Who killed the mouse? ((Plot people))

[Gaenor Maydell]

Mouse. One syllable. Five letters. Describes a small squeaky mammal that’s very often connected with cheese and cats. Plural form – mice. Mouse. The word said so much really, didn’t it? Gaenor raised his eyes to glance around the nearly empty room. None of the professors were here yet and most people hadn’t came for breakfast yet either. Yet there were three Hufflepuff first years huddled together at their table and some fifth or sixth year Gryffindor trying to make her breakfast reach her mouth past the open book and barely started essay spread out before her. Other than those four – and Gaenor as well – the room was empty so Gaenor turned his eyes back to the critter resting before his feet. Mouse.

Many questions could be raised here. Who, how, when, why? Where was quite obvious, but the other questions applied. And even some more. Which motives, how good possibilities – both financial and physical. Perhaps even mental possibilities as well. Because not everyone could buy life-size gummy-mice and then be so absent-minded to leave it behind, especially right before the professors table. Gaenor briefly thought about nudging the mouse with this shoe but discarded the idea quickly. That would ruin the scene so he opted to stay still. But the questions still remained. Perhaps he would be thought to be guilty because he would have the money and had had other matters occupying his mind lately which might classify him as absent-minded. Therefore the possibilities criteria’s were fulfilled. The fact he found it might also be pointing to him as to the culprit if on wanted to look at the situation from that point of view.

Despite these threats the mystery remained for Gaenor. And to a tired brain with a bit of an eccentric sense of humour this mystery was entertaining as well as intriguing. So Gaenor stayed still, rather than coruching down as footsteps sounded from behind him. A smirk-smile rising to his lips Gaenor spoke when the patter of steps stopped and he could sense and feel someone behind him before he spoke: “I was in the shower and didn’t hear anything. The body was already here and cold so I didn’t give first aid out of fear of ruining the scene.” Gaenor turned sideways to whoever had approached him showing his amusement with the flicker of smile and twinkle of eyes as he questioned.

“Who killed the mouse?”

((Short and lame post, I know. But invited people - Lita, Addy, (Kris, Cleo?) Dana (yah, I invited myself) maybe some others. Ask Lita to see if you are part of the plot people or not.))

[Lita Hollows R6]

"Mmm," Lita nodded seriously, a faint flicker of some vague emotion flashing through her eyes quickly. If Adrian was worried so much as to practically order her to keep her eyes open then something must be wrong. Really, it seemed like the Gryffindors had a vendetta against the first years, Lita frowned slightly, shivering as the memories of her own experience ran through her mind. This time, the student being targeted was someone that Lita actually knew and had a liking for. "This isn't on." Lita growled softly, cracking her knuckles in anticipation. "Calm down." Adrian reprimanded sharply, relaxing when Lita leaned back in the chair obediently. "You're too ready for action. I know Katia is a friend of yours but she should know better than to pick a fight with any Gryffindor." Lita grinned wryly. In that respect, Katia really was like her. Sharp-tongued and quick-witted. Though she hadn't really expected her brother to leap to the fair-haired girls defense so quickly. Who knew, her brother was a defender of the innocent and smart-mouthed.

"But I'm going." Lita rose from her seat slowly. True to his word, Adrian had shown her the secret passageways, and his secret dungeon, but right now, Lita was hungry. Strange really, since she was used to skipping breakfast but something just drew her towards the Great Hall that morning. Strange, perhaps, but Lita wasn't one to deny her instincts. If something ordered that she eat breakfast, then she would. Actually, no, she wouldn't. Breakfast was just...meh. But she would venture out of the dungeons and up to wards the Hall. Maybe something interesting would happen, for once? Hah. Lita snorted. When did anything interesting ever happen? For a school of magic and wonders, it was strangely boring. Unless, of course, you were getting beaten up by a particularly stupid Gryffindor. In which case, a bit of fear would liven up the day.

