Myrni Levartian felt that it was an understatement to say that Gryffindor House was having a difficult year. From top to bottom, it seemed, there were difficulties all over and she was starting to think that it didn't present the best image of the house she loved so dearly from her own time in school. Some might also suggest that it did not look good for her leadership of the house.

Had the lions always had such a hard time and she failed to notice or was this just an especially difficult year filled with especially difficult personalities and complex problems?

The head of house was bound and determined to gain some insight into her cubs and hopefully get them walking a straight line for the rest of the school year. As of now, they were in last place in house points, and unless some miracle happened, they would likely finish in a similar spot. But at least they could stop the bleeding, so to speak. Myrni dearly hoped that they could keep the house from losing any more points.

Flyers had been posted in the common room and handed out by her prefects and other concerned individuals. Flyer read:

Mandatory House Meeting
Gryffindor Common Room
January 22, 2009
7pm

All years are hereby summoned to attend
a meeting that will
discuss the state of Gryffindor House
and
devise a plan for success for the future.

Nothing was mentioned about the consequences for those who might choose not to attend, but Myrni was certain that she could come up with something if the situation warranted it.

As the clock  approached seven o'clock, Myrni stood in the common room and watched as students in the Gryffindor crimson and gold filed in and took seats or stood when that was no longer possible.

---

Hannah was one of the first to file into the common room - not, as would be the case with some of the other students, because she wanted to impress her Head of House or was overly anxious to please. No, Hannah didn't know how this meeting was going to go, but her general attitude was that of, let's get this over with as soon as possible. One of the upper years had promised to coach her in chess, it was a perfect night to hang out with friends in front of the fire, and last and definitely least, she had homework to do.

She nodded to Professor Levartian before curling up in the corner of one of the sofas, leaving plenty of room for whoever wanted to join her, and tried not to think about the five points she'd recently lost Gryffindor in Storm's class.

"- it's just like I said before.  Just keep an attentive smile on yer face and nod with this forlorn look whenever she looks at ye," Mairead was telling her classmate as she scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room, offering an example of said forlorn expression as she did.  She hadn't, yet, noticed Professor Levartian was waiting for them.  She'd assumed the woman was waiting in the halls somewhere, ready to swoop in with an air of distinction after they were all gathered.  If not find a way to descend from the top of the tower like Batman.  At least, that's how she would have done it. 

"It's best if ye think about dead puppies while ye do it - makes yer expression more believable.  Works all the time on me mum.  Besides, have ye ever noticed how her name rhymes with martian?  Maybe we should ask that new Astronomy professor about it.  A little suspicious if ye-" 

Mairead spotted their Head of House just as she emerged into the common room and, without missing a beat, glanced back and quickly covered her tracks.  "Felartian.  Donno where me da got the name.  Craziest name for a horse, though." 

She crossed the room to one of the back study tables, close to one of the tower windows and plopped down on a chair and leaned closer to her fellow Gryffindor.  "I spy with me lil' eye something ... blue," she whispered, glancing around the room.

"My mam an' Grandmam can see right through that - tae mony o' my brithers tried it," Tynan told Mairead as they came in through the portrait hole, smirking as she made fun of their Head of House. "Martian? What, like fowk fraem...those Aliens Keegan's always aboot?" he asked in confusion - she certainly didn't seem anything like Keegan's explanation. The aliens sounded a lot more interesting-

He'd been kicking the mud off his boots as he walked, and so ran into Mairead's back as she paused, blinking with his one good eye and giving her a confused look. "You dinnae say ye hae a horse called-" he started, then say the head of House over Mairead's shoulder. "Oh," he said. Well, punch in the stomach for him later, then. He fled with Mairead to the fair end of the room, making himself comfortable on the other end of the couch Hannah was on, giving his fellow Gryffindor a nod by way of greeting and crossing one of his ankles over his opposite knee.

"It's tha portrait of the Duchness, isna it?" he asked, tilting his head to the side and smuggling into the arm of the sofa.

