Contessa padded downstairs from her new dorm, brown hair falling loosely around shoulders covered by a thin white nightgown that provided next to no protection against the freezing cold. She hadn't been able to sleep. Contessa had still yet to get used to sleeping amongst others, she was used to her massive bedroom in the east wing of the manor in Cornwall. Not that Contessa had ever found it easy to sleep. She just couldn't ever shut her mind up, it was always zooming along five billion thoughts per second, save from knocking herself out, quietening it down was nigh impossible.

Contessa clutched a Defense against the Dark Arts book between pale hands, holding it against her chest in a protective manner. She had gotten the book off of her elder brother Francesco, well she'd stolen it from him, and most certainly did not plan on loosing it.
Contessa really enjoyed Defense against the Dark Arts, she found it so more exciting than all the other subjects, especially as she was naturally good at it. Thank god, if Contessa hadn't had a natural talent in DADA then she would've had to work so much harder to ultimately achieve her goal of becoming head of the department of magical law enforcement. Not that that would've stopped her. Contessa had made up her mind, that was what she would do with her life, and nothing and nobody was stopping her. Especially not herself.

Contessa stepped silently into the common room to find it empty, not surprising considering it was some 2 am in the morning. She picked her way through the maze of elegant green armchairs right to the one directly opposite from the dwindling fire. Here it was warmer. Contessa slipped onto the sofa, tucking her bare legs underneath her and curling in on herself. With a soft exhale she opened her book, flipping to her page about half way through.

 Contessa let herself drift away, becoming less aware of the chill and focusing on the various spells and incantations. She mouthed them silently, occasionally coming across ones that particularly interested her or seemed hard. This was a fourth year book after all, Tessa didn't doubt they would all be challenging to a girl of her experience, or lack thereof.

She was so immersed she didn't even notice the figure walking up behind her until they had sat down beside her.
Contessa glanced up, flashing a friendly smile.
"Oh hello," she said. The loss of the distraction of reading meant that she suddenly became more aware of the chill, and the almost completely dead fire. Contessa shivered, drawing in on herself even more.

"Ever have one of those nights where you misplace something and won't be able to sleep until you find it?"

The Headmaster rarely ever had reason to be in the Slytherin common room. He couldn't remember the last time. Indeed, it was rare entirely for any staff to trespass in the student dormitories, their haven from sticklers and hall monitors. From time to time, a Head of House made themselves present in times of crisis (or open rebellion). Thankfully, his rumbling baritone was sufficient password for Old Hogwarts to allow him entry.

It was a surprise to find any souls awake at this hour, but considering his own odd nocturnal errand, he opted not to mention it. It was young Contessa Clarencieux, after all, who was in a category of her own in most ways. If she engaged in some action or activity, Knox had learned it was not whimsy.

The Headmaster looked a bit of a wreck even for the hour. It was only the second night after the full moon and he still felt the fatigue of it. He was used to it, as were more and more of the student, the general dampening and diminishing of his robust mood and stature. He cheered himself with nightshade tea and a cigar, in addition to expending all his effort to keep his mood light, especially with students.

He looked over at the petite 11-year-old, and offered a sleepy smile.

"What are you reading?"

Contessa tilted her head, chocolate eyes scanning over the man's face with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. She knew who he was, she'd be a right idiot not to. This was Knox Greyfriar, current headmaster of Hogwarts.
But what was he doing in the slytherin common room? In fact, what was he even doing up at this time of night, or was it morning?
Contessa took in his bedraggled appearance and sleepy smile. He clearly needed sleep.

Contessa turned her book over to reveal the words 'The Dark Forces: A guide to self protection' emboldened on the front.
"Defence against the Dark Arts," she explained with a small shrug. "I borrowed it from my brother."
The lie rolled off her tongue with ease. In fact, Connie wouldn't even consider it a lie, seeing as she did plan on returning the book. She just hadn't asked for her Francesco's permission, that was all.

"I'm Contessa," she added, unsure whether the man knew who she was, though she would make sure he did of course. "Clarencieux."
Despite the questionable status of her surname, Contessa wasn't afraid to own it. She planned on changing everything people thought about her family, despite the fact that she barely knew any of them except her parents and siblings.

"Did you like Defence against the Dark Arts when you took it?" Contessa said, a look of earnest curiosity and friendliness painting her face. She had a little reminder in the back of her mind that Knox Greyfriar was to be treated with respect, it simply wouldn't do to make an enemy in the headmaster, that was just plain stupid.
Besides, he seemed alright. He hadn't mentioned that she should be in bed after all, and that was good.