Lita raised an eyebrow as she entered the Hall. "Is there a reason you're not eating breakfast, Gaenor? Ohh...the poor thing." Lita abandoned her inquiry when the mouse caught her attention, frowning and crouching down in concern. "It's dead." Lita noted clinically, not really sure whether she was annoyed that someone had taken a life and then not even bothered to clean up the remains or amused that Gaenor had decided to start up a murder-mystery about it. "I suppose I need an alibi then. I was in the dungeons, if you must know. First reading and then thinking. I've been there since six AM." Five AM technically, since she hadn't been able to sleep, but Gaenor didn't need to know that. Hmm. It was a shame that Adrian had only shown up in the dungeons a few minutes ago, really. He would've been her witness. "Wait. First aid?" Lita rolled her eyes. "And how would you hear anything that happened in the Great Hall if you were showering in the dungeons? Idiot." Lita straightened and stood beside Gaenor, tilting her head to smirk up at him. "I don't know who killed the poor mouse, but I'm sure Super Sleuth Gaenor Maydell will catch the culprit."

((And my post was any better? Though, in my defense, it was written late at night and my brain was occupied with PGSM. *grins happily and huggles Zoi-plushie* Mamoru-kun came back from London!))

[Kris Graas]

Kris sneezed and paused in a bit of a surprise. A sneeze? It was… unexpected. Kris doubted the folk-tale that one would sneeze when being spoken of. But he was surely not falling ill either. Hours upon hours of spending time outside for years, no matter the weather, had given Kris an almost unbeatable immune-system. The last time he had been ill had been… actually Kris didn’t even remember when was the last time he had been ill. Shaking his head Krid brushed the sneeze to as unimportant out of his mind and continued his walk towards the Hogwarts castle, icy water dripping form his hair onto her back. Sure, it was cold but Kris enjoyed it. It kept him fresh and alert. And the quick swimming tour in the Hogwarts lake this early when here was no one to bother him was very welcomed. But now it was time to retreat to the castle, get some coffee and food and then go to wake Cleo. When Kris had left to go outside for a swim Cleo had merely snarled something incoherent, swatted at him and burrowed deeper into the covers.

Morrigan snorted at displeasure on Kris’s shoulder and Kris smirked lightly upon feeling claws grazing his shoulder. The small kitten didn’t like the early-morning swimming trip in cold weather and she was showing it right now. Some pieces of salmon or whatever fish would be served at breakfast would surely calm Morrigan again though. Kris’s ebony cane touched the doors to the Great Hall and grasping the handles with both hands Kris shoved the double-doors open carelessly before sauntering into the Great Hall as if he was the King of the World. Arrogance was something Kris wasn’t lacking and he knew he had the right to be arrogant as well as anyone else. The Great Hall was mainly empty – the lack of noise showed that – which was only to be expected this early. Yet Kris’s ears caught a familiar tone fo voice even if took a few moments before he could place the voice as the little Ravenclaw Gaenor and Dana seemed to like. And Gaenor’s voice there as well.

A spark of curiousity in Kris – neither the Slytherin or Ravenclaw table were where from the voices were sounding – so he made his way over. Blinking curiously behind his black sunglasses upon catching the last words Kris adapted his words with ease however: “Sleuth Maydell, I presume I’m not considered as one of the culprits of the… horrendous crime you’re investigating?” A barely noticeable pause between his words, because quite truthfully Kris wasn’t sure what was going on here. He couldn’t very well just see what was going on, could he? “No one but the Great Squid didn’t see me swimming in the lake outside however, so unfortunately I do not have any witnesses.” Kris shifted himself to stand comfortably, leaning lightly on his cane as he smirked at the other two: "Miss Hollows. I'd say you look charming if the situation would be a bit different. But if I said it now, I couldn't know for sure that you would believe the sincerity of such a compliment." Even if doubting such a compliment would be quite correct considering Kris's blindness.

