Study Session ((Fourth Years))

[Lenora Byers]

Books, books, books, and more books engulfed a large coffee table in the Students Lounge. Sitting on the floor near the pile was a young girl of fifteen with long blond hair and an orange kitten curled up at her feet. Lenora was scribbling something on the parchment beside her, research; that was the name of the game tonight. All the books around were based on the legend of King Arthur, and more importantly Merlin. Professor Binns has assigned a huge essay last class that would require a lot of research from the forth years and seeing as how they would all be doing it on one topic Lenora had made an open invitation for everyone to join her in the lounge so they could do it together. She had checked out as many books as she could find before coming down knowing that though the library is devoted to research the lounge would be a better place for them seeing as here they could make as much noise as they wish; and Lenora wasn’t known for being quiet.

“You’re my good girl; aren’t you Pumpkin?” she muttered to the kitten while scratching his head. All this work was so monotonous; you skim through one book after the other each saying the same thing but you have to check every book to get one point more. She looked at the large doors wistfully wishing that someone would come in to do their research as well. Unfortunately her prayers were not heeded immediately as the door remained stagnant. She then glanced over at a bunch of second years sitting by the fire chatting… how were they so free while the fourth years were overwhelmingly swamped? Lenora pouted at the unfairness of it all while turning back to her scribbled notes.

Lenora read over what she had so far, muttering it all out loud. Would likely be enough for two paragraphs when put into proper essay format… but that wasn’t nearly enough to cover even a quarter the required length. She picked up the cat and placed him on her legs and pet him once more needing a break from all this work but knowing better than to pack up; especially considering she had only been there ten minutes.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire loaded her books and notes on Arthur into her blue shoulder bag. Lenora had passed her on the corridor and suggested that she come to the Student Lounge later on to work on the History of Magic essay Professor Binns had set them. Sapphire had said she would be there, as, for one thing, she liked her fellow fourth year, for another thing, she didn't feel she knew her very well, and for the last thing, she was good at History of Magic herself and would have absolutely no problems with writing the essay. It would just take time, that was all, but the finished product would be almost perfect.

She made her way out of the Ravenclaw Common Room and wound her way down from the Ravenclaw Tower, down and down until she got to the Student Lounge. She swung open the door and saw Lenora sitting there, looking rather bored and also rather swamped with books. She gave the Gryffindor a smile and made her way over, trying not to trip over all the things people had left lying about on the floor. The Student Lounge could be a hazardous place to be.
"Hallo," she greeted the fourth year. "Have you made a start? I've brought my stuff as well." She started to unload her books, making sure to keep them in a pile separate to Lenora's so that neither of them got in trouble with Madam Pince for not returning their books.

[rikuhiwatori]

Riku slowly walked out of the library. She had just checked out a few books. She quickly put as many as she could in her bag, and was left with only two to carry. She had unfortunately had to write a History of Magic essay. THe problem was that she had fallen sleep in that class, thus she had to catch up by doing a quite a bit of reading.

She walked into the Student Lounge, thinking maybe it would be nicer to go in there for a change. She rarely came in there so she figured she might as well. She looked around for a place to sit when she saw Sapphire and Lenora, a girl she hadn't known well at all. She knew that she was a fourth year, but other than that nothing.

"Hey. Mind if I join? I really need to catch up on that History of Magic essay." Riku asked as she stood at the table waiting for a reply.

[danika]

She had recieved an open invitation after History of Magic to join a group of fourth years in studying or writing a paper. Something along those lines, she wasn't really paying attention. The most suprising factor was probably the fact that it came from a Gryffindor. Normaly she would have laughed at such a proposal, but it did have some appeal. It would mean that she woulnd't need to sign out any books from the library, not that she would have anyway, and that they could do more of the work. That having been decided she made her way to the Student Lounge, and upon enterting spotted the girl who had told her about the fourth year gathering. She made her way over there, Upon reaching them she let her black leather back fall heavily to the ground in front of her before she eased down into a chair. She paused for a moemnt, to adjust her black framed glasses before looking at the small group who had gathered. She didn't normally wear glasses, but looks were important to her, and she was attending the meeting looking the part of the scholarly Slytherin, even if she had no intention of doing the work. She wore a pair of black dress pants, and a charcol dress shirt under a green argile print sweater vest that matched the print on the front of her leather bag. She had even gone as far as to darken her hair to a deep red and pull it into a tight french twist.

After a moment she raised an eyebrow, gralcing at those who had gathered, but still did not say a word.

