Robin let out a deep sigh, this was it- she was hopeless. The vine and block of wood felt heavy in her bag as she slumped down the hallway. The most she was able to accomplish was turning a leaf into a piece of straw and barely hallowing the middle of the wood. It was pathetic even for a first year. She hadn't even come close to guessing what the spell names meant! As she said, hopeless.
Without even looking where she was she sat down, turning her bag over so that the vine and the wood fell out, the wood making a dull thump on the ground and the vine on top of it. leaning against the wall, she stared at the two objects. Maybe if she just stared at them they would magically transform themselves. She glared....no such luck. While she was staring something caught her eye- she didn't have two sets of supplies...
Looking up she realized she was sitting across from the girl she had met before, who looked like she was in the same predicament.
"Hey, you're Tora's friend, Adrienne right? Um.. I'm Robin, you working on the Trans homework too?"
She looked at the girls supplies longingly- she at least had made progress.

Adrienne had just mustered up the effort it took to get out her wand before she was interrupted by a girl who'd sat down in front of her without her noticing, somehow. "Yep, that's me," she said, raising her hand sarcastically with a slight smile. "More like pretending it doesn't exist, yeah. Merlin, I hate this class." A bit of an exaggeration- it wasn't as bad as, say, Divination, with all its foggy answers and speculation, but it was still pretty darn terrible.

"I just... I can't..." she said hopelessly, waving her wand in the general direction of her log. "I can't get this spell!" With a deep, sad sigh she sat up properly and cleared her throat noisily, then tapped the wood with her wand. "Lignum navicula," Adrienne said halfheartedly, not really expecting anything to happen. So it was no surprise when there was no change except maybe the slightest shift in piece of wood, without any discernible outcome.

Robin smiled back at the girl- who looked like she wasn't having a very good time. Well ditto. Instant connection. Maybe they'd become friends in times of hardship and frustration? They certainly had enough of it to go around by the looks of it.
"TELL me about it, It's probably my worst class too- I can't do any of it." Like literally ANY of it. Unlike herbology where minimum magic was required- this was one of those classes where naturally talented students soared and she...didn't. Definitely didn't
"I heard some 6th years saying you had to 'imagine it happening' or something like that- but how do you do that when you have to say the words and flick the wand at the same time?" Multitasking- not very good with Robin. She couldn't even walk properly. She flicked her wand, trying to get the feel of it.. She had been saying the words over and over to no avail.Was she even doing it right? What could she do?

Oh and look bra girls girlfriend was now talking to him. He grinned, "Maybe I just think you should kiss in not such a public place, but if you are going to do it right here sure I'm watching." Just saying if they are right there of course he would watch. Probably just tease them about it too.

His grinning changed a bit to a glare when the girl said no one liked his kisses, not that he cared, but really she was going to go there and bring some girl into it that he didn't even know? "How would she know I don't even know her name and who cares if people don't like my kisses. I'm not kissing anyone for real. I don't got time for that crap. I have quidditch to think about." He had no want to kiss anyone unless it would annoy them and then that was fun.


"I wasn't stealing them" He snapped at her. How many times did they have to go over this. "I was borrowing them to redecorate the luggage compartment and then I borrowed the one for the balloon slingshot. I wasn't planning on keeping them. I'm not that weird." Really did he look like he needed them. He glanced down to check and make sure he really didn't ,you know too many sweets could make it happen.

He rolled his eyes more, "You can keep your stupid record. You didn't kiss back and I did it as a joke so it doesn't count." Please why would he kiss her she wasn't even that worth it. She was pretty he'd give her that but that was it.

He turned back to the girl who had ran over him with an annoyed tone, "We should go to class want to head down the corridor away from the grossness." Because them making out in the hall way was not what he was wanting to see.

Get a room...