Sophie stomped down the steps from the dormitory. She was still in a vile mood after everything that had happened the 20th. She felt kind of responsible for this whole house meeting mess. She’d gone to Professor Levartian after Josh’s recent outburst and house point losing spree. She was tried of being in last place. She was tired of every lesson at some point dissolving into a pissing match. And she was tired of trying so hard to make professors who held open bias against Gryffindors try and see they weren’t so bad only to be thwarted by a freaking PREFECT acting in the exact way that made said professors dislike them. It all culminated in a horrible break down in Myrni’s office. It was as much about everything else happening in her life as that - but dealing with everyone’s bad behavior lately and her own foul temper left Sophie completely drained.

Pulling her pigtails over either shoulder she glanced around the room for Daryl or Gabby, hoping that they’d have shown up early. So far she only saw the first years - she waved and offered her brightest smile to Hannah before dropping onto another couch. She liked the littlest Harper, she wasn’t like her brother at all. Of course Erin wasn’t all bad, but Hannah just melted a little bit of Sophie’s heart. She was the kind of kid sister Sophie wished she’d had - if she hadn’t been lucky enough to be the baby herself. Sophie hadn’t given much thought to Erin lately… or the other boys that she might maybe possibly have crushes on. She was too consumed with all the drama llamas that were milling round her life to think about boys but she might just have to make time to torment Hannah’s big brother.

Erik hopped up on the top of the red couch Sophie just flopped in, digging his sock-feet into the room before flopping backwards and upside down on the couch next to the older Gryffindor, unaware of what the meeting was for, but he was very proud of himself that whole week, “Sophiiiiiiiiiiiiiee” He said in a strained smile.

“I got FIVE points in astronomy,” he started as slowly and dramatically as a twelve-year old could, “last week for my pj’s.”He then rolled around on his stomach and looked at the room from a right-side-up perspective, “What are we here for again?” He didn’t actually know why they were there, he was playing a game before a 7th year picked him up and hauled him down the stairs saying they had a meeting, which he COULD HAVE remembered on his own… eventually.

When Kit first heard word about the meeting she of course made sure to reorganize her schedule to accommodate and carefully picked out suitable attire that would befit a Gryffindor meeting. Even if she was no longer a prefect, she saw no reason why she could not act the part.

She was already resting in a comfortable armchair, gloved hands folded neatly on her lap and legs crossed at the ankles as the students gathered. Kit's pale eyes occasionally flicked to some of her housemates- nodding and smiling to her friends or those that greeted her, but for the most part her attention was on her head of house.

Kit already had a very clear outline for the future, but she was not sure how well etiquette school would go over with the professors or her classmates- despite some of the obvious need for it. Certainly Gryffindor actions had been appalling this year and Kit was frankly disgusted. These kinds of...rambunctiousness and unrefined behavior simply did not belong in a house founded on chivalry. She was certain that a good two week session supervised by Grandma Branwell, who had been part of the staff of a finishing school many decades ago, could straighten many of them out. Kit also wished she still had her prefect badge so she could have more authority in that department, but that was another story, even if the actions of some of their prefects (it was unladylike to name names) were hardly deserving of their badges in Kit's opinion.

Kit's mouth twitched up in a smile when a first year boy announced his earning of points.

"Well done," Kit congratulated him, "But sadly you are one of the few to earn points instead of loose them."

Again, not naming names. It was unladylike. Other people were welcome to though. Then Kit would have an excuse to use her Disapproving Stare.

A nervous feeling had stirred Daryl as he had read the flyer a mere few days later. There was something about the formality of a notice and the words ‘plan for success’ which seemed foreboding, even if the Head of House herself was nothing to fear. Daryl wasn’t hugely competitive and didn’t altogether agree in pitching students against each other although really, that seemed to be his feeling alone, so losing in house points wasn’t so terrible to him. It was just the way in which the points had been lost. It wasn’t the Gryffindor spirit to let the team down, whatever the circumstance and it was understandable that students were hacked off about it.

