The Stone Gargoyles
 

Of course the carpet had to be pink.

Trying not to frown at it, Josh walked towards the stone gargoyles very silently. He could remember the Herbology professor Bunbury's office being pink...with lots of pink so this was not surprising at all. He had no doubt that it was very pink inside her current office as well. Bunbury or Truebridge. It didn't matter. It was apparently just name changed, not the personality. But despite the pink, he liked that she was the woman he remembered.

Having been done with a quick patrolling, the Auror had decided that it was time to take his post at the entrance of the Headmistress' office, to guard her, of course. People needed to know if anyone had the slightest bit of an idea of messing with her, they would first need to walk over his dead body....if they could, that was, and this young man would like to see them try.

He stood there, all senses open and then a question came to him.

If Headmistress BunburyTruebridge and the pink professor Cassie ended up getting in a pink fight, who would be the winner?

Hmmm...

hallo
 

It was like the pink carpet was hypnotising him or...something like that for he realised that odd thoughts started to appear in his mind then there was this state of an empty mind. The Auror shook his head and rubbed his eyes to snap out of it. Maybe it would be better if he looked at something else...such as those gargoyles and then keeping a sharp here around since he was guarding the place.

Then he was distracted when someone was coming from...the staircase, right? Of course it was Professor Bunbury Headmistress Truebridge. Who else could it be? He smiled at the woman's greeting and gave her a nod. "Headmistress." It looked like she was doing good. Busy no doubt but good. How was the school?

"Well...to me everything seems ordinary for now. As ordinary as it can be when you have hundreds of students around."

Alexa had made an effort before coming here. A real one, like her hair was brushed--how often did that happen??? She was wearing her best robes too because if you wanted to be taken seriously, you had to look your best with a woman like this. The Prefect Badge was still locked at the bottom of her trunk while she came to terms with things but outside of that she was perfectly put together and was hoping the Headmistress didn't have another Botanical Club Mumbo Jumbo that would have her crunched for time.

This was the part she never quite figured out. There was no door to knock on really. If she didn't go through the window and the woman wasn't here to invite her up...how in Merlin's beard was she meant to get her attention?

A patronus could work.......but she didn't proper know how to cast one. Felix could slip by the gargoyles but that wasn't how it worked either so she just kinda stood there kicking at the carpet and hoping something would give. Logically speaking, the Headmistress would have to leave her office at some point.

This was important and far-fetched and ludicrous and just plain...you don't wanna know, ahem.

sorry I didn't see this sooner!
 

Movement? Success!

Lex looked to the gargoyles as the Headmistress appeared before her, happy it wasn't like a visitor leaving or something because that'd be essentially useless to the Gryffindor that didn't know how those things worked. She did note Truebridge staying beyond the stone figures but that was fine because they were going into her office so no need to have her come out into the room now was there.

"Hello Headmistres. You're not busy right? 'Cause I have some urgent news--critical stuff that you should wanna hear." And just one firm nod while she tried being as business like as possible.

For a moment it looked like she was searching her robe for her badge like Collarbin had done but unlike him she made no comments and Lex could pretend not to notice because hello SUPER IMPORTANT news.

That was it? No inviting her up to her office so they could chat away from the cold that was this poorly insulted area? Did the woman not see Jack Frost at the castle doors? What if she died of frostbite down here while trying to relay the oh so important news?? Granted that was both highly unlikely and highly illogical but she was willing to go with whatever it took.

It did seem though that the discussion would be had down here so she'd need to make it count.

"We're all gonna die Headmistress Ma'am. It's only a matter of time and I think we need fire power, a bunker to hide the firsties--though alternately I do suspect they could come in handy for bait--and double the Defense classes" Her fist hit into the centre of her palm at just the right moment to drive home the point. Surely the woman was used to their lives being in danger here. This was no different. This was seeeerious.

"I reckon we'll need to proper discuss this up in your office though, don't wanna scare anyone walking by." No, that could happen later in one massive but epic panic that could ensue in the Great Hall then the other Gryffindor Prefect would lead the house to safety while she ultimately failed at her duties again. Thanks for not asking about the badge.

looooool Alexa... *pretend-moves them to the sofas nearby*
 

The Umbridge smile be creepy yo
 

Hardly done sharing the news and she already felt like she wasn't being taken seriously. Was it really that hard to believe they were all going to die? Didn't they get this news like...every other term or so? Come on Headmistress.

