Eirene Antonopoulos had somehow managed to snag a whole library table for herself. She had a book on each seat, and had books piled high on the table, along with parchment and quills and her backpack. Eirene hunched over her work with an air of obsessiveness and panic, and everytime someone drew near, she'd swoop her little arms around her supplies and give them her strongest glare. Perhaps it was the twitch to her eye, or the curl that sprung loose on her forehead, but the older years had left her alone so far.

Mid-terms. Began. Tomorrow!

After the traumatizing frog experience on Friday, Eirene had been somewhat reluctant to return to the library, even though she'd desperately needed to. Yesterday she'd spent the entire day in the Ravenclaw common room, getting hysterical whenever a not-so-studious Ravenclaw (they did exist) made a peep, or dared to relax in front of the fireplace and chat quietly with friends. The older students in her house had finally told her that she wasn't allowed to use the common room for studying on Sunday, so Eirene had been forced to brave the library again.

Occasionally, a frog croaked from the depths of the stacks, and she'd let out a squeal.

Even though Eirene was on the verge of insanity, she hadn't had a complete breakdown yet, and she wasn't as jumpy and frightened about exams as Noriko. There were a few classes, like History of Magic, that she felt confident in, and she was determined to ensure good marks by studying every waking moment until the professors ordered the students to put their books away and complete the test questions.

Noriko was supposed to meet her here this afternoon, and Eirene glanced every so often at the library doors, somewhat worried that Keegan and Mai had been telling her cannibal stories again. Eirene had graciously forgiven the girl for her part in getting them into trouble that one day in Defense, and after working on their essays about dueling etiquette together, they'd reached an understanding. The beginnings of a friendship, even.

When the small girl with dark hair slipped through the doors, Eirene removed the books from the seat next to her and waved Noriko over.

The library had been the place for Serenity Lee for her homework and while she was dreading the mid-terms, she wasn't obsessing over studying for them. Instead, the Ravenclaw first year was sitting at a table two shelves down from Eirene's, her own table stacked with the most wondrous books a person could find on what they had studied so far in their classes. History of Magic, recently, had introduced classical Greek wizards and Serenity Lee found it appropriate to study the marvelous sports they came up with. Why? Because she had read in her actual textbook that there was a game similar to the Olympics that wizards had performed to show off their feats of magic to muggles. Serenity grew curious and wanted to know more.

Now, she was hunched over the book reading silently to herself. It was a possibility it would be on the mid-term exams, but she didn't think of how likely it would be. Besides, although the concept of wizard wars against muggles was exciting, some of her more snooty classmates had decided to throw around the fact that they were pure-bloods and that they were better than muggle-borns and half-bloods. It wasn't something Serenity Lee was keen on arguing about and the mid-terms would be awful if they were asked to write an essay on the subject. She didn't feel like sharing her opinion on the matter any more than she already had.

The book began going over less interesting facts of the game, so the first year decided it was time for a break. She was getting hungry. Serenity Lee stood up, piled the book back on to the stack, grabbed another book titled 'Greek Wars: History or Prophecies?', and walked away. With any luck, the pile would still be there when she returned from her snacking and not put up or taken. The girl was heading towards the door when she spotted Eirene studying; she stopped and watched the girl pour over her notes and books. Her housemate looked as if she didn't want to be disturbed, but Serenity couldn't help it. She was curious what the girl was taking notes on.

Curiosity got the best of her as it always did and the Ravenclaw meandered timidly up to the girl. They had a lot in common and yet nothing at all. Social relationships were so strange: two people could have so much in common and at the same time be completely different. Eirene and Serenity Lee were good examples of this. Since it was obvious what she was doing, Serenity Lee decided to ask a less stupid question.

"Do you need any help?"

She didn't socialize with Eirene. There was no point because Eirene honestly thought she knew everything and how could that kind of person make a good study partner? The fact that Serenity didn't take important notes didn't help matters any. She took notes, just not the same ones as her classmates. What was the point of that? If everyone else had the same thing written down, why share them? Serenity Lee took her own notes on her own interests, trivial facts that other students didn't know. Perhaps she should mention what she had written down?

