Phew. Such a long walk down from the Ravenclaw Tower to the kitchen. Carsyn hadn't even really meant to end up here, but everywhere she went to practice the new spell she learned in Transfiguration class, she was surrounded by tons of students she didn't know. Students who might watch her practice and laugh at her if she failed to succeed. The thought alone set Carsyn's heart racing and a light sheen of sweat formed on her hairline. Reminding herself to do some deep breathing exercises in an effort to calm down, Carsyn leaned against the wall with her eyes closed and focused on inhaling and exhaling over and over again.

When at last the near panic attack had passed, Carsyn glanced about the kitchen and spotted the fireplace, which looked like a suitable place to make her attempts at transfiguring her gargoyle. She took a seat on the side of the fireplace and placed her bag in her lap. She carefully removed from her bag the small box she was given by Professor Bellaire and set it down on the bricks. She also pulled out her parchment of class notes and her wand before pushing the bag off to the side on the floor.

She unrolled the parchment and set the box at the top to weigh down the edge and prevent it from rolling. She removed the lid and used that to hold down the bottom. She then carefully extricated the small stone gargoyle from the box and placed it down gently on the floor. She stared it down for a moment or two, mentally challenging it to defy her with her eyes. I'll show this little stone turd who's in charge! Ugly little thing.

Glancing over her notes, Carsyn repeated to herself the equation learned in Transfiguration, "The intended transformation (t) is directly influenced by bodyweight (a), viciousness (v), wand power (w), concentration (c) and a fifth unknown variable (Z). So, my concentration and wand skill just need to be greater than this gargoyle is heavy and vicious?" She glanced at the small, but seemingly sharp stone teeth, and its nasty snarling expression. Oh great. This ought to be fun. Better hope I have a whole lot of that fifth variable (Z) or else I'm totally over my head here.

She then practiced her pronunciation of the spell, "Peer-tote-um Loco-motor." Oh wait. No, that wasn't it. "Pee-air-tote-um Loco-motor." Yeah, that sounds better. "Piertotum Locomotor."

OK. No more procrastinating. Time to get to work. Carsyn gripped her wand firmly in the left hand and pointed it at the gargoyle. She spoke in her rather usual soft voice, "Piertotum Locomotor." Nothing. The stone gargoyle was still as rigid as ever. Carsyn bit the inside of her cheek and tried to figure out what to change in her delivery. Perhaps the little guy didn't hear her? Probably hard to hear with rocks in your ears. Or rather, rocks as ears.

In a much louder voice, Carsyn cast "Piertotum Locomotor." With a small jolt, the gargoyle sprang to life and flapped his wings twice. The biggest sigh of relief escaped from Carsyn. She was normally great with books, but converting that knowledge into anything productive... well, let's just say that seemed to be her biggest challenge. If you didn't count her shyness. Or her fear of rejection. Or her inability to form coherent sentences around good looking boys. OK, so she has a lot of big challenges. But taking her knowledge from theoretical to practiced is definitely on that list.

Focusing once again on her gargoyle, Carsyn thought back to what Professor Bellaire said in class. These gargoyles would be used for a circus performance to be put on for the professors and the Board of Governors. Better make it do something thoroughly entertaining then. Carsyn thought long and hard about what to make this gargoyle do, so long that she almost thought the gargoyle would start growing moss. Then she figured out her ultimate goal - to make her gargoyle moonwalk! But certainly this chunk of stone wouldn't know what moonwalking meant. Most of the wizarding community probably didn't know either. So how to teach it?

Carsyn resolved to start with something simple. With her wand still pointed at the gargoyle, just in case, Carsyn ordered, "Walk backwards!" Upon seeing the stone statue take its first steps, she cheered aloud, "Yesss! It's working! I'm not completely hopeless!" So excited, Carsyn jumped up and copied the gargoyle, stiffly walking backwards beside him, then punching her fist without the wand up into the air. It was at this moment that she glanced at her watch and noticed she was going to be late for Care of Magical Creatures if she didn't pack up and head outside immediately.

Carsyn reached for the gargoyle and was about to stuff him in his box, when she remembered that he was still under the spell. She half-shouted a quick "Finite!" and then grasped the gargoyle in her fist. She placed him quickly in his box, shoved the lid over the top, tossed the box and her parchment back into her bag and hurried out the kitchen door.

