8:55 P.M.

Yes, this was a wonderful idea. There was certainly no way this could go wrong at all. The room was decorated with streamers of all the house colors and the 'pool' had been filled with water that was only slightly warmer than room temperature while being topped with a good layer of bubbles. On a table in one corner of the room was various snack items and below it were chilled cases of butterbeer (along with some various muggle sodas); all of which Church had manged to have his mother send him... after some coercing. Honestly, he didn't see the problem, all she had to do for the cases was use a charm to shrink it and send it with Archimedes where Church would then take it and hide it in the bathroom until the time came. And seeing as that worked perfectly Church didn't see why she complained so much.

Well, okay, he did see why. Strictly speaking this party was against the rules. Probably. It wouldn't be surprising if it was. But really, it was all in good fun. All work and no play makes for some boring years. And Church for one anticipated a lot of work. And oddly enough he figured this was a good way to start the year off with all of them. Certainly it wasn't as formal as expected, but there would be other meetings for that. And a social never hurt anyone.

The only thing that was missing, at the moment, was a cake. Well that and music. But for the life of him he couldn't come up with a solution for that. However, during the time he was informing the prefects (or coaxing them in one Ravenclaws case) Church found out that it was one of the Slytherin's birthday last week. He had hoped that he could somehow work a partial celebration for her into this party. Of course if that didn't work out, so be it. Right now he was mostly planning on winging it.

With a sigh of relief he pulled a bottle of butterbeer and leaned back against the table, drinking a large gulp before setting it back down. "So Jazz," Church said to his partner in crime. "Ready for this?" He had hoped she was. After all, she was the one who managed to acquire squirtguns and pool noodles. That in of itself was a feat to be marveled at.

Jazz was ready.  Though she wasn't much of a socializer (ironic, since her life belonged in the spotlight), she was excited for the party.  Perhaps it was the fact that the party was a secret, and no authority figure knew about it.  It was a little nerve-wracking for the goody-goody, for fear of the negative mark on her clean record if anyone found out, but exciting nonetheless.  All week Jazz had felt a growing surge of anxiety concerning this night.  What would the teachers think of her if she were caught?

Enough of that, she scolded herself when she caught herself chewing her bottom lip nervously.  Turning to her friend, she fiddled with the bikini top straps, feeling them slip down her chest.  She couldn't tie them tight enough without looking.  Sighing, defeated, she carefully took her black tank top off, placing it on the pile of noodles she made and stepped closer to Church awkwardly holding her bikini up by her hand while the straps dangled carelessly at her sides.  "Could you help?" she asked, a look of plea and apology written in her features.  He didn't like physical contact, but she wasn't going to go around bikini-less.

She turned her back to him, lifting her hair with her other hand and waiting for him to tie it.  Jazz never wore a bikini by itself before.  Usually there would be swim shorts or a skirt followed with a swim tank, being the self-conscious girl she was.  She was nearly shaking from anxiety of her exposed skin and vowed to not go just in her bikini unless absolutely necessary.  It wasn't that she hated her body.  She, like most other girls, thought it to be worse than it was.  In actuality it was a good one; she was reasonably fit and with noticeable curves, though a bit short and lacked upper-body strength.  Her biggest concern lay above-waist.  One wouldn't notice it at first, since Jazz adorned herself in layers at all times, but it was hard to find swimsuits that fit right.

"I'm ready, more or less," she answered dully, looking around the marvelous bathroom with a sigh.  "I brought the fun stuff, and you brought the butterbeer... I do hope the others brought food and maybe even music.  Otherwise this will be the last and first party I ever throw," she chuckled nervously.

Ollie was excited for the whole pool party thing, she hadn't gone to the prefects bathroom yet. She was also glad that they hadn't done it last weekend when she was incapacitated. Darn full moon potentially ruining fun. Admittedly there was a little nagging feeling of this is probably not right and they could get in some trouble. But then there was also the claim that they were all just having a meeting in the bathroom. She had heard the tub was big enough to be a swimming pool. And honestly people were bound to cross paths. It wasn't like you could be the only person in the bathroom at that time. Anyway, it was just a chance to relax. Ollie hadn't felt like she had done that since she got to school.

