with causing the seventh year to cough as he waved it away. He looked down to find the way pitch black as was to be mostly expected.

"Lumos!" he cast lighting his wand before lowering himself onto a seated position on the edge. The Gryffindor waved his wand a bit, shining the light lower to work on figuring out what was exactly beneath him before taking a deep breath and a brave step, jumping down into the belly of the ship. His lit wand still tight in his hand as he landed with a thud on his feet.

Salander spun at his heels as soon as Simon called out in finding the hatch "Awesome!" he grinned and cast one last glance as Vindictus said to go forth and conquer. Ohyeah! This Slytherin didnt need further convincing for that.

He watched Simon struggle with the hatch and was just about to grab the handle and help him pull when the hatch popped open. He blew at the air and waved the dust away then peered down at the darkness below. Glancing at Simon he too gripped at his wand and cast the lumos spell, although not quite as strong since this lad was already mightily distracted at the thought of what he can find below. He saw Simon disappear into the darkness and heard a dull thud "You ok Simon? I'm coming in!" he called down and sat on the ledge. Then he noticed something-- there was stairs. A very narrow one, but there it was just off to the side where Simon sat and leaped down.

Salander put his foot down at the first step and felt it creak under his weight. Oh boy this better not break... he thought as he gingerly placed his other foot down on the next step. One more step lower then he swung his diminishing wand light about. He still couldnt see anything! Distracted at the murky darkness below, he waved his wand impatiently to get it to emit more light "Lumos! Luuumoooo---AAHHHH!!"

Fwomp!

Fwomp!

Fwwomp!

Fwwomp!

Fwwomp!

B A M!

Bum on deck. Literally and figuratively.

Least they knows the stairs work.

Simon had landed on a small barrel, his position making the appearance of the stairs more noticable and making him feel just a tad like an idiot having felt that he had needed to jump down. "Yeah I'm ok," he answered back up to the main deck, the seventh year climbing down from his perch to be on the lower deck properly, turning in a slow circuit with his wand out in front of him to illuminate the area to see better.

Making a complete circle, he looked up again just in time to see Salander following him down abeit the easier way that hadn't be that noticable when he first looked in. However as the Slytherin started to fall, he winced as his companion fell down the stairs to the dark deck below, the Gryffindor walking closer and offering his left hand to help him back up to his feet.

"Guess we both took the hard way down."

Sally had found a kindred spirit and found himself naturally drawn to the young Slytherin's side, "Well, I suppose we might as well know what all the fuss is about," he drawled at the brunette, "But that doesn't mean we need to get our hands dirty."

His head whipped around at the sound of someone falling below deck, "Was that a Hufflepuff?"

Grooooaaannnn....

Maybe he shouldve just done the Gryffindor way eh? He was never any good with stairs on land, what made him think it would be any different on a ship?

Face contorting in a grimace, he could feel every bump and bruise on his entire back. His first souvenir from this mini adventure. Or rather several. And he thought he wont be able to take anything off the ship.

He glanced up and could just make out Simon's silhouette in the dark, the light from the other lad's wand bouncing off his blonde head. "Hard? Nah, just a little tummble, its nuthin'..." the Slytherin lad blew it off casually, then reached out to grab the Gryffindor's arm, getting up quickly just to prove that he was fine and dandy.

Big mistake.

A yelp escaping his lips before clenching his jaw tight. "I'mfine. I'mfine. Everythingshfine." He muttered through the frozen smile, jaw still clenched shut. Yeah no need to make a further embarrassment of yourself by whimpering like a girl Fool.

He coolly raised his wand arm about halfway (because really thats as far as he could lift it without crying for mama) and cast the lumos spell again, his eyes shifting to where he had come and the barrel Simon had landed on. "Barrels..." he uttered obviously then shuffled his way towards it. Rapping his knuckles against it he turned to the Gryffindor Captain "Wonder if this got something fun to drink?"

He was getting a little thirsty yknow.

What a nasty looking ship. That was probably everyone's thoughts when they first saw it. Or at least that's what Elise hoped they were anyway. It certainly was the ugliest thing her blue eyes had ever seen, that was for sure. Why was it there though? People were actually in it and that didn't exactly set well with Elise. It looked too old for anyone to have any business in. What if someone fell below? What if someone actually fell into the lake. She took off her sunglasses and looked around at her new classmates.

She was only thirteen and she wasn't sure how to handle being at Hogwarts, especially since the school she had previously attended was an all girl school. Never again, her mom said, after Elise had been sent home for "disturbing the classroom." It wasn't exactly her fault that another girl stuck a toad in her cauldron and caused her potion to blow up now was it? "Hmph. What is this old thing even here for? Do people climb in it or something?" She wasn't sure why she was talking out loud. Probably because she liked the sound of her own voice.

Beaming, Heather admired the ship from afar. Oh wow, she could actually get on it! It was okay! If her mom din't believe her, she could send a photo of other students getting on it as well! She took a moment to take a picture and send it later. YEY! Adventure, here she comes!

"Wow," Sally drawled derisively in the direction of the new joiner, taking full care to cast a slightly condescending look up and down the length of her form, "I wonder why nobody thought it prudent to raise that question..."

He rolled his eyes and turned his profile to the girl, so that she could bask in his perfect features while he looked haughtily out over the deck of the old ship, as if he were a seafaring conquerer of olden times.

Oh how wonderful. Someone else who thought they were the greatest thing to ever walk the planet. Egotistical boys weren't exactly Elise's favorite people since they didn't pay enough attention to her and focused more on themselves for obvious reasons. He wasn't that impressive. Not to her anyway.

"Oh do you think you sound cute trying to be condescending? That's precious. I think you need to work on it though. Not good enough." Elise faked a yawn while the boy looked over the deck of the ship. "By the way I think your nose is too large for your profile. Might wanna get that checked out." She gave him a wink and blew a kiss, basically taunting him. Now she would let him observe her perfect features. She was still growing obviously since she was only thirteen but she thought she was pretty cute. Wavy blonde which went down to her lower back, bright blue eyes, freckles distributed perfectly across her face, a nose that wasn't too large for her face and one of those sickeningly cute smiles that one couldn't help but love.

Sally simply waved a dismissive hand in her general direction, "You talk too much." The peasant was left unsaid, but he was TOTALLY geared up for this role of a wealthy colonial sailing across the ocean towards unchartered territories, "Now why don't you go join the Hufflepuffs below deck?"

She sounded like someone who loved things, "Perhaps you might find yourself a tin necklace from days gone by."

OH SNAP.

No, not really, but of course, Salmandrius thought he was simply the wittiest, most intelligent person on the surface of the earth.