Sylvia was exhausted. It took her most of the summer to get everything clean around this old castle! She didn't even get to meet up with Saul all that much. Only 3 or 4 times the whole summer! It was a saddening thing! But Sylvia didn't let it affect her. She would see him this weekend anyway! Besides she was meeting up with the new healer who just happened to be an old friend of her's!

She and Penelope had worked together at St. Mungo's when Sylvia was the Welcome Witch there. It had been a wonderful place to work and she had made some great friends there. So when she got a letter from Penny telling her she had gotten the healer job, she was just plum excited! Thankfully the House Elves had put out a spread for them and made themselves scarce.

She waited patiently for her dear sweet friend to arrive.

Penny couldn’t believe that she was back at Hogwarts, she had jumped at the chance to take the position; especially seeing that her best friend from when she had Hogwarts was now working here. A smile spread across the small healers lips as she walked down to the kitchen where they were going to have a small meet up.

The tiny, blue eyed woman briefly made sure her voluminous, white blonde updo was in place before she tickled the pear and walked into the Kitchen.

“Syl Sugar!”

The endearment came flying from her mouth as she hurried across the floor and flung her arms around her friend, enfolding her in a tight hug.

“It is so good to see you Darlin’ how are you?” She pulled back from the embrace a wide smile still on her lips as she looked up at her friend. It had been way to long and she was eager to start a good chat session. Let’s hope no one got injured while they were down here, yeah?

Sylvia jumped up as Penelope came in the room and embraced her old friend just as tight as the other woman had, squealing, "Penny Pop!" You know best friends and their nicknames!

She smiled and replied, "Oh sweet girl, I am doing just fine! How are you?" She let go of her friend, sitting down at the table and patting the seat next to her as she went. They had a lot of girl talk that was to be had. These last couple years had been just so busy she hadn't had much time to visit. But she made sure to send off an owl to her dear sweet friend every so often.

"How are those sweet children of yours? Got any grandbabies yet? Spill lady!" She said with a chuckle and a wink. Oh how happy she was to be with her best friend at last!

Penny let out a laugh at her old friends nickname for her, “I swear darlin’ one day they are going to name a soft drink after me.” She said as she shook her head, and various strands of white blonde hair fell down from their carefully crafted places. She reached up a hand to pat them back into place as she and her friend disengaged, and made a mental note to use more hairspray tomorrow. Or perhaps more pins? Or maybe some more of both?

She slid into the seat her friend had indicated and set her elbow on the table. She leaned against her propped up hand and grinned a bit. “I am doing as well as I can be sugar pie.” Her permanent smile getting wider at her friends words. “I am glad to hear you are well, how are you enjoying it here at Hogwarts?” Her tone was curious, with everything that had been happening at the school, she had to make sure her friend was faring well. Not to mention see if she had any gossip for her.

Some of those Professors at the feast had looked mighty comfortable with each other. Merely through her powers of keen observation, it seemed like the Headmistress and the Defense against the Dark arts teacher were in love. Professor.. Hirsch! Yes that was his name. Also the Astronomy teacher had looked mighty cozy with the Care of Magical Creatures Professor. And why did the Charms Professor look like he was about to cry at any second? Perhaps he needed a cheering potion? She would have to whip one up for him. And what was with that bowler hat guy? Did he like the Headmistress as well?

She pulled her mind from her gossipy thoughts and smiled. “The kids are fine, Alice is working at St.Mungos and Jasper is in the Ministry, an Auror.” She shook her head again. “No, not yet! I’m hoping soon.” She said with a grin.

Shera had thought someone was joking when the advice to get into the kitchen was 'tickle the pear'.

She was wrong.

Somehow tickling the pear had in fact worked. And she was standing inside the kitchen with her stomach rumbling loudly. Well at least she was here now, and she was looking forward to getting some food. And meeting the house elves. She'd always adored the house elves that worked for her family.

"Hello?"

Pips looked at the two ladies. He already given them food. *hiccup* big eyes looking up, “excuse Pips Mistresses! does food taste okay Mistresses? Need more?” Pips wrung his little hands moving one to his large floppy ear, *hiccup*

Oh, oh, oh a studentsie he moved from the other Mistresses and *hiccup* stood in front of the unfamiliar Studentsie. “what can *hiccup* Pips do Young Miss?” oh no Pips didn’t know the students name. Grabbing his ears he looked around for Algamus praying he did not hear Pips greet the young Miss.

