Huh? 'JORDAN!' Rose squealed, hugging her friend. 'Oh my gosh, it's been ages! I-I'm alright. I-We're meeting out new guardian for the first time today. Mum bveing go-gone and all.' she said quietly. She wasn't sure if Jordan even KNEW about that, he hadn't been around for so long... 'How about you?'

SPOILER!!: Christopher

Quote:

Originally Posted by meganelizabeth

As Gideon finished talking to Selina, Christopher noticed that his attention was flying around the room as if looking for something. Raising an almost worried eyebrow at his housemate, he asked, "Erm... you alright, mate?" But then he heard it too.

Was that.... giggling?

And... a floating banner...?

Was he missing something? It actually seemed as though many people were confused as well, as murmers and confused heads turning filled the Hall. He nodded in agreement at Gideon's question. What was going on? Craning his neck to try to get a better view of the mysterious, giggling, banner, he asked to nobody in general, "What is that?" Certainly not a ghost, or a teacher using magic. Peeves perhaps?

He turned to Christopher as the other boy asked if he was alright, nodding his head in answer before stopping his look and focusing on his roomate. "Aye...I'm fine," he answered, "Did ye see anything mo--?" he started to ask before it appeared as if Christopher had caught on to the sounds of giggling and other proof of something being up.

"No clue," Gideon remarked with a shrug looking around once more for more clues as fellow Gryffindors got into the act. The boy pushing a fallen banner out of the way on the table s it had nearly knocked over a few things.

SPOILER!!: Selina and Christopher

[QUOTE=fanficfanatict;10797559]

SPOILER!!: Gideon, Christopher and the little adorable thing

It took a moment for everything to process for Selina. They were dorm mates, they were in all of the same classes, Christopher was the reason was Gideon and Selina fought before she avoided him for that long stretch of about three weeks, they had talked about Christopher at the dance when she dressed him up as prince charming. Oh yes, all of these little clues would lead up to the fact that they did know one another. That was slightly embarrassing. She coughed, "Um, right, yes. I knew that. I was merely testing you two."

She looked at Gideon who was raising his eyebrow at her and then his head and eyes started to follow something around. What in Merlin's beard was the boy even looking at? Then her own attention was diverted when a Slytherin banner came crashing down.

Christopher seriously inquired what was going on and what the thing was, but Selina, in her own amusement, said, "I don't know, but if this term is not going on without a bang then I really don't know what is; this is brilliant."

Quote:

Originally Posted by meganelizabeth

Eyebrows still raised, Christopher thought about her comment. It was brilliant? Sure, it was sending the year off with a bang, as there was always something to spice up the feast, but this was a little different than ministry employees and rumors. This was some crazy flying banner zooming around. Would the teachers honestly cause that chaos on purpose? On their last night? No. Of course not.

"Erm.... Sel..... I don't think that was planned..... It's definitely kind of weird though." But wasn't Hogwarts always?

Selina seemed to be quite amused with it all which Gideon could agree with. Though after the stories of various mischief around the school including the trouble brought to the observatory, he wasn't sure himself if it was a good thing. "Guess it is a nice way to end the term...with the end to the mystery," he replied in agreement wanting to know what was up and if whatever it was was the cause of everything else. Gideon certainly believe on the same track as Christopher...it wasn't planned.

SPOILER!!: Bentley and Scabior

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

After recieving Tates orders, Seren made her way down to the house tables, inching her way over to the Gryffindor table. To her surprise, the students appeared to be cool, calm and collected... not phased by the disturbances at all. GRYFFINDORS!

Scanning the Hall she saw Tate talking to one of the elves. She edged closing toward them, straining to catch parts of the conversation of the noise.

0__________0

Did she just hear something about a baby elf?

Seren listened more closely, and indeed, it seemed to be the case.

"Right everyone... stay calm." Yep, check... "... it appears as though there is a baby elf on the loose, could WE all please help out in finding the little dear, DO be gentle, so lets try to capture it."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaos.Doodles

Scabior wasn't really..there to look for...whatever it was. Or to calm anyone down. He was just following Bentley. Really, whatever she did he would follow. He was far to hungry to care about anything else.