Nerida reached the fireplace down in the kitchen yep time to stop procrastinating, she had like a day maybe to get this thing to learn five tricks should be easy. After setting the gargoyle down, Nerida cast "Piertotum Locomotor." With a small jolt, the gargoyle sprang to life and flapped his wings twice.

Focusing once again on her gargoyle, the gargoyles would be used for a circus performance to be put on for the professors and the Board of Governors. So this had to be a good trick..

With her wand still pointed at the gargoyle, the Ravenclaw commanded "Bow!" Because it had to be able to bow after its performance. The gargoyle than bended down. Yes! Nerida fist pumped the air after seeining it do its thing.

Nerida shouted "Finite!" and then picked up the gargoyle. And then placed him into his box.

Theo tried to think of somewhere that could do with a clean, but was also warm and comfy. Where ELSE but the fireplace in the kitchen? The lone elf would appreciate a bit of help, he thought. Or maybe it would get mad? Nahhhh.... elves loves students. The boy let go of Dora's hand when they got there and pulled his hoover in front of him with a grin. He'd already done his homework, but he knew that Dora would want help because she'd never used a hoover before.

Which Theo could NOT wrap his head around.

"Do you remember the spell?" He asked, twiddling his wand through his fingers. Because, you know, Theo was a pro at this one right now. And he sure liked to show off about it!

Dora didn't really care where they practiced. Or if they even got to practicing right now. She had a Theo and that was all she reeeeeeally wanted. But she did approve of the kitchens once she realized that it was their choice of location. They could eat something once all of this was over and maybe snog some too if a professor didn't come around.

"I do remember, but you should show me again just to refresh my memory and stuff." She pulled her vacuum out in front of her and sat on it, hazel eyes intent on Theo and his own muggle cleaning device. Dora didn't really need him to do it again, but she'd gotten sooo much better at reading him and could tell he wanted to. Plus she really liked watching him.

"Sure!" Theo was always up for showing off his abilities, especially in front of special people like Dora. He got his hoover into position in front of him, pulled out his wand, and then cleared his throat. "Vacavus!" The hoover roared to life, but it was a little awkward now because he couldn't hear anything but the contraption.

So he raised his voice a little.

"THEN YOU JUST..." He picked up the nozzle and started poking and prodding it at walls and around the fireplace, "GUIDE IT... TO WHEREVER NEEDS CLEANING... BEFORE IT DIES." Theo moved around the room a bit more, showing Dora that when you yanked the hoover behind you, it always followed. Unless it got caught on something. Moments later, the noise of the hoover quieted down, and Theo sighed all out off-puff-like... then smiled at Dora.

"Pretty easy really."

Dora was very impressed. Or distracted. Mostly distracted cause it was Theo and she was recently feeling like she never got enough of him. The vacuum got very few glances as she watched him cast the spell and start showing how to work it properly. He was so good at vacuuming.

Nodding her head along with his words, she bounced up on her feet when he was done. "That's really easy, your right." He got kisses before she was turning around to face her own vacuum. She knew where all the parts where now that she'd gotten to mess around with them in the lab. Picking up the tub, she drew out her wand and cast at the vacuum. "Vacavus."

The vacuum roared to life and she started off eagerly, sucking up every bit of dust and dirt she could find while the device stayed alive. "Toddles will be so happy to come back to a clean kitchen!" She shouted over the noise, turning around when the spell wore off. "That was fun, we should do some of the cabinets." She turned to face him grinning.

Theo giggled through the kisses, then stepped back to let Dora have a turn with her hoover. He had no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't be able to do it. His girlfriend was real good with spells, even better than him, but that was okay. As he suspected, the hoover turned itself on and Dora was already off sweeping bits of dust up. Theo's eyes travelled to her lovely hair as she turned her back to him, and he couldn't help but look down at her behind, too.

But he stopped that immediately when he realized.

"It's not that fun." Theo mused. But being with Dora was fun. "Back at home, hoovering is annoying and it's always forgotten about because everyone hates doing it." He said with a nod. That was how it was in his house anyway. The job was often fobbed off to him or Casper, but probably just Casper now that Theo had escaped to school. Awyeah, missing weekly chores like a boss.