Dinner was over, and Felicity seemed to barely acknowledge this as she trudged back up to the Castle after spending the evening in the Creatures Barn with Floyd. Floyd, who was grown enough to ride now, even if she hadn't yet tried to: knowing herself, she'd fall off and realise she was crap at that, too, along with everything else she tried. Apart from skipping stones, apparently.

It wasn't like she wanted to see the rest of the school in the Great Hall, anyway, and she probably would have avoided dinner even if she hadn't been distracted. But she was hungry, and so her footsteps seemed to guide her to the basement, and before she'd pulled herself out of her thoughts, she'd tickled the pear and was standing in the kitchen.

Which, thankfully, was as warm as she'd come to expect. Pulling her cloak off and putting it over the back of a nearby chair, Liss wasn't sure where to look next. What even did she want to eat?

Nimma mops the floors.

The floors clean now.

And there's Pips. Nimma helps Pips. Pips cooks good though. Pips might not be needing help from Nimma.

Nimma spot studentsies and Mistresses. Pips is asking them questions. Nimma walks over to Pips to listen in case studentsies and Mistresses need things. Nimma just listens for requests.

Shera couldn't help but beam at the little house elf that had approached her. It was so cute! She fought the urge to hug it and just continued beaming at it. Although she was wondering why it was grabbing its ears now...

"Hey Pips, I'm Shera, it's nice to meet you. How are you today?" because it was always good to be nice to the house elves before you started requesting their help doing things. Or asking for food. House elves were just too cute was the actual reason.

Her eyes caught sight of movement and then there was another house elf?! Shera made sure to smile at that house elf too. "Hello, what's your name?"

She was going to meet all of them before the end of the year!

After three terms at Hogwarts with THREE Kettleburn siblings ruling the school, there were now only two. Char had graduated and was off on some wild adventure somewhere, leaving her two favorite siblings behind at Hogwarts. Honestly, the nerve of her.

This left Callum in a confusing, frustrating predicament. He had spent the last six years at this school with Char, always there - she was his best friend, next to Katy and Jae, and until he arrived at Hogwarts this term, he hadn't realized just how much he relied on Char being there. She was his rock, and... maybe... he had taken that a little bit for granted when she was here.

He felt awful, every time she came to mind. There was hurt, and guilt, and sadness, and he needed to combat it the only way he knew how: redirection. Redirecting his love for his elder sister onto his younger sister, the one who he still had here with him: Chloe. She had seamlessly established herself as her own person and had her own little friend group that did not include him, and for the most part, he felt like he needed HER more than she needed him, but he had fought off those worries that he was no longer NEEDED as her big brother long enough to decide that today, right here and right now, he was going to do something really good for her. Something SO GOOD that it would not only make her super happy... but maybe it would help him feel a little less hollow, too.

Cake. He needed one. Preferrably a big one, with all the colors of the rainbow and unicorns and did they make edible glitter because THAT would make it especially special. And that's what Chloe deserved.

...But he needed help. He knew that, coming down here. He assumed he could maybe catch someone else down here who could throw some pointers his way, or maybe he could grab Jae from the Hufflepuff common room, but the Hufflepuff he sent in there to find her couldn't locate her for him. So. Here he was, peeking his head inside the kitchen tentatively, looking for... someone. Something. Maybe an elf could help - Schmoop was best at cookies, he knew, but he wasn't sure which house elf he could possibly entrust to help him with a cake...

...Maybe he would... just... browse for a really good cake recipe and hope someone would come to his rescue soon.

SPOILER!!: Shera and the house elves

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pucki

Shera had thought someone was joking when the advice to get into the kitchen was 'tickle the pear'.

She was wrong.

Somehow tickling the pear had in fact worked. And she was standing inside the kitchen with her stomach rumbling loudly. Well at least she was here now, and she was looking forward to getting some food. And meeting the house elves. She'd always adored the house elves that worked for her family.

"Hello?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pips

Text Cut: Penelope and Sylvia missus

Pips looked at the two ladies. He already given them food. *hiccup* big eyes looking up, “excuse Pips Mistresses! does food taste okay Mistresses? Need more?” Pips wrung his little hands moving one to his large floppy ear, *hiccup*


Oh, oh, oh a studentsie he moved from the other Mistresses and *hiccup* stood in front of the unfamiliar Studentsie. “what can *hiccup* Pips do Young Miss?” oh no Pips didn’t know the students name. Grabbing his ears he looked around for Algamus praying he did not hear Pips greet the young Miss.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimma

Nimma mops the floors.

The floors clean now.

And there's Pips. Nimma helps Pips. Pips cooks good though. Pips might not be needing help from Nimma.

