It was like a really odd game of dominoes! Iris smiled as the younger girl offered her answer. Three down, lots more to go. The head girl handed her a green bag, along with the instructions to hang around here for a little longer before lifting the Muffliato jinx from the students.

She looked around, hoping to see more students that seemed ready to guess the place. Eyeing Jimbo talking to Salander, she shook her head; not even wanting to know what they were discussing.

Iris looked over to Lola, as she announced that she thought she knew it. Oh, the theatrics that HAD to be coming with this answer...

As she got poked on the shoulder, Iris cocked an eyebrow at the girl. "You didn't believe me the first time round?" Hehehe... Looking rather startled at her question, Iris stared at the things in her hands. Those were the cookies Iris had baked, weren't they? ... Oh dear. "Erm... Yes. They're lovely, Lola... But, what's your guess?" Y'know, becausde that was far more important.

Oh!

So Lola wasn't COMPLETELY insane...

Picking up a silver bag, Iris smiled at the girl and handed it to her.





OOC: Once you've PM'd me or Deniiz, make sure to post in this thread saying you think you have it, so one of us can reply to you like I've done in this post. It's the easiest way for us to hand out the bags, you see. <3

Aurora grinned and took the green bag, she stored it in the pocket of her robes. "See y'all later!" she sang and skipped out of the room to ?...

Sierra glared at those who'd already declared the answer and received one of those precious green or silver bags. She wanted one of those bags! If one of the ones who'd already answered turned their backs, she might event take their bag when they weren't looking! She eyed Lola. She'd be the best target, seeing as she was preoccupied with thoughts of her stupid fish.

Sierra turned back to the board and looked over the 'yes' responses. Now where in the name of Merlin was there a... Ohhhh. Wait. "I have it!" she said.

Iris once more removed everyone elses ability to hear what was being said to her. As Sierra offered her answer, Iris smiled and nodded. She picked up a green bag and passed it to the second year. Then, she leant back against the blackboard and lifted the jinx, whilst wondering about how Aaron and Treyen were doing at the next location.

Oh. My. Gosh.

This was unacceptable.

Not only was the first one to guess it right a FIRST YEAR, but now there was a total of FIVE PEOPLE who have got the clue right before him. He'd already tried a couple guesses at it but they were all wrong. Okay. Okay.

THINK.

Sososo. It's not the lake, which was his first guess.

......................

Couldn't he just ask Monty?

Doing his best to sneak over in a sly manner, he nudged her then whispered, "Do you think you could just TELL me?"

Because if he was going to have the Head Girl as his best friend, there had to be more benefits than buttercream cookies, even though those are amazing.

Iris didn't notice Jimbo move away from Salander. She was too busy handing out bags of mysterious-ness to those who'd guessed correctly. In fact, the girl only became aware of Jimbo being closer to him, once he'd poked her in the side to grab her attention.

She looked at him. Then Iris rolled her eyes at his question. Well, it was more the fact that she knew he was being serious than anything else.

"I could..." She started, looking at the boy, "... but I'm not going to." Did he really think that he was going to get the answer that easily?? They might be best friends, but he was still going to figure it out the proper way, like everyone else. Silly Jimbo.

Oh, COME ON.

"Monty! Pleaaaassee?" Yes, he was begging. "You're my best friend, can't you be a little nicer?"

Pretty, pretty please?
He'd offer more candy if he had to. He'd give her CUPCAKES. Anything.

Sighing, he knew she wouldn't budge. He took another glance at the blackboard halfheartedly. He really wasn't even going to bother. If he couldn't get it out of Monty there was no way-

"OH!" he yelled, right in Monty's ear. That's what she gets for not helping him out. Then he leaned over and whispered in her ear. It had to be right. If it wasn't he would have to take more drastic measures to get the answer out of the stubborn Head Girl.

Iris grinned at Jimbo. "I could... but I'm not going to." HEHEHE. Yup. She was going to be a meanie best friend right now. Because that made it fairer on everyone else.

Turning away from the boy, Iris looked over all the Slytherins. Anyone else who'd figured it out? No? ... Oh.

AHHHHHASLDAFGJSD. "JIMBO!" GLARE. She spun back around to face her best friend. "Was that needed?!" ... Probably. But that was a lie. As he leant in to whisper an answer to her, Iris grinned a little. "... Oh, you-- Here." She picked up a silver bag and dumped it into his hand. Shiny, shiny, shiny...

"Is it near the Whomping Willow?" asks Aiden as she still could not guess the answer.

Iris shook her head at the boy. "No..." Then she looked to the blackboard, watching as it updated itself.

Iris looked around. It seemed as though half the group had bags.... and they'd been in here for a good 20 minutes, at least. Aaron and Treyen HAD to be ready now. She raised her voice, ready to address the group. "Okay, listen up. Those of you who have correctly guessed the next location and have your bag, you're free to leave the trophy room now. Get going to the next place, quickly. If you've not figured it out yet, feel free to continue asking questions until you've got the answer." Well they had to anyway. They couldn't do anything at the next place without what was in the bags, afterall... Sure, they could tag along, but that was no fun!