Without protest, Lex followed the redhead to the couches where she'd gobbled most of Lex's chocolate that one time and took a seat as well, bracing herself to be told that there was absolutely nothing wrong and they'd be fine. Some famous last words right there, just ask Vickers. No one thought it was serious until a Puffer went missing. The Gryffindor's eyes widened at the Headmistress' suggestion and subtle dismissal with huddling and warming charms. "Warming charms don't defeat Cold Ones Ma'am. That's why we need the extra defense classes. They're coming! Don't you see this cold?? It's not just idiots in Antarctica anymore! We're doooomed." But not her. No. She was a fighter. She would survive this. It was everyone else she was worried about--almost everyone. Merlin knew she wouldn't miss half the idiots in this castle. Not. Even. Don't be surprized if some went missing regardless. Ahem.

But you know the gratitude Lex had for Bunz not asking about the badge? It was completely gone now. Thanks for that. "My badge?" What were the odds she could play dumb about this...? Slim but existent? "Er...." Perhaps not. "....At the bottom of my trunk...?"

She didn't know??

GAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSPPP :whaa:

Make no mistake, the stunned look and the suddenly wide and wild hazel eyes were both signals that the Headmistress SHOULD have known all this already. How else was she meant to defend the castle? Sweet Circe they really were doomed!!!!!!!

Tunneling their way under the school was beginning to sound more and more promising by the second. "Cold Ones, Ma'am, are like what muggles call zombies only they aren't--and they aren't inferi either. See they were brought on by some experiment gone wrong down in Antarctica when a bunch of idiots tried recreating the ressurrection stone--but that's not the point! This cold, it fits perfectly. Professor Romanos says the only way to defeat them is with fire and blasting charms. We have to be prepared."

Preparation did NOT include asking about a badge that had been abandoned since January. Focus Headmistress!!!!!!!!! There was just no way to make this sound...okay. Lex bit her lip, considering how to phrase this. "I...put it there....after Potions class....back in January. I couldn't wear it anymore but I figured it'd be super irresponsible of me to lose it." So technically, she'd done the right thing.

sorry, been meaning to get to this for a while :/
 

I...never saw this.....
 

'I see' wasn't an answer!! jbgskgfdruitfie!! It wasn't an answer! Didn't she know it wasn't an answer and it only made a girl feel like she wasn't being taken seriously?? We'll have you know that if it came to it she was sacrificing the Ravenclaws. It was about time someone got rid of them. "I....well no....Professor Romanos has been a little busy of late, I think....and....I wondered how they'd get away from Antarctica too but then you have to remember idiots that think they've made grand discovers--what if they took one back with them for research and it attacked and turned them all?? They are HIGHLY intelligent and can outsmart the idiots that decided it'd be a good idea to not leave well enough alone what doesn't concern them." A lot to get out in so little time. They could be heading through the forest as we speak--the forest!

"Things are leaving the forest, did you know? Did you? The last time they did Mr. Firth lost his soul Ma'am." HOW DID THIS NOT SEEM SERIOUS?! They had to start making battle plans! The most epic adventure, EVER.

These plans would continue to be put on hold though as the woman went on interrogating about the badge. It wasn't that big a deal though! There were only so many ways to phrase what she had to say next. "Rubbish Prefects shouldn't wear badges Headmistress." THAT was why she couldn't wear hers anymore. Collarbin had made that clear when he had her read the handbook.

*snorts* Low blood sugar
 

You know what else sounded improbable? Spirits rising from Egypt and hopping into man eating plants that take Professors at what's meant to be the safest school ever but Lex didn't say this, she just kinda...stared, wondering how improbable it could really be. "Stranger things have happened." And that was all the argument she had left with that. It didn't sound much like she'd be able to convince her.

Oh but she'd talked to the Centaurs? This could prove interesting. "What did they say?? Did they tell you what they're running from??" Might put her mind at ease. The spark of curiosity in her eyes dimmed at the question and her expression sunk. Why wasn't she doing all that? Easy. She wasn't doing it right and felt stopping was the better option before she completely ruined things. "I was told I don't go about leadership right....don't reckon you'll want my help calming anyone."

The hmmmm-ing didn't help. The woman actually sounded like she was wondering how much she should agree. Of course she could agree, nothing wrong there but it still might have been equivalent to her eating her last chocolate frog. But then....she didn't see any rubbish Prefects. Glasses were a thing yeah? She'd get her a pair if they ever got out of this place. For now, Lex gave her a very serious look. "How do you do it Ma'am? Leading without hexing the exceptionally stupid and annoying amongst your numbers?" Very serious question here. Legit. If given half a chance, she'd hex Kevin again, and again, and again until he didn't LOOK like Kevin anymore.