....Did Tate just say baby elf?

"You heard Bentley." Dash said his voice rising slight. "Shut up. Calm down. And catch the baby elf. Everyone." The more people that helped out the sooner they would catch the creature.

When Professor Bentley approached the table and began to speak to them, Gideon turned his full attention to her listening intently. Maybe the professors knew about what was going on and all that...and there apparently was something they knew as she continued.

Baby elf? As is a child of a pair of house-elves?
Totally unexpected since one didn't necessarily think of them...well you know. But it did make a lot of sense and could be used to explain a lot of things. Like the weird behavior of the house elves of Hogwarts and the fact that the kitchens had be closed off all term. "Aye Professor...how would we do that?"

And then they were further joined by Scabior which wasn't a deal. That was until he acted like they were all idiots despite the fact that only a few of the other students had freaked out about the disturbance. He fought the urge to roll his eyes at the professor's tone but he didn't want to chance things even at the ending feast. "Aye Professor," he said simply as he thought on what was the best way to do just that.

SPOILER!!: Kurumi and the rest

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Kurumi felt warm and saf being hugged by Carter right now, and it was the familiar feeling that she was going to have to do without next term. Perhaps, all this was coming at just the right time? She was going to be a 5th year now and that meant that she needed to take on the role of being the big sister and role model to students instead of her always looking up literally to older students.

She swallowed hard and squeezed him back again, knowing she was going to have to let go eventually...but not really wanting to do so. Still, she did detach herself from Carter and rubbed her eyes, hopefully drying some of her tears.

Kurumi looked at August and bit her lower lip as she tried to keep back some more tears. Truth was, she sort of felt like throwing her arms around the younger student to hug...

but her thoughts and actions were interrupted by Professor Bentley and Professor Scabior making an appearance at their table. Professor Bentley was fine, Professor Scabior always freaked her out though - not that she really disliked him in that way...she just found him to be unreasonable.

Kurumi jumped to her feet. All the missing things...the baby house elf is what had been taking them, right? "Lions! Chasing after it isn't going to help the situation and will only frightening the poor thing and make it run around more," she said as she walked over to the front of the table. "We need a plan..." Kurumi thought about her cookies. Perhaps...they could set a trap of some sort? This baby house elf did seem to have a pack rat personality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

Smirking to herself, Seren was curious as to why Dash decided to follow her of all people. Didn't she annoy him? Didn't Gryffindors annoy him? Either way, his voice was more authorative than hers, so it was probably a good thing he'd come with her.

"Brilliant thinking Kurumi."
See! Lions didn't have to be all brawn and no brain. This was exactly what they needed, a bright example of how not to charge around arms flailing looking tough with their shirts off.

"Alright everyone, let's devise a plan, HOW can we capture the elf without scaring it off? Remember we don't want to hurt it."

"Maybe we could trick it into COMING to us instead?"
Go Lions! Sit! Think! Plan!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Kurumi smiled in Professor Bentley's direction. She was glad that she, and the prefect assumed Professor Scabior felt the same, felt that running around chasing after the little creature wasn't the way to go about things. Having lived with Walnut for the past four terms in the dorms was a sure indication of this. Whenever he did something bad and she would chase him around the place, it never resulted in anything good and the dorms usually ended up looking like a war zone.

It was now that Kurumi turned to the box of cookies that she just hadn't felt the desire to set out on the table yet - saying good bye to seventh years had distracted her from playing her role of Cookie Girl. "What if...we charm these cookies to dance around this end of the table?" Kurumi asked as she opened the lid on the box to reveal its cookie contents. Kurumi wasn't entirely sure about whether or not house elves were the cookie type, but when one looked at what all had been taken from various locations in the school, the only thing that was certain was that the little guy was a bit of a kleptomaniac. She thought a bit more and then looked down at her feet.

OF COURSE! Why hadn't she thought of this before?