Walking into the bathroom she felt a little nervous upon seeing Jazz. She looked down at her own legs and took stock of the mix of silver scars and scratches she found no point in hiding. And a hand moved to the deep uneven spot of skin on her shoulder that was a bite mark. And then she sort of felt self-conscious about the claw mark down her back that had awkwardly stretched as she had grown. No magic had helped heal those marks. Jazz was rather flawless in comparison to her, pretty as well. Though Ollie put a smile on her face.

"Hi guys," she said as she held out some food. "Went by the kitchen first." Trust the Hufflepuff to know that location. She had found it early on and it actually took some thinking on how to get it. She had watched a professor sneak in once. She put the food down and dropped her towel onto the ground. She wondered about pulling of her clothes down to her bikini and jumping in. It would be a first to expose the cross shaped silver burn scar on her stomach to a lot of people. But by now everyone had to know she was a werewolf so what was the point in hiding the scars anymore?

Ligeia had to drag out a seldom worn garment for tonight's festivities, any other of her dresses would be too weighty and cause her to sink like a stone. Probably not the effect the others were hoping for. It wasn't that Ligeia didn't know how to swim, just that her black lace-hemmed swim costume showed off more of her legs than what she was used to. Nothing else she wore went above the knee without having a strong pair of nylons as acessory.

Not that she was self conscious about her legs, they were just seldom seen things. Like a Mooncalf. Proof that Ligeia was not a gumdrop shaped person. Being under layers of dress had left the skin of her legs rather sensitive, certainly drafty in this 'open' air.

"Hello," she called, entering the Prefect's Bathroom with a bathrobe over her costume and her parasol. She liked coming to the bathroom for private soaks but tonight would prove to be more lively. The other possession of hers was a reused box of Glacial Flakes[1] that stored a surprise for later.

She crossed to the massive bath, opening her parasol that had no manifest function because of the hour. Instead, once opened, she set it to float upside-down. "There you are, load it up with drinks or similar for the tub."

Ligeia shrugged out of her bathrobe, hanging it on a hook.

1.

link

next, a cat entered the bathroom. this would no doubt have puzzled everyone, except for the fact that it transformed into Josh. He was wearing swimming trunks, and that was it, which explained how come he came in his animagus form. "Hi" he said, looking aorund. The Head Boy and Head Girl were there, as well as Ollie and Ligeia. Then he thought, and remembered the shrunken bag in a pocket of his swimming trunks. Taking it out, he enlarged it, and walked over to where Ollie had dropped the food she brought, putting more food out, then heading for Ligeia's parasol, adding some drinks. Including some Firewhisky.

History of Magic drew to a close and Sasha gathered his things, relieved he'd made it through another week.  He left the classroom and started up towards the Ravenclaw common room, remembering halfway up that the new Head Boy had asked him to come to the Prefect Bathroom to discuss something.  Initially, the request had seemed understandably odd - after all, a bath was a rather peculiar place for a meeting.  But, with a heavy class load, Sasha hadn't had much time to worry about the finer details before scurrying off to his next class. 

In the end, the reason wasn't all that pertinent.  The Head Boy had requested Sasha show at the Prefects Bath and Sasha would do so.  It wasn't his place to question those instructions. 

Sasha quickly finished the climb to Ravenclaw Tower and dropped his school bag on his bed, threw a scoop of food in Baldur's bowl and quickly changed out of his school uniform[1].  Several minutes later, Sasha slipped through the entrance to the bath and took a quick look around the room. 

It was immediately obvious what had happened.  A modified truth had been presented to encourage Sasha to attend a primarily social function.  Someone might have asked Neely or Fergie for advice and learned that, once he was there, rules of social etiquette made it difficult - but not impossible - for Sasha to just walk out.  It was kind of touching in its own terrifying way.  Especially since Sasha was well aware he wouldn't have come to ... what was obviously a pool party ... if he'd had time to worry about it before hand.  Especially given everyone's attire, Sasha would be lying if he said he was at all comfortable. 