[Ashley Hill]

Was everything in Ashley's life about Elina? She was always dancing with her sister, playing, talking, always with her sister! Didn't this girl ever get a break? Well apparently not because Ashley was in the library yet again with Elina. Her older sister had changed a lot now, and Ashley didn't know if she could handle this. Elina was flirtier and outgoing like she was and not so shy and calm. It was kind of like a cologne to Ashley, but one who didn't talk as much, and was older. But still it was cologne to her and Ashley felt a little over whelmed by this. Maybe she couldn't take change so well nor needed more time to get to know this new side of her older sister. Elina still was her dancer self but with more of an outgoing side. Well at least Ashley could have a reason so love her sister now.

Resting her elbow on the table she blew at a piece of hair in her eyes and felt completely bored. What was wrong with her? Studying and trying to find books instead of being the common room out outside. Looking out the window for a break through it was rainy and cloudily. The rain fell on the castle windows making a loud noise. This annoyed Ashley and made her feel more restless than ever. "Elina! I want to go outside....Please pretty please!" Ashley begged almost going on her hands and knees. Elina looked at her and shocked her head indicating a no. "Ashley takes these books and goes to the student lounge. I heard there was a fourth year study group there." Elina told her younger sister handing her History of Magic books. Ashley eyed the books and her eyes grew big with shock. "I forgot about that easy most go sis bye!" Ashley called out running out of the library and down the halls.

Running, running, running, as fast as her legs could take her was Ashley. Zooming down the corridor with a stack of books tiring her arms down. Her long blonde started to get in her eyes making it harder to see. Blowing the strands away from her face she felt her books go the ground and her body on the flour. Rubbing her head she looked dup at the tall person and jumped up. "Gosh you are tall! I wish I was as tall as you. I could eat the leafs off a tree like a giraffe. I always wanted to be that animal. They have such long necks and legs and are stripped, can’t forget about that!" Ashley said as the girl retrieved her books and set down in her arms and walked away without a word. "Rude person she is..." Ashley thought in her mind and continued her way down to the student lounge.

Opening the doors, Ashley walked in and set her pile of books on a table and sat down next to a girl with blonde hair and a kitten by her feet! Right away Ashley started to pet the kitty's soft fur and grined as she purred. "I love your cat. I love animals! I love them, love them, love them. Espcailly magical animals. There are so many of them with so many cool powers!" Ashley said sitting back down and starting to introduce herself, "Hi I am Ashley Hill. I heard about this little session from my sister. I forgot all about that essay. I promise not to talk the whole time, but I hope I don't." Ashley said turning her head over towards the other girls who sat down too. Almost jumping up from her spot she smiled at them and sat perfectly still, "Hi I am Ashley who is you guys and what house?" Ashley asked looked at each girl with an awe look on her face.

[Kim Sullivan H4]

Study, study, study! Kim didn’t like to study or do any work, so when they had been assigned a paper on King Arthur she had done such a rush job that it was the bare minimum. In addition to being entirely too short, Kim had completely forgotten what she had heard in class, instead she went on and on writing about a King Arthur movie she had seen last summer. Now though, her work was all done and stuffed away in her backpack, that meant one thing; PLAY TIME!

As she ran down from her dormitory, she held in her hands one of her favorite board games! She simply couldn't have left it at home, nope, never never never! "Hey! Who wants to play Chutes an...." Kim stopped as she saw the Common Room was filled with people... but all were studying. That's no good! Kim thought to herself, they wouldn't want to play with her if they were working on smelly homework. Naturally her desire to play forced Kim outside her Common Room. Grabbing her Kim Possible backpack and her board game, Kim raced outside the common room exit.

After a short run through the castle, Kim arrived at the student lounge. Bursting into the room she triumphantly entered with her game held high and found a bunch of other girls from her class sitting around working on something. Work was no fun! She finished her work so how come they didn’t finish theirs!? Whatever, in any event they all needed a break! "Who wants to play Chutes and Ladders!?" She exclaimed as she ran over towards them. In the process however Kim managed to snag her backpack on a chair and in a rather unorthodox move, she toppled over the chair and onto the floor with a loud *THUMP!* Her board game too suffered as it flew from her hands and the lid flew off sending her little peoples and dice flying about the room. "Owwwww!" Kim whined as she feverishly rubbed her shin, which was certainly going to be purple tomorrow. Kim usually had a lot of purple spots like that on her anyway, but she didn't really know why.