"Professor! Socks! We should all remove our socks as well!" House elves liked socks, historically speaking. She understood the principles behind the mature house elves and clothing, but this was a baby house elf...perhaps this whole idea of enslavement wasn't applicable yet? Was this little guy to blame for the snowmen too? That was more proof that the principles didn't apply, right? House elves never used their magic besides mundane work due to the whole concept of "enslavement." Kurumi hated that word and she even wrinkled her nose a bit thinking about it.

Focusing back on those surrounding her, Kurumi slipped off her school shoes along with her sleeping bear socks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

It was good to see that Gryffindor had an active Prefect, Kurumi seemed to be doing a spectacular job at leading people and remaining calm in stressful situations, not to mention her ability to think RATIONALLY in a time of crisis. Was she a Gryffindor- Ravenclaw hybrid? Perhaps.

"Come on Lions! We'll need to work as a team if we're going to pull this off." They knew what team work was right? .. Sure Gryffindors were typically brave and often acted irrationally, not thinking before making their move, and often doing so without assistance. "Gather round, gather round, Kurumi has a plan..." which sounded interesting to say the least. BUT the girl was definitely onto something. The baby elf had been stealing a number of items from around the school, so there was the possibility that it would stop for a cookie or a sock. Maybe long enough to be captured.

"Socks are a good idea," she said nodding in agreement, "Though I won't be taking mine off.. I'm sure we won't need that many."
Plus she didn't feel comfortable with the idea of her students seeing her feet. That was sort of personal.... private. NOT FOR STUDENT EYES!

Seren turned to smile at August. Gosh that boy had some interesting ideas about the Wizarding World. Then again he was muggle born, so that explained why his questions were rather sweet in a way.
"Well for starters... there aren't any other baby elves, and there certainly isn't an elf nursery. We do not employ baby elves.. nor do we breed them."

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanialRadFAN01

Auggie looked up at Professor Bentley as she turned towards him to answer his question about why the baby elf had even been released from its caretaker at the Elfish Nursery. "Oh...really? Well I didn't mean employ them, although I bet they would be able to clean the dishes pretty well, OH and probably fit into nooks and crannies better than the older house elves." Yeah. Baby House Elves could be a good thing no?

Ok so it was decided they were going to make a sock trap to lure the baby elf over to the Gryffindor table and capture it. Auggies socks were off and so were Kurumi's but Professor Bentley said she would not being doing the same.

She was going to ruin their plan!! "Professor Bentley you MUST take your shoes off. Your socks are bigger than ours!" that was totally meant as an innocent comment on the fact that she was an adult--in Auggie's mind.

She wasn't going to help. But that baby elf needed them! Quickly dropping to the floor, August scrambled to the professor's feet and began to until her shoes. "Professor we need your socks!"

AHHHHH!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hera

Before she knew it the Gryffindor boy had gotten down to the floor and began untying her laces!

Bouncing Blueberries!

"August! What do you think you're doi-.... oh what the heck!" She couldn't really fight it could she? The kids would have their way eventually especially with these manic Gryffindors driven by the need to get involved, capture and succeed. Really, at the end of the day they were an admirable bunch. So it was with a strained smile, she sat herself down and pulled her boots off, the laces really didn't need to be undone.. silly boy.

At least Tate wouldn't be able to say she didn't do anything to help the students. This was their plan, and she was helping them enforce it. So really... this was a learning experience, a hands on apporach to ... capturing baby elves? Why not. It was Hogwarts after all.

Pulling off her cornflower blue socks she exchanged a look with August.. did she want them back when this was all over and done? Well she wasn't sure yet. Did he owe him for this? Yes, yes he did.
"I'm trusting you with my socks Goldstein... and only because I think this experience will be educational." And why would anyone want them otherwise?

Gosh the floor was cold. Seren starred down at her pink toenails. Well THIS, she never expected.

"Right team, get your socks off! If I can do it so can you!... Now, we have a plan to lure the baby elf hear, how are you planning to catch it?" This was the most important part right? Seren was curious to see how they were at problem solving.

At least Kurumi had a head on her shoulders knowing running after it wasn't going to help anything. Thats what had been done before and they hadn't caught it all term when seen before. And Bentley agreed with the idea offering a suggestion and Gideon tried to think of what they could lure it with.

