Baxter had told his father that he was, indeed, joining up with the Hogwarts Howler. His father had, in turn, sent Baxter a very nice camera along with a nice set for developing his own photos as well as a very detailed instruction manual. Ackerly had told his son that developing his own photos might be a nice hobby and a good way to practice some new magic and work with potions. Baxter liked his father's forethought, and was excited about the prospect of being able to have control over his photos entirely- without having to send the film by owl to get it developed.

The only problem now was that he needed a dark room, and wanted permission to be practicing with the spells and the potions kit to create his own developing liquids. It didn't seem difficult, and was labeled as "easy potioneering", but Bax had not wanted to get into any trouble.

After showing his new kit to Blake, and asking his friend if he thought he'd like to go with him to meet with their head of house, Baxter and Blake were on their way to the Astronomy Tower to see Professor Trishna, his new kit in tow. Since Trishna was Baxter's head of house, that was the person he thought best to ask. If Trishna needed to further the request to Storm or the the new headmaster, then at least Baxter wouldn't have to ask them himself.

Baxter knocked loudly on the office door, and looked over to Blake. He gave his friend a hopeful smile. "I'm sure he'll think it's a grand idea," he said quietly.

One of the many things that Blake had garnered an interest in since coming to Hogwarts and being exposed to many Muggleborn classmates was photography. Growing up, he had been well aware of the magical equivalent and had made an amateurish hobby out of it. But seeing a the differences in the two mediums had been fascinating for him but it had always just been a recreational hobby. He had never considered doing much with it.

When Baxter had started talking about doing photography for the school paper, Blake felt foolish for not thinking about that before. It made perfect sense, and yet, looking back at his previous year's involvement in the paper, he was reminded of what had occupied most of his time: writing stories in the guise of a ghostwriter. It had started as a joke to help deal with his frustrations about his brothers, but eventually it had tapered off towards the end of the year to just be some frivilous musings. Blake wasn't even sure he would continue.

Though he didn't want to tred on Baxter's ambitions, Blake was more than willing to join his friend in a visit to the Head of House. Regardless of who's idea it was, a darkroom for the paper to use regularly was just a solid idea no matter what.

Trudging up the tower stairs behind his fellow Ravenclaw, Blake tried not to look as winded as he felt. Even with slightly longer legs, there were a lot of bloody stairs to climb!

Bullocks, I  need to get in shape for Quidditch, he silently mused.

That fleeting thought was interrupted by Baxter's voice. Blake nodded encouragingly. "Oh yeah....Trishna will go for it, no problem."

It was early evening, in that lovely lull before dinner but after most classes. Tapendra, of course, still had one class to go: Starcharting with the 4th years. Sometimes he really wished he could skip that. Like now, when he'd fallen asleep three times today and - in the case of this last nap - gotten ink from a grade report on his face. That was what he got for not waiting for the ink to dry before his put his forehead down.

When the knock came he was busy wiping the ink from his forehead and brow. "Hrm?" He said, the inquisitive sound too quiet for anyone outside to hear. He could make out voices, though - two of them. Students, obviously.

Standing, he made his way to the door more easily than usual - his office was actually clean for once, the papers carefully stored in his brand new enchanted filing cabinets. That was one thing he loved magic for - the drawers extended much further than the slim, lightweight shelf should have allowed. It let him see the floor for once! And the couch was clear too.

He picked up Kepler as he passed the kneazle, holding and petting the fluffy cat as he opened the door. "It's open - oh, hello, Baxter," he said, smiling broadly. "And Mister Knight, too. Is something the matter, boys?" he asked, wincing as Kepler purred, sank his claws into his arm and then scrambled up to stand on Tapendra's shoulders, eying the boys with his usual vaguely annoyed glare.

Baxter was glad that Blake seemed to think it would work out, and when Professor Trishna opened the door he offered a smile and shook his head. "No sir. Everything is alright," he assured his professor. He stepped inside of Tapendra's office and found a chair, making himself comfortable. It was beneficial sometimes to be on such friendly terms with professors- especially if they were long time family friends.

"I actually wanted to come and ask your permission for something," he said. "You know you and Dad talked to me about trying to get involved in some school activities?" he asked. "Well, I decided I wanted to join the school paper. Blake is on the paper, too," Baxter added.

It wasn't like Baxter to beat around the bush, so he got straight to the point. "Dad sent me a new camera, and it came with a kit and a manual on developing your own photos. The potions and spells and stuff that help you make them like wizard photos- moving and all. Even tells you how to brew the potions yourself. I was wondering whether or not we might be able to use one of the empty classrooms as a darkroom?"

"I'd need help setting it up, to make sure it stays dark. But if nobody is using it, I figure it can't hurt. Then Blake and I could develop our own photos, and maybe teach some others on the paper how to do it, too. I don't think we'd be in the way, and the manual seems pretty straight forward, and I'm pretty sure the potions aren't dangerous."