"If you want, I have notes over the half-bloods' place in the war. Squibs and muggle-borns, too..." She paused uncertainly. "I can share them if you'd like? I was going to go get some Fizzing Whizbees and I can grab my notes while I'm there."

She noticed Eirene signal someone over and turned to see Noriko Wakahisa. This Slytherin was pleasant, unlike a lot of her housemates. Though the Ravenclaw was concerned as to why the girl seemed so paranoid all the time, the girl didn't hold herself above everyone else and was oddly nice to talk to. Writing Operas was unusual for an eleven-year-old, but then again, so was taking apart pocket watches and turning them into jewelry.

-- Outfit. --

Though midterms didn't exactly frighten the likes of Aglaia Knight (Little really did) she knew very well she had to study else she wouldn't show her true potential. The Knight girl moved swiftly and comfortably through the halls to reach the Library, her shoes clacking on the ground below her. She went a little wild with her outfit today-- She was showing a bit of her forearms. Not something the little lady usually did. She held in her arms a bundle of parchments, ink, and a large peacock-feather quill (Because fabulous people deserved fabulous things).

She opened the Library doors and quietly stepped in, trying not to disturb anyone from their studies, and glanced around for a seat. Most spots were taken... By Eirene seemed to have a whole table to herself! Fantastic. The Ravenclaw girl would have to be one of the better people to study with. She was a Ravenclaw after all. Most of them studied and got fantastic grades, didn't they? Not that Aggie needed any help, Eirene would simply be good support compared to other students.

Aglaia fond her way towards the Ravenclaw, keeping slightly on her toes so her shoes wouldn't clack and make noise, and set her stuff down at the table. "How are you doing with Herbology, Eirene?" The girl asked in a whisper. She didn't usually ask about other people about themselves, but if they could help her then so be it. "I can't, for the life of me, understand a word that man is saying," And then Aglaia glanced up to lock eyes with none other than Serenity.

Of course Aglaia didn't see her. She didn't pay attention to ugly.

Her lip curled into a sneer and Aglaia sat down on the side of Eirene that she didn't clearly reserve for Noriko (Normally she would have just sat wherever she wanted, but Aggie picked the seat further away from Serenity). Aglaia unrolled a parchment and pulled one of the herbology books towards her.

After finally setting everything up to begin studying, she looked up at the Thornton girl, face blank, dark eyes boring into hers, "What do you want, freak? Eirene has better things to do than speak to you," She spoke so nonchalantly to her. But Aggie's voice was naturally evil and intimidating. Aglaia didn't recall Serenity and Eirene ever being friends. But after that day, Eirene wouldn't even think about being around the school nutjob. Aglaia was just so good to her.

Without Aglaia, where would Eirene even be in life?

Anxiousness was a normal emotion for Noriko.  As she dodged through the halls of Hogwarts, weaving in and out of older students and doing her best not to come too close to any suits of armor so that they couldn't jump out at her and attack her, she routinely wore the look of someone who was used to fearing for her life.  As she entered the library, though, her normal nervousness was intermingled with excitement, so much so that she flashed Aglaia and Serenity a shy smile as she claimed the seat next to Eirene at their study table.

A sixth year!  Had trusted her!  With his egg!  Her!  Noriko was still beside herself with delight.  Dreams of finding her place in Slytherin, of being the First Year admired by all the older students, danced inside her head.  She could practically hear their voices now!  Noriko, can you recopy this parchment for me?  Your handwriting's so neat!  Noriko, do you think you could help us clean our dorm room?  You're the best, Noriko! 

Professor Librarian Morgan had been right all along.  Slytherins did look after their own, and all it had taken was Noriko offering to help!  Now she had an O-student sixth year who had promised to help her study for her exams, if only she was his partner and helped him look after his egg!  Her!  A sixth year's partner!

"Hello," she said breathlessly, pulling out the chair.  Finding out a way to transport the precious object had been a little bit of a challenge.  The enormous egg was too big to fit inside a sock or a hat, and Noriko hadn't wanted to subject it to travel inside her book bag.  Instead, she'd fell upon the shark costume that she'd worn at Halloween.  The dorsal fin was the perfect size and shape for an egg nest, and she'd managed to make straps so that she could wear it over her back.  This had the unfortunate effect of making her look like she was wearing a silver shark fin as she raced through the hallways in her Slytherin robes, but she had ignored the looks and laughter of the other students.  She was a Slytherin!  She was helping!

