It's Totally Legitimate! OPEN -- NO PREFECTS!

Graci was now unable to resist trouble. Ever since she realized that if she could space out her detentions well enough then she wouldn't get expelled.

She knew quite well that this 'tutoring' wasn't going to be anything transfiguration or potions related. Even though she'd never met this guy, she'd heard rumours. Sure, the advertisement never said his name, but word got around. Hogwart's resident trouble maker.

So Graci channeled her inner Zoe and left the dorm room. Wide legged black jeans and red jumper and converse. Eeek! I really can't believe I'm voluntarily doing this. At least I can just pretend I thought it was a studying session. My professors would believe me, at any rate. She was getting OK marks, but they should've been better.

She sighed and started off toward the ballroom. Punctuality had been more of a theme since she had started attending Hogwarts.

The ballroom only had one other person in it, an older guy who she assumed to be the one orchestrating the trouble. He himself would probably not get in trouble, whatever was happening, but she and a lot of other first years were going to be. Maybe.

"So, what kind of study disguised trouble is going to be orchestrated today?"

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Date: 22/05/25 | Time: After class | Outfit: ✕ | CC: #english, mandarin
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Phoenix didn't normally pause to read notes on the walls. Most were frivolous—lost toads, Quidditch notices, something about "Mandrake Meditation Tuesdays" that she groaned at every time she noticed it. But this one? It insisted on being seen by virtue of its ridiculousness.

Free Tutoring Session!

First Years!

Ballroom, 22 May After Classes!!!

You'll learn the Most Awesomé Lesson Ever!!!!

Four exclamation points.

And "Awesomé."

She stared at it, arms folded, lips pursed into a tight line. No assigned subject. No professor of record. No House noted. No note that it was valid in any way.

It has to been a trick. Most definitely.

Phoenix walked away.

…And then, half an hour later, she was opening the door to the ballroom, looking as though she already wished she hadn't.

She had on dark gray nearly black cargo joggers with the top of the pockets buttoned shut, a crisp white t-shirt, and white chunky sneakers that creaked nearly inaudibly on the slick floor. Her usually fluffy wavy hair had been pulled into a ponytail since she was attempting to corral it. She didn't look so much like she was going to a tutoring session as like someone planning to go undercover.

The first thing she saw: the boy.

Not a professor. A boy a few years older than her. She did not know him. She would have noticed him around if she had already seen him since his bright white hair caught her attention now.

The second thing she saw: Graci.

Her face twitched, slightly. Not a frown, exactly, but hardly relief. "You're here," she snarled, not in resentment—more as if someone expecting the worst and being confirmed in it.

She remained in the doorway, narrowed eyes. "You're not a professor," she stated flatly to Colin, applying the tone of voice she used for a shady shopkeeper. "This isn't tutoring."

There were parchments. Quills. Ink. Props, probably.

"If this is going to become a House unity project or an underground Slytherin brainwashing ceremony, I'm out."

But she didn't.

She moved a few steps forward, however, and stood beside Graci but did not sit. She fired Graci a glance, dry but not unfriendly. Then turned her attention back to Colin. "So. What are we doing here, exactly?"─────

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| 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Colin McCoire, @Graci Laren | 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: @ |
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Phoenix was there.

Graci's stomach sank. Her appetite for trouble immediately suppressed. She wanted to be friends with Phoenix but... she would definitely not approve. Self preservation mode it is.

"I was... under the impression we were studying as well." Graci had made sure to bring a small bag of stuff to work on, to make it believable. And speaking of believable, her voice probably wasn't. "Then I came here and it seems it... isn't studying?" She immediately felt guilty for lying, planning to take back her words when Phoenix started talking. Gosh, can I really go through with this? What if she has trust issues or something?

Graci felt kind of bad for stooping so low as to go somewhere to get into trouble, and then back out as soon as someone else came. Chicken. "And I'm almost ninety-nine percent sure this isn't brain-washing. At least, I hope not. But I'm almost ninety-nine percent sure this is not studying. I was earlier too, so sorry for lying." Graci hoped her apology worked. Even though it was poorly thought out and the guilt was still there.

The mental war was waging and was ensuring some bloodshed. Probably of her conscience. Oh, Phoenix, why did you have to come here, and bring my conscience into it too? Oh dear, I never should have came here in the first place. I shouldn't be blaming her for my sudden change of heart. Though... I can't ensure it wouldn't have happened without her. But then again, someone else I know is probably gonna come along any moment now.

This was when Graci started mentally bashing her head against the wall, cursing herself for ever leaving the dorm room. or getting the detention that sparked this all.

Uuuuugh, to back out or to not back out. That is the question.

Greebo hopped up onto the table, his bright blue eyes scanning the new comers. Colin's green eyes scanned them each as well, though undoubtedly for entirely different reasons. Greebo, for reasons of his own, decided that the danger noodles might just be carrying cat treats especially for him. He sniffed at their satchels and purred happily. Colin's attention turned to the brave first years who had answered his summons. They were all dressed like Muggles. And two of them seemed to be rather well acquainted, judging by the slight twitch of an annoyed face or a slight stiffening of posture. Colin's bright eyes rarely missed much.