Except, one detail turned what was an awkward, uncomfortable gathering into something that was an obvious and unquestionable case of rule-, not to mention law-, breaking. 

He'd stepped awkwardly into the room, trying to avoid specifically looking at any of his less-formally-clad fellow prefects.  Which, unfortunately, left him with a limited number of things to look at.  The bottle of firewhiskey was among the non-bathing-suit-adorned items to catch his attention.  It's presence was unfortunate and disappointing and, etiquette aside, wasn't something Sasha could participate in.  There were, presumably, going to be fifth year prefects and other under-aged attendees.  Not only was having an experienced and underaged prefect sneaking fire whiskey onto school grounds a horrible example for the new prefects, Sasha had spent far too much of last year skirting the line of suspensions and expulsions.  He couldn't risk any more blunders on his record.  It just wasn't worth the risk. 

And, Sasha could admit to hismelf, it was an easy and convenient cop out. 

"I'm sorry," he offered Church, shaking his head.  "I appreciate the gesture but, we're prefects.  I can't condone us setting that kind of example.  I can't stay if that's what we're promoting."   

1.

Outfit

There had been a good hour to spare between Raine's last class of the day and the unusual meeting party that Comer had declared in the prefect bathroom that evening; from what she knew (or rather, suspected) it wasn't going to be a strictly prefectorial event and there was going to be some necessity to don swimming attire. Swimming attire at the start of autumn. Not that she'd admit it but the Gryffindor liked the idea.

She buried herself under a couple of parchments worth of notes and homework before getting ready to leave for the fifth floor, slipping on a pair of jeans over her suit to avoid the skeptical stare of any authority figures that might have chosen to interrupt the stroll downstairs. Maurice trailed after her silently and almost unnoticeably; like a shadow.

It was a needless precaution. Raine found herself at the entrance to the bathroom without bumping into undesirables and popped in a few seconds just behind her Ravenclaw classmate-- who didn't seem to be advancing further into the room. He was addressing their head boy and, judging from both words and attire, hadn't known about the nature of their meeting.

Strange, considering that he and Church were housemates. Raine slipped past them and shrugged her uniform robes off her shoulders as she glanced back at the two Ravenclaws, "Come now, Schlagenweit. You don't want to be accused of causing discord amongst the prefects now, surely?" she commented dryly and looked him over, trying not to smirk at his unsuitable clothing: "It's not proper."

Raine didn't necessarily approve of thoughtless fun but this was hardly harmful behaviour for the student body. And she liked bubbles. Who didn't?

Jordyn was miffed.  Her birthday had been decidedly dull, and being born within the first week of the school year was particularly horrific.  It was everyone getting back and having so much to do and so much to settle into – not to mention attending to the first years.  She had been lucky enough that her “Friends” had acknowledged her coming of age – and as one of the older sixth years, she felt particularly grown up. 

So, when a prefect gathering was scheduled in the bathroom – Jordyn knew it was critical to prove her maturity and dignity.  She certainly wasn’t going to be scandalizing herself like she had over the summer – what a terrible foray into the world of juvenile delinquency, if only for one night.  She left it with a pounding headache and the mortification of having made a fool of herself, even if she looked pretty while doing so.  She hoped to goodness that Demitria and Tawse had more of a soul than they appeared to and would not go around spreading rumors of her indiscretion. 

So, with an assortment of scones (her favorite) in a basket, procured directly from the House Elves in the kitchens, Jordyn made her way to the Prefect Bathroom, happy that se would be contributing in some way, and it didn’t cost her anything.  She was also glad that it was not quite cold yet, considering she was out of her uniform and could still reasonably wear open toed shoes.  She thought they were charming and did the best matching she could for the circumstance. 

When she arrived, she already saw a group assembling, and raised her eyebrows.  She didn’t expect the non-prefects, and that was definitely not what she expected.  It wasn’t really uncommon to sneak friends into the bathroom, she never thought much of it, and had done it herself on more than one occasion – it was much better than the regular baths, but really?  These people? 

