Now that the term had started back and there were a few new prefects, Walton knew that he needed to get them together right off the bat to talk about setting up their patrol schedule and patrol partners. He wanted to be fair, and he wanted to be sure that everyone had a schedule that worked for them. Some people had early classes, and they should get earlier patrol. But people with fewer classes should do the later ones. Things like that. He hoped that it would all work out with little argument, but he wasn't sure how well that was going to go over.

Walton could be a bit of a pushover at times. He didn't like to upset people- but he took his new position as Head Boy seriously and hadn't really gotten the chance to prove himself before last term ended. So he was determined to make a name for himself as a competent and unbiased head boy for the remainder of his seventh year. Being named head boy was a Very Big Deal, after all.

So he'd found each of the prefects and told them to meet him in an empty classroom on the ground floor of the school after dinner. Mandatory meeting. If they didn't show up, then they'd get last pick for patrols and get stuck with someone they might not like. He didn't like making threats, but his last meeting had been a bust and he wanted to be sure that the prefects knew that he was, more or less, in charge. (To an extent, anyway.)

"Let's get right to business," Walton said when the first couple of prefects came in. "The sooner we get all of the important business taken care of, the sooner you all can go about your weekend. I'm sure you've all got things you'd rather be doing than drawing up a patrol schedule- but it's something that we've got to get done."

Rayven came in the room promptly after dinner. She was excited about being prefect and doing her duties. She couldn't wait for it. She loved helping people around the school and helping out the firsties was so much fun for her. She knew it was a little ridiculous to be so excited about it, but she didn't care. She wanted it. But there was another aspect of being prefect she liked even more.

Somewhere between the Yule Ball, the train rides to and from school for break, and the few days in London over break, Rayven was beginning to care for Walt. To her, everything about him was so perfect. With him being head boy, it meant she got to spend more time with him. Granted that time was going to be doing their rounds and duties, it was time none the less. She knew she had to be responsible and take everything seriously. Being around him was just going to make it more enjoyable and more interesting.

"I only have four classes this semester so my schedule is pretty open. I wouldn't mind doing the late patrols or anything. As long as I get some sleep before my first class I'll be fine."

This term was a disaster so far. Not just because of the badge, and all the respectability stuck with it-well, she was proud of it, and not just cause Tappy liked it either. Still terrified her a little, though, and she'd been bouncing between excitement and mental grumbling since they got back to school. And then there were her grades, which had wound up making her look very good at this school thing.

To repeat a string that good she'd have to actually work. Hard. Which had not been on any of her vague plans for her future-unlike hanging out with Erin and snarking at whoever the fuck she felt like snarking at. That last plan wasn't going to go too well now.

"Patrol schedules?" She gave Walton a confused look. Oh, yeah, that. It wasn't just behaving, she had to do shit as well. Responsibility! Rayven seemed to already know what was going on, so Gigi just nodded at her, then followed her lead. "I have nights open, at least. No way I'm getting stuck with my brother there." A shrug, she didn't want to commit too early. "Where's everyone else?"

If she was one of the few who showed up for this she'd feel pretty stupid. 'Less they ended up mocking Whitman. That she could handle.

“Here,” a familiar voice broke in, and Theo breezed into the room. A faint smile tugging at his lips and his bearing exuding confidence like it was the very air he breathed, the boy was looking as self-assured as ever as he headed towards them, a certain Gryffindor prefect flanking him just a step or so behind.[1] Focused on Gigi, the smile took on a kindly, if contemptuous air, as he led them to the seats closest by her and took the second one at her side, leaving the one between them for Raine to take. “Right behind you.”

“Honestly, Trishna,” he tsk’d chidingly, eyes softening in pity before they moved away onto something more worthwhile, like their dear Head Boy—or the ceiling. “Do pay a bit more attention to your surroundings.”

The Head Boy won. Theo let his gaze land on the seventh year. “I’ve got History,” he said, shrugging. “and Defense, with just about everything in between. But I can do mornings, if I must.”

1.	Approved by Nuri!

Ligeia was savoring the last taste of a particularly raw piece of steak and kidney pie she had at dinner as she walked into the room. Her closed parasol was held so the point tailed behind her and she had her bookbag as well.

"I've already sent word to Professor Trishna that we may be late to Astronomy," she said as she entered.[1] "He'll completely understand of course, it might just be a reviewal night with term resuming. It only affects Raine, Joshua, Walton and me."

"Speaking of," she said as she settled in, "the same four have midnight Astronomy on Thursdays from eleven thirty to half past midnight. I have classes to eight each day, either Astronomy or Divination. I think History runs eight to nine," she added in response to Theo Whitman's conflicts.

1.	Term resumes classes on Mon Jan 4th so on the NEWT schedule dinner is 6-7pm, Astronomy 7-8pm

"Thanks, Ligeia" Josh said as he entered, having heard her mention she had sent word they could be late to Astronomy. "Than, as well as allowing  for classes, it might be a good idea to pair less-experienced Prefects with a more-experienced one. Make sure the newer prefects know where the usual spots for pranks are, and such. I know Gryffindor's got quite... enthusiastic first- and second-years, I don't know about the other houses. But a dungbomb can be quite a surprise when you aren't expecting it." Josh said, he regularly had to avoid various pranks.[1]

1.	I doubt the various pranksters avoid pranking the prefect patrol routes. If Josh is typical in it being regular is up to you, though.

