Venora scanned the corridor with obvious trepidation, the affable Hufflepuff clearly on the look out for an authority figure who might stumble upon her and take note of the slightly bulky bundle that the first year had tucked under one arm. If she had been smart, Venora would have tried to hide it further within the confines of her robes, but even long flowy robes would been hard pressed to disguise another robe and various sets of clothing.

With one last glance around, Venora opened the door to the lavatory on the second floor and slipped inside.  She scurried over to the nearest ledge and set down her bundle before perching next to it, carefully crossing her feet at the ankles and patiently waiting (albeit still somewhat nervous) for her friends, Dahlia Collins and Serenity Lee Thornton, to arrive.

Hearing the door creak again, she hoarsely whispered, "Dahl? Lee Lee? Is that you guys?"

The Ravenclaw house had become an irritating place for Serenity Lee as of late. Some of the first years were being snottier than ever towards other houses because of the way Mairead had punched Eirene and Serenity. Leon, her mentor, and Devlin the Oracle seemed to be the only people she could spend time with, but they were so busy studying for semester exams or living their own lives that she had to get out of there--fast!

That was why yesterday, Venora and Dahlia had become extremely serious about sneaking the Ravenclaw into their house. Hufflepuff, from what her family and best friends had described, was much more comfortable and fun than her own house full of people with their noses stuck in books or parchment. She agreed to give it a shot and they had immediately formed a plan. This was the first, but there were sure to be more of this one failed! Serenity Lee, according to Venora, belonged in Hufflepuff--not Ravenclaw! At times, the girl had to agree with her vivid friend.

The halls were clear, thankfully. Serenity Lee briskly walked along the second floor corridors, her eyes shifting this way and that to be on the lookout for anyone older who might ask her what she was doing. "Using the loo" was the obvious answer and it was a story she was going to stick with. Thankfully, the subject didn't need to come up because there was no one in sight. She hurried along towards the bathroom and eased open the door.

"Dahl? Lee Lee? Is that you guys?"

"It's me," Serenity answered with a whisper.

She immediately closed the door and rushed over to Venora. Her eyes dropped to the bundle of clothes below. Unfortunately, Venora hadn't quite explained what they were intending to do in order to get the Ravenclaw into their common room, but she had trusted her friend enough to go along with whatever plan she had in mind.

"Er, Venora, what's that?"

She pointed at the bundle, curiously switching her gaze between it and her friend. The door let out a long creak again and, surprised, Serenity whirled around. If they were caught, she wasn't sure what the punishment was for first years trying to sneak someone into a different house.

"Dahlia? That's you, right?"

Dahlia had been casually making her way to the bathroom Venora had specified. Thanks to her mischievous twin she had been able to use several secret passageways to get to her destination eliminating the threat of being found out. It wasn't as though they were out late but she also didn't want any of the prefects asking her what she was doing especially if that prefect happened to be Beatrix Dark. Ayla still wasn't talking to her and Dahlia doubted if she would get back on her sister's good side before Holidays started. Which was why she agreed that it was finally time to take action and get Serenity Lee into Hufflepuff. She had already lost one sister she might as well gain another.

Dahlia slowly opened the door to the second floor lavatory. She had heard rumors that a pitiful ghost of a girl haunted the loo but she had yet to actually check it out for herself. She hoped the girl wasn't anything like Peeves. They didn't need a nosy ghost running off to the Headmistress and ruining their plans.

"Yeah it's me." Dahlia answered as she stepped into the bathroom fully. She hopped up on the sink that held the secret entrance to the Chamber of Secret and looked to her friends with a satisfied smile plastered all over her face, "So I've been doing some research," Not all surprising considering the source, "I've looked through Hogwarts: A History, A School Divided: The Rise and Fall of the Founding Members and as many school records as I could think of, past house cup winnings, special events and most importantly past transgressions. Apparently the old caretaker was a real stickler for keeping notes on every punishment he had ever had to dole out and what the student had done to get it."

Her smile seemed to have widened as she continued talking, her blue green eyes sparkling, "According to the school rules a student is assigned a house at the beginning of the school year and will be considered part of whatever house the sorting hat puts them in for the rest of their educational career. I know we already know that but it's going to be important later trust me."

"Also according to the rules a student may enter a common room provided they have permission - said permission being given by the Portrait Guardians of the Houses. So as long as one recites the correct password they are therefore perfectly in their right to be within said house." She put her hands on her knees and leaned forward, "Now there's never been anything recorded in the log of punishments that says that anyone has tried this before, that either means we're the first ones to ever do it or it's not something worth being punished for."

She looked down at the robes and extra clothes Venora had brought with her, "So as long as Ser says the right password no one can get her in trouble for being in the Hufflepuff house. That being said remember what I was saying about the sorting hat, no one's allowed to dispute what the sorting hat says once it's made it's decision?" She gave her best friends a look not unlike the one Erik always got when he was about to do something bad, "So I figure if we can get our hands on the Sorting Hat and explain to him that Ser's supposed to be in Hufflepuff and make him resort her. No one can challenge us and Ser can move in with us." She looked between the two other girls, "What do you think?"

Venora's apprehension about being caught at their little adventure, even if it was harmless fun for the most part, lessened a bit at Serenity's appearance in the bathroom. Surely they weren't hurting anyone with what they were planning, right?

Venora's eyes followed those of her friend's and the quizzical look that followed caused the Hufflepuff to flash a sheepish grin. She hadn't said much about it, had she? "Well, they're clothes and robes. Dahl and I put together a Huffle uniform for you. And your sister gave us one of her robes..."

Venora's voice trailed off as Dahlia entered. With no threat, Venora looked back to her smaller friend and nudged the bundle closer to her. Then she folded her hands in her lap and looked over at Dahlia, who had launched right into her research findings.

Venora was always amazed at her dormmate's diligence academically. Venora did have her stamina.

When Dahlia stopped relating her findings, Venora spoke. "That's wonderful. I guess maybe Serenity Lee doesn't need to wear these. But can we work around her being able to stay over in our dorm for a prolonged period of time? The portrait won't tell on us, will it? And what about the prefects and the Head Boy and Girl? Won't they notice you not in your bed? Or will your dormmates cover for you?" Venora was babbling with worry now but then her scattered mind moved to what Dahlia had said about the Sorting Hat. Her eyes lit up. "Oooh! Well, the Sorting Hat was nice to me. He wanted to put me in Gryffindor with my brother. But I talked him  into putting me in Hufflepuff because my daddy was in it. So maybe it'll listen to us!"