[Lita Hollows R6]

"And the next witness is called to the crime scene," Lita muttered to herself dryly, studying Kris thoughtfully and grinning at the kitten on his shoulder cheerfully - well, she always had liked kittens -before dismissing them from her sight in favour of the mouse. "Some idiot has killed a mouse and then abandoned the corpse in the middle of the Great Hall. I've given my alibi, even if I have no one to prove it, but I could always state it again for the sake of the newest arrival." Lita offered, after summarising the events of the last few minutes for Kris' sake, since he couldn't exactly work it out for himself and she didn't really feel like leaving him in the dark since he'd bothered to approach. "Hmm...I wonder if it's true that the murderer always returns to the scene of the crime." Lita mused darkly.

"Mr Graas," Lita replied lightly, inclining her head slightly even though she knew Kris couldn't see it. Old habits were hard to break and this was one that her mother had forcefully drummed into her head. Acknowledge those more powerful, older or simply better than you. Lita mocked her mother silently, a small hint of bitter rage flashing through her eyes. Pureblood politics irritated her, and that rule was surely part of it. Especially when Lita held no care for power, beyond making sure that she had enough to protect herself from any possible threat. Now for a comment that brought a smirk merely because it would've enraged her mother for its casualness and the air of testing the waters that it exuded - though she did have a good reason to be wary. Gaenor was fond of her, Lita knew that without a doubt, but that didn't automatically extend to his friends, nor would she want it to. This was merely a way to test her boundaries - something which she had always enjoyed doing. "I'll say that you look as wonderful as you ever do, and leave it up to your arrogance to decide how much of a compliment it actually is."

((Hm. Just realised I forgot to confirm the invited people. Lita, Kris, Gaenor - obviously - and Cleo, Dana, Adrian. *ponders* I think Nadine asked for an invite, but I'll leave the decision to you as I don't care either way.))

((Edit: I forgot to add that Lita resent being described as 'the little Ravenclaw'. *sticks tongue out at Kris*)

[Kris Graas]

Kris waved his hand quite boredly at the formal greeting. It was formal and polite and it was good to know Lita knew the rules of the etiquette. But Kris wasn’t in the mood to listen to polite small-talk yet. “Kris will be enough,” Kris verbalized out as he walked around the two to Gaenor’s left side – seeing as Lita was on the right – and crossing his ankles lowered himself to sit on the floor with careless grace. He was in a relatively good mood so he might as well amuse himself with this murder-mystery until something better came up. Placing his cane over his thighs Kris held out on of his palms as a stepping stone to Morrigan who gladly hopped onto it and then onto Kris’s knee. The black kitten curled up comfortably in Kris’s lap as Kris’s fingers slowly started gliding through her black fur.

An arrongat smirk rising to his lips Kris cocked his head to the side: “Ah, but that’s hardly a comliment, if we eave out the part about me ever being arrogant – I merely state the facts which some people would perhaps prefer not to hear so openly. But I also look wonderful – it’s merely a part of who I am.” Wondering if the Ravenclaw could take the ironic joke or would she be too baffled to reply Kris turned his head back towards where he presumed the mouse was. “But as all of us seem to have some sort of alibis – is there any clues about the murderer around? Shivering witnesses under some table? Muddy footsteps or bloody handprints? Murder weapons, discarded false teeth on the floor? We better find the culprit soon or we’ll live the rest of our lives in the fear of the Mouse-Murderer. I'm quite sure my tender psyche couldn't handle that."

((Sorry for the short post, but I wanted Kris's comments out and they were too long to just shovthem into Dana's post. And of course I'm fine with Nadine joining.
And Lita is small. And Kris doesn't know much else to define her by. It would have been worse to say'Gaenor's small friend' as that would define her only through Gaenor.))

[Dana Coran]

Dana finished the parchment and almost automatically already signed her name under the text before looking at what she had written. Before giving a satisfied nod and closing her ink-well. It would do nicely. Gathering the parchments together and repositioning the books she had used on the shelves Dana stood and stretched languorously. She had wanted to get head-start on the Potions essay meant for Monday morning, but seeing as she was the only person in the library – shockingly even Pince wasn’t here yet! – it had came forth quite quickly and easily. All the better that was. Meant more free time for her to do things she truly enjoyed. Glancing at her watch Dana noticed that it was time for breakfast so sending her things back to her dormitory with a simple spell Dana turned on her heel, made sure she looked presentable from the mirror before sauntering out of the library.

