In the space dedicated to the great and Noble House of Slytherin, one might immediately become enamoured with the intricate, transparent labyrinth that was big enough to capture any attention. The oversized maze stretches across the space like something out of a child’s imagination brought vividly to life, though of course, it was magnified to towering proportions. Transparent walls rise high overhead, curving and looping into dead ends, spirals, and narrow tunnels. Sections shift subtly, pathways rerouting when least expected, while scattered obstacles add to the challenge. What would once have been a simple hamster’s puzzle is now a sprawling, whimsical labyrinth designed to confuse, amuse, and test.

At the starting point, indicated by an arrow flashing green and silver, students must select a snake plushie from the bin. There are cobras, boas, pythons, elapids, vipers and more in vibrant colours! There was a plushie for whatever your favourite type of snake may be! Next, one must cast their chosen levitation charm on their selected plushie and watch it rise, entering a maze that is constantly in motion. Immediately, a clock stationed close to the starting point begins counting down five minutes.

The challenge is not only to attempt to levitate your plushie to the end, but to adapt in real time by adjusting to height, speed, and direction with precision while maintaining control of your spellwork. At that end, the plushie descends toward the finish after five minutes have elapsed, and regardless if you and your slither-y friend have successfully completed the maze.

Are you up for the challenge? This is the perfect opportunity to display your cunning, resourcefulness and adaptable skills.

OOC: Kindly do not RP for the obstacles

JT stood at the flashing green and silver starting point staring down at the various snake plushies, and acutely wishing he had gone to look for a bespectacled ravenclaw girl instead of doing this. The snake challenge had to be completed or JT knew he'd have an angry bloody baron later to deal with. Selecting a green cobra snake plushie from the box JT pulled out his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!" he cast firmly over his snake plushie and watched it rise from the floor. Turning with his wand raised, an eye on his plshie JT entered the maze hoping someone else would join him in the challenge.

Diallo was a little sad at their house ending up in the rock bottom, but lookie! They were going to have fun either way with these activities. He thought about lighting up the party, but decided he could do so once he gets on stage.

"Hi JT." He said stepping up nearby. "Are you going to get a prize for your little brother, Harvey, later?" He looked around before adding. "We'll get them, next year." He smiled. Slytherin all the way! But he had friends and relatives in other houses that he could spread the love towards as well.

Now when it came to his turn, he did the swish and flick, "Windgardium Leviosa!" Lifting the snake up into the air, now let's see how far it could go.

She did not offer as much as a cursory glance over her shoulder at where she'd come from ― not keen on seeing the results of all that nor the inevitable, kicked cruppy look Nyle would be wearing if his attention had drifted. She could only manage so much of his particular brand of wallowing.

Thankfully, the labyrinth drew her attention almost immediately, its shifting paths and transparent walls offering something far easier to engage with than the rest of the evening had been thus far. Something that obeyed rules. Something she could follow.

She stepped forward, closing the distance to the starting point where JT and Diallo were already mid-attempt. It had been a while since she'd properly spoken to JT — longer than she cared to quantify — and the thought lingered just long enough to register before she set it aside. She hadn't even been at as many quidditch matches this term, the whole rogue bludger nearly crushing her skull during tryouts making the stands a place of she couldn't quite justify indulging. She wondered if he'd drawn anything new. More dragons, perhaps.

Her fingers combed through her hair as she slipped up beside JT, beginning to plait the straight blonde strands despite having nothing to secure it with once she reached the end.

"Hi," she greeted softly, trying not to disrupt either him or Diallo while they were deep in concentration. Her gaze lifted to the maze, tracking the movement of his levitating snake. "Has anyone managed to complete it yet?"

Tiffany was feeling quite miserable. Somehow Slytherin had achieved dead last in literally everything. Yes she knew the quidditch team had lost several good players last term, but she didn't think she'd be that terrible. Not that she played too much, just filled in a few matches throughout the term.

It was nice to experience Hogwarts, but sometimes she wondered if she'd have been better off staying at Beauxbatons. Not that she was going to transfer for her last year. She doubted her parents would let her anyway. It would be absurd to even ask. She observed JT and Diallo with the levitation attempts. She'd wait her turn and decide even she even deserved a plushie because right now being rewarded seemed like the last thing on her mind. She shook her head at Iris, in an 'i don't think so', unable to formulate any words at that moment. Speaking was a challenge.

Maybe she ought to find Aurora; her Hufflepuff friend always seemed to find a way to look at the bright side. They could make plans for the summer. Summer where they were of-age, what could wrong?