[danika]

Upon the entrance of two more fourth years she lifted her right hand to her forehead, her thumb and index fingers dragging along the skin there in forming annoyance. Hufflepuffs. If there was anything less competent than a Gryffindor, it would be them. They were awkward, had wretched bloodlines, and barely the brains to keep up with their studies, and she was going to rely on them to form her essay? She would have been better off bribing a Ravenclaw, or writing it herself, Voldermort forbid.

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

[Lenora Byers]

Though not immediately her pleas to the divine were answered in the form of Sapphire coming up and questioning how much of a start she had on her essay; ever the Ravenclaw. “Hey; ya I began a little though I don't know how good it is…” she said looking down at the sheet as another of their classmates, Riku, came onto the scene. “Of course we don't mind if you join, it’s the whole point of the study session; sit, read, chat. Have a cookie…” Lenora said waving her wand and making a plate of cookies appear. As she took a bite she regretted not having stopped by the kitchen and getting some from the houseelves, hers were ok but nowhere near as good.

Lenora set to work once more when Ashley came bounding into the room and went on about Pumpkin and magical animals before asking for introductions. “Well he is just a normal kitty but he’s my good boy. Aren’t you Pumpkin.” Lenora said scratching the kittens chin before he went and rubbed himself against Ashley’s leg apparently sensing the affection. “As for the humans here I'm Lenora, Gryffindor, and this is Riku and Sapphire, Ravenclaw.” She explained remembering Riku from class and Sapphire from a game of chess.

Apparently energy was a Hufflepuff trait because Kim’s entrance was even more lively than Ashley’s. She came running in with a game but toppled over a chair and next thing they knew chutes and ladders was all over the lounge. “Oh Kim… Are you alright?” Lenora asked scrambling over to the girl to make sure she wasn’t seriously hurt. “We have cookies if that makes you feel any better…” Lenora said motioning to the plate as Pumpkin moved her attention to Kim.

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Was heard coming from the side of the room and Lenora looked up at Danika incuriously. “Nobody forced you to come you know. If you don't want to work with us because of our houses or because I'm a lowly halfblood then you are free to end our interaction now.” She said to the Slytherin. She had known of Danika’s views when she invited her of course but Lenora was always one for giving people a chance and she was actually pleasantly surprised Danika had come… though she rather die than show it.

[Kim Sullivan H4]

Kim sat on the ground for a moment as she rubbed her leg then a sad expression fell on her face as she saw that one of her green ginger bread men had broken. “No green guy!” Kim said as she rolled over and picked up the broken plastic figure, “It’s OK we can fix you I have Potions tomorrow morning, I bet Professor Snape can fix you good as new if I show you to him, don’t worry we will fix your broken arm…” Nearby Kim found another green guy and two red guys and a yellow guy, the others were a bit further away. Soon though she found Lenora at her side offering a cookie! “Yah I like cookies!” Kim said as she grabbed the cookie and stuffed it into her mouth “Oof vooo heep me giit maa giga bueed meb?” Kim said as she pointed to some ginger bread men under the table, while she reached over and picked up a blue guy from under a couch.

In less than a minute Kim had gathered all four green ginger bread figures, three blues, three reds and two yellows. As she carefully lined them up in neat rows on the table next to someone’s pile of books she looked at them. “Hey I am missing some! Everyone help me find them! I need one red, two blues, no! Wait! One blue.. and .. two yellows! Look for them they can’t have gone away and we have to have them if we want to play!” Kim’s eyes then fell upon the mass of books the other 4th years had amassed at the table while she had only two comic books in her backpack, which rested on the floor. “Hey how come you have so many books? Do we have a test tomorrow?” Kim asked as she layed on the floor and reached under the couch to try and grab one of the yellow ginger bread men that had landed there.

[Ashley Hill]

Ashley looked at Lenora as she introduced herself and the others. Smiling she was about to open her mouth as another fourth year came running into the room carrying a board game. "I want to play! I like the blue people! And rolling the dice! I love that it’s really fun!" Ashley said following behind Lenora and helping the girl up. "That was a nasty fall there. I fallen like that a couple of tons, but only on the ice. My but was frozen for one day after that lesson. I was trying to land the triple, but now I know how too I really like this game. Candy land is my favorite. Do you have anymore games? Maybe we could play before we go to bed! Yeah that would be so much fun." Ashley said smiling and looked at the mountain high stack of books.