The journey to the Great Hall was uneventful as ever, perhaps even less as most people were sleeping, and the Great Hall looked the same as always. Except for the quite curious group of free crouching before the professors table in a half-circle. Lita, Gaenor and Kris. Now this was a group that would have attracted Dana closer any time so without any hesitation Dana approached them with her high heel loudly clicking on the floor. “Morning all,” Dana greeted quite pleasantly raising a curious eye-brow towards the candy-mouse on the floor, “May I question as to what is going on here?” “Murder-trama. What’s your alibi or are you the murderer returning to the crime of scene? Because at that case we better go and bury the body quickly,” Gaenor replied, making Dana’s lip-corners twitch. She didn’t doubt Kris and Gaenor would help her bury the body should Dana ever happen to kill someone. But she could go along with the came. “And of course the one morning whe I’m expected to sit on the floor I choose to wear a short skirt and high heels,” Dana commented as she chose herself a place and maneuvered herself to sit, her legs bent to one side as she supported her body weight on one hand as she made sure the jeans miniskirt that did rest high on her thighs would still always stay decent and that her white jumper wouldn’t bare her midriff too much.

“My alibi. Well, a funny story with that. You see, I have no witnesses to prove my words. But I was writing my potions essay in the library,” Dana reached over to swat Kris lightly as he muttered ‘book-nerd’, “Unfortunately not even madam Pince was there however. But I whole-heartedly swear I’m innocent in everything. Or at least innocent in this crime.” Giving a wicked grin and a wink to Lita Dana fished out her wand and with a few flicks floated the platter of pies, a pitcher of juice and some fruits along with cheese over to the group as well as a cup of coffee for herself and Kris. Taking a sip of the steaming goodness Dana sighed contently while picking up a small meat-pie: “We might as well still get breakfast during the drama. I don’t usually tend to eat in such sad moments, but usually don’t see bodies either so it just… shocked me into changing my habits,” Dana commented thoughtfully before taking a bite out of the pie she had chosen for herself.

[Nadine Whitaker]

Life was weird, Nadine mused thoughtfully, sliding the multi-coloured metal Slinky from one palm to the other almost absently-mindedly. For years, her life had stayed the same, determinedly unchanging. She went to school, learned whatever she could, ignored mostly everyone and, in her spare time, mixed oils to sell in Hogsmeade - no matter what she told Cleo about not marketing them. Perhaps not an overly interesting life, but it was hers and no one could take that away from her. Much like her Slinky. Nadine regarded the muggle toy in amusement, wondering what the purebloods would think of the purely muggle toy. An amusing thought, to be sure, but not something that she could try out this morning. Today she had business to sort out and personal research to transform into something vaguely resembling legible at the very least.

Standing up, Nadine tossed the Slinky into her trunk and picked out a hat to place on her head smoothly. A black cowboy-styled hat with a green silk ribbon fixed around the base. Not her favourite but it would do for today. And if any Gryffindors accused her of showing Slytherin-spirit then perhaps she would calmly suggest that those with green eyes should sit at the Slytherin table also. "Lazy people who stay in bed all day get no breakfast," Nadine chirped cheerfully as the first signs of life came from her dorm-mates. Honestly, they would stay in bed all day if they thought that they could get away with it. Nadine muttered an incantation almost silently, flicking her wand slightly before spinning on her boot-clad heel to leave the room. As she stepped out of the Tower, the distant sound of high-pitched screams met her ears and an almost cruel smile touched her lips. Her dorm-mates wouldn't be showing up any time soon, that was for sure. Green hair and silver eyes could do that to people. Nadine whistled cheerfully as she cast a few harmless spells, winking at a little Hufflepuff as she levitated him a few inches off the floor before returning him to safety once more. Gryffindor or no, Nadine wasn't foolish enough to leave the evidence in her wand, where any fool could find it.