Nimma spot studentsies and Mistresses. Pips is asking them questions. Nimma walks over to Pips to listen in case studentsies and Mistresses need things. Nimma just listens for requests.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pucki

Shera couldn't help but beam at the little house elf that had approached her. It was so cute! She fought the urge to hug it and just continued beaming at it. Although she was wondering why it was grabbing its ears now...

"Hey Pips, I'm Shera, it's nice to meet you. How are you today?" because it was always good to be nice to the house elves before you started requesting their help doing things. Or asking for food. House elves were just too cute was the actual reason.

Her eyes caught sight of movement and then there was another house elf?! Shera made sure to smile at that house elf too. "Hello, what's your name?"

She was going to meet all of them before the end of the year!

Juni had told Slate to meet her in the kitchens after she had her tryouts. Merlin knew that she would be hungry after a tryout. And of course there was no doubt in her mind that Slate would be hungry. That boy could really eat and he was always. And right now, she could probably give him a run for his money. That was really saying a lot.

She showered and changed into some clean clothes before heading down the basement, and tickling the pear. Her brown eyes started scanning the kitchen for him. To her surprise the Slytherin wasn’t anywhere in sight and hadn’t gotten here yet.

She did see Shera, the first year she had met on the train. She smiled and waved at her as she moved over where she was with the elves. ”Hello Shera, Pips. Nimma. How is everyone?” She looked around at them all. But she did keep her eye on the entrance for Slate’s arrival.

Pips did not know what to think of Miss Shera being so nice to Pips. He watched her wondering if he could do something for her. “Can Pips do things Miss Shera?” She should have exactly what she wanted since she come to kitchen.

Pips nodded looking at Miss who arrived. There were sooo many studentsies coming to the kitchens Pips felt very important. “Miss Primeaux, can Pips help?” *hiccup* he moved a hand up to his ear and continued to scratch it waiting to find out what he could do to help the studentsies.

Another person had entered the kitchens, and Shera couldn't help but smile at the older Ravenclaw that she seemed to keep running into. Juni was nice, and definitely a welcoming face to see ever since the train ride.

"Hey Juni, I'm really good thanks!" Shera beamed at her, though her stomach rumbled at the same time causing her to tilt her head to the side as she thought. She then sheepishly added, "And maybe a bit hungry. How are you?"

At that thought she turned back to the house elf in front of her. Still such a cutie. She noticed how he hadn't responded to her question about how he was and internally shrugged. Shera had a lot of patience and a lot of time to get Pips to respond to that question.

"Just Shera is fine," she commented lightly, trying to make sure the house elf knew that she wasn't upset with him, lest he get really upset about the whole situation. "I was actually hoping to get something to eat. Like.... maybe a kebab? Or a burrito?"

Something that was filling was her aim, especially since she'd forgotten how to get back to the hall from where she was now... not that she'd admit it.

Slate wanted to watch Juni's tryouts, but he was pretty sure he wasn't allowed to do that. She was in a different house, after all. Plus, he didn't want to make her nervous. He didn't even know if being there would make her nervous.

He wasn't going to risk it though.

He looked around at the strangely full kitchen. Seems like everyone was in the mood for a snack. He hung back and waited for Juni to notice he was there. He didn't want to interrupt her.

Toddles was NOTS in the mood to deal with his bloodiness or any ghosts. Besides Toddles WAS tryins to be good fors Nimmas sake in orders not to make Mr. Mean Head Elf angry again. He needsed to be good for only a few more days while he worksed on his plan.

With freshly pressed kitchen rags, the young elfs returned to the Kitchen to find a giant studentsie in the kitchen. Toddles stopped in his tracks, amazed at how tall this student was, ands then proceedsed into the kitchen as if he ownsed the place. He looksed familiar. Yes, Toddles had seens him around but had never mets him. Yes, the kitchen was his as was this castle. All bows down to Toddles!! King of House Elves!!

"What is you doins?" asked Toddles.

SPOILER!!: Pips, Shera And Slate

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pips

Pips did not know what to think of Miss Shera being so nice to Pips. He watched her wondering if he could do something for her. “Can Pips do things Miss Shera?” She should have exactly what she wanted since she come to kitchen.


Pips nodded looking at Miss who arrived. There were sooo many studentsies coming to the kitchens Pips felt very important. “Miss Primeaux, can Pips help?” *hiccup* he moved a hand up to his ear and continued to scratch it waiting to find out what he could do to help the studentsies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pucki

SPOILER!!: Juni and Pips

Another person had entered the kitchens, and Shera couldn't help but smile at the older Ravenclaw that she seemed to keep running into. Juni was nice, and definitely a welcoming face to see ever since the train ride.

