"Nice to meet you Rose, and 'morning to you too!" Milla smiled at Rose. "I will most certainly be joining you for breakfast," She nodded her agreement, "One of the things I missed the most over summer have defiantly been eating in the Great Hall." She elaborated, "And I'm almost always hungry anyhow." A shy smiled showed on Milla's face.

"Cardamom!" Milla exclaimed, "I do not believe I saw you either. I think I got lost in all the food!" She gave a short laugh, and nodded at Cardamoms pesky rabbit, "I see you still have your troubles with Pinot?" "As Cardamom said, always feel free to ask questions." Milla had turned her attention back on the new students, "Even if you may feel like it's a silly question, we will probably always have an answer." Milla clasped her hands together, "Now, how about that breakfast?" she picked up her bag, ready to head down.

[ ]

Emma drew her hand back as a sharp pain bit into her finger. She looked at it to see blood beginning to blossom from a bite mark. She dug quickly into her pocket for a handkerchief to put pressure on the wound. The older girl was apologizing, but Emma was distracted by the girl's hat as it began to turn into a soft, grey, rather huffy-looking rabbit.

"It's okay," Emma mumbled, as she wrapped the white linen around her bleeding appendage, staring wide-eyed back and forth between the girl and her pet. "I should 'ave asked, first. I'm sorry. I wanted to see what it was."

She looked around. More people were starting to straggle into the common room; Rose and Riley had greeted several of them. The older girl, "Cardamom" was what she had answered to, seemed to be greeting a year-mate. Emma merely nodded to each new person she made eye-contact with.

At them mention of breakfast, Emma's stomach gave grumbling complaint. She hoisted the bag into a more comfortable position with her uninjured hand, ready to follow Milla and Cardamom.

||

(( - perhaps one of you would like to show us down to the Great Hall for breakfast? ))

Pem went and changed into her uniform, and placed Nugget in their cage. It was more of a holding basket than a place for the rodent to stay at all times. She carried it like a purse as she made her way to the Great Hall with the other girls.

Milla looked around at the others, "Well, if everybody else is just about ready?" she made to leave, "If you just follow me, I'll show those of you that don't remember the way back to the Great Hall how to get there!" She smiled and exited the common room.

[ ]

Her stomach churning with both anxiety and excitement, Rose followed Milla as she led them to the Great Hall.

|| Starting up another line of RP here for ourselves again. Homework help, any takers?

Cardamom wondered for the umpteenth time why she had decided to try for an N.E.W.T. in Arithmancy. Oh, right, she remembered - something to do with math and measurements and curbing mistakes in experimental potions and charms. Something yadda yadda. Well, she was done with it for a bit, she would get back to it later. Honestly, numbers were too much of a bore for her the first week or so back at school. What the older girl was really itching to do was get back to the dungeons for more potions work, but sadly her class was not for another day and writing about potions was not where even close to the same as brewing them.

Charms homework it was. At least the practical applications of homework could be tested on on the many inanimate objects that were laying around the Hufflepuff common area. There were not too many students around, so no one would mind it to much if Cardamom took to working on, what was the next lesson about, some sort of self-aware spell for things like quills and brooms. She pulled the large book into her lap and started flipping through the pages, trying to figure out what to charm first.

Emma entered the common room through the basement corridor entrance, her bag hanging off one shoulder. She glanced around looking for her friends. Perhaps they could work together on their Transfiguration essay. But she didn't see them anywhere around. She saw Cardamom Kettling by the fire, though Pinot didn't seem to be anywhere in sight.

She approached the purple-haired six year, looking around carefully to make sure the girl's rabbit wasn't anywhere in sight. When she reached Cardamom's chair, she coughed slightly to let the other girl know that she was there.

"May I join you?" Emma asked, hoping she wasn't being disturbing.

Rose burst through the the round opening into the Hufflepuff common room, nearly in tears. As she stumbled in, a strong smell of pickles permeated the room after her. She glanced around frantically, hoping no one else was there, but she quickly spotted Cardamom and Emma sitting in the armchairs by the fire. At the sight of her two friends, her face turned bright red and she felt like melting into the floor. Before they could even open their mouths, Rose wailed and began explaining what she was sure they were about to ask.

"It's vinegar! I was coming up here to work on my History of Magic essay that's due tomorrow but I couldn't stop thinking about the Potions class I was coming from. My potion exploded all over the classroom after I accidentally added one too many gnat heads and Professor Mathers was quite cross with me even though it was only my second class with her and I'm just sure I heard a couple of the Ravenclaw boys sniggering about how stupid of a mistake that was. 'Can't she even count', they said! And so I was so preoccupied when I was trying to enter the common room I must have tapped the wrong barrel lid by mistake, and I suddenly found myself doused in vinegar! I was lucky Professor Makshi happened by to let me in, but now I smell like a giant pickled beetroot! And I look like one, too!"