OOC: Double posting so that this thread will show up in people's user CP's.... Can a staffer please merge my two posts?

Aiden was nearly driven mad as she paces across the trophy room. She looks really tense. Her pace speeds up as she gets more irritated when she suddenly stops as an idea pops up into her mind.

Quickly, Aiden dashes towards the two prefects and whispers to them.

asfdalksad. Can this be deleted, please?

Evan eyed the young lady go around angrily. He could tell she was upset at not getting it at once, but he smiled to himself as she seemed to have found it at last. She seemed to be the last one... if he missed a few out there hiding in the darkness.

Leaning on, he still casted a muffliato just in case, and said "Good job, here you go," as he presented her with a green bag. After some explanation of what to do and who to ask any further questions, he stood there a moment more to see if she had any questions, and then lifted the charm.

Yup, everyone was clever enough to solve it... so far.

Salander stared at the board for a while, just going by the no list he was pretty sure the next place would be outdoors... then something caught his eye on the yes list...

He neared the prefects and in a low tone he mumbled his answer....

Helena had no idea.

...

Not even the slightest idea what the place could be. But she eventually walked over to whisper something to the prefects, since almost everyone seemed to have guessed. Yup, she was LAME, and she knew it.

...and yet, there was a lingering person there. Evan paused for a moment, trying to guess his name. Salander, wasn't it? After wracking his mind if he remembered it right for a moment, he casted the muffliato around, and leaned on to hear the answer. It wasn't actually necessary to lean on since there was that strong charm muffliato, but still...

"Yes," he replied back and gave him a silver bag, offering a smile as well.

Aaaand, another girl showed up. Evan was grinning now since everyone seemed to guess it all correctly. He was pleased with their hard work, and now the people came to them like domino stones. He casted the charm, "Correct," he confirmed and handed her a green bag.

Cool, so he got that one right "Thanks guys!" he said to the Prefects as he was handed the bag. Several Slytherins were already out the door and Salander followed suit, eying the bag curiously....

Kurumi’s body shook again and her nails dug into the palm of her hands, but not strongly enough to cause any damage. Why was this hurting so much? Surely she hadn’t felt that strongly about Treyen, had she?

Still, he had been one of her constants after Adam had left. One who she had come to realize that she could talk to about anything and…and…well, after all the time they had spent together she had thought…well, it didn’t really matter now because she had thought wrong. What had started out as a small crush and a fascination with the universe’s most charming smile had grown into so much more. All the conversation and gentle hugs, hand holding, kisses on the cheek – well, especially those – they had all been first for her. Sure, Adam and her had shared their moments, but more often than not he had forced her into tears for one reason or another.

The first time Treyen and her had met, she had cried, but that had been over an insecurity that, thanks to him, had all but vanished. Now, Treyen had her in tears again and she wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about it.

But then, something he said sparked a fire within her and that fire slowly made its presence known by her hair flickering a deep crimson color for just a moment – perhaps happening too quick for anyone to notice. But Kurumi DID notice how it made her feel. “Don’t you dare sell yourself short,” she whimpered with a bit of force in her voice. Her tone was one that hinted at anger, but her body language implied the opposite. He was joking, right? How could he possibly think that he didn’t deserve her? “It’s the opposite…clearly…”

She broke down again. Not like this…why did she have to find out about it in this manner? Why was she once again the center of attention in the gossip magazine? Clearly, she wasn’t worth compassion…only pain and ridicule…story of her life….

As more emotions began to wash over her, Kurumi shut her eyes tight and hid her face again.

Suddenly, she felt something…no…someone wrap their arms around her and bring her close. Her eyes snapped open and all she could see was the black fabric from their robes and…was that a hint of peppermint? Kurumi’s caught her breath and a soft gasp escaped her pink lips. Treyen…was hugging her…and it hurt…not that he was squeezing her too tightly or anything, it hurt that he was holding her, comforting her…

She felt empty almost numb and her arms hung by her sides like limp noodles as she stood there not knowing what to do next. What was she supposed to say? Should she hug him back? She desperately wanted to, but she was afraid that she would hurt more. She was afraid of holding on to something that she now had to let go…again…

She lost all control when he spoke again, saying that he had meant everything he had said, but all she could focus on was ‘not the way you wish’ and she felt herself breaking a bit more.

“I-I-I did too…” she whispered back, burying her face in his chest and staying there for a few moments. “I-I-I can’t just stop liking you…I’m….I’m…I’m sorry…” She whimpered a bit more into his chest. Sorry Treyen, we hope you have a good place to air dry your clothes. "Is it...alright....if...if...if..." She chocked on her own breath. "...if I keep liking you?"

She probably needed to clarify this.

"I don't want to forget the way I feel...have felt...am feeling now...so...is it alright if someone like me...continues liking you?"

Treyen Lockhart sighed. Yes, he sighed when Kurumi spoke up. She still had it all wrong. "No, you truly are an incredible girl, always believe that," and she shouldn't settle for a less-than-incredible boy. Which he wasn't at the moment. Chances were that Kurumi was still going to disagree with him on that one, so he simply said, "Can we agree to disagree?" A FIRST! This was the first time he was asking Kurumi for something like that. They didn't seem to disagree on many things, and even if they did...they didn't argue over it.