"Sure." Theo picked up the nozzle of his own hoover this time and pulled out his wand, too. "Vacavus!" The machine began and Theo made his way over to an open cabinet, ridden with dust.

"It's fun with magic." She said turning back to face him with a teasing grin. "I don't think you appreciate muggle life like you should, Theodore. If I were in your home, I'd hoover everyday." She'd do it like she did her own cleaning, with the music playing loud. And Theo could be around to help or watch or do other things.

It was her turn to watch him for a moment before she went up beside him with her own vacuum tugging behind. "Vacavus." She aimed her wand at the vacuum and it came to life as well. Dora held up the tubby end and started cleaning out the cabnet beside him.

She was looking for a quiet place where to read. It was a bit odd for her to be looking for a very quiet place now, since she could focus on her studies regardless of the noise around her. She generally could just mind her own business, without getting distracted by the people who were talking nearby but ehh.

For some reason, the seventh year made her way in the direction of the kitchen. Not one of the places where she hanged out a lot but mehh. Making her way in, the Ravenclaw headed towards the fireplace and took a seat. She then looked the book she was holding in her hand.

The blonde was walking around kind of lost, cursing herself that she hadn't gotten someone to draw her a rough map of the place. While she could always manage to find things outside and somehow get to class on time much to her disbelief she never seemed to be able to find her way around inside the castle.

Though that could be because she always lost count of how many stairs she'd gone up or down. However... this place did look quite cozy...

Biting her lip she slowly moved towards the fireplace, sitting herself near the older girl feeling almost awkward as she watched the fire for a bit before she got bored, and slightly annoyed even at the silence.

"Hi" she suddenly blurted out. "I'm Kahlan... Kahlan Moriarty" the first year introduced herself quite quickly, almost regretting it now though she kept the smile on her face.

The book she was reading seemed very interesting. And that was the reason why Gwen didn’t mind to pay attention to the other people in the room, and completely failed to notice the student who sat down next to her. That, of course, until the younger girl started talking.

Erm.

O____o

When did she get here?

Gwen eyed the younger girl for a moment. Hmph. She didn’t like people who interrupted her from her reading. Tsk. ‘Hi there’, she said quite curtly, not really attempting to have a conversation. But then the girl introduced herself.

Mehhh.

Better be nice… for once, Gwendolyn thought and put the book to the side. ‘Gwen Greene’, she said with a small smirk, extending her hand in attempt to shake Kahlan’s. Wait a moment- ‘I’ve seen you at the sorting ceremony’ Right? That was where she had seen her? Hmm. ‘You are a first year, right?’

Did she just say Theodore?

It always startled him when people did that nowadays. His mind had officially been poisoned to believing that Theo was his real name. Sheesh. Anyways... "You would not." He knew that for a fact, but he guessed that it was hard for a non-muggle to understand. "I appreciate magic A LOT more." Not just because he was lazy, because it was special.

His cabinet was soon clean, and just in time, because his vacuum died out. Theo peeked over to see Dora's progress. And he totally didn't want to distract her from it but... he pecked her on the cheek.

Hehehe.

Just cos.

Ivy Knox was not happy.

Generally speaking, she wasn't always a pleasant or cheery person, but today... oh man, she was livid. After the note on her door and a certain Hufflepuff's ridiculous excuse for a homework assignment, mixed in with all the other ridiculous things happening around here, Ivy was not a happy camper. And Erik Vinteren was all to blame. After sending him a note, she waited impatiently by small table with a bowl of ice cream next to her, made invisible by a disillusionment charm.

Of course Erik answered Ivy's note. Anything for her, right? Well...almost anything.

He paused by the fireplace once he saw her, and took a small sniff of the air in the kitchen. Ice cream. He could smell it, he had a hunch this was what Ivy had sent him for, and he didn't like it. He wore a small, thin frown as he approached her table.

"Ms. Knox."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Vinteren

Of course Erik answered Ivy's note. Anything for her, right? Well...almost anything.

He paused by the fireplace once he saw her, and took a small sniff of the air in the kitchen. Ice cream. He could smell it, he had a hunch this was what Ivy had sent him for, and he didn't like it. He wore a small, thin frown as he approached her table.

"Ms. Knox."

Ivy folded her arms across her chest as Erik approached. She was mad at him, yes, she was. Pff, look at him being all polite and Ms. Knoxing her. PFFT.