Indeed, she did, for as Rose told her story, her face became redder and redder until it was quite close to the color of a beetroot. However, getting the explanation out of her system seemed to have calmed her down a bit, and she rubbed the tears out of her eyes. Turning to her elder, she asked Cardamom, "Do you think you know any good cleaning charms that could help? I was far too embarrassed to ask Professor Makshi for help after she had already gone out of her way to let me back in to the common room." She sniffled. "I have a feeling that it will take ages to clean this off if I have to use water and soap."

(( ))

Pemberley entered soon after Rose did, her bookbag bulging from her visit to the library. She sat at one of the tables and began to study, tapping out a quick rhythm with some twigs. Her jade eyes tracking the words on the page as she tapped her foot and basically used all the books and table as a drumset.

Milla came into the common room, heaving a big sigh, she'd done most of her homework, she loved doing it, all she was left with was the work for Arithmancy. If there was one thing she hated more the it was probably Divination - which was probably not true. Arithmancy really was not her subject at all, she did not understand numbers at all.

When Milla saw the others by the fire she went over, greeted them, and sat herself down without invitation. Milla wrinkled her nose at Rose, having missed her story about what had happened, but she had heard her question, "Just leave your robes with the rest of your laundry, they will be cleaned, as for your things, I may suggest either the Scouring Charm or Terego?" She smiled politly at Rose, not commenting on the bitter smell.

[ ]

Rose blushed fiercely again as two more of her house mates entered the Common Room. They both kindly ignored her stench, however, and Milla offered up some helpful advice.

"Oh, of course, the Scouring Charm," Rose groaning, shaking her head. "I can't believe I didn't think of that!" "Probably because you were to busy being hysterical," she chided herself silently.

She ran into her dormitory to throw her dirty robes in with the rest of her dirty clothes, burying them at the bottom to cover up the smell as best as she could. She then proceeded to clean up her book bag and shoes. Confidently, she spoke the incantation, "Scourgify!" Her things became clean once again, and she felt quite pleased with her mastery of the spell, simple though it may be. Sniffing the air, she realized that she still smelled a bit acidic. Sighing, she decided she had better wash up quickly before beginning her homework. As well as the Scouring Charm had worked on her items, she didn't trust herself enough to use it on her hair.

After her short shower, Rose dried off with a fluffy towel and changed into a pair of comfy sweatpants and a t-shirt. She grabbed her History of Magic textbook, a scroll of parchment, and a quill from her bag and brought them back into the common room.

It smelled considerably better in the common room than it had when Rose had first come in (she suspected someone had cast a spell to make the awful acrid smell cease). Everyone was still sitting by the fire, so she decided to join them. Sitting down at the table near the armchairs, she spread out her homework and began writing.

Cardamom barely gave a glance up from her book when Emma asked if she could sit at the table. Giving a small nod, the older girl continued to read over her textbook, squinting at the small text and wondering why the magic world always varied its format. Wizarding publishing could do so many things to make learning easier, least of all improving the legibility. She kept her head down as she heard Emma start to unpack her bag, but did look as a tart, sour smell filled the common room.

"Rose, what on earth...?" she asked, expression distressed for the first year who was absolutely in tears over her mistakes in class. Unfortunately, her focus was still a bit on her assignment and it was Milla who stepped in to calm down Rose and get her packed off to take a shower. Giving herself a mental smack, she thanked the fellow Hufflepuff and whipped out her own wand to banish the foul scent. It didn't quite do the trick - she suspected she hadn't quite flicked the end the charm hard enough - but it was breathable again.

She set her own books down and did her best to look after Emma, giving tips here and there, until Rose came back down, looking more serene and infinitely more clean. "I am so sorry dearest," she apologized, "My head was elsewhere. Are you feeling better? Here..."

Concentrating, she conjured a plate of chocolate cookies straight into the middle of the table, giving a little wiggle so that the china plate grew tiny legs and walked itself right in front of the first years. "Chocolate always helps with homework."

Cardamom throws her pin-adorned back haphazardly into a corner of the common after coming back from dinner. Hufflepuff is well deserving of some praise tonight, and she is going to deliver. Taking out her wand, she begins to drape paper streamers all across the wooden beams that cover the ceiling of the common area. The planters sway a little as she delicately attaches gleaming jewels to reflect the light of the fireplace, almost like a magical version of a disco ball. That and there needs to be food. The house elves are too busy with finishing up dinner though. It was be boorish to bother them now. She'd figure that out in a moment. Her wands sparks occasionally as she taps it against her hip, lips pursed as she tries to figure out what else is missing.

Ah, yes,

A glittering badger emerges from the crest on the wall, dancing lazily in the air, sometimes swimming around the planter and pawing at a gem or two. Cardamom conjures little plates of sweets and goblets of fizzing drinks as she climbs up onto the table, ready to surprise her housemates as they wander back in from their meal.

|| PARTEH See my trades for party packages!

~~ , , ,

Emma was scowling as she entered the Common Room, letting the door slam shut behind her. She knew she shouldn't let it get to her, but she was angry. Who's idea was it to hire a professor at lazy as Nico for such an important subject as Arithmancy? She hoped he'd be sacked and they'd replace him with someone better.