Adrienne frowned. "I wouldn't say it's my worst class, necessarily," that was a very special spot saved for Astronomy, "but it's definitely near the bottom of the list. Like, the very bottom." She glanced at Robin and nodded in response to what she said. "Yeah, you have to concentrate on the outcome you want while you do the rest. But it's more than that, you have to like... I dunno, I'm bad at explanations. Basically you can picture the boat in your mind and focus on that while you try." Speaking of trying, she should probably get down to it.

"Reverto," she cast quickly, turning her attention to the rope-vine hybrid she'd created during class. It took her a moment to remember the incantation for that, but then she got it- it was the one that actually had the word 'vine' in it, right? "Vinea funiculus," Adrienne said, pointing her wand at it and looking rather pleased when it actually twisted itself into a thick rope. Sure, there were a few leaves here and there, and maybe the fibres looked more like plant matter than rope, but hey, it was a start.

All in all, it'd been a quiet start to Benjamin's birthday. Presents had arrived from his cousins, but he'd decided to open them after he was done with lessons for the day: a little bit of excitement to look forward to. After all, it wasn't everyday one became of age. He should spread it out as much as possible.

He had opened the present from his mother though. It'd contained a really rather nice wand holster, among other things, but there was something else. A letter. A letter in addressed in handwriting that he hadn't seen for eight long years. He couldn't let that wait until later - he was too intrigued at it's appearance, with a nervous apprehension about what its contents held. His mother never spoke of him...so why now?

The Common Room had been far too busy and conspicious to consider such things; he wanted, needed even, quiet time to take this in. He certainly didn't need Kalla swooping over and sticking her nose in. And so he found himself in the corridor, letter held carefully in one hand so not to damage it, wondering where would be appropriate to open this mystery.

The library? Grounds? An empty classroom?

Laura was looking for something but she couldn't remember what it was. She had walked all the way up here for well what was it now. "OH THIS IS GREAT!!" Laura snapped at the wall and the kicked it which was a bad move since it hurt her foot.

She looked around, this part of the castle seemed familiar. she was on the right floor for what she was looking for right. "Anyone seen the Hufflepuff Common Room?" Laura asked, "I've sort of misplaced it." Laura really wasn't enjoying this, now where was it, she rolled her eyes as she thought about what was happening.

Calisto Kosmos walked around one of the corridors. Callie was eating a bright purple colored lollipop. Callie's tongue was mostly bright purple from the candy. "Do you need any help?" Calisto looked at the girl.

Laura stared at the girl, "YEAH CALL THE COPS, CALL THE ARMY, THE NAVY ANYONE YOU CAN THINK OF" Laura rolled her eyes. "I'VE GONE GREY!!!" Laura held out the hair that she had pulled out of her head. "I'M TOO YOUNG AND PRETTY TO BE GOING GREY!!!!!" Laura also wanted to know why someone had stolen the Hufflepuff dorm but that could wait until later.

Calisto Kosmos blinked. "I can't call the cop or the anyone like that, we are at Hogwarts." Callie looked at the girl, her hair was grey. "How did you hair get grey?"

Laura looked at the girl. "Oh you can't or you won't?" Laura rolled her eyes at the girl in front of her, seriously it was easy to do right. "Oh I dyed it grey." Laura rolled her eyes again seriously was this girl weird or something. "I think someone is playing a joke on me probably."

Calisto looked around. "I would if I could but I can't." Calisto's always calm face turned to anger. "YOU'RE FREAKING OUT OVER YOUR HAIR BEING GREY BUT YOU COLORED IT YOURSELF!" Calisto's hazel eyes shown anger.

Laura looked at the girl. "That was sarcasm." Laura rolled her eyes. "SAR..CAS.MMMM" Laura was saying it loudly and slowly for the other girl to understand it because seriously it didn't seem like she got what sarcasm was. "Of course I didn't do it too myself." Laura rolled her eyes again at the girl seriously did she look like a weirdo.

Calisto blinked. "The next time your say something sarcastically make sure you make it sound sarcastically." Callie sighed. "Is there someone in your house that hates you?" Callie asked her.