"Hey Juni, I'm really good thanks!" Shera beamed at her, though her stomach rumbled at the same time causing her to tilt her head to the side as she thought. She then sheepishly added, "And maybe a bit hungry. How are you?"

At that thought she turned back to the house elf in front of her. Still such a cutie. She noticed how he hadn't responded to her question about how he was and internally shrugged. Shera had a lot of patience and a lot of time to get Pips to respond to that question.

"Just Shera is fine," she commented lightly, trying to make sure the house elf knew that she wasn't upset with him, lest he get really upset about the whole situation. "I was actually hoping to get something to eat. Like.... maybe a kebab? Or a burrito?"

Something that was filling was her aim, especially since she'd forgotten how to get back to the hall from where she was now... not that she'd admit it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

Slate wanted to watch Juni's tryouts, but he was pretty sure he wasn't allowed to do that. She was in a different house, after all. Plus, he didn't want to make her nervous. He didn't even know if being there would make her nervous.

He wasn't going to risk it though.

He looked around at the strangely full kitchen. Seems like everyone was in the mood for a snack. He hung back and waited for Juni to notice he was there. He didn't want to interrupt her.

Juni was surprised that Slate wasn’t already here. He was literally right at kitchens. Him, being a Slytherin and their common room being right at the kitchen almost not as close as those Hufflepuffs… but it was closer than hers. To be honest she didn’t know if he had been there or not. She was much too nervous to begin with. And refused to look up at the stands. She had no idea who had been there or not. She was like two hundred per sure that seeing if he was there would have made her nerves worse. Why that was she didn’t have a clue.

She was nervous right now meeting him here…. What?

”Thank You, Pips. Not yet. I’m meeting someone here.” She continued to smile and it wasn’t just for obvious reasons. Oh no, her smile didn’t falter, though she was just in that good of a mood at the moment. Why was the elf scratching his ear? ”Are you okay, Pips?” concerned for the house elf.

It was interesting how she kept running into the little Ravenclaw. Everywhere lately. She laughed ”I’m good. I'm striving.” Really though Juni had quite the appetite right now. Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted Slate. She grinned and waved at him. Pretty much nothing could pull her attention away from him except ”Yeah a burrito sounds delicious right now. Doesn’t it, Slate?” Waving and nodding him over to join them, and beaming at the same time. Hehe don’t be shy.

Slate made his way over to Juni. He glanced over at the younger girl, giving her a once over, before nodding in greeting. He had no idea who that was, but assumed introductions would be happening.

"A burrito sounds great." he said with a smile. Honestly, anything sounded great. She knew how much he liked food.

"How was tryouts?"

Pips nodded, "Pips okay Miss Primeaux, just want help studentsies." He watched as the two little Miss talked and the young Master walked up to them. He was trying to keep up with them. "All of the bestest studentsies *hiccup* want a burrito?" Pips looked up at each studentsies.

"That's good," Shera commented with a smile at Juni saying that she was striving. Though... at this point she was really unsure what she should add to the conversation, especially with the other person who had just joined them and was definitely not known.

She tried to smile at him as well though, not to make the situation awkward for him as well when he had nodded his head as a greeting to her. "Hey, I'm Shera, nice to meet you!"

She contemplated adding first year Ravenclaw, but she was wearing her house tie and based on the fact everyone seemed to assume she was a first year anyway, she figured that wasn't necessary. Maybe first years had a vibe? She was assuming first years had a vibe. That theory was on the list of things to be confirmed in the future. Next year would be the year to test that.

The current only alternate theory was people would just look familiar from passing. She preferred the vibe theory.

Her eyes shifted back to Pips. So they could answer a question about their wellbeing. Good to know, next time she'd try to get the answer from her own question. And she was one of the bestest students? Score one for Shera in terms of befriending the house elves. "Yep, I think that's a burrito for everyone now please Pips."

Dinner was over but the day of a House Elf wasn’t done. Cleaning…cleaning…cleaning. And preparing for the coming morning. Argyle was flittering around the warm kitchen, its fires still going albeit lower as the day wore into evening. The soft sounds of movement could be heard as the elf cleaned. The house-elf’s large ears caught the familiar sound of the painting opening marking the arrival of more human companionship. Argyle was used to studentes coming and going at all times and places.

An older female studentses was revealed once the coat was off and Argyle shuffled up to her. “Mistress…?” Argyle remarked with head tilted, looking up with wide friendly eyes. “Mistress need anything from Argyle?”