Approaching the accumulated goods, it was not until this point that Jordyn understood what Sasha was going on about.  A bottle sat staring up at her and she felt a sense of inner alarm.  She was legal, it didn’t matter to her, she didn’t bring it – but she didn’t want alcohol!  The thought made her head swim.  Swiftly dropping the basket of muffins, she moved quickly away from the incriminating and pursed her lips.

From the sounds of it, it was not going to be a winning game to protest, and she didn't necessarily want to be lumped with Sasha.  It was just confusing.  Taking a deep breath, she ignored Raine and her comments and moved more toward the door.Huxley – or someone else from Slytherin house needed to get her to save her. 

Alex walked through the corridors quickly, well aware that she should not be crashing the prefects' party, but, well, Raine and Ligeia were going, and although she did look strange walking through the corridors wearing such summery clothing, there was nothing that a quick disillusionment charm couldn't fix. Standing outside the prefects' bathroom, she flicked her wand to rid herself of the enchantment, before following a cat into the room.

Which promptly turned into Joshua, wearing only swimming shorts. Well, that explained him being in cat form, at least. While he was busy saying hello, she took the opportunity to inspect the prefects' bathroom. She could see why the prefects wanted it all to themselves, it was very nice- although it wasn't really a bathroom. More a swimming pool, which explained the pool party. A pity she couldn't use it normally, although she was content to use the normal bathrooms.

Listening to the brief exchange between Schlagenweit and Raine, she stepped forward, "Ah, live a little Sasha. It'll do you good to relax for once, maybe try thinking that there's more to life than straight O's." Although they were in the same house, Alex couldn't help but find Sasha really irritating. Yes, he was technically very nice, but he was just so school focused. It could not be healthy, and in the mean time, it was irritating.

"Anyway, I hope I'm allowed to crash the party," she said, smiling, "I brought cupcakes," she added, holding a bag triumphantly aloft before remembering that she had iced them and hastily stopping the wild swinging, peeking inside to check the damage. Well, at least they should still be edible.

Church's eyes lingered on the bottle of whiskey that the Gryffindor prefect had placed on the table. While some of the students were of age and could drink there would certainly be just as many who were not. Not to mention this was still school. Regardless of how many rules they were probably breaking, there was still a line that shouldn't be crossed. He was about to pluck the bottle off the table when Sasha spoke up.

Ignoring Raine's quip he picked up the bottle as Jordyn left the table. "Actually, I agree with you, Sasha," Church said calmly, stepping across the room to where the sinks were. "We'll all be in enough trouble as it is if we're caught," he pulled the top off the whiskey and began pouring the alcohol down the drain. "Let's not push it, okay?" Carefully Church eyed each of them, not letting his eyes linger long enough to give any hint of who actually brought it.

"Now then," Church said as he turned on the faucet for a moment to wash away what was left. "As most of you have gathered by now, this is supposed to be a rather casual get together. I don't know most of you that well and I don't know how well you know each other - yes Alex, you can stay," he added just noticing her in the room. "Anyway, because we're all going to be working closely together, Jazz and I figured it would be good to... encourage positive relationships. I also heard that one of our prefect had a birthday recently and thought we should celebrate it, hence the reason I'm going to let some non-prefects stay. So, please, at some point this evening wish Jordyn a happy birthday."

Unsure about how well this was going over for them Church decided he'd better wrap it up. "Sasha, I promise the next meeting will be much more business like as we distribute the patrol schedules and sort out any conflicts you may have with them." Pausing again, he walked over to where Alex was and took a cupcake from her. "Now, go forth. Laugh, socialize, eat. And most importantly, have some fun."

Jazz couldn't say she was surprised someone brought firewhiskey to the shindig, but she was still disappointed.  They didn't need alcohol to have a good time.  She didn't understand why it insisted upon itself so much.  Sighing, she quickly threw her tank top back on as the straps were fixed and thought about what to do next.  Mingle?  She wasn't good at that.  Nor was she good at making pointless conversation to appease the status quo.  Still, she might as well jump into the fray.  Rolling her eyes at Church's cheesy ending line, she picked up a blue noodle and walked around as if it were a scepter.