"...Slytherin brainwashing ceremony," one of them commented snidely.

Colin smirked.

Study session indeed! At least none of the three would-be mischief makers who sat around the table with him were under the impression that they'd actually be doing something academical. "Pfft!" Colin rolled his eyes. "Slytherin brainwashing ceremony!? It's not a question of washing yer brains, lass. It's just common sense!" Colin reached up into his right sleeve, withdrawing Naur-an-Edraith from its holster.

With a deft flick, he tapped the stone wall adjacent, whispering: "Scripto." The sound of chalk could be heard, though there was no chalk. A list of names appeared upon the wall.

SLYTHERIN!


HUFFLEPUFF!



RAVENCLAW!

And then, way down near the floor, where the stone wall and the wooden planks met, there, in tiny little letters, was the last name:

GRYFFINDORQUE

Colin nodded with satisfaction. "Basic Hogwarts history that." He paused before dragging his wand along the wall. "Scourgify!" The letters disappeared in puff of dust. "Right! Well, you all know why we're here! We've got parchments and ink and quills!" Colin stood up on his chair, then folded his lanky form down into his accustomed crouch. He slipped a piece of parchment out of his satchel. It had neat lines written on it in black ink; and there were X marks in red.

He tapped one of the red marks with his left finger. "Today we're going to learn aaaallll about Hogsmeade. And! Most especially! We're going to learn how to get to Hogsmeade! So! Who's been already? Now, I reckon ye're looking at this parchment that says School Rules. And ye're undoubtedly got yer eyes fixed on Rule Number 7. Repeat after me! Hogsmeade is off limits to first years and second years. Third years and above must have a signed permission slip. Now, this is a very good rule to abide by! Especially Ravenclowns!"

Colin smirked. He thought back to first year when he and his Ravenclaw twin forged their signed permission slips and walked into Hogsmeade like they owned the place! His finger tapped the red X. Hopefully these were bright kids and would get the hint! Study disguised trouble indeed!

Expressed Interest: @Olivia Williams | @Avis Marlong | @Amelia Randensmith | @Ruth Fairchild | @Hana Bakir | @Rafal Devereux | @Nova Astron | @Pamela Graham| @Nova Astron

Speech -- Thoughts

Pam was, yet again, fashionably late. It definitely had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that she had fallen asleep over her History of Magic homework and had woken up three minutes ago and rushed down to the ballroom.

She had seen the notice on the Hufflepuff doors and had been interested almost immediately, although the question had persisted, tutoring of what exactly? She stepped in the room, tripping over the edge of a desk rather noisily and receiving a few looks from the other people already into the room. Cheeks heating up from the embarrassment, she settled down in a corner, eyes scanning the piece of paper a seemingly older boy was showing them. She vaguely recalled him being the one who had set up their swimming time at the Great Lake. It had been fun. Or had that been someone else? She wasn't really sure.

Repeat after me! Hogsmeade is off limits to first years and second years. Third years and above must have a signed permission slip.

Pam blinked, attention shifting from the boy's face to what he was saying. Were the tutoring lessons going to be about rules? Out of all the topics a person could have picked. Pam rubbed her hands together, the time she had often spent at Hogsmeade flashing vividly in her mind. I definitely shouldn't be here then. Well, she had some time to spare anyway. She had a feeling this would turn out pretty fun.

OOC Note: I know you've likely already got your fake permission slip, but feel free to use this RP to describe how your character obtained it!

Greebo sat down on the list of school rules. Clearly, the black cat didn't think much of rules either! Colin smiled. "Now we get down to it! We know we're not supposed to break school rules, but no one ever said anything about not bending them just a wee bit! I reckon some of you probably have a permission form already, but for those of you who don't..."

Colin slid a certain object out of his satchel. It looked old. It was a thick piece of pasteboard with what looked like letters and things cut through it like a stencil. It practically black with years of ink buildup all over it. Colin held it up. The letters looked backwards to anyone facing Colin. He turned it around so everyone could see. As the light shone through the slits, it was very clear that one of the words was HOGWARTS and that another one was HOGSMEADE.

Colin smirked. "This, my learned colleagues in mischief, is what is known as a 'fake permission slip'. Well, really, this is just the stencil for making one! But hopefully you get the idea!" Colin carefully laid the stencil over a piece of parchment. "See? All you have to do is take your quill, dip it in the ink and dab it all over the letters! Then! All you need to do is write your name here," he pointed to a dotted line. "Then! All you need to do is sign your parent's name! Easy peasy dungbomb greasy!"

Colin looked from one face to the next, wondering which of them would be brave enough to give it a go. "So! Who's a brave Gryffindorque? ZHANG!" Colin cried out. "Go ahead! Let's see if you're really a lionette or if ye're just a mewling little kitten!"

Expressed Interest: @Olivia Williams | @Avis Marlong | @Amelia Randensmith | @Ruth Fairchild | @Hana Bakir | @Rafal Devereux | @Nova Astron | @Pamela Graham| @Nova Astron