When Tobes sat down beside her, Soph instinctively moved as close to him as she could manage, still shaking and shivering even though she desperately wanted to stop. People were LOOKING at her like she was some helpless thing - she wasn't helpless, she was Sophie Brown. She was fine. Totally fine. She didn't NEED anyo- shiverrrrrrrrrr. As Tobes put his robes around her and tried to warm her up, Soph shook more, offering him a grateful look despite feeling like a total baby. He said she was okay, so she must be, and she took great relief in the reassurance that he was there and so was Culloden - the two people she would have wanted there more than anyone. She supposed it was a pretty good thing that the troll was gone, too. AND, looking around, no one else seemed... harmed or dead or anything. That was probably a good thing.

She caught a glance at her hand for the first time - there was a slight purplish tint to them, and she shakily moved them up to her mouth to blow hot hair on them. They were like ICICLES. Numb, immovable icicles. That was also when she noticed she wasn't the only one shaking - Toby was, too, and she peeked at him in concern. "Am I making you cold, too?"

Culloden was there now, and she managed a grateful smile for the hot air charm he was casting on her. At his question, she pulled Toby's robe tighter around her and struggled to answer with her teeth still chattering away, "It w-was right... before y-you gave the order to aim f-for the eyes. Before..." BIG shiver, and she cuddled closer to Tobes, "y'even started shooting spells w-with the older kids." So it was DEFINITELY one of those who had acted without receiving orders first, and even though Sophie had no idea who those people were, she narrowed her eyes at the general class. SUSPICIOUS AS COULD BE.

Who had it out for HER, hm? If she HAD been the intended target? She briefly considered those currently in the classroom who she had problems with. She didn't like Kevin at all - though he HAD been surprisingly less horrible lately - but he probably didn't even know she existed, and Zahra was a pain in the butt, but all things considered, Sophie didn't actually thing Zahra would intentionally put anyone in any sort of danger, even her. Newell wasn't around, and the fourth and last person at this school she didn't like was... present indeed. Sophie's gaze remained on one Cutty Mordaunt for a long moment, her eyes narrowing even more.

That was a suspect with probable cause.

But she let her gaze soften and drift back to Tobes and Culloden, figuring it could just have been a rogue spell. Maybe. POSSIBLY. But... still unlikely, she thought. DID anyone see anything, though? Hmmm? Did any classmates have her back? Maybe she should shiver a little more - even though she was gradually warming up - to make them feel bad for her. Shiverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Help the cause? Take a stand in the battle of good versus evil? The battle of an innocent girl standing around in potions class and being randomly shot with a spell and frozen solid? Would anyone come forward?

Ian strongly considered talking back, but the look he got from Professor Culloden strongly discouraged that course of action. Ian merely nodded and said, Yes professor.

Ten points! What an awful thing. Ian had worked really, really hard this year and that wiped out one homework session. He would have to find a way to make those points up. He was rather sad now, but he would do as the professor directed.

"You can repay me in house points, SIR!" Zahra saluted him and was seriously considering hugging her Professor. "Maybe ice cream and a trophy, too? hehehe KIDDING! Kidding." It didn't really bother her that he had been a scaredy cat. Not EVERYONE was a Gryffindor after all.

OH MAN THEY SLAYED A TROLL IN POTIONS! Zahra had a million letters to write. HER MUM, DAD, BROTHERS, and most importantly TOUSSAINT, HAD TO HEAR ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW!


... plus this whole Sophie damsel in distress thing was killing her joy. Someone probably just missed and she was in the way. Shrug. She wasn't dead, so who cared. Tobie, Puck, Rub, and her stupid brother were in one piece, so everything was cool. Time to go!

"I'm gonna go look for more trolls. Maybe he's in the castle somewhere! THANKS FOR THE BEST LESSON EVER PROFESSOR!"

Marigold was just really tired and, too be honest, a bit miffed that Sophie Brown hadn't thanked or even ACKNOWLEDGED that Marigold had SAVED her and DRAGGED her. So. She gravitated towards Zahra and friends, nodding at the professor. Thanks didn't seem to cut it, after all. She just needed a nap.

Was Adi actually dragging her to safety? She got that he didn't want her hurt, but she was a big girl and could totally do some damage to the troll. Not only that, there were plenty of other people getting to fight so it wasn't like it would just be between her and the troll. "Yeah, sure." That didn't promise that she would stay with them, and Adi wouldn't know because he would be too busy being a prefect. AJ looked at Benny when Adi said to do whatever he said. She knew that Benny would never put her in harm's way, but tAJ was stubborn and it was very unlikely that she would listen to him.