But no comparisons are being made. No. None whatsoever.

And he also failed to notice the red hint her hair had for a second. It wasn't something that had his full attention.

Treyen was now regretting the hug. Because he didn't know how she was feeling about it. Kurumi didn't seem to be complaining but he may be hurting her even more, right? And he also pushed her away...but she buried her face in his chest and he started to act more out of impulses than anything else, since he was stroking her hair. He stopped...once she mentioned the 'liking him' part. Right.

He...couldn't ask her to forget he ever existed, and using magic to do so was out of the question, but he needed to give her some space...starting NOW.

As he started to pull away, his eyes were focusing on hers. Her violet eyes, the ones he wishes she'll never change the colors of. "I should've made things clear before, you don't have to apologize," seriously, stop it. "And I know you can't turn off your feelings so easily," or he wouldn't have been reacting this way around Kurumi either. Yet he didn't know what to answer her.

He could say 'No', but that didn't mean she was going to stop doing that. And he couldn't say 'Yes', because that would imply he may be leading her on somehow. "Someone like you?" That was the part that hurt him the most. "Let me tell you something, Kurumi," besides everything else he's told her already, "If I liked you, I would be the happiest boy on Earth knowing that someone like you liked me back," but he didn't like Kurumi. Not that way, unfortunately. But he managed to change the 'someone like me' part into a positive remark, no?

"I can't answer that question. I don't think it's fair that you have to go through this, by the way," didn't she break up with her boyfriend last school year? "But I still want to be friends with you, and I hope that you want the same..." he said, as he tried to dry her cheeks from the falling tears with his hand. Was it too much to ask of her? Friends?

Caroline entered the trophy room and shut the door behind her, She didn't want anyone hearing what was about to go down it the room in a few short minutes. This was seriously the hardest thing that she has ever done, going to Italy and meeting a father, that had no idea she exitisted wasn't even half as hard as what she was about to do.Walking farther into the room, she glance around at the trophies and awards. She leaned agaisnt a pilar and waited for Carter to get here.

Carter entered the trophy room. He was worried what was going on with Caroline. The owl he'd received made it sound like something had gone horribly.

"Hey." he said a little out of breath. He had run down as soon as he got the message. "What happened? Everything alright?" he asked in a rush.

She didn't smile when he walked in, never moving any part of her body. She just let him come up to her. Looking down at her feet, she knew that she wouldn't be able to look into his eyes and do this. He sounded out of breath. Did he run down here for her?

"Hey." her voice sounding broken, this was so hard, all she wanted to do was be in his arms and kiss him. "No nothings okay." She said keeping her voice as calm as possible.

"We need to talk."

Kurumi giggled. Yes, giggled when Treyen spoke again. Agree to disagree? Kurumi could agree to such a thing if he was being logical, which he wasn't really doing at this point in time. If it had been any other day, Kurumi would have perhaps drawn up a flow chart or something to show Treyen just how wrong he was, but the fight wasn't in her right now. Instead, she simply nodded and shrugged her shoulders in defeat. "O-Okay."

Kurumi frowned a bit when he began pulling away, but she knew she couldn't keep up the illusion of this forever. Yet, she felt like she was still in her little dream world when Treyen continued to lock his gaze on her own. While her cheeks flushed, she felt her confused heart break just a little more when he spoke again.

Not knowing what else to say, she looked at the ground and kicked aimlessly at a dust bunny.

She looked up again when his hand brushed against her tear stained check and she had to remind herself that this gesture did not mean what she hoped it did, or what she had thought it had meant all this time. "Oh..." she managed to squeak out. Suddenly, Kurumi became confused as to why she was feeling so strongly for Treyen. They had talked about how much he and her father thought a like, so was this attraction - or whatever one wanted to call it - because she had found someone who felt like and reminded her of her family? That had been the case for Salander in the end. He reminded her a lot of her oldest brother, Ryunosuke, and it took her pelting him and Lexi with cookie dough carrying birds to figure it out.

Still, these thoughts didn't make the feeling of rejection hurt any less.

"I...I..." she stammered forcing herself to look down at the floor. Her trembling hands moved to play with her hair and she felt the flower Treyen had tucked neatly into her hair earlier. Kurumi chewed on her bottom lip as a few more tears threatened to trickle down her face. "I...don't want to lose what we have..." Whatever you wanted to call it now. Kurumi felt confused and suffocated once more. She was really going to need time to think this all through. She needed to write her father.

"Okay..." Carter said slowly. She didn't hug or kiss him when he walked in. That had to be a bad sign...

o__O

Oh yes, it was definitely bad.

Girls never said those words like that unless they wanted to break up with you. He quickly racked his brain thinking of everything he'd done in the past few weeks... but nothing that would cause this came to mind.

"Oh... okay..." he sadly stammered out after a few seconds.

Maybe Caroline wanted to talk about something good?