Laura looked at Calisto "Oh right mother." Laura snapped, seriously what was wrong with this girl today, she seemed to be in a right old mood. "Oh I don't know probably," She so wasn't loved my everyone no one was or didn't the girl know this.

"Do people in your house not like sarcasm?" Calisto asked. "On a normal day I this sarcasm is funny." Callie looked at the girl again. "I'm Calisto."

"Picture it? well I'll try doing it in steps and get the techniques down first or something" She spoke half to the other girl and half to herself. So far Transfiguration and Potions were giving her the most trouble. Okay so what were the steps again? Yeah first came the words, then the wand, and then the thinking. She was pretty sure she got the flicking down, but she wanted to make sure she was saying the words right. She listened to how the girl said it- her vine looked nearly like a rope! She listened and-

"OH!" She realized she had been saying it wrong. "It's Vinea Funiculus, not vineea funiculos how can i be so dense?" She said the new word over and over again. It felt foreign in her mouth, so she said it until she felt she could say it better.
"Sorry just tell me if I'm being too loud.." She knew some people liked to do things in silence but she was the opposite. Silence made her anxious and fidgety.

Stupid. Brynn was glowering as she stormed up the stairs to the seventh floor, intent on heading to the common room. A balled up piece of parchment in one hand and a basic spell book tucked under her arm, she turned off down the seventh floor corridor. She could not believe that stupid newspaper was making up lies about her again! And like really embarrassing ones. She just hoped no one read it or really believed it. But from the reactions the first time around, she wasn't all that hopeful.

As she headed towards the common room, Brynn became increasingly aware of a person sharing the corridor with her as she neared him. Hm. Was it possible to slip by unnoticed? She was sure whoever it was had to have read the paper and would be staring at her, judging her, as she walked by. But it could not be helped. She was in plain view with nowhere to duck into. Besides, she was close enough to see that he was someone she knew and she didn't want to be rude.

"Hi Benjy," she said somewhat quietly as she walked closer, giving him a small smile and hoping he hadn't read anything.. newsworthy. It looked like he was preoccupied already, she noticed, as her brown eyes fell on the letter in his hands.

Inside the castle now, the transparent figure glided through the corridor and ran its hand over the engraved windowsill. Lingering here just for a moment, it continued its way down the corridor.

Bay frowned at his obvious dislike for books. Not only that but he'd called attention to the fact that she had so many, including the Arithmancy book. Bay took a deep breath and shrugged. "It's not. I actually....borrowed it....from one of the older students." Well it wasn't exactly the truth but it wasn't a lie either. Throwing her hair over her shoulder she dared him to ask more. In her mind she had been completely vindicated in taking it, especially when she planned on returning it. Eventually....

Huffing out a breath she rolled her eyes at his speculations. "I haven't got a clue what we are going to be doing. Honestly I stopped trying to guess last year. The professor's seem to enjoy keeping us on our toes." Watching them squirm and struggle. Stupid adults.

She had been about to say something else when his attention turned to two girls further down the hall. It looked like the two were having a pretty intense conversation though fromhis teasing tone he had met one of them before. Wait...stealing bras?! Her face scrunched up and turned red. What on earth....balloon launchers? A picture popped up into her head of what possibilities that situation could produce and Bay had to stifle a giggle.

The conversation turned then to kissing and she frowned at the two older girls. Besides the fact that kissing was just gross there insults were just mean. Bay wasn't even sure what to say, but was saved from thinking of something as he started guiding them back down the corridor, away from the kissing.

"You used her bra as a slingshot? What were youu shooting at?" Bay couldn't stifle the giggle that bubbled up this time or the eagerness in her voice. There was a good story there, she just knew it.

Benjy hadn't managed to move very far since exiting the common room. He'd just pigeon stepped vaguely in the direction of the stairs, turning the letter from hand to hand and running his fingers over the handwriting.

He knew he should just get on with opening it, but something held him back.