Her first victim was Jordyn, whose birthday was last week.  She never talked to Jordyn before, for chances to come across were seldom and inconvenient.  From what Jazz had seen, however, she seemed like a nice enough girl.  "Hello Jordyn," she greeted with a bright smile, "I understand a Happy Birthday is in order?  Happy Birthday," she congratulated sweetly.  The sudden urge to use her noodle scepter to dub her a year older flashed through like lightning.  Something told her that wouldn't go well.  She needed to make a good impression on her Prefects to build respect.  Going around like a nutter making declarations with colorful foam tubes is not the way to go.

Instead, she moved on to Sasha with an apologetic smile.  "Really, this was not our intent.  If we could do this without sneaking around and not having people crash it, we would." she said sincerely.  "To be honest, I don't like this either.  I feel like the teachers and their mothers are going to come marching through that door any second now." she added with a nervous chuckle.  Jazz liked Sasha.  He was a good guy with a strong moral compass.  Extremely intelligent, too.  Though she never talked to him, either.  She only knew him from classes where they had to group up a few times over the years.

Feeling extremely awkward for having nothing else to say, she made a lame excuse and made her way to the butterbeer.

"Now just wait a moment!" Ligeia had, through necessary magics, been filling her overturned parasol with ice to keep the tub drinks placed in it cool when Church commandeered Joshua's Firewhiskey. She didn't always agree with Harcroft, such as that time he suggested hunting acromatulas, but if their shared interests aligned she would be moved to action. "What vintage is the bottle? By all means flush it if it's less than five years old, but the prime stuff can be very expensive."

Though not a shot was going to be saved from Church's actions. Pity. "But I agree, alcohol is not all all appropriate for this kind of party. What are the snacks," she took stock of the foodstuffs collected, "cupcakes and crisps? We'll be drunker than festering hags in a minute." Since before she was twelve Ligeia had regularly, almost nutritionally, been tasting alcohol. The trick was what you ate with it. Many Canterbury evening dinners, with such lavishly rich food, paired the appropriate alcohol to bring out more flavors. Any harmful effects of the drink, minus the warmth, were generally nullified from the density of food consumed with it. In short, Ligeia knew not to drink on an empty stomach and had no desire of her own to get 'trashed.'

"Now Church, had you been staging a banquet I could have drawn you up a complimentary wine list. Though avoid Donegal, it's an O'Doherty holding on elf pressed wine and you can practically smell the rushed craftsmanship. Careful with these!" She reached across him for her box of Glacial Flakes, left by the sink he had flushed the Firewhiskey down. "Don't want them all going off at once."

"Congratulations on living another year, Jordyn, and may you survive another one!" Ligeia greeted cheerfully. She continued rounds of introduction, snagging her fellow prefect in Ravenclaw by the arm. "Don't leave so soon, Sasha. Church has made sure that only the Giant Squid and the merpeople will be getting buzzed tonight, though unlikely, so you have nothing to worry about."

To round out the Ravenclaw package she greeted Alexandra next. "Hello Alex, good thing I remembered to tell you the new password. Tell me, truthfully, how does my costume fit? I haven't wore it in ages." Unconsciously she rubbed her ankles together, another uncommon feeling. "What about you, Sasha?"

Jordyn found herself more approving of the Head Boy as he picked up the bottle and poured it out.  She felt relief, for not being the one to ruin the fun, as well as understanding that even if someone were to get in trouble, it was not likely to go very far without any other indiscretions. 

Of course, when he announced to the entire group that it was Jordyn’s birthday, she flushed a bright pink and raised her hand to wave, almost shyly.  She didn’t anticipate that anyone here might care, particularly not from her house, and mouthed a thank you to the Ravenclaw boy.  He did not seem half bad, she reasoned, and was now going to be approached quite a bit thanks to the announcement.  Most, she thought, probably did not care, which as somewhat of a relief. 

When Jazelle Hawke, Jordyn believed was her name, approached, she was surprised.  The seventh year was named Head Girl, but she had never spoken to her before, certainly not in the course of a normal day.  Jordyn did not dislike her – she was not competition, and she knew it would be favorable to have the Head Girl’s approval. 

