[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/zvepmOb.png?1[/img]"Welcome to the Ravenclaw common room, aww some of you look so cute I wanna pinch your cheeks! I know, I know none of you wanna hear that," he said laughing. "For those who don't know me, I'm Carlisle Caswell, the head of Ravenclaw house. If you need anything from me, please feel free to ask. Welcome back to you returning students and hello to our new students. Last term we were so close to the house cup. This term I can feel it in my hand! Don't let me down. Now your prefects and were the ones who brought you and I'm sure you noticed that you have to answer a riddle to enter. Answer correctly, gain access to the common room. There are no passwords into the tower, because that's how you learn and knowledge is a treasure. Anyway, I digress," he said waving his wand. A table in the centre of the room appeared. It was filled with drinks and food. "The Houselves brought up some treats for you all. I know some of you will want to catch up and talk tonight, so a midnight snack might come in handy," he winks at them. "Anyway, I'm gonna leave you now. You have fun!" He vanished.

Zoe Parker shook off the rain drops from her hair as she entered the common room. She breathed a sigh of relief. It was pouring outside and of course she had been down in the Herbology greenhouse. When she saw the time she ran as fast as she could through the torrent of water into the Great Hall, leaving a large puddle in her wake as she bound up the stairs. Clutching the stitch in her side she panted. She made it inside before the curfew. Tapping herself dry she wondered if she should bother anyone or head off to the dorms? She did see Magnus drawing near the fire.

(( come join! ))

when Zoe () entered the room, Aisling (she's changing her name from Niki) was sitting in the corner. She'd found the comfy arm chair to curl into, though her legs were over one arm and her hair was spilling over the other arm. She was reading "Ogham for beginners". The cover gave an impression of divination. Maybe that was the subject of the book?

Niki looked up as Zoe came in. She smiled and looked back down at her book.

Terry noticed (( )) Zoe entering the room and smirked as she saw a leaf stuck in the girl's head. Magnus was drawing as usual and there was Nikki reading. A few other Ravenclaw were there but it wasn't as noisy as she expected. "This year would surely be dull with such a curfew, everyone stuck in the same place isn't fun. Maybe we should come up with studying plans so we can use our time wisely since we can't be at the library."

(( )) Aisling heard the comment about the library and looked up. "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening, but what did you say about the library? I kind of like schedules, so I don't mind the curfew too much. Though I wouldn't mind help with my study plans, I'm not good at studying. I think I get too distracted by the books I'm reading.

Aisling may have looked a little surprised when she realized she hadnt noticed how many people had entered the room.

Zoe couldn't help herself when she saw Niki's book. "Ye learning runes?" she asked.

"I took lots of books from the library," Zoe said, "though Jasper was nee happy about it. I took them from their home." She giggled.

"Not all time should be study time, Terry," Magnus said. "You study toooo much and your brain will become pudding."

"It's not runes, exactly, though they are the closest thing to compare them to. It's more a Celtic alphabet that was later given divination rules or meanings." Aisling tried to explain to Zoe without getting so detailed. She'd found that most people didn't want to know that much about it, they were just making polite conversation and so Aisling tried to remember that.

Aisling also reminded herself that not everyone knew to call her by her first name this year. Last year, she'd gone by her nickname from childhood, so that's what many knew her by. She figured it was better to make friends and correct people later, if it bothered her too much.

Aisling added, "You, know you have a leaf in your hair?"

"Aye, I know. They can be found inscribed on stone monuments throughout the UK. Tis why I called it runes though, because runes are used in as symbols in such thing as divination. Runes themselves are typically from Germanic alphabet and oghams are from old Irish and Welsh. I guess some say its the same thing." She shrugged. When the girl mentioned she had a leaf in her hair Zoe nodded. "Aye, I do. Tis pretty."

"I took several books of the library myself, surely this curfew will cause more students to take books, that is not good. Now we won't find enough books when we go." Terry said with worry. She turned to Magnus when he said not all time was for studying. "Well it is for me, I want to pass my N.E.W.T. exams with Outstanding in all subjects." She said calmly. "I'm sure I will but better be well prepared, so Nikki if you need help studying maybe we should start a studying group." She looked at Magnus. "It's okay if you don't want to Magnus, we know you prefer your drawings than studying which is fine, really. It would be nice to have your talent, but I can only make stick drawings."