She was the first into the Great Hall, barring the three Hufflepuffs who entered seconds after her; one of whom gasping in surprise when Apollo swooped in to land on Nadines shoulder and steal a piece of bacon from her plate. "Cheeky owl," Nadine rebuked laughingly, skimming through the letter from her grandparents leisurely. Two new clients in London...request to visit them at the week-end...order to finish the requested oils for her new clients soon....and a note from her Grandfather! The purely business letter from her Grandmother was set aside in favour of reading the far more interesting note from her Grandfather. Nadine shrugged, making a mental to visit them next week-end and pick up some Violet oil, before scribbling a reply and tying it to Apollo's leg. "Return when you've delivered it; I have some business for you to deliver." Nadine ordered sharply, running her fingers through feathers to gentle her request and apologise for her sharp tone. Grandmother just didn't understand that Nadine barely had time to deal with her current clients, let alone new ones. And the comment about how glad she was that Nadine was branching out into Hogwarts, hah! Cleo had been a one-time deal and the sooner her Grandmother understood that, the better.

Apollo took off and Nadine fished the order forms from her bag resignedly, checking off what she had already done and putting a mark next to those that she had still to work on. There were quite a few that she hadn't done, Nadine grimaced, knowing that she had shunted them aside to work on Cleo's mixture. The biggest mistake in business, putting off a paying customer to work on a personal deal. Ah well. She would just have to work double-time to make it up. It was difficult to work on two mixtures at once but it had to be done sometimes. Nadine mentally rearranged her schedule, wiping out the time she put aside for research regretfully. Her research had now been put back until January because of all these new orders. A shame but there it was. Nothing to be done about it really. The money earned through this mini-business would hold her in good stead when it came to buying a house after Hogwarts. The profit margin wasn't very large, but it was enough and these new clients would hopefully boost it higher. At the moment, she would have to live at home for about half a year before being able to buy a house, but when the estimated profits of sixth and seventh year were added to the total, she could buy it at the beginning of sixth year and spend the rest of the time fixing it to suit her. No more living with a forgetful father and having to mother two children when she needed a mother herself.

Apollo returned and Nadine fixed a leather pouch with three vials in it to his leg, whispering the clients name and feeding a treat to him before launching him into the air proudly, similar to the way one would launch a hawk into the air if they went hawking. Not surprising, considering that Nadine had spent three weeks of one summer learning the proper care for birds from a muggle friends uncle. A group of people at the front of the Great Hall caught her eye when platters of food, cups of coffee and pitchers of juice floated over to them. Nadine shook her head in amusement as she took a bite of toast."There are better ways to scare the Professors, and having a sit-in at the front of the Great Hall isn't very effective." Nadine muttered to herself, hiding a smile as she split her attention between the group of people and the work in front of her.

[Cleo Graas]

Cleo pushed spread fingers through her hair and after a final glance in the mirror decided she looked good enough to face the school ad it’s numerous and for the most part not overly brilliant and nice students. Not that Cleo herself was overly nice to random strangers either. But that wasn’t really the point here. Not that she had much of a point anyway. But well… ah, why bother with such deeply philosophical problems before breakfast. Thinking with a full stomach was definitely much better and much more fruitful. Sauntering out of the room Cleo headed towards the Great Hall to fulfil the need for food. The travel from dungeons through the hallways to Great Hall went quietly. Only one passing 4th year Slyth greeted her but that was hardly worth mentioning. The view in the Great Hall itself was much more peculiar. Gaenor, Lita, Kris and Dana camping in the center of the room? Seeing his husband sit on the ground in such a public place? Made Cleo’s eyebrows rise.