"Hi Diallo," JT returned in greeting with a sunny smile to his housemate as he kept his snake floating in mid air as he aimed to walk further into the maze. Nodding he affirmed "Yes, that's my plan. I heard something about the lions having some kind of tank raffle so maybe I can find something nice there for Harvey. Have you seen any of the prizes?" JT was not thinking about the face that Slytherin had finished last in all three cups. It was supposed to be a festive night, not one for brooding.



When levitating a snake one didn't need distrations but in a matter of moments one big distraction slipped up beside him in the form of a certain cute blonde eagle. JT hadn't seen or spoken to Iris in ages. Maybe he had been too focused on quidditch matches and studying? Not the time for thinking. Licking his lips JT glanced sideways, and beamed "Hi Iris," it was all it took for him to loose his concentration, and for his snake plushie to drop to the ground with a small thud. Embarrassed JT quickly recasted "Wingardium Leviosa!" and watched his plushie rise again in the air.

"I don't think anyone has completed the maze yet. Want to complete the maze with me us Iris? I can fetch a snake plushie for you, if you have a preferrance on species?" Awaiting Iris answer JT kept his plushie floating when he realized a little ashamed that he hadn't seen that Tiffany also was standing near them. To her he greeted oblivious to her sadness "Hi Tiffany, are you joining us in completing the maze?"

Levi never felt at home in gatherings, and he hated to admit it but for him, it was best to socialise with someone he was familiar with. Thankfully, two years of Hogwarts had seen him making a few good friends, much to his surprise. It helped him gain more confidence as he felt that maybe there were actually persons who liked him for who he was. That also meant that he was starting to care less that his big sister had not been such a big fan of him when they were younger.

One of those friends who kept him afloat was none other than Diallo. “Hi, guys!” The greeting was extended to all but mainly to those who weren’t occupied with the Slytherin activity, namely those who were in close proximity, Iris and Tiffany. JT was already into making an attempt to complete the challenge. Levi sidled to a stop beside the bestie before extending an elbow to nudge him. “Bet you I can complete that in less time than you.” The Slytherins had brainstormed a fantastic activity in his opinion, as had the other Houses.

CLANKCLANK!

The Baron would be annoyed this much was certain should the Slytherins did not participate in this particular activity. It would be the reason the ghost was hovering within the confines of the designated Slytherin area of the Great Hall. His sharp, intense gaze fixed on everyone who approached the contraption.


Master Forsfelle was first in the rapidly growing line. In no time a snake was selected. Was it bad that the Baron wished the Snakes were real? Perhaps.

Along the first corridor of the maze, there seemed to be no obstacles. Looks were deceiving, weren’t they? Suddenly, a huge poof permeated the air. And another. And another. All within the span of a handful of seconds. If Master Forsfelle was not careful the Baron was one hundred percent sure that the snake plush would be trapped within the air pocket.

POOF! Silence. POOF! Silence.


Next was Master Dreamer. The Baron would echo his sentiments about Slytherin unfortunately securing fourth place but would hope that the situation drastically improved next term.

With the plush soon entering the maze, the first obstacle made a rather quick appearance. A dark, circular shape appeared. One second your snake friend was there, the next it was sitting in the corridor above where it had started from.

It seemed a portal had been encountered



While Master Dreamer adjusted to the suddenness of events the Bloody Baron’s piercing gaze studied the others. Would Miss Harden, Miss Rose and Master Singh-Phora step up to test their skills?

Iris caught the shake of Tiffany's head in her periphery and hesitated... not immediately certain how to interpret it. It could have meant no one had completed it yet… or perhaps it was a quiet warning not to disrupt. Both seemed equally plausible, and she was not about to assume. Except—

Her gaze shifted, just in time to watch JT's concentration falter, the plush snake dropping with an undignified thud before he hurried to recover it.

Ah. So much for that theory.

"Oops, A faint, almost apologetic curve touched her mouth in an almost apologetic smile. "You likely would have had that pass if I hadn't distracted you."

Her eyes followed the rise of the plush once more, noting the slight adjustment in his wandwork before his question reached her. The offer was… kind. Considerate, even. And, briefly, tempting if only because it presented something structured to do.

"I— no, thank you," she answered gently so as not to sound dismissive. "I think I'll just observe." Observation implied the control of choice, not the quieter truth that her focus felt… fractioned in a way she didn't trust with spellwork just yet. "I don't know enough about snake breeds to make an informed selection." A small pause, thoughtful rather than evasive. "My familiarity tends to lean more… literary." Her fingers continued their absent work through her hair, tightening the plait by increments. Everything she saw here was a bit too colorful to be reminiscent of the one in Bram Stoker's novel.

