7 Wednesday (later)

The History of Magic class dragged on and on. It was one of Brooke's favorite classes and she listened and took notes aptly. But to Noelle, it was a bore. Especially when she had other things she was waiting on.

After class, Kade found Noelle waiting in the hall. "You ready?"

She jumped up. "Yes!"

Kade looked at his watch. "We have about an hour. Did you want to go get changed and all first?"

Noelle frowned. Another hour to wait. "I guess. At least then I'll be more comfortable."

He nodded. "Let's go then." He started to walk towards the dungeons. Before they went down the stairs, Kade stopped, looking nervous. "Umm, you go ahead, I'll wait here."

Noelle smirked. "Dungeon a little too creepy for you?" She laughed as he looked abashed. "Okay, you wait here and I'll be back in a jiffy." She went down the stairs and towards the Slytherin common room. She stated the password of the week and went inside to her dorm, slipping off her robes.

Pulling on a t-shirt, her Slytherin scarf, and a soft pair of jeans, along with a fluffy pair of boots, she went back out of the room, briefly stopping to glance out the windows into the lake. A large shadow fell over the common room as the giant squid which resided there swam by.

Shaking free of her amazement (she loved the squid), she met back with Kade. "Hey, sorry. You good?" He nodded and continued their path to the great hall. "Wouldn't it be better for you all to meet in the courtyard or something?"

"Sometimes we do, but when the great hall is unoccupied? It's a great time for the group to meet up." After a pause he added, "You'll see."

Together they pushed open the double doors and walked in, the doors swinging shut slowly behind them. Azraeyn sat with two other students at a table. He waved them over and stood. "Hello, you must be Noelle. Kade told me he'd be bringing you today." He looked at Kade. "I trust you helped her make a character?"

Kade nodded. "We did it last night. She's new though so we'll have to teach her as we go."

"I'll put the two of you together then and you can lead her along." He pointed to the end of the table next to the two unidentified students, one a Gryffindor and the other a Slytherin, Yori she thought. "This is Faith and Yori by the way."

Noelle and Kade took their seats and Azraeyn pulled out his wand. "Everyone ready?" The others nodded and Noelle followed suit.

He waved his wand, and at first Noelle didn't notice anything, but then, from the corner of the room, an illusion spread through the great hall. The chairs and tables were replaced with rolling hills and woods in the distance, the tapestries and floating lights with a bright blue sky. Her mouth dropped open. She'd never met such a skilled illusionist.

She turned to say as much and then jumped back in shock. A dark-haired man with sharp protruding teeth stood at her side, a humanoid rock formation and young girl with cat ears stood across the way.

She shrieked and then backed again, bumping into something else. She looked up into a more humanoid face save for a slight point to his ears. He grinned.

"A bit much to take in isn't it?"

Noelle closed her mouth. "Azraeyn?"

"Last I checked." He took her shoulders and pushed her forwards. "A tiefling huh?"

She blinked and looked down at herself. Her skin was a slight reddish hue and something kept moving at the corner of her vision. Turning in a full circle to locate the source, it took a moment to realize it was her own serpent-like tail. Azraeyn pointed to her forehead and she reached up, feeling hard bony protrusions that went back towards the back of her head. Horns.

She grinned back. "This is awesome!"

He laughed. "I love new people. Now." He looked around. "Let's see what I have planned for today's session."

A man ran over the hill next to them, waving his arms. He at least looked human. "Heroes! You're just in time! Kobolds are attacking Frosthaven!"

Azraeyn nodded. "That's right. I remember." Louder to the man he added, "We'll be right there!"