Noticing an other familiar face Cleo made a small detour to the Gryffindor house. Reaching out her hand Cleo simply snatched away the work from before Nadine. Holding it safely in he hand as she took a step back and waited for Nadine to turn down, with an almost challenging raise of her eye-brow. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You can’t soil it with work. You’ve been hanging around my house-table too much perhaps. Don’t adopt our habits. Or well, the habits of some of Ravens. Explain to me rather, why my husband and new sister are sitting on the floor here?” Cleo eyed Nadine’s work almost lazily before turning and sauntering over towards her friend, throwing carelessly over her shoulder, “You coming?”

“Morning,” Cleo greeted lazily accepting Kris’s hand as he helped her sit gently on a conjured pillow. A chorus of voices responded and Cleo arched here eye-brow on the mouse on the floor everyone was sitting around. “Why, oh why, is that mouse so curious to make us sit on the floor? Everyone’s met Nadine I presume or is meeting her now. The little one is Lita. Witty girlie so watch your words unless you want to be left a fool. Dana is sitting there, somehow managing to look decent even considering how short of a skirt she’s wearing. The prince with wavy brown hair you can dream to have a golden hue is Gaenor and you have met Kris before.” Cleo snatched up a croissant and waited to hear explanation about the situation.

[Lita Hollows R6]

“Kris it is then,” Lita murmured quietly, unable to stop herself leaning into Gaenor slightly. Much as it annoyed her, strangers still scared her and Kris was still very much a stranger to her. Though his joke did bring a quick grin from her, enjoying the irony even if the arrogance was far too usual for her to be interested. Lately, everyone she met seemed to have a certain arrogance about them. And Adrian had always been arrogant when it suited him. Was a person without a hugely inflated ego too much to ask for?

“No shivering witnesses but there is a Gryffindor who seems quite intent upon her work. You might know her because she seems to be around your age, or slightly younger. Perhaps Cleo’s year?” Lita offered, casting a curious look toward the Gryff before dismissing her as unimportant at that particular time. Especially since Dana approached at that moment. “Dana.” Lita grinned widely and waved before leaning forward to take a slice of toast.

Lita looked up at Cleo’s approach, amused to see the auburn haired Gryffindor she had pointed out before chasing Cleo, presumably for the sheets of paper in her hand. Apparently the girl wasn’t unimportant after all, though she was slightly curious as to how the girl had made enough of an impression on Cleo to warrant being brought over. Maybe a smart Gryffindor had been found? For politeness’ sake, Lita grinned at the new girl lightly before snickering at Cleo’s description of Gaenor.

[Nadine Whitaker]

Almost done. Nadine grinned triumphantly as she pencilled in the last number of her accounts, feeling rather proud of herself. Considering that she had taught herself the basic rules of accounting only last year when she felt the need to take the stress of calculating her business expenses away from her grandfather, she was doing rather well. Now to send it to Grandfather for him to look over it. Nadine worked swiftly as she thought, suiting actions to her words before launching Apollo off once more. Well, at least the proud owl would never have to deal with becoming fat, Nadine grinned wryly.

Now to just make a note of the ratios of the oils for each of the fifteen mixtures and then…Nadine frowned, tilting her head at the suddenly empty space in front of her eyes. Hadn’t her work been there just a few seconds ago? “Jackson, I swear that if you don’t hand me those papers this instant then I’ll…” Nadine trailed off, turning her head to see Cleo, not Jackson, standing there with her work. Great. Now there was another person determined to make her life harder. Nadine sighed, not really listening to Cleo until the girl started to walk away. With Nadine’s paperwork!

“Hey!” Nadine protested, striding after Cleo hurriedly. “Yeah,” Nadine smiled awkwardly, more interested in saving her work from the Ravenclaw than meeting all these new people. “Nice to meet you all. Except Kris,” Nadine added absentmindedly, her gaze falling on the two Cleo had introduced as Gaenor and Lita. For people with such an age difference they seemed quite close. Related perhaps, Nadine mused. “I’ve already had the…pleasure of his presence.” Nadine turned to face Cleo expectantly. “I followed you, met these strange people - no offence to your friends, of course – so can I have my paperwork back please?”