:d
 

Star gazing mumbo jumbo, even the Headmistress thought as much, so why were they learning Astrology? An unproven science that went directly against Astronomy? It pained her to go between classes like that but that wasn't the point. The centaurs said they should stay inside. Had Lottie been talking to the centaurs? She kept telling her to stay inside too unless she wanted to die. "The forest has never been safe if I remember right." Didn't stop her and Lottie from sneaking in or her with a bowl of ice-cream--dark time that was. "But you mean it's gotten worse?...Like.....something else moved in?" Make no mistake. This time when her eyes widened, it wasn't in fear but fascination. This...just got a whole lot more epic.

"Don't suppose they said what made it dangerous?" Centaurs were always so cryptic, like those damn Ravenclaws when they talked. Was it a wonder she didn't like either? A little clarity went a long way with her.

Lex blinked. She didn't figure the Headmistress would have been asking who. Well then. "Professor Culloden. It wasn't said it so many words, more like, the way I go about things could use some revision while doing my leader duties." Essentially, you're doing it wrong, as the Gryffindor had deduced. "But it can't only be an opinion when it's in the Prefect Handbook too." Granted she HAD read that thing before signing.....sorta.......but then he made her read it again and this time she paid attention to the words (apparently that's what people were meant to do when they read, go figure) and couldn't help but note how short she'd fallen on a few areas.

What the Headmistress said made perfect sense, and in fact for the most part, Lex HAD perfected that when it concerned herself. She didn't spend a tremendous amount of time with people that killed her braincells every time they breathed, it was more like...."But," she insisted, "what if the kid can't be ignored because it's the middle of a lesson, the kid is in your house and thus your responsibility, but no matter how many times the Professor asks him to settle down he just yells and says he does what he wants so you give him a light tap and ask him to knock it off and he tells you NOT to ever touch him again?" Couldn't cold shoulder then, he'd only be happier for it and louder. We wouldn't even go into the bruised pride that almost had her expulso him on the spot but alas, Azkaban wasn't that welcoming. "Snippets don't work then--jinxing them quiet does, Merlin does it, but you'll only get detention after 'cause...like--did you know we aren't meant to hex students????" This was NEWS to the Gryffindor. It's what happened when she read.

Would have been more epic if she didn't say she was joking PFFFT *knows she wasn't*
 

What? What was the look for? Lex creased her brows, wondering if she might have said something outside her normal level of odd but all she remembered was agreeing the forest was dangerous. Snort. "Everyone knows it's dangerous, even me." Believe it or not, Alexa Cambridge DID have a sense of danger. "If it weren't I wouldn't try going in there." Obviously, Obviiiously--"Er, not that I have in a while or plan to." Or COULD for that matter. Bloody snow. "It's weird though. Not a lot of things spook centaurs. Must be something out to kill us again." She concluded with a firm nod. So you see, the Gryffindor would still be needing her army. Ahem.

In truth, Lex was quite positive the man didn't mean for her to give up her duties. It was a certainty really but just like when they did things wrong and were told about consequences, she'd shown him that words said have outcomes. The man spoke too often without giving it thought then liked pretending he didn't care but you think she didn't notice how torn he looked every time he spotted her badgeless robes? Or the way he fidgeted when he asked and she responded with pointed words of dejection? Nah, the choice had been solely hers. The fact it bothered Collarbin was a bonus but then....half a compliment from the Headmistress. Lex seldom got those, but here the woman thought she MATURED. Coming from her in particular it meant a lot. During their first detention in the trophy room she'd mentioned her needing to grow up, hadn't she? Or maybe it was the second in the dungeon...annnnyway. "I haven't let a book beat me...or at least I don't think I have..." Why'd you have to say it like that? "Merlin, it sounds awful when you say it. Wow." She scrunched her nose a bit. Beaten by a book? Ew. Like what even?

Hold the snitch? The Headmistress told a Prefect to learn how to silence students? Wand use against another student...you got away with that once you had a badge on??? She needed to go dig hers up. "I've had nothing to do but practice non-verbals...but mostly with hexes and curses I'm afraid." Because honestly, when she asked something nicely the first time, she felt that if she had to ask again then it had to HURT and if she was going to cast, it had to give her some satisfaction. Unsilencing Kevin, he'd just start yelling again, louder than before but remove his tongue and he'd be a peach. "Duly noted."

O_O......

-____-

The Headmistress was a complete troll, did she know this? Get a girl's hopes up that she wasn't the only one who didn't know about this rule then snatch it away just like that. And there it was...talk to a Professor. "Professor Bentley thinks we all can do no wrong and if you ask me the Professors...enable his behaviour." That's why she was whining HERE, duh. "I'm not trying to discipline anyone, Headmistress," Circe no, she'd sooner hex his face off, "but I remember you reforming me and reckon you could do the same for him." Before she shoved him from the tower and said he chased a butterfly off the edge preferably. Gryffindors could be stupid. No one would question it.