Aisling grinned at Zoe's response since she was used to this response. "I simply meant to state the difference, that these are the "The Runes" since most people are referring to the Germanic ones. and that the runes were brought as a divination tool first, and then assigned an alphabet, and Ogham are the other way around. Most people feel that Ogham do not belong as a divination tool, since that was not their original purpose. Your leaf is beautiful." She said with a bigger grin.

"Terry, I would very much appreciate your help since I haven't begun to study, though I do not need to take my NEWTs for two more years. Should I start to study just yet?"

"Do nee talk of NEWTS," Zoe said looking afraid. "I take them this year." Her eye twitched.

"You calling me a lazyclaw?" Magnus asked with mischief. "Oh you like me art?"

"Well," Zoe said, "I know the difference but since it said beginners on ye book I went with the other way so not to sound too snobby...Anything can be a divination tool if people think the right way." She shrugged again. "Sorry if I'm bothering ye."

"Oh no!" Aisling said quickly. "You're not bothering me." she continued the discussion, as she enjoyed talking about these things, "I understand that anything can be a divination tool. I have never used the word runes to mean anything other than the Germanic runes, so that was the reason for my response. And most people I speak to don't know much about the runes, so they compare them too closely." She smiled trying to convey her lack of annoyance, hoping that she was coming across as friendly and just making good conversation.

Aisling looked over at Zoe and wished for something encouraging to say. Noticing her eye twitch, she thought it best to remain silent. Aisling was starting to realize that she was one of the younger claws in the room at the moment, so instead of possibly making Zoe feel worse, she spoke to Magnus.

"I remember sitting around a table watching you draw last year, Magnus, or was that the year before? It runs together in my mind sometimes."

"I take my NEWts this year too that is why I can't think of anything but studying, the time is near." Terry said to Zoe but then shook her head to Magnus. "Not lazyclaw, we all have different needs. I feel more secure studying, but I don't have a pudding brain." She pointed out. "But yes, I like your drawaings - I saw one you made for Merlin with a gorgeous dragon, he has it on a folder cover." She looked at the two girls talking about divination tools and said in her monotone voice. "I don't really care for divination, I like things more palpable and certain - no offense to either of you." Terry sit down with her books and started passing the pages to continue study.

"Oh, okay...I do nee wanna be an annoyance," Zoe said blushing. "Aye, ye're right. People often use the wrong name or not fully know."

"Er, I don't know," Magnus said. "I might not've noticed. When I'm drawing I kinda can not pay attention."

"Are ye feeling the pressure too?" Zoe asked.

"I get that Terry," Magnus said, "hope your studies go well." He smiled. "What would you like me to draw for you?"

"I like divination," Zoe said happily. "I still take it. But I understand it's nee for everyone."

Private Outfit Kiara stretched and leaned her head backward over the arm of the chair she was curled up in. Her cat jumped out of her lap, disgruntled by the movement, and they both blinked slowly at the group of girls discussing runes and NEWTS. After a moment the cat disappeared upstairs with a dismissive flick of his tail, and Kiara closed her book and moved into an upright position, arms folded over the back of her chair so she was facing the group.

"How bad are OWLS?" she asked. "I have them next year. Should I start preparing now?"

Aisling looked over at the girl who's head and arms had just appeared over the back of the chair just across from the group. After hearing her question, she pointed so the rest of the group could see who had just asked the disembodied question that was hanging in the air.

Zoe shrugged at Poppy ((.)) That is until the Now that the girl (()) was now facing them. It look a lot less like a ghost with the person facing them. "Well, I thought my OWLS were easy but then others said they were horrible. I guess it may depend on the person or how well ye are prepared."

Aisling decided to answer with her plans even though she didn't have experience. "I find that when I study not much more sticks than what I actually know from class and what-not. So I probably wont study much. I'm with Zoe. It's really more about what works for you. If studying for over a year will help, go for it. But that would just stress me out to the max and that would end up hurting my score, in the end. I think." She then added, "I really like your flowers."

Kiara adjusted her flower crown absentmindedly. "I forgot about that, made it in Herbology today. I got bored." She frowned at a tangle she found in her hair, and started picking it apart. "That makes sense though. I'm glad they're not too hard. I mean I guess I've never heard of anyone failing them but I want a REALLY good score," she said with a grin.

She climbed out of her chair and stretched.

"Oh," she said to Magus, "I've seen you're art around too, it's very good."

"Aye," Zoe said to Aisling. "Currently nervous ticks are working for me." It wasn't really "working" but it was true.

"Thanks," Magnus said blushing.