_________________________

So many things were happening at once. AJ kind of wished that she had thought about throwing her show at the troll. Or a desk like the professor had so kindly demonstrated. She was just about to slip from Benny's reach when the troll went down. Did that mean victory was theirs? Without warning the troll completely disappeared. She blinked a few times. Was this real life?

they were dismissed, but AJ was waiting on her gang. Everybody in her group was okay, right?

When all of the drama was over, Jasmine just sat down at an empty desk. It was as if the shock of everything that had happened hit her suddenly. What had just happened?

Class had been dismissed, but she couldn't leave yet. She had to check on Sophie. Jasmine walked over to her housemate and the others surrounding her. Seeing the younger girl shivering was very upsetting. "Sophie, are you OK?", she asked. Jasmine had been so caught up in the madness that she hadn't seen what had happened. She listened as Sophie explained everything. Jasmine hoped that it had been an accident because she didn't want to entertain any other possibilities.

So it was a big fat MYSTERYYYYY! ........ Cool beans. Potions, he liked potions, but didn't like theory and attacking trolls was not theory, so this lesson was AWESOME. Hehehehe.

While other people kept talking, and Zahra yelled about house points and things, Zeke moved to gather his things. He wasn't hurt, and there was no reason to hang around when others needed the professor's attention. Zahra was onto something though, LOOKING for trolls, sounded pretty neat, maybe he'd do that too. Or at least try to fine out why this one POOOFED into thin air.

With a parting wave and quick salute to Professor Culloden, Zeke swung his bag over his shoulder and moved passed the wreckage to exit the room. Weeeeee. He survived his first troll attack!

Sophie did not budge. Panicking now, Ethan hooked his fingers in between the crack he made and tried his best to chip off a huge block off of Sophie, but as soon as Toby came, the Ravenclaw reacted and freed herself. Good. Good. The Slytherin prefect moved away to give the Hufflepuff space, sat on the floor and exhaled his panic. That was pretty close.

Then Tobias happened. He understood fully why he’s upset. He’d be mad too if it was Josie. He may have been worse than the Hufflepuff, really. Ethan reached out to the older boy and squeezed his shoulder. He wanted to comfort the guy, but he’s got no words. No words for now. The Slytherin looked up from where he was sitting to see Culloden, distressed. At least he was safe, and that the Troll was gone. What made the boy’s heart sink was when he ducked points from his Snakes. Ethan pressed his eyes with his palms, controlling the anger that was starting to build up. Of ALL people, really. It HAD to be Cutty…AGAIN. First was with Kyroh, and now this?

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Ethan stood up and looked down at the two, still on the floor. The boy who used to call Durmstrang his school, knew all too well what it’s like to be soaking wet and cold. It was a good thing Jasmine came to the scene. “Sophie needs to change clothes now. She’ll get colds if she doesn’t.” he said turning to the female Ravenclaw prefect, she's perfect for the job being the only other girl in the group. He too removed his own school robe and offered it to Toby. “Here, this should help keep her warm.” He can’t conjure a blanket, so it was the least he could do.

He turned around to leave, but then he heard Gregoire address him. He was back being…himself? “Oh so you’ve snapped out of it!” he said sarcastically, no trace of a smile whatsoever. “…you really had to wait for a professor to get a decent amount of points off of Slytherin to drop the act. How nice of you.” The Slytherin prefect felt embarrassed and ashamed because it felt like he also failed his fellow housemates. Then…Cutty. Oh he knows things. He saw what happened, but he wasn’t going to rat him out just yet. And he wanted to have a word? “Yes,” he said as he approached the dark-haired Mordaunt. “…we should talk.” Once again, Ethan’s friendly disposition was gone. His Mordaunt side was starting to show. Giving his cousin a stink-eye, the Slytherin prefect got what was left of his things, and walked out of the classroom.

Why…why does the DRAMA have to be in Potions Class AGAIN? It was just lecture, for Merlin’s sake!

That was it? What a complete rip off. The show had hardly gotten good before the thing just up and poofed. That was NOT how things were meant to go in case the troll was blissfully unaware but alas it was gone and there was no way of setting it straight now. Weird how it just vanished like that. She'd have preferred the BOOM, just saying.

"I believe this is yours." Lex said, handing the wand back to Cutty as he approached. It'd been decent enough but it wasn't her wand and didn't feel the same. "Thanks for parting with it for a bit."

It only strengthened her resolve to find her own--and she would. "Odd class Professor." She said by way of compliment as she grabbed her things. With any luck there'd be another troll out in the corridors somewhere. Wand or no wand, she planned to take one down.

It was a new goal set somewhere below finding a chimaera walking the corridors which seemed just as practical now.

Promised he'd be merciful. Cutty wasn't buying it from the man who essentially punished a witness to stupidity more than a year ago. The stonefaced, rubber souled snake turned to his cousin...