Daryl was pretending to be quiet and lurked behind the first years in the comfort of a fleecy, maroon beanbag picking Every Flavour Beans from his pocket every so often. He didn’t perk up until he caught a glimpse of the illustrious and exotic, Sophie Flickwick, and with a struggle against the beanbag, waved a hand as far as he could reach over the heads of the first years blocking view. “Come join me down on the deck, Soph. I swear these first years are getting taller every day.”

A voice seeking approval was shot at the girl, from what he gathered, from Erik, although really first year students shared the same soft, high pitched tone. There was Kit Branwell, who Daryl tended to find a little intimidating at times. She seemed to have a look of warning that prevented him from plucking up the courage to actually approach her. People got complicated the older you became.

Grace slipped through the portrait leading to Gryffindor Tower, her shoulders slumping slightly as she thought about the impending meeting. She was coming from a scouring of the halls to make sure there weren't any from their house skipping out on the meeting festivities. She assumed Chance had been sent out on a similar task as well from their Head of House, who Grace still wasn't certain had forgiven them of their pre-holiday spying transgression.

Maybe it was her overactive conscience, but somehow Grace thought that what she and Chance had done had partially spawned the House meeting. Or if the spying hadn't done it, then their recent insubordination in DADA and subsequent detention only added fuel to the fire. It certainly didn't set a good example for the rest of the house when the two highest ranking prefects of the house seemed to be courting trouble.

With a sigh, Grace entered the common room and glanced around, happy to see that the majority of the house was taking this seriously enough to at least show up. Where it went from there, she couldn't be certain.

The prefect's eyes briefly went to figure of Professor Levartian, who even in all her pacifity, managed to look a hint more authoritarian than usual. That could not be a good sign. Grace’s brown eyes met the steely blue ones of the Head of House and immediately she had to avert them. Grace wasn’t sure how long she would feel as though she had greatly disappointed the woman.

Avoiding the gaze, Grace looked around the room in search of her partner-in-crime: Chance. But so far he wasn’t there. Also, it seemed as though the rest of her group of fellow seventh years were sparse, leading her to wonder if they were planning to skip out on the meeting.

So, she headed towards where the couches and armchairs were and sat in one near both Sophie Flickwick and Kit Branwell and waited for some late stragglers to arrive.

"Must not've been convincing enough," Mairead considered out loud as she made her way across the room.  "We had five boys - none of them are me brothers.  Colum and Odhran are me half cousins or something.  I'm related to Ruari and Glenn but I'm not sure how.  But, me godmum could peg a liar from across the street.  Still worked for me, though." 

That she was a girl and the only girl and that might have influenced the matter hadn't - and likely wouldn't - occur to Mairead. 

"Do chorp don diabhal" Mairead grunted, turning with a scowl to sock Tynan lightly on the shoulder.  She rolled her eyes pointedly in the Head of House's direction before shaking her head disapprovingly.  No wonder his ma and grandma never believed him.  She would have given him another punch in the stomach right then and there but two right under Levartian's nose was just stupid. 

Boys really were dense.  Mairead shook her head when Tynan sat on the couch and left the table in the corner, plopping on the floor at the end of the couch.  "Nope," she murmured, glancing at the portrait and shaking her head.  "Small'en that.  Oh - nevermind.  Ye'll never get it.  Let's try somethin' else.  I spy something red.  And, really annoying."

Kimberly "Kim Kim" Chan came bouncing down the hallway in a happy-go-lucky manner, before feeling the immense seriousness that the room...or moreso Professor Levartian had about her.  Her demeanor drooped a bit, as she arrived decked out in full Gryffindor gear and robes.  She quietly made her way about the room and smiled faintly at a few of the other Gryffs assembled.  Kim Kim spotted Grace and quickly made a beeline to her fellow 7th Year.  She glanced back cautiously toward the Head of House, before whispering to Grace.

"Have you seen Chance around lately?"