For a moment, Ivy looked at him silently. Then she sighed. "What the hell are you doing? Specifically." She got the vague idea, but it was the specifics that were driving her insane. "These kids are driving me up the wall and I know you're behind it with this stupid ice cream thing." So... "What is the deal?" Because she was about 5000% done.

Erik took in her body language without changing his expression. She looked upset, but to him, she had no reason to be. The ice cream...issue....was none of her concern, as he had warned her at the start of term. He heard her out though, as he always did. Silently, he listened to her express her anger through her crossed arms and dramatic sighing. It was so Ivy of her.

"It's not my intention to cause the children to upset you, Ivy." Naturally. "But vhe ice cream...does factor into my long-term plans for Hogwarts." He came closer to her table and rested his elbows on the edge, leaning in and folding his hands together. "It's necessary for vhe children to be overly happy, at least for a little while longer."

Ronnie had been walking about the kitchen, a tub of ice cream in her arms. She noticed two professors speaking quietly with each other over by the fireplace as she neared it, and couldn't help but overhear something about ice cream.

OOOH ICE CREAM?

Being the curious girl she was, she perked up and craned her neck to hear them more and her perked-up face suddenly grew concerned. Long-term plans for Hogwarts? The students to be overly happy for at least a little while longer? Hmm. *blink blink* What was all this about? Eyeing them for a minute, she wondered to herself if she should go talk to Jory or someone about it or stick around a bit longer in case they said something else.

Finally, she decided to just hang around. Who knows what else would come up in this conversation that was important information! The lion took a seat on the floor a bit aways from them so they couldn't see her, but a good enough distance to hear them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Vinteren

Erik took in her body language without changing his expression. She looked upset, but to him, she had no reason to be. The ice cream...issue....was none of her concern, as he had warned her at the start of term. He heard her out though, as he always did. Silently, he listened to her express her anger through her crossed arms and dramatic sighing. It was so Ivy of her.

"It's not my intention to cause the children to upset you, Ivy." Naturally. "But vhe ice cream...does factor into my long-term plans for Hogwarts." He came closer to her table and rested his elbows on the edge, leaning in and folding his hands together. "It's necessary for vhe children to be overly happy, at least for a little while longer."

Of course it wasn't his intention. He was nice little Erik who never wanted to hurt anybody. Hah. Ivy ignored that part, because she was still so peeved that he couldn't ever tell her about these stupid "long-term plans". Really, who was she going to blab to? Erik was the only person she talked to.

"What long-term plans?" she demanded, somewhat quietly. Overly happy? Ugh. "Why? Why do they need to be overly happy?" Maybe if she asked enough questions, he would finally spill. It had definitely worked in times previous. "And why, for Merlin's sake, can't I eat it?" Not that she particularly wanted to... But she was about ready to, just to spite him.

STILL ANGRY.

Soo...long term plans. What the hell was that supposed to mean?! She sighed, then a puzzled look spread across her face when Professor Knox mentioned not being able to eat the ice cream. *blink blink* Okay, something definitely was up. And Ronnie didn't like it. She craned her neck towards the two professors, waiting for Vinteren to continue.

Nice little Erik never did like to hurt anybody...deliberately...usually. Usually he was a peaceable person. People left him alone and he left them alone. Usually.

Hogwarts was notably an exception. He had been forced to intervene in this school's drama ever since that plant had killed Christensen. It wasn't his choice to do this...thing....he was doing with the ice cream; it wasn't even his idea. He was simply the executioner of someone else's well-laid plan. A plan which he couldn't discuss with even his closest of allies.

"I'm sorry," Erik replied finally, with a soft shake of his head. He brought his sad blue eyes to meet hers. "I cannot divulge vhat information to you. Please, Ivy," he reached across the counter for one of her hands, "you know I've told you everything I can. I don't vant you to eat it because I don't vant anything bad to happen to you."



And speaking of bad things happening...Erik's hand froze where it was on the counter, his wand flicking into his palm in an instant as he heard a slight shuffling sound. "Hold on, Ivy, don't say anything," he ordered, pushing off the counter and taking a step away from her. He seemed to be listening for something...or someone? Was this the same person who had been following him around on the grounds all term?

"I don't vhink we're alone here." No, something else was definitely here too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Vinteren

Nice little Erik never did like to hurt anybody...deliberately...usually. Usually he was a peaceable person. People left him alone and he left them alone. Usually.

