A/N: So this is going to be a long one, just a heads up :3 -H
Sunday morning came with invites for the initiates and Halloween invites for the Gingerpuffs. I'm sitting with Pansy, Theo, Blaise, and Draco at the Hufflepuff table. Fred and George have joined us as well. "So invites just went out. Now we need to figure out what the next challenge is." Shay said sighing. "I just put that the next challenge would be held on this coming Saturday around 11 am? I was thinking we could take a break for lunch at 12 and then continue it afterwards."
"Wow, five days to get stuff done." I said teasingly. She stuck her tongue out at me.
"I suggested a relay type event." Hannah said smiling.
"How about a scavenger hunt?" Draco suggested. We just looked at him, shocked he actually contributed to the conversation and at the fact that it was a good idea.
"That's a good idea, Draco. Thank you for suggesting it." Shay said smiling at him. He just shrugged.
"We can split them up into four teams, one person from each House in a team." I said thoughtfully. "Since we don't have enough initiates for four teams, three of us will have to be put with one of them."
"I don't mind doing it!" Pansy said excitedly.
"Yeah, it sounds fun." Hannah said just as excited.
"Fred, do you mind helping out?" Shay asked him.
"Not at all." He said smiling at her. Aw, so cute.
"Why not me?" George asked curiously.
"Do you want to?" Shay asked him.
"Not exactly." He said shrugging.
"That's exactly why I didn't ask you." Shay said grinning at him. He just rolled his eyes.
"Okay, now we just need to come up with clues and objects." Theo said thoughtfully.
"Shay, Hannah, and I can make the objects." Susan offered.
"Theo and I can make the clues ." I offered.
"I want to help with the clues." Pansy said pouting.
"You can't. You're participating and it wouldn't be fair to the other teams." Shay said shaking her head.
"You have a point." She said sighing.
"Do you want to help too, Draco?" I asked him.
"Sure." He said shrugging. I like this new Draco. He's not as annoying to deal with.
"Then you and Blaise can go hide the objects and clues once everything is finished." I said smiling at him.
"What about me?" George asked.
"Um... actually, you can help with hiding the objects and clues too." Shay said thoughtfully.
"So what kind of objects should we use?" Pansy asked curiously.
"We could use some objects pertaining to the Houses and Founders." Blaise suggested.
"That's not a bad idea." I said thoughtfully.
"Hey, I don't have bad ideas." Blaise said scowling at me.
"I never said you did." I said rolling my eyes. "Besides, I'll admit most of my ideas aren't all that great."
"Ooh, I want to ask Neville if I can borrow his Remembrall." Shay said excitedly.
"You want to use it for the relay scavenger hunt?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I mean, if he doesn't mind. I'll give right back to him." She said pouting slightly.
"I'm sure he won't mind." George said shrugging.
"Oh, I know what I can do." Pansy said grinning. "I can make up the teams!" We continued discussing this throughout breakfast. Shay, Hannah, and Susan set out to find stuff to make the objects and to ask Neville to borrow his Remembrall. While they did that, Theo and I went to scrounge up as much parchment paper as we could so we had enough for the clues.
"Since you're handwriting is neater than mine, do you mind writing the final copy of the clues?" I asked him.
"Not at all." He said smiling. "Your handwriting isn't that bad."
"No, but I'll get tired of trying to write neatly halfway through and it's definitely noticeable." I said shaking my head. He grabbed my hand as we walked down the halls and I blushed, squeezing his hand.
"Did you read any of Lockhart's books?" Theo asked me curiously.
"Not a single one." I said rolling my eyes.
"I've heard of some of the stories in them, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't the one who accomplished all of that." Theo said shaking his head.
"I wouldn't put it past him." I said shaking my head. Speaking of Professor Blockhead. I thought as I spotted him talking to some Ravenclaw girls. From what I can hear, they're fawning all over him. I frowned. That guy is a creep and fraud. It's a wonder he doesn't harass any of them. No... I thought looking closely at him as he interacted with the girls. Plus, there was the way he had draped himself all over Harry at Flourish and Blott's that day. Ugh, he better not be harassing Harry. If he does, he's going to be having some problems with me. Gross. I dislike this guy even more.
"What's up?" Theo asked as he spotted me frowning.
