Library Lock-In Ravenclaw Closed

When Luna had seen the sign-up sheet for the lock-in, she also saw a golden opportunity. A chance to have access to the Library for the entire night? Why wouldn't she take that. She could catch up on studies, and focus on things other than just schoolwork. She had her own interests after all, why not pick up a little more knowledge. She had wasted no time in scribbling down her name, pausing enough to ensure the name was legible on the sheet. Satisfied she had gone on her way.

Luna sat in the middle of the makeshift sleeping bag she had brought with her. She had made a fatal flaw. In her rush to be in the Library, it had gone over her head that other Ravenclaws would be there. She hardly knew any of her own housemates, let alone anyone in general. And now she had found out from the Prefect's announcement that there would be activities. She squirmed uncomfortably, frustrated by the challenge of this conundrum. She began twirling her white hair in her fingers nervously.

What possible activities could be planned for a Library? Luna tried to piece together different options. There were simple magical games, but she doubted anything requiring spells. Besides, many first years were still limited in their spellcasting ability, including her. And the spell she did know? Fire Hazard. Luna's brow furrowed in deep concentration. She began scanning the small group of housemates, seeing if there was anyone, anyone at all she know. At least that could provide a starting point. 

"I'm Valerie, nice meet to you," The girl said. "Your hair is really pretty. What's your name? Do you like chess?"
Carmen blinked a few times and gulped. She couldn't decide if Valerie's approach was comforting or overwhelming. She glanced around to see if there was anywhere to escape too. She spotted one of her dorm mates a girl with long angel white hair and amber eyes. She believed the girl had a name to do with the moon but Carmen could not remember.
Carmen returned her attention to Valerie. She was exceptionally beautiful. She had caramel skin and stormy grey eyes, that anyone could get lost in. Her hair was a silky black that cascaded down her back flawlessly. She had said Carmen's hair was pretty but it was nothing compared to Valerie's.
Finally, Carmen responded. "My name is Carmen Holloway. I like chess." The response was stupid and Carmen flinched as she finished. She didn't know what to say. She looked down and frowned she had the white pieces. She always liked her opponents to go first.

Carmen took a deep breath. Where to start? "E, 2 to E,4"

Jeronimo grinned and shook her hand firmly. "Nice to meet you, Emma Hill."

There was a moment of an intensely awkward silence as Jeronimo mentally flipped through as many conversation topics as he had prepared for such a scenario. He was coming up blank. How? He had prepared for so long.

Thankfully, Emma spoke up first.

"What do you think the first task will be?"

"...task?" Jeronimo frowned, "What task?"

The boy blinked for a few more moments before understanding.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, then hushed very quietly again, "You mean for the lock-in! Tasks for the lock-in! Erm..."

Jeronimo scratched his forearm as he pondered.

"If I'm being honest, I have no idea," he whispered, "I'm... let's say a last-minute sign-up? I don't really have any idea what's going on. I saw something going on in the library and came in. We wouldn't be..."

Jeronimo glanced at Emma very nervously. The same thought seemed to occur to both of them.

"No," Jeronimo said, more to comfort himself than Emma, "No, they wouldn't make us duel... We're first-years. Aren't we not allowed to duel anyway?"

The boy shifted uncomfortably before admitting, "I... haven't done anything with my wand since I got it at Ollivander's. I don't know any magic yet."

Jeronimo watched the others mingling. There were two girls talking next to a chess set. The boy let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Yeah, I think we're just playing board games," Jeronimo whispered, "Why, what have you heard?"

It was sort of like he could read her mind, Emma found that both fascinating and a bit mysterious. "No, they wouldn't make us duel... We're first-years. Aren't we not allowed to duel anyway?" 

She shrugged, she did know of a dueling organization. "I know there's a dueling club full of first years, but I think you're right. They would make us duel each other, would they?" It was more of a question to herself than to Jeronimo. After telling him about that, he seemed to change the subject, Emma was glad to take her mind off of battling some of her friends. He didn't know much spells, she knew a few herself. "You should check out the members of that club, you could learn a few things or two."

"Yeah, I think we're just playing board games," Jeronimo whispered, "Why, what have you heard?"Before she could restrain herself, she let out a little laugh. More of a chuckle than a giggle, actually. Emma was kind of looking forward to dueling in the library, though she was sure it was forbidden. 