Cutty saw the look. The stink-eye. But it didn't register as to why he was getting it. Had Ethan seen him? What would it matter to the Slytherin prefect anyway? He didn't owe anyone anything. His tone, though had changed and Cutty again was confused. He'd never heard Ethan speak that way to anyone.

The other Mordaunt, followed suit and began likewise to gather his notes and supplies.

With a smile, Cutty took back his wand. The Headgirl had served it perfectly. Hopefully, she didn't get use to the idea, though. Ever since Ancient Runes he was sort of adverse to letting witches handle his wand. He left shortly behind Lex. He'd see Culloden in the morning.

What was all this points business anyway? Ruby wondered for like five seconds and then forgot because she didn't care and her name hadn't been involved. Also she hadn't hexed anyone. Also she didn't care that someone had been hexed.

Also Zahra was amazing right? And Mari. But mostly Zahra. Ruby had clearly chosen the right friends, since she hadn't needed to lift a finger to vanquish a troll and even if she had got in the way like some people, then she'd have been helped by Mari. Yup, totally best friends of the bunch.

But Gabe, she turned her attention to her brother.

"Lets go okay? Wherever you want to go." Someplace he could calm down and everything.

... probably somewhere with Gryffindors so that if any other trolls popped up, they could take care of it.

So points had been deducted from her house. Hady figured it was a small price to pay and way better then someone's life or a serious injury. She had listened and remained in the back against the wall like the younger ones had been told, though she would've rather helped out.

However she wasn't harmed at all and now it was time to go. Carefully making her way back to her desk she gathered up her things and slung her bag over her shoulder. "Bye Professor!" She called out over her shoulder while making her way to the doorway and following a few of the others out.

Well..... That theoretical class wasn't as boring as Zander had been expecting. Granted, it didn't get really weird until the troll came in. Either way, the Gryffindor was somewhat relieved that it was over. Really he just wanted to go back to the dormitories and take a nice long nap. Too much excitement for an early morning.

Looking for Kevin within the crowd, he waited for his friend. 'Cause Kevin wasn't the one who had hit Sophie with that spell, right? No. It couldn't be. Even Kevin knew that a prank wasn't a good one if it actually meant you'd kill someone. Had to be someone else 'cause he had more faith in his third year friend.

Whoever had hit Sophie with the spell was in sooooo much trouble and Kevin wanted to stay and watch to be honest. No matter if it was a fellow Gryffindor student or not cause angry Culloden was EPIC! Except when he was angry at him then it was a mixture of fear and fun...

He spotted Zander in the crowd and walked towards him, tapping him on the back. "Yo, wanna stay just outside of the classroom and see how whoever had hexed Sophie is getting shouted at?" huh huuuh? it be fun! "Do you know who it was?" he asked as he walked to the door.

Yes....Gabe was STILL inching towards the door...Even as the professor began talking and taking points; dealing with the confusion and aftermath....and the Sophie Brown girl being frozen to the ground. It was CLEARLY his cue to LEAVE...whether Ruby was coming or not. Open spaces and fresh air. He NEEDED those things...and yep.

Time. To. Go.

...and Ruby was saying something a moment later. Gabe just nodded to her, only half hearing...but he'd caught 'Let's go'. That's all he'd needed to hear. Everything thing else just seemed like white noise...Too much going on. Too many people talking...

"..............Outside." Gabe NEEDED outside...and he slipped from the room.

Zander turned and smiled at Kevin. See he kind of wanted to go back to the dorms and take a nap or something, considering how early this wake up call was. Buuuuuuut, it kind of did sound tempting. And he was pretty curious actually. So you know what? Why not!? "Yeah! Let's do it," Hehehe. Not really the shouting part, but he did want to know who it was.

As the two walked out and stopped a little past the door, he looked over "I bet it was a first year." They were all kind of insane this term.

"Professor, I'm sorry if I disappointed you." His icy tone could mean just one thing: Culloden was disappointed. Only people who expect from others great things can get disappointed - which meant that he liked her and it made her happy. However, Annabeth had to deal with his disappointment now. What should she do? Should tell him the truth? Perhaps she should try something else...
"I panicked. The only thing that crossed my mind was to curse the troll. Would it be legal if I had cast on him the killing curse? We were under great jeopardy... I feared the worse. I was about to cast it when I thought the troll could be a transfigured person, may be a student... could be a friend." She lowered her eyes and looked out of the corner of her eye at Cutty. He was leaving the classroom. Could she call Cutty her friend? She hadn't any friend at school, but putting things this way could melt Culloden's frozen heart. "If you don't mind I'll go with you to see the healer. I'm feeling really bad. I think a spell hit on my belly. And it hurts a lot and makes me dizzy. I don't know if I can walk alone."