Looking from the stack of books to the group, Ashley heard some one mumble some thing about being sick. Lenora took care of it right away but Ashley stood up and looked at the girl in the eyes, "Are you alright? Do you need a bucket? My mom always says that if I say my tummy hurts. Do you need to see Madame Pomfrey?" Ashley asked looking at the girl with a worried expression on her face. Oh wait she was being sarcastic. Just then Kim shouted for some people to find the ginger bread men. Hoping on the flour she went on her hands and knees and saw a tint of blue under the table. "I found one blue Kim!" Ashley called out and picked up the plastic piece and handed it to the other girl and looked out for the others. "Well we were working on History and magic home work. But I don't feel like it. Reading gives me a head ache. But Elina suggested it. Doesn’t it give you guys a head ache?" Ashley asked the whole group picking up another ginger bread man and handing it to Kim.

[Sapphire Phoenix R7]

Sapphire looked up as Riku asked to join them, and smiled at her to show that she extended the same greeting as Lenora. She was about to comment on the essay again and get them started when they were interrupted by what seemed to be a fourth year Hufflepuff, who introduced herself as Ashley Hill. Sapphire noted the name, as names were not her strong point, so that she would hopefully remember it for the future. Sapphire raised her eyebrows as Lenora introduced her. It was true she might seem quiet. Maybe just not as forward as some members of the group.

It seemed that everyone was arriving in a flurry, as another Hufflepuff arrived, in a rather ungainly fashion, soon after Ashley. Sapphire noted her name as Lenora spoke it - 'Kim' - and smiled as the girl proceeded to raise enough chatter to talk the hind leg off a donkey. Although there weren't any dogs, only ginger-bread men, one of which, to 'Kim's' consternation, appeared to have lost an arm. She watched the two Hufflepuffs talk, hardly letting anyone else get a word in edgeways, and picked up one of the books, flicking through it, finding more interest in Lenora's retort to a nearby Slytherin, who looked about Phoebe's age, but not quite so pleasant, as Lenora was saying about what Sapphire had considered saying to her when she heard her remark, but not had the chance to.

She finally spoke up when 'Kim' asked if they had a test tomorrow, as she had hardly been able to make out what Ashley said in her reply, having merely slipped it in in the middle of talking about something else, as far as Sapphire could make out. She bent down to pick up a yellow gingerbread man which was lying by her feet and handed it to the Hufflepuff girl who had asked the question.
"No, no test tomorrow," she said. "Just a History of Magic essay on King Arthur." She glanced around the group, wondering whether they were actually intending on doing any work, or whether this was going to turn out to be 'wasted' time that she would have to make up for later.

[danika]

It was the little Gryffindor who spoke up first. Of course she knew it would be. All that crap about bravery. To a little mudblood in the lion house, talking back to a big bad Slytherin was brave. Though even after the comment it seemed that the chaos of Hufflepuff would not end. At least the Ravenclaw had a brain and kept her mouth shut. That was always a wise thing to do.

“I would rather not work with you because of your house, not to mention your inferior ancestry, but lets pretend for a moment and I am trying to turn over a new leaf and broaden my horizons and get to work on this horrid paper, because if the two toddlers there can’t get their act together and function, I will stop pretending.”

[Kim Sullivan H4]

Kim squirmed under the couch and managed to grab hold of the ginger bread man and quickly found another one. As she took the last one from Ashley she set them all down on the table in a neat rows by color. "King Arthur oh I did that one already" Kim said while unzipping her Kim Possible backpack and fishing for her essay. It had spilled way to the bottom of her backpack under a napkin that contained a half eaten muffin. Unrolling it she brushed off some cookie crumbs that were on the paper and tried to smooth it out as best she could. "See I wrote it, I saw all about King Arthur last summer in the movie theater. It was really cool because these guys from far away were knights and they went to England and Arthur was their captain and they were always fighting these guys who wore blue paint and then Merlin was their leader and he like said that he needed Arthur's help. Oh and then Gwenyvery, is that her name? Anyway she was a blue person too and they found her in a cell and so they were going back to their home and these other guys in fur clothes attacked them on the ice but then the knights light fought them all off and they were shooting arrows at them! It was cool and then the ice cracked and the fur guys fell in the ice water! Oh so then later they go back home and then the fur guys attack again but they send only a few guys in the city and they all get killed so they send the rest in and the blue guys and the knights fight them all and Arthur kills the fur guy king. Then Arthur marries Gwenyvery and that's the story!"

Kim proudly displayed her essay on the table for the others to look at and use if they wanted, she didn't mind if people took her work, though no one ever had done so before. "OK come on hurry up and finish so we can play! I call the green guy!" Kim then picked up one of the green ginger bread men and set it on the "Start" square while waiting for the others to get to work.