Hogwarts was notably an exception. He had been forced to intervene in this school's drama ever since that plant had killed Christensen. It wasn't his choice to do this...thing....he was doing with the ice cream; it wasn't even his idea. He was simply the executioner of someone else's well-laid plan. A plan which he couldn't discuss with even his closest of allies.

"I'm sorry," Erik replied finally, with a soft shake of his head. He brought his sad blue eyes to meet hers. "I cannot divulge vhat information to you. Please, Ivy," he reached across the counter for one of her hands, "you know I've told you everything I can. I don't vant you to eat it because I don't vant anything bad to happen to you."

And speaking of bad things happening...Erik's hand froze where it was on the counter, his wand flicking into his palm in an instant as he heard a slight shuffling sound. "Hold on, Ivy, don't say anything," he ordered, pushing off the counter and taking a step away from her. He seemed to be listening for something...or someone? Was this the same person who had been following him around on the grounds all term?

"I don't vhink we're alone here." No, something else was definitely here too.

He had no idea how sick Ivy was of hearing apologies. She never liked them much, not in her whole life. She let him reach for her hand, but her expression still didn't seem pleased with anything he was saying. Ivy sighed and refrained from rolling her eyes. No, if he had told her everything he could, they wouldn't have been having that discussion. Merlin, she was trustworthy. How had she not proven that? And there he was, trying to be chivalrous; the good guy who "didn't vant anything bad to happen" to her. BAH.

"You do realize I'm a grown woman who is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, right?" No? Obviously.

But before she could even continue to argue, Erik was up and his wand was out. What in Merlin's name was he doing? That man was too paranoid for his own good. Of course they weren't alone. "There are a few house elves left," she pointed out in annoyance.

While he continued to look around for whatever invisible nothing was tickling his spidey senses, Ivy removed the disillusionment charm from the bowl of ice cream on the counter beside her. She eyed it for a moment and sighed again, mumbling quietly to herself, "I guess I'll just have to find out for myself." Merlin knew she could use some extra cheer in her life anyway.

And with that, a spoonful of ice cream left the bowl and went right into Ivy's mouth.

"Not in vhis you're not," Erik answered ominously, determined to say no more on the matter. His face became an unreadable, unbudging mask.

Of course there were still house elves here, but he was certain they weren't the ones spying on him. "The only elves here are not true Hogwarts elves," he reminded her. He would know, wouldn't he. Erik continued squinting into the dimly lit kitchen. "I think it's a student. Show yourself, whoever you are!" Didn't they know it was rude to eavesdrop?

He was so intent on finding the eavesdropper that he almost didn't hear Ivy mutter to herself. "What's vhat?" he turned around, wand still in hand. His blue eyes zoomed in on the bowl of ice cream first. Had it been here all along as he suspected? Then his eyes took note of the spoon, her hand, the spoon in her hand, and the ice cream on the spoon in her hand going into her mouth. Ivy Knox had eaten the ice cream.

"Noooooooooo," Erik groaned, his free hand reaching out to try to smack the spoon away from her. He was a moment too late, it seemed.

Ronnie listened when suddenly, Vinteren stopped talking. Huh? What was going on? ...Oh. Oh no, please Merlin no... ugh. He was going to find her at some point anyways. Might as well stand up. Meh. Slowly, she rose up, her cheeks beginning to get red. "I er..." she trailed off, watching in shock as Professor Knox took a bite of the ice cream. Merlin's beard!!!!! Her eyes widened and she looked from the groaning Professor Vinteren to Knox. Now to see something was REALLY wrong with that ice cream!

Toooooo late. Ice cream was in and devoured, though the spoon Erik smacked shot across the room. To Ivy's pleasant surprise... the ice cream was actually pretty good. Huh. Ivy ignored the student that was apparently eavesdropping (pshh, she was probably just looking for more ice cream) and looked at Erik. After a few seconds, a little smile crept onto her lips.

"Heheh. Whoops." That was funny, wasn't it? Eating ice cream? Totally. Ivy swiped her finger in the ice cream and licked it off. Erik was totally overreacting. "You know, it's really not that bad. Maybe you should just eat some." She swiped her finger in it again and held it out for Erik. MMmmmmm, yummy!