To say Mary-Lou was nervous would be an understatement. She hadn’t even been at Hogwarts a full week and already she’d mastered the fine art of getting hopelessly lost. Somehow, she’d managed to loop right back to where she’d started. Honestly, it was like the castle was laughing at her.

“Brilliant, just brilliant,” she muttered, spinning in a slow circle. “I’m sure my common room is around here… somewhere. Maybe. Probably not.” A map would have been nice, though with how big this place was, she’d probably get lost just trying to read it.

She wandered up to a grand set of doors and squinted. “Didn’t we come through these when we got sorted? Or was that a different set of ridiculously large doors? Ugh.”

Frustrated, she gave the wall a quick kick—instantly regretting it when pain shot up her toes. “Ow! Great. The wall wins, again,” she hissed, hobbling on one foot. Then, throwing her hands up in mock defeat, she groaned, “Why do I keep getting lost? I’m going to need breadcrumbs. Or a personal tour guide. Or… well who know what.”

Having just finished lunch, Aurora was planning to head back to her Common Room to have a nap. It was the weekend and she felt like being lazy for a while before having to get some things done later in the day.

She had just left the great hall when she saw Mary Lou looking frustrated and also hobbling on one foot. Her eyes widened, and she quickly made her way over towards her younger friend. "Are you okay?? What happened?" Had she kicked the wall??? She tried not to frown. She understood being frustrated, but there was no need to hurt oneself because of it.

Mary Lou wobbled slightly as Aurora hurried over, one hand braced against the wall for balance. Her face flickered with something—frustration? guilt?—before she quickly masked it with a crooked grin.

“Oh, you know me,” she said, voice a touch too bright as she tried to laugh it off. “I was just practicing my graceful swan impression.” She fluttered one hand dramatically, as if to demonstrate, though her other hand still clutched her ankle. “Ten out of ten until the landing.”

She gave a light chuckle, glancing away so Aurora wouldn’t notice how red her face had gone. The corner of her shoe had a suspicious scuff, but she shifted her foot behind the other before it could draw attention. “Think I might stick to walking for now,” she added with a sheepish shrug, trying to sound breezy even as her ankle throbbed faintly in protest.

"So what brings you here?" Mary-Lou decided it was best to try and change the subject. "Heading to get something to eat?"

It was obvious that her young friend was coming up with an excuse for how she had hurt herself. Aurora supposed that meant that she had kicked the wall. Well, she would go along with it and ignore the other girl’s red face. ”I’m sorry that I missed it. Maybe you could show me another time? Are you okay, or do you need to see the Healer?” If so, Aurora would be more than happy to take Mary-Lou. She just hoped the younger girl was okay.

”Walking is definitely a good idea.” Nod. And Aurora knew a lot of great places to go to at Hogwarts if Mary-Lou wanted to see them with her. Of course only if she was able to go with her. She didn’t want her friend to have to go around with a sore foot.

When Mary-Lou changed the subject, Aurora just went with it. ”Oh, I just finished eating. I was going to head back to my common room.” She had been planning to havre a nap, but it was fine for that plan to change. ”And what brings you here?”

Mary-Lou gave an exaggerated sigh, wobbling slightly before finding her balance again. She brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face and offered Aurora a lopsided grin that didn’t quite hide her embarrassment.

“A Healer? Nah, I’ll survive,” she said quickly, waving her hand as if that could chase away the sting in her ankle. “Might just need a medal for bravery later, though—preferably one that says ‘Fought a Wall and Lost with Dignity.’” Her laugh came out a little breathless, but at least it was genuine this time.

She shifted her weight carefully and walked towards her friends. “So, walking it is, yeah? You can be my official Hogwarts tour guide before I accidentally pick a fight with another wall or—Merlin forbid—a staircase. I hate how they move on their own.” She blushed when she realised she'd given the game away.

Mary-Lou’s eyes darted around, still trying to get her bearings. “Honestly, this place is like a maze. I swear the portraits are watching me get lost. One of them smirked earlier. I’m pretty sure it smirked.” She gave an exaggerated glance over her shoulder as if expecting to catch a painting in the act.

Turning back to Aurora, her tone softened slightly. “It’s kind of amazing, though. Everywhere you go, there’s something new to see. I just… wish I could figure out where everything is.” She chuckled, shaking her head at herself. “Anyway, what’s your favorite place around here?”

Despite her foot hurting, she was curious now, eyes bright “Lead the way, Miss Tour Guide. I promise not to injure myself for at least the next five minutes.”