At Joshua, Theo coolly raised a brow. ‘Less experienced,’ ‘more experienced’… The Slytherin couldn’t help but feel that where the Gryffindor was concerned, they were more of a misnomer than anything else. He also suspected that if he’d chosen to go along with ‘less competent’/‘more competent’ instead, the groups would be rather different.

Not that he thought the guy would know, of course.

“If anyone required the coddling, Harcroft,” Theo said, as pleasant and carefree as a summer sky, “then I’m sure we can thank the headmistress for passing over them beforehand, don’t you agree? Not that I would dream of speaking for the rest of us—” Lazily, he offered Rayven a nod of acknowledgment. “-but I think it’s safe to say that that won’t be needed.”

Unless it was wanted, went unspoken, which, of course, made it a different story. He didn’t even have to glance around the room to ascertain his preferences – who he’d want to pair up with, and didn’t – by themselves or compared to others.

“But working around practices and club meetings will be, yes?” he hummed, tone thoughtful. “Canterbury has Theatre, Almasy has Quidditch…” Personally, he had neither to worry about, though he certainly had other extracurricular activities of his own to concern himself with. Trailing off, he looked at Walton expectantly.

Sat between two of her (arguably) favourite snakes, Raine remained uncharacteristically lacking in opinion as they quipped over free time and experience. Her own schedule was... unforgiving, even without taking into account that Gryffindor was up for a game later this month.

"I do the bulk of our training on Sundays," she followed Theo's remark and leaned back in her seat, arms crossed. The team did not enjoy that decision. "I'm normally up at dawn but I can tackle late nights- except for on Thursday." That would be mostly true for anyone else taking NEWT Astronomy.

Late nights could sometimes prove to be the most interesting shifts- she often prowled in animagus form in this time. Patrols would not be out of her way.

"Besides," Raine glanced from Rayven to Georgiana with a wry smile. "We don't even play sentry until after the dinner hour."

Certain prefects tended to walk together out of their patrolling capacities so it was easy for students to assume that they had a much more intensive schedule. They weren't totalitarian, thank Merlin.

He grinned at Rayven when she came in, but didn't get a chance to say much as Georgiana started asking where everyone was almost immediately. "I'm sure they're on their way," he said when Gigi asked where everyone else was. Almost as if on queue people began to filter in the room. Theo Whitman, Ligeia Canterbury, Harcroft, and Raine... That was enough people to get down to business.

"Thanks, Ligeia. I forgot we had Astronomy tonight." It was always hard for him to readjust to his schedule after getting back from break. Hopefully Trishna wouldn't be too upset. He had to get this done as soon as possible, since they'd have to start patrolling that very night.

"Right, what Raine said," Walton said, nodding his head in her direction. "The patrols are night time. After curfew and into the early hours of the morning. I want to make sure people who have to be up really early aren't required to take patrols at like... four in the morning, so they can sleep, if we can manage to work it out that way. If not, then we'll do the best to make it fair for everyone... I can probably do really late nights," he said. "My earliest class is at eleven in the morning. On Tuesdays I have an eight o'clock, but that's no big deal."

He shifted his gaze to Whitman as he put down Harcroft's idea about pairing up people who were new with people he'd been a prefect for a while. He wanted to tell im to be respectful, but his tone hadn't been overly offensive. He'd let it slide for now. No reason to pick fights with prefects right off the bat. "Actually, I think that's a really good idea, Harcroft. But I want to be able to switch partners up, too, so that everyone gets to work with everyone else. It's important you're all familiar with each other, so we can put together a united front for the younger students and the visiting ones."

"And I think we can probably manage to work around clubs and quidditch. There's a lot of us, after all." With two prefects in each house from fifth, sixth, and seventh years that gave them a large team to work with. And a lot of people for Walton to manage. "If we work together, we can figure it out."

Well, wasn't Whitman just making friends with everyone already. Douchebag alert, douchebag alert. Raine, however, was a good sight, and Gigi tossed off a sloppy salute in her direction.

She rolled her eyes a little at Harcroft. Who didn't know where the prank routes were? "Think we all know our way around the school by now." Her legs kicked out a little, and she started tracing out the image of a weird-looking frowning face with one sprawled out hand on another desk. "And I've got classes at eight. Little bit of a break afterwards if I need it. Not like we're making nukes in Muggle Studies."

Reason number fuck it she'd stopped keeping a list on the reason why half her housemates were stupid. Ridiculously dangerous Muggle weapons subcategory go.

United front, huh? Seemed like the head boy was being optimistic there, but Gigi just pushed herself back up to sitting and shrugged a little. "Put me down for something before midnight, then."

Rayven looked around the room. She wasn't offended in the least that Joshua had suggested pairing them. She understood what he meant completely by putting the less experienced prefects with the more experienced ones. She of course knew the hallways and knew her way around the school.