"Well, to be honest, nothing, but I'm hoping we get split up into teams. What else could you do in a library besides look through all these gigantic books? That's it!" Emma said, the last part coming out a bit louder than she expected before bringing her tone done again. "Maybe we're going a scavenger hunt? With tons of books, there's got to be clues written inside of one of them." 

Emma pointed in the direction of a couple of girls talking to each other near the Chessboard, "Did you want to go talk to them?" She asked curiously, considering that she was most definitely a bore. Frankly, it would have been nice to have a group to talk to.

Cecily grinned as the night of the long-awaited Ravenclaw Lock-In rolled around. She had signed up as soon as she could, and had been waiting in eager anticipation for this night. Her pillow was tucked under her arm, and she gripped an extra pillowcase stuffed with blankets, pyjamas, and a book-- yes, she was going to a library, but she was in the middle of this particular book, and was desperate to finish it. She knew that the night would be packed with activities, and she hoped that she could meet new housemates (and possible friends), but just in case she ended up having an awful time, at least she would have her fictional characters to keep her company.

When Cecily finally made it to the library, there were already groups of Ravenclaws milling about and having conversations. Cecily ducked past them for the moment, and made a beeline towards one of the desks pushed to the outside of the area-- she felt more comfortable sleeping in cozy spaces, and plus, now she wouldn't be at risk of anyone waking her up trying to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night or something like that.

She dropped her pillow and pillowcase and stood, looking around for any familiar faces-- or rather, the face of someone she had talked to before, since she had seen almost everyone in the common room or in classes-- but the only person here she really knew was Adam, whom she figured she should let do whatever he was doing running this thing. So, Cecily stood on the edge of the clearing, and waited for someone to approach her.

Cecily smiled as she walked towards the Libary with a pillow, blanket, her wand, and a couple of books for each class. Cecily also carried her two favorite books, The Tales of Beetle the Bard and Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them. Cecily knew she needed to start looking ahead for her first year of school. Cecily knew that if she didn't study her school for each subject, things would not go well for her.

And, Cecily thought while packing for the Lock-In, If I get bored or no one wants to talk with me, then I'll have these books to read or the ones at the Library.

If no one did talk to Cecily, Cecily wouldn't mind it at all. Cecily knew that if she was talking the whole time, she wouldn't have time to look over all her classes.

But, it's a Library Lock-In Cecily thought. I hope people are reading some of the times.

Cecily arrived at the Library and saw lots of other Ravenclaws talking together. Cecily, unsure what to do, followed another Ravenclaw, who was a little bit ahead of her. The girl looked very nice and serious, so Cecily decided to camp out next to her.
"I hope you don't mind me being here. Don't worry, I won't be a bother. I'll just be quiet and read," Cecily said, smiling. She sat down and placed her pillow next to the girl's. Cecily layed back on her pillow and pulled out The Tales of Beetle the Bard and started reading.




{OOC} In my signup, I said I would post daily, but I will only be able to post either weekly or three times a week (on Fridays and weekends). Just to let everyone know

"They wouldn't make us duel each other, would they?"

Jeronimo bit his lip. "Well, I hope not. I'd like to delay any impression of incompetence. But... I might check it out. The club, I mean. Learning's good."

He fingered the wand in his pocket as he listened to Emma. He wasn't lying. He really hadn't used it since Mr. Ollivander made him swing it around. The wand chose the wizard, he said. Well, maybe it was trying to procrastinate a little by choosing Jeronimo.

Emma was talking to herself, trying to guess what activities they were doing next. Jeronimo was impressed. He had sort of just walked in and hoped for the best. But here was Emma, actually considering what was happening. A habit, Jeronimo thought, that he should take up for himself.

"A scavenger hunt," Jeronimo nodded, "That makes sense. With the hints and all. This place is full of hiding places, I bet."

The boy fell silent. He had NO idea how to navigate this library. He had heard somewhere about a restricted section? Maybe if he just stuck with his team, he wouldn't break any rules. Though, of course, Jeronimo's competitive nature was starting to stir in his chest.

It then occurred to Jeronimo that he had been absentmindedly watching chess pieces spontaneously assemble into their positions. What was more, the pieces were emoting at each other, shaking clenched fists or, on one occasion involving two pawns, sticking their tongues out. Jeronimo squinted as he realized that, for some inexplicable reason, chess pieces in the wizarding world were sentient.

