Stepping off of the sleeping bag Oakey did not want to soak up as well. He turned his attention to both Minerva and Professor Hadley. "Well." Oakey started, not sure how to explain it. "When we were all expelled from the room I ended up dropping into one the Kitchen sinks." Right that explained where he went, but what about why he was wet. "I guess I'm wet because I had some trouble getting out of it." It's kind of hard to get a good grip to pull yourself out of one of the large sinks in the kitchen. Especially when the only thing he could grip on was the faucet knobs.

Ella just had to bring up the smell. "That would be Mashed potatoes." He glared toward Laura as she was the one to throw them right at his face. He really, really wanted to get Laura in trouble right there and then for that but held the information back. They were missing three other Puff's apparently, and didn't need two of them bickering at each other.
"Is there something I can be of help with Ma'am?"

Befelda just entered the Great Hall as she was starving to death. She just took some toasted bread and pumpkin juice from the table and quickly ate them. Ahh...burp!, that was embarrassing. Oops!

She felt then sleepy after eating. But she's been thinking of practicing the Petrificus Digitirus and Torparticus spell, not sure if she wants to practice them with someone. They really weren't that awful when casted.

While walking towards the sleeping area, she saw this group of students talking, one was somewhat 'soaked' she's not sure. She had an idea of approaching the girl. Maybe she could ask her to practice with her on the spells.

She walked towards the 'soaked' student. "Uhm...Hi! Why are you soaking wet? It's not even raining outside. Uhm...", she stopped talking. She thought she was too rude to say that to the girl. "Sorry for that. Anyways, I have this homework in DADA where in I have to practice the Petrificus Digitirus and Torparticus spells. I was wondering if I could practice with you? Please?", she said to the girl straight to the point. Then she almost forgot to introduce herself."Oh, that was so uncivil of me. I'm Befelda Solster, First year.", she quipped. She could feel her face turning hot red.

Good, Hadley was alright, not that she really had much reason not to be. The red head nodded at her Professor as her name was mentioned, which was followed with instructions. Look for the missing two. Alright then, simple enough.

Before Ness could say anything, Ella questioned her first with exactly what she would have said. Where to start? Pout. Where would a student be besides for here now? Lost..okay that was just stating the obvious now. Wasn't going to help much at all.

"How about...um..." Nothing..nope not a single place popped in her head."Umm..the bathrooms?" There we go. Maybe somebody could have possibly been stuck there? Except...they wouldn't exactly be allowed in the boys bathrooms. Gosh that wouldn't work too well, if Pao was after all stuck there. "Or maybe one of the corridors towards there?"

With having at least an idea of where to go, Nessie checked on Puffles one last time. He was asleep by now and she felt safe to leave him on his own. So they could leave now then?

Mashed Potatoes? Ella raised an eyebrow at her housemate, wondering why on earth he smelled like mashed potatoes? Unless...the house elves had been feeding him while he was stuck in the sink. That was kinda nice, actually but still...he wouldn't have been that smelly if he just ate the things. STRANGE. Shrug. "That's um....that's interesting."



Ella watched the older girl as she seemed to contemplate where they should start their search, biting her own lip as she waited. She was a bit nervous, mostly because odd things seemed to be going on and she didn't want to encounter anything scary on their search. They'd be fine, though. Ella had her wand and she was sure Hadley wouldn't let them go on a search if they weren't going to be safe.

The bathrooms? Hey! Yeah...that seemed like a logical place to check. She did consider the fact that they wouldn't be able to get into the boys room though they could always call out to anyone who might be trapped inside. "I...yeah, the corridors where the bathrooms are located. Yeah, we should start with those." Cause people always had to use the bathrooms, yeah? Common room lockout or not.

And pulling out her wand just in case, the small blonde was ready to go when Nessie was.

Awar sat down cross-legged on her sleeping bag. Were they really going to sleep in the Great Hall? She looked around at her fellow Badgers. She didn't mind sleeping in a crowded hall. It made her feel safer.

Minerva listened to Oakey, he was thrown clear in the kitchen. Wow that was a far ways to go when everyone else just it the entrance. She then thought of something. "Oakey, there is a drying spell I had memorized from a book I was reading. Let me try to dry you off." She pulled out her wand and did the wand movement "Exaresco" Making sure she had gotten all of his clothes, she smiled, "Is that better?" Putting her madness of him behind her, she would always help a fellow badger, even if they called her mean and didn't stick up for her when she needed it.

As Minerva walked around the Badger sleeping area as Professor Hadley had mentioned for her to do she noticed Awar sitting on a sleeping bag looking a little concerned, "Hey Awar, sorry we didn't get to watch all our movie. Hopefully once we are back in the common room we can finish watching it. How are you feeling, you okay? You weren't hurt at all when we were thrown?" She just wanted to make sure the younger student was doing alright and wasn't to upset over the switch that had happened.