She had done it once with Nolan, and quite liked the girl.  She would be nothing but cordial to her.  “Thank you,” she smiled, “I appreciate it – and congratulations to you.  Head Girl is quite an honor,” She said almost reverently.  It was a position she coveted and hoped to have the badge herself next year. 

When Ligeia wished her a happy birthday, Jordyn smiled with tight lips.  The girl was certainly a strange one, and so morbid.  She was not going to be rude, but she nodded and said a tight “Thank you… I will?” her voice awkwardly lilting toward the end, unsure of how to take such a birthday greeting…

Heaving a deep sigh, at least that was the first two were done with – and for all others, she resolved, she’d at least have a mug in hand!   

Sasha turned towards Almasy, shaking his head dismissively.  It wasn't he that brought the controversial refreshment; it wasn't he that was threatening discord amongst the prefects.  He was simply reminding them all of their roles in the school and the responsibility that came with it.  "Encouraging the new prefects to break rules is even less proper."  Sasha refrained from pointing out that the particular vintage of the liquor didn't actually matter. 

But, Comer stepped up and, admirably, played the role of Head Boy.  Impressed, Sasha nodded as he watched Comer pour the contents of the bottle down the drain.  "Thank you," he offered even though this now meant Sasha was obligated to stay.  Awkwardly, Sasha straightened his blazer and shoved his hands in the pockets of his trousers.  Maybe he could get away with quietly studying in the corner? 

Or not, since Alexandra had already commented on that. 

Sasha surveyed the snacks; between the cupcakes and finger foods, there wasn't much that was low calorie.  He finally settled awkwardly on one of the benches along the bath. 

Jazz, the Head Girl, approached and Sasha looked towards her with a nervous grin.  He knew the Gryffindor in passing from the occasional shared class but didn't know much about her.  She seemed sensible and she'd never been judgmental of him.  She'd even put her shirt back on.  "It's alright.  It makes sense."  Of course, the same could have been achieved with a faculty-approved coffee break in a location that promoted more thorough levels of clothing.  "It's just kind of a strange location.  I just-" 

Ligeia joined them and was standing there, asking him about her outfit ... her bathing suit.  Color rose in Sasha's cheeks and he glanced around the room, trying to avoid looking directly at his fellow Ravenclaw prefect.  "I ... it's ... it's very nice.  You look lovely.  It's - fitting." 

It was a pity that the firewhiskey had to be done away with. Ironically done away due the one person who could have probably benefitted the most from a drop or two of the intoxicant. Raine was tempted to give the Ravenclaw a withering glance but then Comer started going on about Dimbleby's birthday and people were moving all about again. She immediately cast her gaze down,  struck by the notion that someone might have accidentally trampled on Maurice when they'd entered. Pets weren't her norm; how was one supposed to keep an eye on them?

The Gryffindor eventually spotted the black cat climbing up onto the side of the large tub and made her way across the increasingly crowded space. "Oh, Jordyn," she paused briefly and lifted her hand in an awkward wave: "Many happy returns," Raine smiled fleetingly before politely slipping away from the Slytherin. Her fellow prefect didn't appear to be very comfortable and she wasn't keen on prolonging the moment.

She found herself at the bubbly tub next to the feline. Raine glanced around behind her at some of the prefects picking at the food or chattering. Eating probably wasn't any good if she wanted to slip into the water. Chattering one could go without. Her gaze shifted back to the bubbles.  She stared at the water with a dubious expression for a moment, feeling Maurice's yellow gaze on her face.

Then, with an air of decision, she turned around and kicked off her shoes. "I'm heading into the water," she called out nonchalantly to the room at large and added in a flippant tone: "Come get me if I don't resurface." The witch tugged off her jeans and pulled herself up onto the ledge of the tub with the water to her back. She peeked down at Maurice (who was giving her a rather incredulous look, for a cat).

"Geronimo," whispered Raine and allowed herself to fall backwards into the bubbles.