"It's nothing." I said smiling. "I was just thinking that if Professor Blockhead tried anything funny with any of my friends, then he's seriously going to regret it." We spent the rest of the day getting parchment paper, which was really hard to find for some reason. So we went to a book store in Hogsmeade to get some. Well, Theo kind of had to sneak there, but I didn't since I have my permission slip signed. Minnie told me about it while Shay and I were at her house to work on our Animagus forms. Anyways, we got the parchment paper we needed and may have spent a few hours there just looking around and what not. It was sort of like a date and it was nice. I thought as we returned to the castle. The next day, Shay announced that the objects were ready and gave me a list of what they were so Theo and I could work on the clues. The only problem is it's a Monday and we have classes. So we'll have to work on them during lunch, on our breaks, and the time between the end of classes and dinner. Plus, Flint wants to get a head start on Quidditch practice. I'm going to have to balance that, the challenges for the initiates, and homework. Ugh, this is going to be exhausting. It shouldn't be this exhausting until fourth year. I thought pouting as I looked over the items at breakfast.
"What's up, buttercup?" Shay asked me.
"I'm going to have to balance GP stuff, my homework, and quidditch practice." I said sighing. "I guess I can work on GP stuff or homework during my Muggle Studies classes when I'm not doing class work."
"Aw, I'm sorry." Shay said sadly. "You don't have to help."
"I'm not doing this because I have to, Shay. I'm doing this because I want to." I said shaking my head. "Of course, I want to help you. The Gingerpuffs is something you love and I'm going to take it seriously because you love it so much."
"Thanks, Sissy." Shay said smiling. I shrugged.
"That's what big sisters are for." I said smiling too. Theo and I divided up the objects between the two of us. I didn't get the a good chance to work on them until Muggle Studies. I'd finished the class work quickly and got to work. The first object on my list was Neville's Remembrall. I guess we could hide it in a suit of armor near the grand stair case.
I'm usually made of silver and I stand in one place. My appearance changes on special occasions. What am I?
I hope that's a good one. I thought as I finished writing it. Is it too easy? Oh well. The next one is Hogwarts, A History. Oh? It's too bad Hermione was eliminated last challenge. She would've liked this one. Obviously we're hiding it in the library. That might actually take everyone some time.
I'm square and I provide information of events from the past. One single sheet of paper doesn't even cover everything. I'm kept in a place for those who want to learn beyond what they're taught in classes. What am I?
Next is a black and yellow painted rock. I'm assuming it represents the Hufflepuffs. What better place to hide it than near the Hufflepuff entrance? Obviously we can't hide anything inside the House commons. I think only Shay and I can pull that one off.
I represent the down to earth witches and wizards who are kind and generous. But you won't find me easily as there are very little like me in the world. You might find me closer to home. Once you see me, you'll know.
The next object is a paper mache snitch. This obviously has to be Gryffindor related. Since it's a snitch, maybe we should hide near the Quidditch Pitch? Maybe the... broom shed! Yes, that sounds perfect.
I excite the crowd when captured but don't think you can capture me easily. I'm very good at evading capture and I glisten in the sunlight. You might find me out on the field or you might not.
The next one is a man-made snake den. How original. I thought rolling my eyes. This is most likely going to be made outside, so we'll have to hide it in the pitch. Might as well stick to the castle and the pitch. I hope Madam Hooch doesn't mind that we're doing this. Better yet, we better talk to her, Dumbledore, and the other Heads of House about this before Saturday.
I'm a place that houses many ambitious creatures that only come out when they need to hunt is too great. I'm usually made to keep those creatures away from humans, but this is not the case. If you deem yourself cunning, then find me and you shall learn my secrets.
That was it for my part of the clues. I wonder what Theo has written for his four objects. Shay explained to me that there were four of each of these four objects. These objects are a stuffed raven, a stuffed snake, a stuffed honey badger, and a stuffed lion. I guess that makes sense. We could have each team bring one of these objects back to prove they had finished the relay scavenger hunt. I looked up at the time and was shocked to see that Muggles studies was almost over. I guess I worried about this for nothing. Oh well. When I see Theo next, it's lunch time and he's finished his part of the clues as well. I looked over them.
For the stuffed raven, it was:
I am known to inspire poetry and often get confused with another species of bird because of the color of my feathers. I reside in a tower and I often listen to riddles all day. Can you find me?