Noriko carefully slid the shark fin off her back, cradling it in both arms as she took a seat.  "You'll never guess what just happened!" she said excitedly, looking from Eirene to Aglaia to Serenity, completely oblivious to any tension in the air.

Charles saw a rather eclectic group of first-years in the Library, and headed over. " Mind if I sit over here?" he asked politely' "And what is that on your back Nouriko? it doesn't look to be part of the uniform." Charles said, his tone slightly joking. then he looked arond. Serenity Thornton, Eirene ( he could never pronounce her surname) and Knight. Yes, definitely an eclectic group, but with mid-terms approaching, everyone was putting aside arguments and just studying.

Eirene glanced up, eye twitching, and frowned at Serenity Lee, her housemate.

"Of course I don't need help!" She snapped, turning back to her work, offended by the very question.

Then Serenity offered to share her notes and Eirene started to become confused. Share her notes? That was something friends did. She looked at her again, wondering why she was being so nice all of a sudden. Or maybe she was nice normally, but mostly to Venora and Dahlia. Eirene didn't want to admit that sometimes she was jealous of the friendship those three girls shared.

Then Aglaia Knight appeared, and Eirene forced a smile, still wanting the library table to herself, but knowing it was futile now. She told Aglaia in a non-snotty way that she was doing very well in Herbology, and was secretly relieved when Aglaia took a seat that wasn't reserved for Noriko.

Aglaia called Serenity a freak, and Eirene visibly winced, but said nothing. She turned towards Noriko, gaping at Noriko's fin, and then at the smile on the girl's face. Why did she look so happy the day before midterms? How was that possible?

Charles arrived and Eirene wanted to say something childish like 'no boys allowed', but since he'd asked so nicely, Eirene gave him a curt nod, and looked back at Noriko.

"May I?" Eirene peeked inside, then let out a delighted squeal. "Is that an egg tucked in there?! Did someone lose it? Or did someone give it to you? Is the Care of Magical Creatures professor allowing you to take his class early, and giving you extra-extra credit before your third-year?"

At that last question, Eirene stopped talking and stared at Noriko with a mixture of envy and awe.

"Of course I don't need help!"

Serenity Lee was hurt by Eirene's snapping. She felt the wind from someone else brush past her and before the Ravenclaw bothered to look, Aglaia Knight had sat herself down in a seat at the table. Although the timid first year was usually neutral between the parties of Eirene and Mairead, her housemate's recent alliance with the unpleasant Slytherin girl had been making it extremely difficult for Serenity Lee to remain neutral. Just like the relationship between know-it-all Ravenclaw and the fists-first Gryffindor, Serenity Lee and Aglaia Knight had been at odds with each other since they got off the Hogwarts Express. She was trying very hard not to get angry with Eirene for Aglaia's rudeness towards herself, but somewhere deep down, there was a prick of ire that Eirene was associating with the girl at all and that she would only sit by and let Aglaia treat others this way.

"What do you want, freak? Eirene has better things to do than speak to you."

Serenity Lee tightened her jaw and glared dangerously at the Slytherin, not catching Eirene's wincing. Just once, she wished she had the guts to be like Mairead and punch the snot out of that spoiled, mouthing brat. Her fists clenched. The idea was so tempting, but did she honestly want to have the same reputation as the hot-headed Gryffindor?

The arrival of Noriko distracted her attention for the time being along with Charles Harcroft. How come they were able to sit at the table and she wasn't? The thought was dismissed when Noriko pulled the shark fin from her back and Eirene peeked inside, exclaiming afterward about an egg. Immediately, Serenity Lee darted around the table to peek inside as well. Her curiosity couldn't handle a whole lot and in the rush to see what Noriko had brought with her, she dropped her book onto the corner of the table by Eirene.

"I want to see! My brothers and sister have to do this same project."

As if that gave her the right, the Ravenclaw leaned over Noriko's shoulder to look inside the shark fin. Right inside was definitely an egg! Serenity Lee became so excited.

"Wicked, Noriko!" An idea popped into her brain while Eirene was trying to sort out how she got one. "Can I help you take care of it?"