Knox nodded when Contessa introduced herself. She was in his History of Magic class with the rest of the First Year students - her cohort was a wild bunch, so he could imagine that someone as composed as Miss Clarencieux might feel overlooked in the din. Her work spoke loudly enough.

"Professor Greyfriar," he said, returning the pleasantry. "I work here," he added with a wink.

She asked after his own academic predilections when he was young. He lifted his dark bushy eyebrows and scratched his beard. As someone who 'worked here', he tried to be spare with the details of his own school-age follies. Young Knox had not been an exceptional student, nor had he been particularly strong of fortitude. Oh, he was a true son of Hufflepuff, alright, friendly to all, but there his superlatives stopped. His mediocrity had served a blessing, however; as a teacher and headmaster, he was particularly good with struggling or aimless students.

"I'll admit I did not, Miss Clarencieux. Was never all that clever with a wand, and lacked the mustard to aim it at anyone," he said in his characteristic self-deprecation which fooled no one. Little known to anyone were his activities in the Second War, where he aimed his wand a fair many times, but as a teenager he was a bit to squeamish and twitchy under pressure to really excel in the subject.

"But what about you? How's term going so far? Getting along, alright?"

"Professor Grefriar, I work here."

Contessa grinned, a flash of amusement dancing in her eyes. She listened as he talked, surprised to say the least, but not letting it show. Connie couldn't see why anyone would be scared or reluctant to curse, hex or jinx someone, plenty of people deserved it after all, and it wasn't exactly hard. Contessa hardly planned on going around firing spells at random people, but she knew just as well as her fellow students in her DADA class knew that she had no qualms from violence. It wasn't like it ended in lasting injury after all.
Still, Contessa wasnt even sure if she believed Knox. She doubted he would go and say 'oh yes I'm great at Defence aganst the Dark Arts', even if he was.

"But what about you? How's term going so far? Getting along alright?"

Contessa paused for a second, thinking over her answer. How had term gone? Well, she had enjoyed her lessons, save from a few but that couldn't be helped. She'd made friends, a few enemies as well but again that couldnt be helped. But she did miss home. Hogwarts was incredible, so much more than she had thought it would be, but it wasn't the manor and Contessa couldn't help but miss her parents and friends from back then. It was silly really. Tessa knew that she wouldn't be able to become head of the department of magical law enforcement from home now, would she? She was just being a baby.

"It's been good," Contessa said. "Class is fun, especially Defence against the Dark arts as is pretty obvious. The homework's not that bad and almost everyone is really nice. I think I'm gonna join dueling club."
She paused once more, unsure whether she should keep going or shut up.
"I do miss the manor though," Contessa made up her mind. "Mama and Papa always throw lots of parties, people come from all over the world, it's really exciting. I've missed a few already. Why don't you have that many parties at Hogwarts? I'm sure almost everyone would love it! Though I suppose there is a few, and this is a school."
She shrugged, energetic despite the late hours. Connie was used to being up in the middle of the night, despite her composure, she always had plenty of energy to spare.

The old Headmaster was pleased Miss Clarencieux didn't roll her eyes into the back of her head at his groan-worthy joke. A mercy not always afforded to him by others at the school. Which he didn't mind terribly. The old bear had a thick skin and amusing himself was reward enough.

He was also glad to hear Contessa was doing well so far. First years always had such diverse experience in the first term. Most of them had never lived away from home before, some had never used any magic before, or been exposed to so so many different kinds of people.

"Good, good," he said and nodded as she spoke. "Heartening to hear you're not clawing at the gates to escape into the Scottish wilds."

"You know, I don't think anyone would wish to attend any fête I might arrange. What with the boring conversation, exchanging of recipes, and napping. I believe it's a benefit to everyone to leave the social calendar up to the students. Perhaps you could plan something? The winter doldrums could always use a pick-me-up."

"You know, I don't think anyone would wish to attend any fête I might arrange. What with the boring conversation, exchanging of recipes, and napping."

Contessa tilted her head, a little smirk of childish amusement pulling at her lips.
"Oh no," she protested, the cheeky smirk growing and making her eyes dance." I'm sure everyone would absolutely love something like that!"
She was joking, mocking Knox, but without venom, just a bit of childish fun. After all, Connie was still a kid, despite her surprisingly mature outtake on most things.

"Perhaps you could plan something? The winter doldrums could always use a pick-me-up."

Contessa's brows furrowed in thoughts, her lips pursing. There was an idea. Sure, Tessa didn't imagine many people above first or second year, maybe third, would even want to come, she didn't blame them. Who would want to go to some random 1st years party? But just because there was an obstacle and it wouldn't be easy didn't mean it was hopeless. Contessa could always rope her older siblings in, or recruit some other older student, thus making more of the older students want to come. Besides, Connie wasn't just some first year, as she planned on proving. She was certain if she gave this enough effort, befriended the right people, put in enough money, made sure everyone knew what was going on... well then she could pull it off! She was her parents' daughter after all, and she would make that obvious.