He held up the kit to his head of house. "It's all in here if you'd like to have a look at it. From the way Dad talked in his letter, I think it was pretty expensive."

Blake instinctively stepped back when the door opened and Trishna stood there. The teacher towered over both lanky lads and the Astronomy professor's initial words asking if something was wrong had him immediately wondering if his words of encouragement to Baxter had been premature. Or maybe Baxter was wrong for bringing him along, seeing how abysmally Blake had finished the previous year. Maybe Trishna was already expecting him to be in trouble.

Blake relaxed a little when Baxter aimed to put their Head of House at ease. He followed the other Ravenclaw boy inside of the office and spotting the emptyr couch, he went to take a seat. Blake seemed to sink clear into the cushions of the old couch and though his longer legs still remained touching the ground, he felt more awkward than he ever remembered being in a really long time. He helplessly rested his hands on his knees, which were nearly at eye level, and stared over at Baxter and Trishna with a blank expression as the other Ravenclaw began to speak about his plans.

His ears perked up when it was mentioned that he was on the paper and Blake simply nodded, confirming that fact. But he continued to remain silent and let Baxter lead the charge with the photography proposal.

Finally, when he felt it might be prudent to add a comment, Blake said, "Yeah, it would be a way to make the paper even better, sir. Everything is better with pictures...."

Tapendra beamed at Baxter as he closed the door behind the two boys, having gestured for them to sit on the office's couch. "That's wonderful, Baxter!" He said happily, smile slightly tempered as he tried to detach Kepler from his shoulder. The succeeded and dropped the cat on the top of the couch near Blake, and then finally took the kit Baxter was holding.

It was a good kit. He was glad Ackerly was taking such an active interest in Baxter's life as to give him things like this. Tapendra sat at his desk carefully, inspecting the components - picking up the vials and turning them over in his fingers.

"This is a very good kit, Baxter," he said, smiling widely as he out the bits back. "I'm glad you'd decided to help with the paper! Miss Dagon is very keen but a bit...in need of more level headed comrades, I think." Which was Tappy's nice way of saying the requested interviews with him when he'd been a horse hadn't been entirely welcome.

He started digging through his desk, looking for his schedule book. "Does the whole club need a room? How are you all currently getting the paper made?" he asked, as he did so.

Baxter beamed when Tapendra told him it was a good kit. "I thought the paper would fit my interests," he told Tapendra. "I'm also going to try to be a part of the gaming club. I do love wizard's chess and those talking miniatures they had sounded really interesting, and the game they're for." Even if Baxter didn't have much of an imagination, he could try.

When Tapendra asked if the whole club needed a room, he cast a glance toward Blake. He didn't know that. He also didn't know how the paper was currently being made. "I don't know, professor," he admitted. "Our first meeting was just in an empty classroom, which is what I think most clubs do. I have no idea how they have the papers made."

"But I think they send off their photos to get them developed. I think it would be more convenient if we could do it here. And it's something I'd like to learn to how to do, personally. Photography seems really interesting, and I've read a bit about it. I'd like to be able to make it a hobby, and developing the pictures is a part of that hobby."

Baxter looked to Blake. "Do you know how the papers are made?" he asked. "Or do you just write and take pictures and leave it up to whoever is in charge to put it together?"

Blake nodded in encouragement as his friend spoke with their professor about his interests, still content to let his classmate do the talking.

Then, Blake cleared his throat when he was addressed again about the paper. "I...uh...believe the paper is set for a room...the one they used last year. Usually the editor takes care of everything once the articles and pictures get submitted. I guess I never really thought about it much after I gave Maddy my stuff last year."

Blake thought now that maybe he should have been more interested in the whole process. Especially since he was a Ravenclaw. But, admittedly he did have other things to be interested in during their previous year.

He could feel his face burning with embarassment at his inadequacy in that moment. Finally, he just shrugged and offered a meek, "But I agree with Baxter. It would be nice to have a place to work on the photos more directly....here. At the castle."

"That's wonderful, Baxter!" Tapendra beamed again, as he started digging through his desk. His voice wound up muffled as his head ducked behind the solid oak, the sound of papers shuffling and wooden drawers thunking nearly drowning him out. "Misters Wintergreen and Falkin could certainly - ouch," he was cut off as a drawing closed on his finger and he hit his head on the bottom of the desk in his surprise.

When he resurfaced he was holding a worn scroll of parchment and sucking on his ring finger, his sunny disposition a bit dampened. "That is, I'm sure they could use the guidance of someone with a more...organisational set of skills. They're terribly enthusiastic, but young." And they'd run off with his D&D source books. He really hoped he'd be getting those back.

"Let's see," he said, unrolling the parchment. It turned out to be a map of the school, static...and covered in notes and post-its.

"It looks like there's an empty classroom on the 6th floor that no one's using," he said, turning the map towards the boys with his finger on the small rectangle representing the room. "If you can figure out some times you'd like, I could write to the Headmaster. Best to reserve it early, no?"