Charles walked over when he heard what Eirene and Serenity were saying. “How did you get the egg? Although, if you need help researching how to take care of it, I'll help. Just the research though. One tip though- keep that fin underneath your robes in future, it's a bit obvious. I guess I don't have to mention to anyone that we should be careful who is told about this? We could get into a lot of trouble, and i doubt our housemates would forgive us for the likely amount of points we'd lose if this was discovered." Charles said. He didn't mention his parents would likely ground him until he graduated if he was caught.

What had seemed like a good idea at first - showing off a newfound treasure to her classmates, so that they could see how a sixth year O student had trusted her!! - was now making Noriko slightly nervous.  She was reluctant to let Eirene peek inside, but the Ravenclaw girl's reaction made the risk to her precious charge almost worth it.

"Yes!" she squeaked, unable to keep the excitement from her voice even as she tried to give Eirene a cautioning look.  "It's an egg!  And no!  I mean, no one lost it.  A sixth year gave it to me," she said in a hushed voice, her face turning slightly pink again as she thought of Xavier.  "It was his project, but he didn't have a partner, so he asked me for help!"

She had been willing - excited, even - to share with Eirene, but Serenity and Charles looking too hadn't been part of the plan.  Noriko hunched over slightly, keeping her arms around the shark fin, watching her classmates carefully as she allowed them to take a peek.  She'd have to be extra careful with the egg there.  What if someone nudged her and she dropped it?  She couldn't risk Xavier's Egg getting broken!

"I don't know," she said hesitantly, after Serenity asked if she could help.  "I mean, the sixth year asked me if I'd help look after it."  This was starting to seem like a worse and worse idea, but she was too nervous to say no outright.  What if none of the other first years ever wanted to be her partner again because they thought she only wanted to be friends with older students?  "We have to be careful," she said at last.  "It's really delicate.  I don't want it to break!"

Charles spoke up next, and Noriko found herself listening to what he was saying, her eyes growing wider.  "Yes, I can keep it under my clothes!" she agreed quickly.  She hadn't thought of that!  What if one of the cannibal Gryffindors knew she had the egg and broke it on purpose?  It would be just like Mairead or Keegan! 

"You don't really think we'll lose points if someone knows we have it though, do you?" she asked nervously, not quite looking at Eirene as she said it.  Losing one point in Defense Against the Dark Arts had been bad enough, and she'd thought that the Ravenclaw girl would never talk to her again afterwards!  What if they lost more?  The consequences were too horrible to think about.  "I mean, he asked me.  And he's an O student," she added quickly, just so the others knew that it wasn't any older Slytherin who had sought her out for help.  "I'm sure he wouldn't have asked if it wasn't all right."

" Noriko, I'm afraid you've been taken for an idiot. My brother is doing the COMC project and the only unpaired student is Xaiver Tawse, who is a fifth-year like my brother. I don't know for certain, but I don't think he's an O student either. He's no idiot, but my brother thinks he doesn't try hard enough. as for losing points, you might or might not. He almost certainly would, you might not, it depends on what mood the COMC professor is in. Not to mention I know my parents would half-kill me if I was caught helping an older student cheat." Charles said, his expression grim. " he's hoping that he gets the benefit, a good grade, without the effort of getting it, and with either you or all the first-years taking the fall." Charles said, suddenly realizing it.

A distant scream. An echoing voice cackling, Eiropha could only make out the rest. "to sleep in the library stacks!"

Hazed visions, fairy tale castles, towers and spires, dragons flying proudly between them.
"No... mmhm... not the pork..." Eiropha murmured behind closed lips, a finger of drool spilling out of her mouth onto the page.
Sylph, a house-elf ghost who particularly enjoyed scaring sleeping students creeped -through- the bookshelfs, about 15" high he could fit perfectly into the space reserved for the books as he peered down the corridors of books looking for his next victim, first year... Excellent. He snuck up on the slumberful Eiropha, fiction, before mid-terms? She certainly needed the wake-up call. Noticing the drawing on the page she was using for a rest he grinned, showing a rack of needle-like teeth before screaming a spiteful hiss at the young Slytherin who... Simply woke without incident. Her eyes lazily slipped open as the noise disturbed her, widening at first at the sight of the mischevious grinning creature. She stood back upright, the book she was resting on falling non-chalantly to the floor, as she picked it up and replaced it she ignored the chiding remarks of Sylph and slothfully made her way through the library, trying to find a more peaceful spot to lay her head between class. She couldn't go back to her bed, it took her hours of motivation therapy to get out of bed every day and that'd take up much of her valuable sleeping time.

