Knights... Armours... Anyone? ((Ephraim))

[Mrs Norris]

After lunch it was time for a nap. Of course, any time was a good time for a nap when you happened to be a cat. But before she found a nice spot to lay in she thought it best to patrol the school just for good measure. It was a Hogsmeade weekend so most of the older students had left the castle and were enjoying the autumn weather in town. This left the first and second years and a handful of older students. It would be an easy look around. She had the want to skip her duties but responsibility got the best of her and she knew what she had to do. Certainly the bald man couldn't be expected to handle all the students by himself. Maybe she would cut her patrol in half. Only do the west side of the castle and only a few floors. With tail in air and whiskers primmed, she set off.

It was no secret that many a student disliked Mrs Norris. This didn't bother her as she was not there to make friends, she was there to protect them from harm. Rules were made to be followed. Little did she know that some first year Ravenclaws were gathering at the base of their tower. They were angry that the older students were allowed to go to Hogsmeade when they were forced to stay at the castle and be bored. And they were bored! They had practised the Levitating Charm on everything they could get their hands on and it had gone weary. They needed something else to do. It was just about this time that Mrs Norris rounded the corner and started down their corridor. One of the boys saw her and quickly decided how to cure his boredom. He swiftly hid behind a suit of armour and motioned for his friends to hid with him. There he told them of his plan.

Mrs Norris was almost done with her patrol. Just the seventh floor to go. Of course it helped that she cut her patrol in half. Luckily she did. She had not seen a single soul. Not even the ghosts wanted to be in the castle. However, there was a fly that was just out of her reach. She had chased it all the way up to the seventh floor and it still was just out of her reach. Just as she neared it, the darn thing would fly a little further down the corridor. Almost as if the thing was leading her along her patrol. She rounded a corner and thought she heard something further on but it must be her imagination. She pounced on the fly but it got away. It zoomed away on a straight line down the corridor. She ran after it not really wanting to catch it at this point as she was enjoying the hunt too much. But soon the poor creature got tired and fell exhausted to the floor. That's when she made her move. She pounced. Then she heard a loud clinging noise and then darkness. What happened? where was she? "Meow! Meow!" Her paws batted the darkness only to feel a smooth cool surface. What could that be? Suddenly, she heard voices. She couldn't understand them as they were in human though.

"That was ace, mate!"
"Cheers! She was standing in the perfect spot!"

Why won't they help her? "Meow?"

[Ephraim Eades R7]

For the past hour or so, Ephraim had been doing one of his 'study walks.' He'd use his mini-wireless to record himself speaking bits of his most recent lessons and then walk around the castle while listening to the recording over and over again. It was somewhat repetitive, but he enjoyed it just the same. Not only was he learning, but he was exercising as well. As for doing it inside instead of outside, Ephraim had never been partial to the outdoors when the castle provided the necessary warmth and protection. This time of year was especially starting to get cold.

As he walked, E never really paid attention to where he went. Right, left, left and right again. Perhaps he followed some sort of subconscious pattern, but to his conscious mind, it seemed as though he went wherever his feet would take him. It just so happened that his feet suddenly took him around and corner and soon enough lead him to the ground. He had tripped over a piece of clanking metal which turned out to be the head of an armour suit. "What the..." Ephraim was laying sprawled out on the ground when he saw the brown tabby cat just inches from his face.

"Mrs Norris?" She was the most recognizable cat at Hogwarts, but Ephraim was curious as to why she was sitting right beside him, apparently having been hiding under the helmet. Sitting up, E dusted himself off and put his mini-wireless in his pocket. He scooped up Mrs Norris in his hands, probably against better judgment, and took the helmet in his other hand. Nearby, he found the kinght with the missing head, and he stood on tip-toe to place it back where it belonged. Ephraim jumped back, a bit startled, when the Knight shook itself instantly, seeming a bit unhinged after having went without a head for a while. Apparently it had realized that Ephraim meant no harm though, as it looked at him for a second and then resumed its frozen pose.

"I do hope you didn't knock that head from it's place," Ephraim said, looking down at Mrs Norris in his arms. She seemed as though she didn't want to be held though, and so E let her pounce from his arms to the ground. "Shouldn't you be off finding students who are breaking the rules?" Ephraim kept his eyes on Mrs Norris, wondering if she'd run off or stick around. He'd never had a pet before, and he was quite interested in Mrs Norris. Most students didn't like her since she was basically Filch's tattle tale. E didn't mind her though, mostly because he wasn't one to break rules in the first place. Sure, he didn't exactly find Filch the most friendly, but he had nothing against Mrs Norris.

[Mrs Norris]

It was a little known fact that most cats don't like to go backward. They liked to go forward. Going back was essentially admitting you were wrong. Cats are never wrong. Once you accept this fact, your life will be better. Therefore, Mrs Norris had no idea that if she just backed up a little she would be out of the helmet which held her prisoner. Her body was in the piece of armour with her head near the crown of the helmet. Of course she didn't know this. All she could she was black all around her save the light that came from her right. An outside observer would be able to tell her that she was looking through the visor of the helmet. How was she going to get out of this one? Supposedly the bald headed man would eventually come down this corridor and possibly hear her mewing. But how long would that take? Suppose some bad students found her first?

She heard footsteps. Perhaps a stray Ravenclaw was on his or her way to the tower. Perhaps it was Peeves using his walking sticks to make noise. Either way, Mrs Norris stopped mewing to listen. The footsteps were getting closer. Surely, they would she her and help her out of this ridiculous predicament. Mrs Norris was somewhat embarrassed that she needed someone else's help. It was cat law to be self sufficient. But what was she supposed to do in a time like this? She couldn't possibly get out of the situation by herself. She held her breath afraid that if she breathed her savor would pass her by. It turned out this hero was just a klutz. He or she tripped over the piece of metal that was holding poor Mrs Norris and sent the helmet spinning out of control with a kick of his or her foot.

"RAAWRRARR!" Mrs Norris screamed. The centrifugal force sent her flying out of the opening of the helmet. Her little cat body slammed against the wall of the corridor. She fell to the floor with a 'plop.' Needless to say she was a little dazed. When she finally found her senses she was in someone's arms and facing a suit of armour. This boy must be her savor. He looked down at her and said something. Being this close to a human being was unusual but not necessarily bad. The bald headed man had never held her. He was not one to 'cuddle.' It was a nice feeling but one that she wasn't sure she should be having. She squirmed a little under his gaze and he seemed to take the hint that she wanted down. She hopped out his arms and looked back at him. She sat on her hind legs and looked at him while tilting her head to one side. She wanted to look at the whole him. They looked into each other's eyes for a second before Mrs Norris said, "Meow." A kind thank you. She would return the favor one day.

She stood on all fours and turned from the boy. She looked back at him and gave him a wink before turning her head and continuing down the corridor. She turned a corner and was gone.