Laura walked over to a place she never even knew excisted until just now, seriously had this been here all this time, well anyway she had some studying too do, she took out her Defence Against the Dark Arts book and started to read it, she wanted to make sure she was really up to speed with her work after all.

Bliss had decided to do a little bit of exploring around the castle, as even though she'd been here last year, there was a lot of new things and a lot of un-explored places that she was eager to find. She'd been to the Hot Springs and the new fountain in the Courtyard, but she wanted more. So she headed in the general direction of the Common Room, but turned off randomly.

And then she found the study. And she spotted Laura. Her cousin. Who had aaaaaalmost got her in trouble. But she'd escaped and got 5 points as well. Gooo, Bliss! "Hey Laura," she said and waved at the older cousin.

Laura was busy reading her Arithmancy book trying to figure out what she was doing wrong in that subject, she knew if she could show Professor Hadley that she had took in the lesson then maybe the Professor would see that she was growing up.

Laura had loads of sheets of paper on the study table she was using and she was in complete concentration, when she suddenly heard someone say her name. "Hi Bliss." Laura looked up at her cousin and then back down at the work she was doing, Bliss probably was still annoyed with her.

Bliss watched as Laura went on reading, frowning slightly at the sight of her cousin reading books. Studying. WHAT!? Laura didn't study. o___O What had gotten in to her? Maybe this was a result of a traumatic experience of the Fourth Floor corridor..hmmm.

"Soooo.." Bliss said and shoved her hands in her pockets, looking awkward. "Whatcha upto?" She asked. Even more awkwardly.

Whistle.

Laura was busy trying to figure out why Arithmancy was soo hard but well she would figure it out later, she was still sad that she had upset her cousin Bliss, maybe she was growing up, she wanted to try and do really well this term and sure Professor Hadley that she could behave.

Laura looked at Bliss. "I'm studying." Laura smiled, as she continued to read the book whilst writting something down on the Parchment that she had took out of her bag. "Why don't you take a seat?" Laura smiled as she sorted out the table so there was room for Bliss to put her stuff on.

Ella headed down to the study tables with her arms loaded with books. She wanted to brush up on pretty much everything, especially now that classes were back in full swing. It actually felt good, being back and working hard again. She knew she needed to help get a lot of points, too...what with the NEGATIVE points that the Hufflepuff house currently had. The third year seriously wasn't pleased about that. Meh. Maybe it was her competitive side that was making her feel that way.

When she got to the tables, the small blonde stopped short, surprised by what she saw in front of her. It was Laura. Laura Hope Hyde...and she was studying. Laura Hope Hyde was studying...HUH?

WASTHISREALLIFE?!

...

"Um...Laura?" Ella was majorly concerned. Clearly her friend had been abducted by aliens and they'd replaced her with some studious version of her former self. EEP!

Laura looked up when some said her name in a weird tone, seriously this was the Study table and she wanted to study up on her Arithmancy before the first lesson. "Ella." Laura smiled before looking straight back down into her work. "You can join me if you want Ella." Laura smiled, seriously it would be good to study with Ella. "And what is wrong with you?" Laura had suddenly realised that Ella didn't look herself. "Are you okay, what to talk about it, whilst we study?"

HUH? So she was serious, then? Laura was really studying? Weirdly enough, Ells wasn't feeling as proud as she figured she would when her best friend made good on their deal. Her fellow Hufflepuff was definitely staying out of trouble, but in all honesty it kind of freaked Ella out, the studying Laura thing. It just didn't seem very...Laura-ish. But she needed to respond, yeah? With words and all? "Erm join you...yeah...yeah, sure." And the blonde headed towards an empty seat, plopping her books on the table. She couldn't help but eye Laura curiously, as if she was checking for any abnormalities...No one had made any polyjuice potion, had they?! Blink. Blink. "Wrong...with me? Oh nothing, nothing at all. I'm...good. Really good."

Laura looked at her friend, she was a bit worried about her, she was staring at Laura like there was something totally wrong with what she was doing, studying was not against the law or anything and Laura didn't have to make sure she had everything perfect for Arithmancy. "I'll help you if you need any help with your studying." Laura smiled at her bestie, whilst playing with the best friend neckless around her neck. "You can tell me anything you know Bestie." Laura smiled looking up from her sheets of paper. "I'm always here if there is anything bothing you." Laura hoped that Ella would tell her what was wrong.

"I..." Ella was puzzled. She seriously didn't know what to think about this new Laura. I mean she totally approved of the studying, she did...but she hadn't expected Laura to change everything about herself when they made a promise that Laura would try and behave this term. "I'm fine...thanks for the offer, though." The blonde said, a small smile on her face. And then she was a bit confused. Nothing was bothering her except for the fact that she was pretty certain Laura had been brainwashed or something and she was sticking to that. "I know I can...and nothing is bothering me. I'm fine." But Laura...she didn't seem fine. She seemed completely different. Could that happen? Could someone change like that so suddenly? Meep. It was strange.

Laura looked at Ella and smiled. "Well I'm glad your fine, because we need to get those points back, I went past the house points glass and we were on minus." Laura sighed. "I'm going to try my hardest to get Hufflepuff at the top of the leaderboard." Laura was hoping everyone could help Hufflepuff win the house cup for the 3rd year in a row." Laura thought that would be awesome if they could do that.

Laura smiled at Ella. "I'm glad you know that, and I want you too know now that if you have anything you want to talk about, I'm always here for you, bestie have to stick together you know." Laura really hoped Ella would be her Bestie even after they left school.

It happened so suddenly, and quietly, but it happened all the same: the hardworking students who had been studying at the Hufflepuff study tables suddenly found themselves pushed out of their seats, shoved out from their desks, rolled out of their common room, and generally ejected from their House's private area.

An unseen force repelled all Hufflepuff students from the Common Room and attached areas, and locked all entrances and exits to the rooms. The Common Room was officially locked and sealed.