Laura was still on guard duty for her cousin Bliss, she had promised Bliss she would stay awake whilst she slept and so that was what she was going to do, she then saw Professor Hadley that was good, she whispered over to Professor Hadley. "Professor I can't go to sleep I promised my cousin I'd make sure nothing got her whilst she slept, so if you need me for anything I'm all here." Laura smiled and with that she turned to make sure her cousin was safe, she smiled when she saw her cousin seemed to have fallen asleep.

Awar looked up to see Minnie standing over her. She smiled, "Hi Minnie. It's okay! I was really looking forward to it, though." She shook her head, "Don't worry. I'm fine! Just a bit confused is all!"

Befelda then noticed the girl who just entered the sleeping area. She stared at her and she recognized her in the Muggle studies. It's Awar. She quickly approached her.

"Awar! Hey. Are you about to sleep now? Can you do me a favor? Can I practice a spell with you, the Petrificus Digitirus spell? Please, just minutes, before we go to sleep." Befelda asked.

Minerva smiled at Awar, "Well I promise once we get back into our common rooms, because we will get back in. The professor will figure this out, we will watch Shrek just like we had planned." She glanced around wondering where some of her housemates could be and then focused back on Awar. "I think we might all be a bit confused, but we are safe here in the Great Hall. The professors would never let anything go on here." She gave her a smile knowing Hadley was there and would watch over them.

Minerva then saw another girl approach and ask about homework.. hmmm this made Minerva smile. Someone with the same academic ambitions as she had. Would Min have been more worried about homework then what was going on with the locked common rooms her first year.. Maybe, it really could have been a possibility. "Hello, I'm not sure we have met. I'm Minerva, but most people call me Minnie. If you need someone to practice on and Awar is wanting to rest, you can practice on me. I don't mind." She looked around the sleeping area everyone seemed to be either sleeping or just sitting and talking, "I do have to help keep an eye on everyone for Professor Hadley, but as long as I'm watching, I don't see why you could use my non wand hand for your spell."

As she waited for Awar's answer, a girl approached her and introduced herself and offered a hand for the DADA homework. Hmm...I could use some help.

"Hi...Minnie! No, we haven't met. I'm Befelda, but you can call me Bef I prefer that. " she said. She was glad she made friends again. And the girl offered her non-wand hand.

"That's so nice of you. I really need to practice it cause I have just practiced the spells by myself back in the DADA class. Well, can we do the practice here? Are we allowed? I hope so.", she said.

She then took out her wand and made the inverted 'U' motion and practiced the spell, "Petrificus Digitirus.....Petrificus Digitirus......Petrificus Digitirus..", she practiced over and over again before she did it to Minnie.

"Ok. I just practiced first. Are we ok? May we start?"

Isabelle had been bringing up the rear, making sure that all the kids got in front of her so she could keep an eye on them as they ascended the stairs and headed towards the Great Hall. She was pleased that all the sleeping bags had been set up already, and they didn't have to wait for that to happen. It meant they could all get comfortable as soon as they got there. Which they did.

Walking among the kids, Issy smiled at them in a reassuring way. She had no idea what had caused the lock-out, or how they were going to fix it. But she knew that to avoid a panic she'd need to remain calm on the outside. First sign of fear in a staff member would surely set the kids off. "Are you all comfy? Found a place for yourself? Need anything?" she called out to the Badgers who were all neatly lined up like a little row of soldiers.

Then Fina came in and Issy breathed a sigh of relief. The Head of House had got the message about it then, either from her or someone else. Probably the Headmistress. "Professor Hadley," Isabelle smiled, walking over to the woman and greeting her. "This isn't ideal, is it?" Understatement. Of. The. Millennium.

Awar nodded at Minnie, convinced that they were indeed safe. Heck, they probably have better protection than in the Muggle world. Of that, she's sure.

She turned her head to Befelda's voice, but saw that Minnie had already attended to her. "I'll practice with you after Minnie if you still want to."

Awar still offered her help to Befelda and was glad. "Really? Great! That would be fun. We could practice the Torparticus spell after Minnie and I practiced Petrificus Digitirus. This will be fun!", she said excitedly. She was grateful of her new friends.

Minerva smiled at the girl, "Sure I think it will be fine as long as we aren't to loud or doing anything to anyone else." She looked around and saw Professor Mangus coming into the great all. "I think everyone has settled in. There are a few badgers missing, but Professor Hadley had sent Nessie, and Ella to look for them. I'm helping walk around and make sure everyone is calm and no one tries to leave the hall."

Turning back to the younger students and stuck out her hand. "Whenever your ready go ahead and make the u and say the words. My hand should start feeling asleep if done correctly." She smiled reassuring knowing she is a younger student she might not get it on her first try and that was okay, she had to start there as well.

She waited for Minnie to finish her talk with Professor Mangus. And then she took out and offered her hand for her."Ok. I hope I had enough practice then.",she said. Then she gave the first try. Befelda pointed her wand towards Minnie's hand, waved an upside down 'U' movement and casted, "Petrificus Digitirus!", casted loud enough not to wake up the others.