What to do...what to do?

Socks?

Kurumi's cookie idea hadn't gotten his attention but her sudden exclaimation about socks beat through his brain fog. "Of course...." he remarked remembering stuff he had once heard from his great aunt about house elves. Obeying his friend the prefect, he sat down and moved to take off his own socks. If he was gonna help he might as well go all, freeing his red-toed socks from his shoes before returning his shoes to his feet.

Gideon couldn't help shaking his head and fighting laughter as August fought with pressure to get Bentley involved with the cause. At least she was good natured about it all and not upset, giving in to it all. Now to go find the baby house elf.

Nessie's nose scruched up. She shook her head slightly. "I was never really a fan of New York. It's too busy. Do you miss it though?" She asked.

Nessie felt sort of bad for him. At least she could remeber her parents. His family was lost to him forever. "I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you that I know how it feels but I can't. Is there no way for you too regain your memory? Is it truely lost forever? She asked. She didn't want him to suffer. He was a really nice guy. He didn't deserve to be hurt like this.

Kurumi hadn't even thought about how a baby house elf had come to be. She just always assumed that the owls brought them and dropped them down chimneys just like what storks did with babies. So, of course she was not surprised by Professor Bentley's comment about the school not breeding house elves or owning a nursery. "That's because the owls bring them to their new elf parents. Or perhaps the owls do it." Everything in the wizarding world revolved around owls it seemed. "Judging from the conversation at the Ravenclaw table, it looks as though Nimma is the lucky elf that the stork visited! I wonder if it was a white one that visited her...of if it was another type..." Kurumi's mind began to wander a bit. She would have to ask the elf after they had successfully caught the baby elf.


o__________________O

Wait...was August REALLY taking off Professor Bentley's shoes?! What was it with her housemates this term and wanting to remove pieces of clothing? The image of all the MAN from the pep rally was still etched strongly in her mind. At least toes were innocent...and Professor Bentley's were cute and pink.

"That is a lovely shade of pink, professor," Kurumi smiled, pointing to her toes. Kurumi had never painted her toe nails before, but that color was very cute

She then looked at August and softly shook her head. At least he had done so to Professor Bentley and not Professor Scabior. Chances were August would have been turned into a newt by now and then offered to Professor Lafay as a potions ingredient.


Kurumi surveyed their supplies and nodded. Yes, that should be enough...although she was a little disappointed and had been rather curious to see what sort of socks Professor Scabior had on. You could tell a lot about a person from their socks. Where they the simple and clean type and preferred the white socks? Were they more concerned about appearance but too lazy to keep themselves well kept and therefore wore black ones. There was a lot that could be said about socks.

No matter, Kurumi's focus was back on the socks and the several dozen cookies that were in the box. Kurumi removed her wand and gave it a fluid swish and flick. "Wingardium Leviosa," she commanded, flicking above the cookies as they slowly levitated out of the box and into the air. She gave her wand another flick and cast Immobulus before moving on with another wave of her wand. "Locomotor cookies!" There, now they were sort of dancing in the air and should get its attention at least.

"Now we just need to eat levitate our socks," she said, sort of explaining the obvious. It wouldn't work if they just stood their holding their socks, right? She had been naive and innocent as a child, but not THAT much. Besides, the baby house elf had been stealing things when people were not around.

Toe socks. See! Those too said something about a person. Although, Gideon was probably the first boy she had ever seen wearing toe socks and had, until then, been under the impression that it was more a girl thing. Which meant that he had a bit of a sensitive side and could make friends with girls because he could understand them - which fit considering she was pretty sure that he had more girls that were friends than boys. She could have kept going on in her sock analysis, but now wasn't really the time for that. They needed to catch a baby house elf!

Smiling at Gideon, Kurumi returned her attention to everyone around and was struck by something else. "Does...this baby house elf have a name? Doesn't it seem like calling it would, you know, get its attention?" Yelling Oi, baby house elf seemed like it would be very counter productive.

