As a new teacher, Mr Aguilar was still learning where things were located in the castle. He was given an overview of the floor plans before the term began, but there were so many towers, dungeons and secret chambers that he thought it would be impossible to explore every nook and cranny even if he spent seven years here like the students did. He paced back and forth as he scrutinised the painting of the silver fruit bowl. He knew that the kitchen was just beyond this painting, but could not remember what had to be done to gain access to the room. Was it a password? An incantation? Eventually, he decided to try everything he could think of - he wasn't returning to his office without a mid-afternoon snack.

"Ahem. I am Camilo Aguilar, flying instructor, and I wish to enter the Hogwarts kitchen." he said to the grapes in a low voice. This ... was the dumbest thing he had ever done. Or second dumbest, since he was quite stupid to fail to notice that his employer was a cult leader in disguise.

Ash was trying to find hiding spots. And then she saw this dude TALKING TO THE PAINTING. Not how you do it, no? "I think you're doing that wrong, sir. I think you have to tickle the pears, or stab them or something. Not talk to the grapes." Who even was this dude? Not a cultist. Must be a new teacher. "What are you trying to get into the kitchen for sir? Are you hiding or just looking for snacks?" Ash didn't know who this was, so there was plenty of time to form an opinion. I am Ashley Fox, second year Ravenclaw, and I wish to not die. She tilted her head at him. Even though they were all in mortal peril, the sight of a professor talking to a painting of food in an attempt to enter the kitchen was undeniably hilarious.

Dahlia had trekked all the way down from the Ravenclaw tower to the basement in hopes of finding some sort of silent solitude in the kitchen. And a snack. Preferably ice cream. Ice cream always made everything better and what she needed right now was some soft served vanilla with crushed up ice mice. YUM!

Rounding a corner, she started to walk a little faster as she knew she was getting closer. Not to far ahead she spotted a familiar face of one of her housemates and a man that might be a Professor? She wasn't entirely sure but Ash didn't appear to be afraid of him.

It wasn't until she was right there beside Ash that she heard what they were talking about. Had the man been talking to the grapes in the painting before she had arrived? The thought alone had Dahlia giggling quietly under her breath. "She's right, Sir. You have to tickle the pears on the portrait and the door to the kitchen will open... if that's what you're looking for." She offered a gentle smile to them both before adding very quickly, "My brother told me that's how to do it."

Yeah, she hadn't actually tried it yet. Hopefully Lukas hadn't been messing her and she wouldn't look like a fool when they tried it.

Oh great, there was a student who witnessed the second dumbest moment of his life. And another one who came along and heard the first one say that he talked to the grapes. Aguilar was not embarrassed - on the contrary, he laughed heartily. Come on, it was hilarious! "Thank you ... Miss Fox and Miss Donovan, am I right?" He had been learning the students' names diligently. But it crossed his mind that they might not know who he is. He had been expecting Headmaster Trent to introduce him formally at the start-of-term feast, but given the circumstances, new staff members were the least of anyone's concerns that evening. "I'm Mr Aguilar, the new flying instructor, as you might have heard in my little monologue just now. So, who wants to try tickling the pear?"

Hmmm? Why was he trying to get into the kitchen? "I'm just looking for snacks. Are you trying to hide in the kitchen?" he asked Ashley, raising his eyebrows.

"Yep." At least he knew their names. "I'm Ash. That's me." Her reputation probably preceded her honestly. The kid who burned down the forest. The kid with the death wish. The kid who got threatened with a wand. The kid who got hurt in the first class of every school year. Etc. Ash was hardly a forgettable person. "Sir, I wasn't hiding in the kitchen, I was watching you attempting to get in and thought it was funny. But If I were hiding, kitchens, laundry rooms, and storage would definitely be a good spot to do that." She said that last part quietly. Ash had it all scoped out. Neo-alliance people would NEVER enter in there, yeah? They probably considered it to be beneath them. "Why don't you try it? It's good practice." How did you tickle a painting anyway?

Ohhh, he knew who she was! Dahlia nodded. "Yes, Sir. Dahlia. Not to be confused with Lily." She had sadly been sorted into Hufflepuff. The Sorting Hat had broken them up. How triplets could be separated she didn't know. Sure they were all different in some ways... but they belonged together!

Anyways, moving on now... focus Lia...

A gentle grin formed on her lips when the man whom she now knew as Professor Aguilar introduced himself. "I'm with Ash, why don't you give it a try, Professor?" There would always be another time for her to give it a go herself.

"Hide? Umm... maybe?" this was said in a soft whisper. "What I was hoping to find was some ice cream." Honest. Ice cream had been her goal.

He nodded when they both confirmed that he had addressed them by the correct name. Ashley Fox did have some extra notes in her files, but they were there for the staff to provide appropriate help, not for new teachers to form prejudiced opinions. As for Dahlia Donovan, she was new and had never sustained a serious injury or set fire to a forest, as far as he knew. The thing to note was to distinguish between the girls in the triplet - when in doubt, remember that Dahlia is in blue uniform and Lily in yellow.

"You should never reveal your hiding spots, Miss Fox," Aguilar said with a grim expression. In a normal school, he would first ask why the student wanted to hide, but it was fairly obvious here. It broke his heart that these young children were desperately trying to keep themselves safe from the evil monsters that were wreaking havoc. "And you could get a healthier snack, Miss Donovan." This was a gentler suggestion, and the first year's innocence made him smile again.

"Alright then, I'll give it a try. Oh, and I will take house points if it turns out that you have been pulling my leg to make me look like a fool," he said in a mock-stern voice and reached out his hand to tickle the pear in the corner of the painting. At his touch, it gave a high-pitched squeal!laugh and transformed into a door-knob. What an interesting way to enter the kitchen! He opened the door and stepped aside to let the students enter first. "Looks like you brother was right, Miss Donovan. You each win Ravenclaw two points for helping a new teacher."