And then he heard footsteps, and he looked up to see Brynn. He looked hesitantly again at the letter, before tucking inside his robes and flashing his younger housemate a smile. "Heya. How's it going?" Noticing the book tucked under her arm, and the hint of parchment in his fist, he gave her a light shake of the head. "If you're looking to do some quiet study, I wouldn't suggest the common room right now..." Of course, she might just be returning the book to her dorm or something, but if she was looking for calm, at least he could give her a heads up.
Benjy blinked and turned his head towards the window. He could have sworn he'd seen something there.

No?

Maybe?

Brynn was curious but didn't let her curiosity turn into nosiness. Her brown eyes lingered over the letter Benjy had in his hands for a moment, then snapped up to his face as he put it away. Had he seen her staring? A light blush fell over her cheeks at the thought.

But he hadn't said anything if he did notice. And didn't mention anything about her either, she realized as she watched him carefully. Maybe he hadn't heard. She clutched the parchment a little tighter at the thought. Quiet study? She looked at him slightly confused for a second, then down at the book under her arm as she realized what he meant. "I .. was just.. looking for a spell," she said, trying for nonchalance as she ever-so-casually shrugged making it seem like no big deal. Best not to draw attention to anything mortifying. "Common room too noisy?"

Before she could say anything else, a movement caught her eye and she looked past Benjy to the window. Was that a..? It was gone before anything really registered, but she looked back at Benjy whose head was turned in that direction. "Did you see that?"

He had noticed her watching, and Benjy gave the first year a small smile. "Post from home," he replied, perhaps a little distantly, but not obviously so. "It can wait," he added, smiling a little wider as he realised the distraction was welcome. He'd waited eight years. A few more minutes wouldn't hurt.

"And did you find it?" Benjamin asked gently. He wasn't totally astute to the behaviour of firsties, but it seemed like Brynn was feeling...well, something. Not normal. Was she struggling with her schoolwork? It wouldn't be the first time a Ravenclaw had felt awkward about solving a problem. "I can help, if you want." He had some free time, so he wouldn't mind. Presents could wait as much as the letter.

He nodded. "Just a tad. Didn't stay to find out why." Maybe one of the Professors had set some crazy homework. Wouldn't be the first time. Either that, or a game of exploding snap with getting waayyyy too competitive.

Frowning at the windowsill, Benjy turned back to the young 'Claw. "I thought I did. I dunno, a flicker of something out the corner of my eye. One of the ghosts maybe?" Still odd though. The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor ghost usually said hello, and Peeves definitely would have made his presence known.

Oh.. oops. Benjy did notice her being nosy and she blushed slightly before nodding at his words. It was clear to the first year that it was something personal and she should probably mind her own business. But he was smiling at her so at least he wasn't annoyed by it. "I always like getting something from my mom," she said with a small smile, trying to make light of her earlier social transgression.

The redhead glanced down at the book under her arm and frowned a little before looking up at the older boy's offer and contemplated his words. She wasn't so eager for him to know what it was about, exactly, but maybe it would be beneficial for an older student to help her out with a more difficult spell when she could only manage basic ones. Especially if the common room was crowded with noisy students. "Sure," she shrugged, attempting the casual thing once more. "If you don't mind. I'm um.. looking for a spell that will permanently destroy something magical." She peered up at him carefully.

She glanced over at the windowsill again as Benjy confirmed that he did see something too and it sounded like what she had seen. "Maybe the Grey Lady," she said, shrugging it off. She had gotten rather used to her periodic appearances in this area of the castle.

:: Ganymede reached the top of the stairs with her bag bulging with something. She was aching to do something fun.

She was suppressing her giggles as she pulled about a dozen of these out of her bag. Her purple bangs fell in front of her green eyes.

Lining them up at the top of the stone staircase, one by one she gave each a little push.

"It's working!!" She shouted with glee and jumped around. They were going so well, but some were slowing down. It was awesome. At some point the staircase would move and they would fall down to the lower levels, but at the moment the scene was impressive.::