SPOILER!!: Stale, Pips and Shera

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilFox06

Slate made his way over to Juni. He glanced over at the younger girl, giving her a once over, before nodding in greeting. He had no idea who that was, but assumed introductions would be happening.
"A burrito sounds great." he said with a smile. Honestly, anything sounded great. She knew how much he liked food.
"How was tryouts?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pips

SPOILER!!: Miss Shera, Miss Juni, Master Slate

Pips nodded, "Pips okay Miss Primeaux, just want help studentsies." He watched as the two little Miss talked and the young Master walked up to them. He was trying to keep up with them. "All of the bestest studentsies *hiccup* want a burrito?" Pips looked up at each studentsies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pucki

SPOILER!!: Juni, Slate and Pips

"That's good," Shera commented with a smile at Juni saying that she was striving. Though... at this point she was really unsure what she should add to the conversation, especially with the other person who had just joined them and was definitely not known.

She tried to smile at him as well though, not to make the situation awkward for him as well when he had nodded his head as a greeting to her. "Hey, I'm Shera, nice to meet you!"

She contemplated adding first year Ravenclaw, but she was wearing her house tie and based on the fact everyone seemed to assume she was a first year anyway, she figured that wasn't necessary. Maybe first years had a vibe? She was assuming first years had a vibe. That theory was on the list of things to be confirmed in the future. Next year would be the year to test that.

The current only alternate theory was people would just look familiar from passing. She preferred the vibe theory.

Her eyes shifted back to Pips. So they could answer a question about their wellbeing. Good to know, next time she'd try to get the answer from her own question. And she was one of the bestest students? Score one for Shera in terms of befriending the house elves. "Yep, I think that's a burrito for everyone now please Pips."

Okay…. But Juni was really starting to get hungry now. She smiled when Slate joined them. ”Hey.” She whispered. And she laughed at his comment about the burrito. Of course she knew that he would be down for anything. He loved food that much. ”They went good. But we’ll still just have to see.”

She turned to Shera and smiled at her. For a first year Juni really liked Shera. Not that there was anything wrong with first years. Some of them anyway. ”Shera this is my friend Slate. And this is Shera she’s in my house.” She nodded to each of them as she introduced them to each other. Now that that was done, did that mean they could eat now?

Then she looked at the house elf, though she was still concerned about him and him scratching his ear like that earlier. She nodded at him. Best students *inserts heart eyes here* ”Yes, Pips. Burritos for the best students. Thank you.” She said with a excited grin. ”Do you think that you can make Slate an extra one.” Really she planned one that one being hers. So yeah.

Lost in her own thoughts, Felicity jumped slightly as she heard a voice in her vicinity, but quickly recovered, looking down on the elf with a slight blush. Argyle she mentally reminded herself, thanking Merlin that the elves had a habit of referring to themselves in the third person: not the best with names, she would be so embarrassed if she'd ever gotten them wrong.

But, back to the present. And the house elf, who wouldn't be getting any of Felicity's negativity. "I'm -" she started to say fine, but realised she couldn't, and so with a wobbly smile she changed tack. "- hungry." And Argyle wouldn't mind helping her, right?

Nimma sometimes shy so Nimma listen to studentsies talk to Pips. One of the studentsies asked Nimma for her name. Nimma listened to Pips greet Miss Studentsies before speaking.

"Nimma at your services," and bowing low enough to wipe the tip of her nose on the clean floor. And another studentsie came and gave Nimma a greeting. Nimma wanted to do jobs that needed doing in case there was trouble, but studentsies needs things sometimes. "Mistress Juniper," she said with a smile and bowed again.

Nimma heard Mistress Shera wanted a kebabs or burritos. Nimma knew what such a thing was. Mistress Shera wanted burritos for three studentsies now. And Nimma bowed again "Masters Slate."

Nimma didn't cook. Nimma cleaned. Nimma went to fetch some clean plates and gave them a wipe over. Nimma was extra clean.

Pips ran off to begin making the studentsies their burritos. One for each, and Miss Juniper requests an extra for Master Slate. Pips scurried around to the stoves and ovens. Meat, cheeses, lettuces, tortillases. All the ingredients laid out Pips can make burrito now. Pips eyes follow Nimma cleaning, "Nimma, Pips needs plates for the studentsies burritos."

Pips quietly assembled the burritos not saying a word. He looked up at the studentsies, "no studentsies go hungry" Pips mumbled. Each burrito now needed a plate. Pips waited for Nimma to finish cleaning the plates to give the studentsies the burritos but Pips needs Nimma Help. "Nimma help Pips carry burritos to studentsies?"