For the stuffed lion, it was:
I am courageous and do not fear adventure. I have taken an adventure to find something to eat many floors down. I hide behind a painting that not many would give a second thought to. You have to do something special to find me.
For the stuffed honey badger, it was:
I usually reside in dry lands but can be found in forests and grasslands. I eat insects and don't back down from challenges. I'm not afraid to ask for help and work better with others. I like to socialize with others during meal time.
And for the stuffed snake, it was:
I slither to and fro in cold places, but prefer to be warm. I dislike being out in crowds and prefer to be left alone in warm, dark places. Humans don't bother me and I don't bother them. Every once in awhile, they approach me unknowingly and pass me just as I go to strike. They disappear into a hole and sometimes I see them come back out.
"I figured we could hide the raven near the Ravenclaw entrance, the stuffed lion in the kitchens, the stuffed honey badger in the Great Hall, and the stuffed snake near the Slytherin commons." Theo explained.
"These sound good." I said before handing mine over to him. After he read them, we gave both of our papers to Shay and she approved of them after explaining where we wanted to hide the objects. The next few days were spent talking to Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, Flitwick, and Madam Hooch and trying to get the objects hidden. Plus Theo worked on the finalized clues, so that the handwriting would be neat and consistent. On Saturday, Pansy gave Shay her list of the teams.
"Why did you wait until now to give it to me?" Shay asked looked stressed.
"Don't worry, Shay. This is the easy part, okay? When everyone meets up, you just have to get them into their groups and hand them their first clue." Pansy said calmly. Shay nodded and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
"Okay." Shay said more calmly. "Let's get this thing over with." We met up with everyone in the RoR and the initiates looked excited. "Okay, for this challenge you are to complete a relay scavenger hunt as a team. We've split you all up into four groups. You have to work together, there's no shortcuts." The initiates nodded. "Okay, so the team one is River, Megan, Addie, and Ginny. Team two is Ezra, Collin, Luna, and Daphne. Team three is Hugo, Brendan, Jalen, and Lexia. And Team 4 is Noel, Fred, Hannah, and Pansy. For the last team, we had to use three members because their weren't enough initiates."
"Everyone get into your groups and Shay will give you your first clue." I told them. Everyone nodded and did as they were told. Shay gave team one the Remembrall clue, team two got the painted yellow and black rock, team three got the paper mache snitch, and team for got the man-made snake den. From there, they'll find the clues to the clues to the last five objects. Team two was the first to return and it was nearly noon. So Shay decided to pause the relay scavenger hunt until after lunch. Theo, Blaise, Draco, and I set out to find the other three teams to let them know. I could tell Hannah, Fred, and Pansy were taking this really seriously and they were discussing their newest clue, only Noel wasn't taking part in it. Group one didn't look so hot. Megan and Ginny from team one was discussing their latest with River, but Addie wasn't taking any part in it. But Hugo, Brendan, Jalen, and Lexia were discussing their clue as well. I can see who's going to be eliminated after this challenge. We resumed the relay scavenger hunt after lunch and the second team to finish was team three. Teams four and one tied last, but that was because some certain teammates weren't listening. Fred, Hannah, and Pansy looked exasperated at Noel and Megan, Ginny, and River looked angry with Addie.
"I'm very disappointed in you Noel and Addie. I'm afraid you'll have to be eliminated." Shay said shaking her head. Noel and Addie shrug and leave the RoR. "To everyone else, congratulations for making it to the last challenge! The last challenge isn't going to be easy, but it's very important. The last challenge will be held next Saturday night."
"What do we have to do?" River asked curiously.
"You have to sneak food from the kitchens for the Halloween party." Shay said looking around at them all.
"Won't we get caught?" Hugo asked frowning.
"Not if your sneaky about it." I said grinning. "This is where you'll have to bring out your inner Slytherin if you want to succeed."
"I'll be sure to send you all a time to meet up before then." Shay continued. "This meeting is dismissed." On the way back to the commons room, I noticed Ginny wandering off towards Myrtle's bathroom. What is she up to? Is she going to try to flush the diary into the toilet? I decided to follow her and found her just writing in it. I wonder why she chose here to write in it. Oh well. I thought before going back to the Slytherin commons. If I intervened now, things won't go like they're supposed to.