A bright smile lit up Contessa's face.
"You know I think I might just do that!" she said cheerfully.
Already her mind was whirring away 1000 kilometres a second, flicking through who to recruit, when to have it, what decor to use, where to have it. Contessa had watched her parents plan a fair few parties, she knew what she was doing. And to think! Pull this off and she'd have so many useful connections in the school, that would be absolutely perfect!

"Thanks!" Contessa said brightly to Knox, closing her book, which had been lying open in her hands, with a snap. But another obstacle had popped into her head.
"Would I need adult supervision?" Contessa asked shrewdly. That would be an issue alright. If it was needed then she would have to host this party in secret which would make everything a million times more difficult.

Greyfriar laughed too loudly for the hour, a booming baritone laugh, at Contessa's gentle mockery. He scratched his beard in thought while next to him the machinations of Contessa Clarencieux's mind whirred. He'd been surreptitiously peering here and there in the well furnished, poorly lit common room. The way the light danced as if some of it were being magically filtered through the gloom of the lake gave the illusion of something moving in the corner, or under that table, or along that curtain rod.

"Oh, hm? Adult supervision? Here? At Hogwarts? What an interesting concept. We really should try that one of these days. A bit revolutionary, but if you say so. But let's see ... How many adults would you like? I think I could find at least a few. If not, we could always stack a few students on shoulders and they should be tall enough ... "

The Headmaster gave his reply with all seriousness and gravity he could muster at this sleepy time of night. It was a little charming there were still eleven-year-olds who thought to ask permission for a bit of fun, but if Knox was half the teacher he wanted to be, she'd be through with that nonsense by Christmas time.

He tossed and turned.

It was one of those nights, when the snores of his dorm mates taunted him like an elusive dream. Feliks sighed for the umpteenth time and sat up on his elbows just as Bobbie snorted loudly in his sleep. There was nothing for it. He simply couldn't seem to fall asleep. The young wizard slipped out of bed, glancing at the stack of books on his trunk - tomorrow's homework, all sorted.

Not wanting to wake anyone else, he grabbed his copy of The Lycan and a caridgan, and left the dormitory on bare feet.

            "...would you like? I think I could find at least a few." That was not a voice he was expecting to hear at this late hour in the dungeons, "If not, we could always stack a few students on shoulders and they should be tall enough... "

Panicking, Feliks quickly stuffed the slim book into his cardigan pocket and hesitated at the bottom of the stairs. Headmaster Greyfriar was in their common room in the middle of the night. Had something happened? Was he here to deliver bad news to Clarencieux? The conversation seemed private but it was too late to quietly turn back.

"Um. Hello." Feliks frowned, dark eyes anxious beneath his mess of curls. "There is something the matter?" he looked between them - already feeling rather small in the professor's presence.

Contessa was quick to voice her opinion.
"No no!" she said. "It's fine, really. I'm more than happy to have no adults, wouldn't want you guys to have to do more work than necessary. I'll keep everything under control."
She nodded solemnly, before smiling once more. Thank god for that. Secret parties were so much harder to do, with so many more places where she could mess up.

Contessa noticed a figure appearing at the doorway up to the dorms and tilted her head, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Connie vaguely recognised him to be a Spectre. What was it? Felix? No, Feliks. He'd always seemed nice enough, though Tessa hadn't really spoken to him much. Well, might as well get to know him now, Contessa did love to make new friends. Besides, maybe he could help out with her party planning? At the very least, he could come.

"Hi," she smiled, before a look of confusion flashed across her face.
"Uhh no?" Contessa replied, tilting her head. Why on earth was that Feliks' first thought? Contessa glanced back at the headmaster sitting next to her, realising once more that it was quite weird to find a first year and the headmaster chatting away in the middle of the night. She had almost forgotten Knox was the headmaster, he didn't act like most of the authority figures Contessa had been exposed to before.

"Oh we were just discussing the lack of parties in Hogwarts," Contessa continued, flicking a lock of chocolatey hair over her shoulder impatiently and flashing a confident smile. "Couldn't sleep? Well you might as well join us."
She patted the space next to her, seeming completely at ease despite the bizarre circumstances.