Wandering the stacks she recognised Eirene and Noriko's group at their study table and was about to pass them sleepily by until about 5 seconds after she'd heard it, a snippet of conversation about the egg registered and she turned an interested eye upon them. She moved up to them while stifling a large but final yawn with a sleeve covered palm. "W-wha" She paused to finish the rest of her yawn noisily. "What's that?" She blinked the grogginess from her eye to stare at the egg. What a strange thing, was there a project she'd forgotten about?

As Noriko explained the situation, Eirene felt the familiar and unpleasant rush of envy spread through her. An older student had asked Noriko for help? Shy and mousy Noriko, who burst into tears almost every Defense lesson? That just wasn't fair! An older Ravenclaw student had never asked Eirene for help. Not even Sasha, the nice fifth-year prefect.

Serenity and Charles both offered to help take care of it, and Eirene got the same panicked look in her eyes that she'd had when Professor Storm had ordered them to find partners. If Serenity and Charles were helping, would there be room for her to help too?

"Yes, everyone must be careful," Eirene repeated after Noriko snottily, feeling insecure.

When Noriko wondered if they'd lose points for taking care of the egg, Charles replied with a definite yes, and seemed to think they were helping the older student cheat.

But all Eirene saw was the gleaming egg in front of her, and the chance to prove that she was responsible and clever enough to help take care of a fifth-year project! She shook her head, about to reassure Noriko that they wouldn't lose points, when Eiropha Redman appeared. Eirene raised her chin slightly and sniffed, as if sniffing evidence of a nap. The girl had been napping?! On the day before midterms?! How... Eirene couldn't even comprehend it!

Then again, Eiropha's apathetic attitude towards her studies often baffled Eirene. "It's an egg project," she told her with the air of someone who knew everything about it. Though of course, she didn't. "Haven't you seen them around?" Eirene widened her eyes at her in a mocking fashion. "I'm going to help take care of it," she announced, then glanced at Noriko for permission. She was, wasn't she?

"And I don't think we're going to lose points or get into trouble for helping. He doesn't have a partner, so we're just helping, not doing the whole thing for him."

Eirene's eyes gleamed and she clapped her hands together. "We might even impress the professor!"

When she dreamed, she dreamed big!

Noriko gave Charles a doubtful look as he questioned the credentials of her sixth year.  "He told me he was an O-student," she said pedantically.  If an older student went out of their way to tell you something, it was obviously true.  Doubly so for Slytherins!  "And he wasn't mean about it!  I offered to help," she informed the Gryffindor, turning slightly pink.  "He was really nice about the whole thing!  And I only have to take care of it in the evenings while he's studying.  That's it," she said firmly.

The crowd around her precious egg was getting bigger, and this was slowly starting to get out of hand.  Noriko pressed her lips tightly together as Eirene announced to Eiropha that she was going to help take care of it.  That wasn't what she had promised Xavier, was it?  She could feel panic slowly starting to build inside her.  But how could she say no to Eirene?  The Ravenclaw girl had not talked to her for an entire day after she'd thrown her wand at her during their Defense Against the Dark Arts class!  If she said no now, maybe they wouldn't be friends anymore!

Noriko's eyes flickered from Eirene to Eiropha and back to the egg, and she finally gave the Ravenclaw girl a slight nod to let her know that it was all right to help.  Eirene was smart and probably could help, but Noriko was a little worried that she might take the credit in front of the sixth year.  She didn't want Eirene to get a chance to be alone with him, even if he had a girlfriend!

"Yes, we have to be really careful though," she said with emphasis.  "There are special instructions we have to follow.  And I need to give it back to him every night," she added, in a tone that she hoped left no room for argument.  "I've got to be the one who does it, too.  He said so.  That's uh, one of the rules," she finished quickly, turning even pinker.