Jeronimo must have fell silent for a while, because Emma was watching him.

"Did you want to go talk to them?"

Jeronimo looked up at Emma in bewilderment.

"No! No, no," Jeronimo paused, "Well, I mean, not that there's anything wrong with them- or you- erm. I'm digging holes... I don't mind chatting with you- or, or, you know, meeting... the chess... people. If that's what you want. I- what would you like to do?"

Emma watched as Jeronimo looked up at her, frankly, a bit surprised by her comments. "- I mean, not that there's anything wrong with them- or you- erm. I'm digging holes... I don't mind chatting with you- or, or, you know, meeting... the chess... people. If that's what you want. I- what would you like to do?" 

She was partly relieved by his comment, she wasn't the best at socializing, but the Chessboard just said to almost be calling out his name. She didn't blame him though. Though she had never particularly played it, it was an interesting game for your mind. The last part clicked in her mind, she wasn't really used to making big decisions, for she generally overanalyzed them. There it was, the overbearing of thoughts. Emma didn't want to go over there, what if she interrupted something, but she couldn't look around the library for items that might of not even existed.

That was the answer, neither. Instinctively, the brunette said the first time popping up into her mind. "I was actually hoping to grab a snack," she looked through the down the end of the aisle where a white pillow poked out of it's hiding. "If that's okay with you, of course. Oh, and... and I don't mind going to watch Chess if you actually wanted too..." Emma said, sneaking the last part in.

Class finals were approaching and Clarisse wasn't certain how she should be dealing with them. There were students who were far too stressed about it, but Clarisse couldn't help but only feel a little anticipation. Some were constantly working, but the first year hadn't reached the stage where she really wanted to be doing that. Instead, she was glad for this event - the Library Lock-In - for a break in her worry about how she should be approaching finals. And a chance to get to know some of the Ravenclaws she hadn't really spent time with.

Clarisse definitely wasn't one of the first to arrive. And, when she did, she let herself busy herself with small tasks to avoid having to be the one to approach someone. Not that doing something would make people approach her. As the girl arranged her sleeping bag, pillows, blankets and pile of extra clothing in case it got too cold in the library, she glanced around, trying to absorb the conversation.

Some were busying themselves with a book, others making conversation or launching into some games.

Emma and Jeronimo in particular seemed to be deep in conversation - she caught snippets of duels and chess. Deciding to try to talk to them too, rather than grab a book and appear antisocial, she shifted over awkwardly. At least there was a pleasant smile on her face.

"Hi," she said softly, uncertain whether they could hear her properly, "Are you guys excited for the Lock-In?" Either she had spoken too quietly to be heard or they were ignoring her or she had just caught the end of something, but then Emma began to suggest ideas - food, chess - that weren't to do with Clarisse.

But the mention of food sparked her interest and she stepped even closer, speaking much louder now. "There are snacks? I'm starved!" Yes, they had just had dinner, but Clarisse could always have more. Especially something sugary. "Where are they? Do you want me to grab us all some and you can go watch the chess now?"

She grinned, hoping Emma and Jeronimo wouldn't think her too odd to join the conversation and offer to leave it straight away. "What do you say?"

For a few moment girl looked like the proverbial hare in front of the fox. Her eyes moved from one point in the library to another without actually focusing on Valerie. Instead she seemed to search for a way of escape almost. For a moment the other girl's mismatched eyes stared at a thing or person Valerie couldn't see from where she sat, before they finally moved back and settled on her. The whole thing had only a few seconds, but it had still confused her immensely. Was the girl scared of her? Valerie had seen other kids look scared of her before, but that had been when she'd been younger and thrown a tantrum. She tried to not have those anyway, as they usually ended in shattered ceramics and glass.

Carmen Holloway. Valerie couldn't place her name at all. It sounded American, but the girl didn't sound American at all… anyway, she smiled at the other first year. Maybe that would make her less nervous, relax the girl somewhat.

"Cool," she answered when Carmen said that she liked chess and picked up a white pawn.

She wanted to know more about the other first years, so the game was a good opportunity to talk a bit with Carmen, get to know her a little. So Valerie watched as Carmen opened the game. Normally she liked playing white, but being black would be fun as well.

"E7 to e6," she answered only a moment later and moved her own pawn a space forward. "I like your surname. Holloway. It sounds a bit American. Where are you from?"