Kim Kim had been Chance's best friend for years, but even she hadn't been able to round him up in quite some time.  He seemed impossible to pin down.  She had heard of the drama from the mixer and that Grace and Chance had been caught up in some curfew breaking escapade...but nothing of the final blowout with Chance and his mother.  Sadly...Chance was still nowhere to be seen.

Josh was next to turn up, wondering  just what the meeting was about. He had alos noticed some of his hosuemates giving him the cold shoulder recently, which he was unhappy about. People were saying he was always a jerk. The incident in COMC might have been a bit much, but that had been the only time. So, he sat donw, greeting Kit Branwell once he had sat down and he had seen her, then looking at  Professor Leviarthan.

Sophie grinned at Erik and ruffled his hair, “Good on ya mate!” then she proceeded to give him a snuggly tight hug and a loud smacking kiss on the cheek. Sophie treated most of the first years in Gryffindor like they were long lost baby siblings she could pick on. Of course there were a couple that were catching up to her in height because they were growing and she was not. It was very off putting and she often wanted to put heavy books on their heads in the hopes of keeping them small for a little while longer. She’d completely giving up on third years not being taller than her. It was sad really, she was such a midget. Of course she often reassured herself that good things came in tiny packages.

She looked up when she heard a familiar voice all her name, promptly releasing the squirming first year. “Daryl! Where are you! I cannot see you in the mass of people bigger than us,” she giggled waving her arms over her head like a person lost at sea. Sophie had lots of special relationships, something unique that bonded her to people and Daryl was no different They liked the same music and were both very very silly. Daryl also fancied himself a bit of a loser which Sophie, in turn, found oh-so endearing. The fact he was already there was enough to lift her spirit’s a little bit - even if that realization was followed by the arrival of Josh [she frowned], and Kim asking about Chance [her frown got deeper].

The arrival of Grace signaled seventh years - which reminded Sophie that Quinn would be there. It was best to lay low where the Gold Dusted Gryffindor was concerned so she hoisted herself from her spot on the couch and flopped down next to Daryl. He was the only person without a drama llama milling around his head at this point. He mostly kept his nose clean, which made maintaining a relationship with him so much easier than most people she had to deal with lately. Of course she couldn’t be too exuberant, Professor L was still there and looking unhappy. They were gonna get it and most of the house didn’t even know. Sophie didn’t know if it was better to be aware or not. At least she could see the bus that was going to hit them coming.

Nikolas strode into the common room and sunk down into a free armchair, munching on one of the cookies that Camilla had sent him and Julianna earlier this morning. He winced as he bit into a section that was slightly overcooked. His sister wasn't that great of a cook but she was determined to make her boyfriend his favorite cookies for Valentines Day exactly the way his grandmother made them. This meant lots and lots of practice, which meant the family was getting all of her trials.

Niko leaned forward and placed the Tupperware box with Camilla's latest trials on one of the tables in the middle of the room. Her latest  batch wasn't too bad but Julianna had long since gotten sick of them and he really didn't feel like eating 40 crumbly cookies on his own. Might as well share the wealth now that his sister's cookies were no longer just edible and were now actually somewhat good.

Leaning back into his chair he wondered what this was all about. He didn't think it was about his latest trip to the forest or when he had jacked a broom and gone joyriding around the school at two in the morning last week. Even then Professor Levartian usually liked to ream him out in private  about those kind of things instead of in public. Whatever it was, Levartian's unhappy expression meant that it was not going to be good.

Erik didn’t an answer to his question—like—nowhere close.

Instead he got pulled into a smacking kiss that made him cringe, sending a chill down his cheek and neck, that made him twist into a frozen stupor. Yuck.

But she let go of him and he wiped down his face, repetitively, with his hands, arms, sleeves, anything, “Aw Sophie,” he said in disappointment. Now his face smelled fruity and perfumey and had a wet spot on it, with who knows what kind of lips stuff all over it. Maybe a dip in the lake would make him feel like a boy again.

But Sophie moved anyway so he hopped on over and sat next to Tynan, pouting, and grumpily wiping his face. Erik made a mental note that the next time he bragged to a girl to dodge any rogue kisses.