Kurumi looked around at the rest of her house which seemed to be caught up in their own personal conversations and not really seeing the chaos that was going on around them. Oh well...

Ronnie worriedly headed to the Gryffindor table, hopefully where Rose was. "Rose! Rose!" she called looking around frantically. She had to explain to her everything was alright, or everything would go wrong! Again!

Strange, strange that Pips couldn't seem to figure out where baby elf was at the moment. The Great Hall was not so big, although the baby was very very small. Still, it was noisy and clumsy and into everything.

So where WAS that baby elf?

"Please please, studentses. Is anyone seeing our baby elf? Nimma is being so very sad that we lost the baby."

Oh good! Pips was still here. And...he was asking about where the baby house elf was. Well, she had pointed out earlier that it had scampered off to the Slytherin table, but the poor elf probably hadn't heard her in all the commotion.

"We are not sure now, but we are trying to lure it here," Kurumi said as she pointed to their display of levitated cookies and socks. Kurumi was sort of getting tired with it being called simply the baby elf too. "Does...it have a name?"

"No. Elves isn't giving themselves names. Masters is giving elves names." He rubbed his hands together anxiously. "We is needing to keep this baby, miss. It will learn. It will grow up and be good. Don't let Mister Headmaster get rid of our baby, miss."

Pips tottled a few steps toward the Slytherin table before stopping. He had a feeling the baby elf had moved again.

Johnathan was sitting with his casted foot on top of one of the table seats. He was eating some chicken, mashed potatoes, etc. He was simply happy at the sight of the never ending feast or atleast while it lasted. But he was also excited to be leaving home soom.

Scabior's attention had left the Gryffindor table ages ago. It seemed like more chaos was happening at the other tables...

"I think It might be over at the Slytherin table." He said loudly so that the Elf and the Gryffindors could hear. "Or maybe the Ravenclaw one." Really..it seemed like that thing was just everywhere.

Harvey decided to go to as many professors as he could.. so he first came to the Gryffindor table where he saw Professor Scabior wondering where the baby elf was "Professor Scabior.. the baby elf is sleeping on top of the Ravenclaw table over there.. see by that Hufflepuff. first year." Harvey said pointing to the Ravenclaw table where Minerva was. "I will go inform the other Professors.." and with that he left to find another professor

Well, that just seemed horrid to not have a name! The little creature was hoping from place to place causing all sorts of trouble and chaos and the best that everyone could do was call it 'baby house elf'? Kurumi frowned a bit but then felt her heart heave when it seemed as though Pips were asking her to make sure that nothing bad happened to the hopping baby house elf.

Hopping...Hoppity? Was that too much like a rabbit? It was rather cute and sort of seemed fitting...
But then Professor Scabior spoke. Wouldn't everyone rushing to the Ravenclaw table cause the little fellow to run away and become more frightened?

"Pips, maybe you should go and see if Hoppity is there? I am sure that it would respond better to one of its own kind suddenly showing up than it would if a bunch of students went rushing over to it." Although, they were sort of her own kind...but that was another story. "Myself, and others, can stay here just in case Hoppity comes this way."

She wasn't sure if the name would stick, but she felt better addressing the baby house elf by some sort of name.

He beamed just as Lexi squealed, then hugged her tightly "I'm glad you liked them Luv. You are the Queen of my heart... " he murmured into her ear, just as he caressed her wrist that had the bracelet. "And..." he said as he leaned back a bit to touch the brooch "... my Gryffindor Princess should have something to celebrate her last year here right?" he smiled as he touched the bejeweled Gryffin "by the way, you find a nice chain for that and you can turn this into a pendant too." See its pretty and versatile.

Hoppity? Pips tilted his head to consider. Who was that girl speaking about?

"Pips is... Pips isn't going. Mister Headmaster is finding the baby elf, and now... now..." He should find Nimma, because his dear friend was probably DISTRAUGHT about losing their new baby elf so soon.

"Please, please, miss. Please."

Harvey noticed that his favourite Professor was here so he decided to inform her too, even if she had no socks on.. she could just put her shoes back on and follow him "Professor Bentley the er.. baby elf is sleeping ontop of the Ravenclaw table. Poor thing is tired.. Its over there by that Hufflepuff First year Minerva" he said pointing to Minnie as he looked over there to make sure the elf was still there.