She didn't see if the Minnie's fingers stiffened as her eyes were closed as she casted the spell. She tried to touch Minnie's hand, "Uh....well? Did it work? Do you feel anything?", she asked Minnie. She really hope it didn't hurt her.

Minerva waited for Bef to cast the spell. She watched her do the U and then say the words. Minerva didn't feel anything happen like she did when Belle did, but it didn't mean she couldn't have some fun with this. She made the best hurt face possible. "Umm.. I..I don't think it's suppose to hurt like this. ouch.." She shook her hand a bit not wanting to upset the girl she smiled a bit, "Just kidding.. I don't think it worked though, could I make a suggestion."

She pulled out her wand, "I think you need to make your U a little more like this." Minerva did the upside down U a little quicker and a little more pronounced. "I think if you do it more like that you will be good to go. You'll get it though, I think your doing great." She smiled at the Bef encouraging. "Go ahead and try again."

As Awar waited for Befelda and Minnie to finish, she laid back on her sleeping bag and stared up at the enchanted ceiling. It's such a good feeling to be at Hogwarts even in times like these.

When Minnie shook her hand, Befelda knew it from the start that her spell didn't work right. Maybe because her eyes were closed and not too focused on the target. When the girl demonstrated how the upside down U was done, Befelda looked closely on it and studied the motion. "Hmm...ok. I think I'm getting it."

She again fixed herself, her wand at the ready, and did make an upside down 'U' motion, this time she gave a quicker movement and clearly said, "Petrificus...Digitirus!", her eyes became wide as she witnessed Minnie's hand stiffen. I think I did it.

Minerva smiled when Bef said she thought she had it, that was great. It seemed the girl could pick up things quickly. Their house could always welcome quick learning wizards, so that was great that she seemed confident. "Well try again whenever your ready." She said and stuck her hand out again. She looked around the hall just to check on the other puffs, not wanting to stop doing the job she was asked to do, but she was doing it helping a younger student.

Holding out her hand she heard Bef do the spell and she felt her hand moving without her will, hmm she grinned a bit, that felt weird. "I think it worked, great job. Do you know how to stop it, or should I do that?" She wasn't sure if the girl knew the counter or not, but she would let her do it if she did.

Befelda quickly said, "Oh, yes I know. Sorry, got too excited.", she quipped. She then pointed her wand to Minnie's stiffened hand and casted "Finite.", and suddenly she saw Minnie's fingers were loosen and came back to normal.

"Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it. I just hope, your fingers are still ok? And well, it seems you're very busy checking out for the rest of the students. Don't worry, I won't bother you any longer. Besides, Awar wants to practice the spell with me too. I'll go approach her. Thanks again, Minnie and so nice meeting you. See you around.", she quickly said to Minnie as she no longer wants to bother her work any longer.


As she said goodbye to Minnie, she approached Awar at once who was not too far from her she was. She saw her laid back on her sleeping bag staring at the enchanted ceiling. Befelda looked up and stared at it as well. "Beautiful, isn't it? It's really a wonder how magic works. I really love magic.", she said to Awar while staring at the ceiling, felling soo overwhelmed by the looks of it.

"I'm done practicing with Minnie. She's a bit too busy checking the students out so I better leave and no longer bother her with her work. Besides, I did it, the Petrificus Digitirus spell with her fingers. It was brilliant, but scary though!", she said excitedly.

Awar smiled and sat up to face Befelda. "Sometimes I feel sorry for Muggles because they don't get to witness wonderful stuff like this."

She crossed her legs, "My mum just stares at my brother and I with wide eyes whenever we do magic. It's so funny! It never gets old!"

"Sounds like fun! You can practice the Toparticus spell on me now." She smiled and held out her hand

"Yeah. Magic never fails to amaze them. But you know a lot of muggles these days are eager and keen to learn magic. I know a few, some of my neighbors do.", she said as she noticed Awar sat up.

"Well, ok. Let's practice.", she sat up and took out her wand. "This is actually my first time to practice the Torparticus spell. So this will be a bit hard.", she warned Awar. With her wand at the ready, she tried to make a jabbing movement towards Awar's hand and casted "Torparticus.". She stared directly into her hand but she's not sure if the spell took effect.

"Uh...how was it? Did it work?", she asked Awar.

She watched as Befelda performed the spell on her hand. She suddenly felt her hand go into a numb-like stage. "Uh....I think so." She flopped her hand back and forth. "I sure can't feel it."

Befelda was surprised. She didn't expect it to work on the first cast. "Really? Are you sure? Well, that's great! Not bad for a first timer. But... maybe it was just a sheer luck.", she said. She somehow wasn't really convinced after all.

She again pointed her wand over Awar's cursed fingers and cast "Finite."
and her hand suddenly came back to normal. Befelda feels like doing it one more time.

"Uhm...can we give it a go one more time? I just needed to be sure I could cast it perfectly. Please?" she asked Awar.