She paused, glancing about for Milla, Rylee, Rose, or Cardamom, hoping she could find someone to do homework. But instead of her housemates, she saw beautiful decorations in yellow and black, and a great glittering badger soaring about the room. was twiddling her wand, making treats and drinks appear on all the tables.

"Oh, are we having a party?" Emma asked the sixth-year girl as she dropped her bag next to one of the chintz armchairs by the fire. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Rose stepped into the common room. She was in high spirits - she had just come from Charms, which was decidedly one of her favorite classes. In her right hand, she carried her Standard Book of Spells. In her left hand, she carried a couple of candy-filled balloons that she had created using said book.

Upon entering the room, Rose immediately noticed that the room had been beautifully decorated. Streamers and jewels dazzled the space, and a tray of treats and beverages lay await. A translucent, twinkling badger floated toward her, while behind her Peeves -- wait --

"PEEVES!" Rose shouted angrily.

A foul smell suddenly flooded the room, courtesy of Gryffindor, apparently. Rose attempted to through her spell book at Peeves, but he was too quick, disappearing back out the door and down the hallway from which he came.

"Ugh!" Rose groaned, wrinkling her nose as she retrieved her book and closed the common room door. "Those Gryffindors do love their silly pranks, don't they?" She quickly recited a spell to counter the stench; she had made sure to learn a few good ones after her recent "accident" with the vinegar. "All in good fun, I suppose."

Positioning herself closer to the other girls, Rose grabbed a pastry off one of the plates on the table. Admiring the black and golden yellow decor, she asked, "Did you two do all this by yourselves? It looks amazing!" She let go of the balloons she had been holding and they floated up to the ceiling, bobbing as the enchanted badger batted them about. Her cat, Lily, who a moment ago had been napping near the warmth of the fireplace, was now intently focused on the badger's movements.

Emma heard Rose's voice shout behind her, but the next thing she knew the common room was filled with a foul-smelling stench. She thought she heard Peeve's cackle as she covered her mouth, choking on the disgusting smoke.

Rose had it cleaned up in a trice. Emma felt a tiny twinge of jealousy that Rose's spell work was so much better than her, but she didn't practice nearly as much as Rose did. Emma had concentrated more on her written homework than on the practical application of her magic.

Emma reached out and caught hold of one of the balloons Rose had brought, looking at it closely to study it. She shook her head to Rose's inquiry.

"I didn't do anything. Cardamom was already setting up when I walked in," she told her year-mate, nodding towards the older girl. "Looks like it should be fun, though. Did you make this?"

||

|| , Also, don't forget, I have party trades available, please partake of!

When the first of the party-goers arrived, Cardamom grinned from ear to ear and jumped down from her position on the table over to Imigine's side. "I just thought we deserved a little something for being so awesome," she admitted, glad to see that her random idea was being so warmly accepted.

Though, the older girl supposed, there was no party to be had without that damnable poltergeist showing up. "Peeves..." she groaned, sucking in a breath just before the red-and-gold stink bomb went off. Ugh, the smell was permeating everything. At the last minute, Cardamom thought to put a protective bubble around all the food on the table. THAT would have been an awful start to the evening.

Before she could get to charming away the rest of the stench, it dissipated. Rose ambled over to both the girls and the sixth year piped up, "You are getting pretty good at that! Good for you, sweetie. And these balloons are awesome!" She poked one with her wand and watched as it bobbed away to the other side of the room. "Is that real candy in there?" Hufflepuffs knew that Cardamom had an insatiable sweet tooth. It was a given with her dream of buying out Honeydukes one day.

Meanwhile, Camille was back in the dorms, gently snoozing away.

(ooc: i don't have time to rp or partake in the festivities atm (nooooo), but i hope my fellow hufflepuffs are having a lovely day! ❤️)

Turning slightly pink, Rose grinned at Cardamom's compliment. "Thank you! I suppose the one useful part about being accident-prone is that one quickly learns how to clean up after themselves. Also, I've been helping Professor Morgan clean up in the greenhouses after class, so that makes a difference, too."

Glancing at the balloon in Emma's hand, Rose nodded. "Yes, I made them in Charms today. They started out as teeth! Though, I'm not sure why Professor Norman had teeth like that just laying around... I have to say, he's a bit eccentric. I've been seeing him a couple nights a week for extra Charms practice. And yes, it's really candy!" She smiled knowingly - everyone knew of Cardamom's love for sweets. The sweets she had chosen to set out for the party were a perfect example of this.

"So, I think I may have missed it, but what exactly is this celebration for, again?" Rose asked curiously. The scent of the pastries and sweets wafted toward her, but she resisted her thought of taking a second dessert. "I've been spending so much time doing extra spell practice that I haven't had much time to spend in the common room lately! I feel a little 'out of the loop', so to speak."

Quietly sighing, Rose found herself wishing she had more time to spend with her friends. At the same time, she knew that the extra work she was putting in was paying off. Even her potion-making skills had improved, and Professor Mathers had stopped squinting suspiciously at her every time she added an ingredient to her potion.

(( Thanks, dear, same to you! ❤️ ))