Seren had been trying to keep up with the lions and their sock plan, which was a pretty spectacular plan indeed, and it was good to see that mroe students got involved, Kurumi and August couldn't have done it themselves.

Still feeling a little self conscious at the fact that she was now bare foot in the Great Hall and surrounded by students, she had been somewhat distracted from conversation. Good thing Dash was there to keep things going. Though did pick up on bits and peices here and there.

It wasn't until Harvey came along that she was pulled out of her little day dream.

The baby elf was sleeping? So they'd caught it?

"Alright, thank you Harvey."
*sigh*

She'd taken off her socks for nothing. Oh well.. it had been a little exciting.
"Right lions, the baby elf is asleep at the Ravenclaw table, so I'm sure Headmaster Tate has it under control. You may all put your socks back on and return to your seats.. I expect the feast will continue shortly." Or start in the first place... Seren was VERY hungry now, all she wanted was some roast and gravy, was that too much to ask?

Katie dicieded to check out the gryffindor table, she always seemed to come visit them at the feasts, she saw a boy sitting alone and went to sit next to him, "Is it alright if I sit here?" She asked with a sweet smile on her face, she hoped he was a nice boy and wouldn't say no.

John stopped eating and smiled whiled looking at the young girl.

"yes you may" He said with a charming smile.

He moved his barely healing broken leg out of the way, to allow the young girl to sit down.

Seren eyed the lions in her vicinity. The Headmaster was speaking, so they should be listening. Yep.

Speak for the elf? Was he really considering getting rid of the poor dear?

Right as Jordan heard Mum gone and all, he knew something happened. "What do you mean Rose?" Jordan said quietly. "A new guardian?" Jordan was shocked as if by lightning.

Things just happened to pass by in a whir of activity. An elf? A baby elf? That was what had caused this chaos? Kourt wondered if that was what the other house elf had been punishing itself for; the one that had appeared in one of the Astronomy classes. No doubt they had been trying to keep it a secret.

Kourt craned her head to look towards the other house tables as it was indicated by the professors that the elf was now asleep at the Ravenclaw table. She couldn't get a good look, but she imagined that it might actually be kind of cute.

The young Gryffindor flashed a grin towards Professor Bentley, a bit amused that the woman had joined in the sock plan quite willingly. That made her even cooler in Kourt's book.

Her gaze turned towards the staff table as the Headmaster spoke, indicating that the baby elf was now in their possession. Speak on its behalf? Immediately, Kourt's eyes moved to Kurumi. She knew the older girl loved the elves that worked at Hogwarts. No doubt she would have something to say. They just couldn't get rid of it!

Finally the elf was caught. And now they could rest. And maybe enjoy some food at this feast. Scabior's gaze turned to the staff table where Tate was speaking.

Despite the conversation with Rose, and a few other friends at the Gryffindor House Table, his focus was turned to Professor Tate, the Headmaster. By the time Jordan found out there was an elf, and now a baby elf, he became more impatient by the minute. I honestly just want to flipping eat already; Merlin's Beard, I'm hungry. Jordan thought to himself, while hearing his stomach growl at him, as if his stomach were telling him something. "Hopefully the speech goes fast, all due respect to Professor Tate." Jordan told himself, he loved Professor Tate, but the wrong things were occuring at the wrong place. Banners were broke, the place was a mess. What else could wrong? He hoped nothing, but a nice piece of chicken is mouth with a taste of pumpkin juice.

"Thank you" She said and sat down, she looked down and saw that he had a broken leg, "Ohmygosh! Are you alright?" Katie said, even is she didnt really know him she hoped he was okay, though she could see that it was broken and it would be hard to help him.

"You're welcome" John said as he smiled.

"Yeah I just fell over a fat dog, but I'm all good" John chuckled at the truth behind his fall.

"I'm Johnathan but people call me John...and who may you be?" John finished his sentence in his "oh-so" deep charming voice.