The Night Owls Society membership had increased by half. The Headmaster was aware of his trespass in the dormitories and how it changed the tone of what was a casual space. The students had enough opportunity to have their behavior measured length and widthwise, hadn't they. Young Miss Clarencieux's insomnia didn't alarm Knox - she seemed stable enough in herself and didn't seem to be unduly beset by homesickness, any more than anyone - but Mr. Spectre's nocturnal restlessness? Well, Knox didn't like that it was his first assumption, but Feliks had been having a rough go of it and his being up gave the Headmaster a pang of concern.

Which he hid with a smile. And then agreed with Contessa.

"Yes, Miss Clarencieux's given us away. We're in conspiracy to orchestrate a shindig."  If 'orchestrate' was a word that could co-habitate with a 'shindig'.

"That's not how it started of course," he said, nodding to Contessa. "Miss Clarencieux's taking advantage of the quiet to get the advantage on Professor Storm and I, oh I forgot to say, I'm looking for a little blighter who refuses to be found. A ginger kitten, if you see him."

Knox didn't seem worried.

The... lack of parties in Hogwarts.

Maybe he was dreaming this. In which case it was perfectly fine for him to join Contessa on the sofa and see why it was that the Headmaster was in their common room. He smiled sleepily at his classmate but his eyes did not leave Greyfriar for long - there was something scary about him at night. In daylight, harmless, yet the night time reminded Feliks of the old man's lycanism.

"A kitten?" he repeated, finally making sense of the scene. "I don't know. Not in the boys' dorms at least." But kittens were very small so he could not say for sure, and simply shrugged.

He glanced at the book Contessa was reading - she was like him, she liked schoolwork. Or she liked Professor Storm's lessons at least. Feliks sat a bit straighter, not wanting to be seen as dozing off or ignoring them. "What kind of party do you want to have?" he asked with a frown. "What do you do at parties here?"

Where he grew up, they were stiff affairs from which the other children at the Cottage would sneak away to find a relaxing moment. Feliks imagined that the parties at Hogwarts were much more fun.

Contessa's brows furrowed slightly at the use of the words orchestrate and shindig in one sentence, but didn't say anything, just smiling in amusement. She tilted her head at the new piece of information, having completely forgotten to ask about it earlier. Well that was a bit stupid. So a kitten was why the headmaster was in the slytherin common room at this time of night? Huh. Should she be worried that this was the man running the school? Nah.

"There's no kitten in the girls dorm," Connie said confidently, a look of faint amusement still clinging to her face. Contessa herself hadn't seen one, at least not a ginger one, and there was no way in hell her own grey kitten, Jinx, would let anyone into the first year girls' dorm who wasn't usually in there without putting up a fuss. Not even at night. Especially not at night.

Contessa followed Feliks line of sight to her book and then back up at the headmaster. She wondered absentmindedly why he seemed to so bothered by the headmaster being here. Knox had explained why he was here after all, what was the big, well not really, fuss about?
Knox being a werewolf didnt even cross Tessa's mind as a reason. She couldn't understand how anyone would be scared of a werewolf at this time of the month. It wasn't even a full moon so there was no threat in Contessa's eyes.

"Well I dunno," Contessa said in response to Feliks question on the parties of Hogwarts, tilting her head with a thoughtful look in her eyes. "I haven't been to one yet. But I plan on throwing one, and I assure you, it will be a thousand times better than any you have ever been to before."
She grinned, her energetic nature contrasting with Feliks exhaustion. Even now Contessa had yet to slow down, the prospect of the party preventing that.
"You can help if you want!" Contessa added earnestly. "If you want to of course."

Knox scritched at his rough black and silver beard his sleepy mind easily traveling back to ye olde 1960s and the parties they'd had.

"In my day," he began without mercy, "there were no less than a half-dozen aspiring 4-member pop rock bands at any given time; the common rooms were crowded with dancers happily suffering best musical efforts and mock sea-monkey jelly molds. I recall a particularly stuffy prefect winding her way through the melee lengthening girls' skirts and shortening lads' hair..."

He smiled.

"Someone turned her into a mouse, I think."

The Headmaster turned, thoughtful hand still on his chin. "What are the youth into these days? Weird Sisters? Exploding Snap? "

           "...it will be a thousand times better than any you have ever been to before."

Feliks laughed at this, though he was certain that it would not take very much to be better than the kind of parties he knew. "I will help," he nodded as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes before looking up at the Headmaster. No, this was not a dream. He would never dream about Greyfriar telling them these strange things.

"I like Exploding Snap," he offered. "I do not know Weird Sisters. Is it a game?" Feliks directed this at Contessa instead, because she was English - more English than him anyway - and had lived in this country longer.

His own ideas of popular games were mixed up with the games he learned in the Cottage. He found himself asking many questions of his peers when they discussed what they did for fun. They were not always honest; one time Bobbie convinced him that Blood Pops were a kind of music that vampires listened to.