Victor hadn’t been inside the Shrieking Shack since a couple of months ago, when Vianna had thought it clever to dare his best mate, who in response decided to host the biggest party of the year, so far. Rather ironic how things had worked out; Nevi had, after all, and unintentionally, planted the seed for Vairi’s weird, unpredictable and rather unhealthy relationship to blossom. And here they were again. And, much like that Halloween night, they weren’t quite themselves. Victor was in an uncharacteristic state of semi-drunkenness, and Airlia wasn’t the fresh-faced little Ravenclaw she usually was inside the castle’s walls.

With the help of Airlia’s lit wand, Victor took a moment to examine the abandoned, eerie place. To his surprise, it was completely furnished, and from the ceiling hung hairy spiders, laughing pumpkins, and dancing skeletons. It was the ghost of Hall’s party, which no one had bothered to clean up after its guests departed months ago.

The boy walked forward, his footsteps echoing softly in the thick, deafening silence. He noticed his company wasn’t as eager to follow, though. Suddenly, he smiled. It was very much like the usual mocking smiles he’d always reserved just for the task of aggravating her. “…Afraid, Mondai?” he asked, an eyebrow raising slightly. “Is it this lovely room that's troubling you, or…” He took a step toward her, breaking the space he’d created when he’d walked ahead. “Something else…?”

He couldn’t help the teasing. She looked prettiest when she was frightened, and perhaps it was the lack of effort required to trouble her that attracted him to her in the first place.