She still wouldn't mind having someone walk with her at first. She had never been in the halls at night so she was sure they would have a different feel to them. She would also want someone there to explain to her -exactly- what she was expected to do. Having someone with her would help keep her awake too. There were plenty reasons to go in pairs. She didn't see why the Slytherin boy had put the idea down with such distaste. Then again, he was a Slytherin. Rayven hated categorizing people like that, but some of them really fit the reputations.

"My earliest class is at eleven and my latest is at eight. Like I said, I only have four classes so my schedule is pretty lenient. And personally, I like the idea of working with partners. There would be a lot of benefits to it. If there is a problem, we could just do it for the first little while until everyone gets more comfortable at least. Just an idea."

Rayven shrugged. She knew she was new at this and it would take awhile for -some- people to take her seriously. Especially since she was a Hufflepuff. That didn't mean she couldn't throw a few ideas out there. She knew she was going to have to prove herself and show that she was worthy and capable of being in this position.

It took a measure of restraint to keep herself from criticising Walton's optimism- if we work together, we can figure it out. Rather obvious why he was head boy. Nonetheless Raine could appreciate his determination.

"I'll take anything before midnight," she echoed Georgiana's sentiment. "And later shifts before the weekend if you can't fill those spots. Pair me with whomever." They were all experienced at being students and it didn't matter if she were making rounds with an old hand like Canterbury or someone new, such as either of the Slytherins.

None of this group were particularly annoying- although she did miss Schlawkward a little bit.  Sighing at the thought, the redhead glanced over her shoulder at Sorin.

"We usually do partner up for patrol," Raine smirked. "But there's nothing against splitting up during a round to cover more territory."

Josh frowned at Whitman. The guy had jumped at rubbishing his suggestion. " I didn't mean coddling. I meant things such as tips on keeping awake. Not to mention, it can help to have someone else there when you're confronting somebody. Anyway, I've not got anything until 9 on all days except Tuesday and Thursday. Thursday my first class is at 9:30, Tuesday my first class is at 8. I finish classes at 8 most days, so I can do the late night patrols most evenings." Josh said, still frowning at Whitman, though glad his dismissive view seemed to be isolated.

“You said nothing of the sort,” Theo responded smoothly, not put off by Walton’s disapproval in the least. “And you misunderstood. I wasn’t suggesting against pairs, but pairing up on the basis of experience, or lack thereof. It wouldn’t be as productive as you think.”

But because he rather doubted that the Gryffindor would understand the distinction, Theo finally let the matter drop, turning his full attention onto working out a schedule instead. “I’m flexible,” he shrugged, Joshua already forgotten. “I typically wake up before six anyway, and anything before or after midnight works just as well.”

Because while he absolutely hated being roused before he was good and ready (-unless, of course, one was one of the select few persons who will go unnamed), he never actually needed the same amount of sleep as the next person; he only chose to sleep in. No one ever had a plausible explanation why, and when it became apparent there was any negative side effects, Theo simply stopped caring. As a prefect, he would only have more of an incentive—an opportunity—to take advantage of it.

“Monday, Wednesday and Friday my classes start at nine, Tuesdays and Thursdays, nine-thirty. Barring History, I finish at five.”

"Listen," Walton said- tone firm. "We're all going to do our best to get along. I assume you guys were chosen as prefects because they had faith in your capabilities to lead and maintain order. If we can't maintain some semblance of order betwen ourselves, how can we expect to be at all productive at our jobs? During these meetings, when I'm in charge, you're going to be respectful to each other. That means treating everyone's contributions as vaild and worthy. We can come to decisions as a group without having to treat other people poorly or put them down. That's not prefectly behavior, and if you guys don't act like mature, functional people I will report you. Just because you have a badge doesn't mean they can't take it away if you can't perform your duties up to par." Walton was usually a really nice guy and easy to get along with- but he refused to tolerate bullying or seeing others mistreated.

He was going to be sure not to pair Whitman with Harcroft. He needed someone who either wouldn't rise to the bait or could put him in his place with ease. Though Harcroft was fully capable of standing up for himself, he didn't want a fight on his hands. "Until the newer prefects learn the ropes, I think pairing you up with someone who has been doing it for a while would be beneficial. Even if its just for a week or so. After everyone learns what they need to do, what I'll probably do is get a sign up sheet of patrol times and let people sign themselves up."

"Can one of the returning prefects explain how things work to our newbies?" Walton asked. He was still more or less a newbie himself, but he wasn't going to flaunt that fact and make himself look incompetent. "While you do that I'll put together a quick pairing and schedule for next week and we'll iron out the finer details as best we can before I let you all go. And then next week I'll send round a sign up sheet for everyone."

He pulled out a bit of paper and a pen, and started to sketch out a quick schedule based on the information he'd been given thus far. Hopefully one of the returning prefects would volunteer the information without him having to call somebody out. He looked up from the paper at his prefects. "I do need one person to volunteer to have the 4AM-6AM shift with me, though." He knew Rayven's classes didn't start until eleven, but didn't want to pair himself up with her because people would talk. It was pretty obvious by now that he had a crush on her.