Iris turned just enough to acknowledge Levi's greeting, offering him a small contained wave and a tight smile before her attention settled back on the labyrinth. Or at least...attempted to.

The sound alone was enough to draw her attention, but it was the presence that followed that made something in Iris go taut. Chains meant something very specific for spirits like him. They carried weight, memory, intent... and in her current state, with her thoughts already less contained than she would have preferred, the proximity was… ill-advised at best.

A faint metallic tang touched her tongue and the fifth year shifted a bit to close the gap between herself and JT a smidgen more under the guise of observing his progress more closely, when in truth it was simply distance, a barrier, however slight, between herself and something incredibly uncomfortable.

It was only then that she remembered the remainder of the cheese tart in her hand and she quickly finished it in two quick bites. The sweetness cut through the unwanted flavor almost immediately, blessedly dulling the edge.

A super quick glance over his shoulder showed JT the source of the new voice that had arrived to join them in the Slytherin maze contraption. "Hi Levi," He greeted with a quick smile. "Have you tried any of the other house activities yet?" Refocusing on his snake plushie JT adjusted his hold on his wand to keep his plushie floating at a good height to not strain his arm as he started to walk along the first corridor of the maze.

Where are the?

He didn't finish the thought before his house ghost arrived with chains rattling, and causing Iris to move a little closer to him, obviously feeling some discomfort. "It's okay," JT murmured. Yes, the Blood Baron could make even this sixth year snake feel unsettled sometimes, but mostly he had gotten used to the ghost's presence around the common room, and dungeons. Eyes shifted to Iris for a moment or two with a small smile he asked quietly "Want to walk the maze with me Iris? I could use help with spotting the obstacles?" Even if Iris would be a distraction, she'd be a welcomed one.

Speaking of obstacles, next second there was a loud POOF and then another and another. Maneuvering his plushie around and under the air pockets JT did his best to focus, biting on his lower as he concentrated, while moving forward in the corridor. He did not want his snake plushie to get trapped in an air pocket, because then how would he get it out?

Ah. Ms. Harden chose to observe. The Bloody Baron shifted so that his chains rattled slightly. From his observances, there was something between Ms. Harden and Master Forsfelle. The observation transported him to a great tragedy in his human life which seemed to now have occurred many lifetimes ago.



The Ghost shifted again, this time impatiently so that the chains clanked louder. If the Slytherin did not master his mind he would undeniably be continued to get distracted. Isn't that one of the reasons the Slytherin Head of House held so many meditation activities? A pity the sixth year did not seem to absorb much.

Master Forsfelle certainly surpassed the Baron’s expectations by expertly manoeuvring the plush through the air pockets. That certainly took concentration and precision. Excellently done, young man. As the snake continued on its way you should notice something strange. The path through which the plush was making its way was slowly becoming narrower. Oh no. Perhaps you ought to work some extra magic on that snake, Master Forsfelle.

JT's assurance settled somewhere that didn’t quite fit. Something in his tone gave her the impression he was measuring her reaction against his own ― or perhaps a gaggle of first years who had never experienced a ghost, let alone one quite like the Baron.

"I know,” she nodded with a tight smile.

As long as the Baron and his chains, didn't drift any closer, perhaps things would be. Especially since there was nothing left of her cheese tart.

Her attention fixed forward again, following the movement of his snake as it dipped and adjusted through the maze. It was easier, focusing on that. Predictable variables. Observable outcomes. Nothing that required her to account for the difference between being seen and accommodated.

"Walk the maze?" she echoed, a faint tilt of her head accompanying the words as she glanced at JT again. "Do you mean... assist with the snake?" The smallest thread of a laugh woven into the breaths between words. "Or would that be considered cheating? Two wands to one serpent feels like it might be pushing the parameters."

Her focus shifted back to the maze just as the corridor began to constrict, the transparent walls shifting inward with quiet intent. Iris stilled, index fingers tapping lightly together near her mouth as she tracked the rate of change, the spacing, the margin for error.

"It's narrowing," she noted, a comment directed more at the maze itself than to him. "If it continues at that rate, the plush won't clear the next turn without obstruction." She stepped a fraction closer, to the maze, already considering reaching for her wand as the earlier fragmentation in her focus began to cohere under something she could do. "If you maintain levitation, I can reduce its size just enough to compensate," she offered, a touch more yare now that there was something concrete to focus on. "You won't have to break your spell that way."