Seventh Floor Corridor
 

You must passage through this way to get to towers above the fray.

Ivan walked along the corridor staring around at all the neat things there. His dorm was kind of neat but he didn't really like sharing a room with everyone else he liked his own room at home. His hands in his pockets he smiled to himself and continued down the corridor curious at what else he'd find.

Decked out in her Pink sweat pants, a hoodie that went perfectly with them, and a pair of fuzzy, warm house shoes, Lexi climbed out of the portrait hole and shot the Fat Lady a rude glance as she made a scathing remark. "No need to be rude!" she muttered.

Smoothing down her pants she looked up when she heard footsteps and smiled widely as she spotted Ivan. "Wandering around, eh? How are liking your common room and all that?" she asked as he got closer to her.

Hearing something he turned and spotted Lexi coming out of a painting? Now just how awesome was that. Also because she was so close to him. He eyed her close and shook his head. Pink. Figured.

"Yeah this place is pretty cool and we're so close to each other." Yup that was what was awesome. He didn't have to climb a ton of steps to see her. "It's all so new but I'm not fond of the sharing a dorm thing much." Or at all. People might touch his things and ruin his jackets and....oh a fate too horrible to think on. "Care to be my personal tour guide?" he asked with a smirk as he held out his arm to her.

"We are. I can't imagine having a common room down there," she said and motioned toward the floor. Having a tower to sleep in was very fairytale-esque. It made her feel awesome. "Tough getting up here, though. I wish I could stay up here all day." All those stairs were a pain.

"Yeah, the shared dorm thing was a bit much for me when I got here. I was an only child so I never shared anything before," she commented. Smiling brightly she linked her arm through his as she stepped closer to him. "I would love to. What do you want to see first? Any ideas?" she asked him with a sideways glance.

"Down...? Where?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. The floor below? That wouldn't be so bad. Now in the first floor or something that would be pretty bad but then again you're closer to the door and freedom so it all evened out. "Good exercise," he said with a smirk before flexing his free arm. Not as impressive as it should be. Frowning as he looked at it he shrugged. "Well you get the point."

Wait...share? "Do...I have to share stuff? Aside from the room I mean." He hoped not. That would be so not ideal. Smiling as she slipped her arm through his he shrugged, "Don't know. What's the most popular stuff here?"

Oh yeah. He didn't know where the other, less awesome common rooms were. "The Slytherin common room is in the dungeons and the Hufflepuff in on the ground floor. I would certainly not enjoy that," she commented. Yeah. The Ravenclaw's and Gryffindor's have always had the tactical advantage up there.

Flexing. That was CUTE. She giggled and felt of his small bicep. "I think you are hot, Mr. Vorpatril," she told him with a wink. "Nooo, I meant the room and the bathrooms. I never shared anything at all. Not even a loo," she said with a giggle and a snort.

...

Popular here. "I told you my favorite place is the library, personally. We could out to the grounds though if you would like," she replied with a shrug of her own.

"Ahhh. Well the Hufflepuff one doesn't sound so bad. They could at least make a hasty escape if they need to," he said with another shrug. Well that made sense to him at least.

Hearing her giggle as he flexed though made him turn slightly red and he stuck his hand in his pocket, "Yeah, well, seems I need to work out a bit." SHE GIGGLED AT HIM. How mortifying. "Well as long as I don't have to share my things," he said still trying to get himself together. Well he had walked right into that. He wasn't built, he was tall and toned. Miles was built...stupid little twerp.

"Or we could do both," he said with a smile and led her to the stairs. "Unless you have something to do that is."

Shaking her head she smiled. "From a tactical standpoint we have the best area of the castle. We can set up defenses to protect the grounds from above." She had often thought about this after having read about the final battle of Hogwarts. Eww. He said someone could make an escape. "Well, Gryffindors don't run to make an escape. We defend, dear." SO ravenclaw of him not to know that.

She noticed he blushed. Oh no! Had she embarrassed him? "I was giggling because you are cute, Boyfriend. I think you are perfect the way you are, just like I told you before," she said sincerely. She really DID think he was perfect.

Shrugging she chuckled. "I have nothing to do, no. You said you didn't care to hang out in the library though. So we can go out to the grounds if you would like. I wonder what Mr. Stryker has put together for us," she said idly. Hmmm. It wouldn't be as cool as Masterson's treehouse... she was sure of that.

"Ahh but I was thinking more natural disasters. Being in a tower isn't really safe if the castle is physically crumbling below it. Though then again if I were to attack the castle I would attack from both points. Ground and air. Divide attention you know. And probably from two different sides," he said thoughtfully as he continued to walk toward the stairs. "Sometimes it is better to run than defend," he said stoically. If his dad had run he'd be alive today then again if he hadn't stayed Ivan himself might not be alive but there was no way to know now.

A change of subject was necessary. Yup. Back to his own humiliation then. He ended up grinning though as she called him boyfriend. "You know that's the first time you said that." He smirked before giving her a grin. "I like it." Moving his arm he chose to hold her hand instead. "Lexi Denver, my girlfriend," oh that still made him want to act like his hyperactive cousin but instead he smirked. "Outside we go then."

Lexi listened and nodded. "Yes, I do understand that, but it could be just as dangerous to be in the lower levels of the castle when it is crumbling. What if you can't get out quickly enough? Then you get crushed. It would be more successful to attack from mulitple points, I agree, but if I had to choose my area to fight from. It would be up here in the tower." Not that she was worried about having to help defend the castle. Not at all. She ignored the run away comment. No. That was not in her vocabulary. Not one bit.

"The first time I have said it to you, perhaps. I have said it before though. Glad you like the title, there, sir. YOu are kind of stuck with it for a while,"she teased. A while. Meaning until he got tired of her.

Then her smiled reappeared and widened. "And I like that." She then squeezed his hand and began to lead them toward the staircase.

Heather walked into the hall and made her way to the stairs. There were so many things to look at here.

For Miss. Lissy Lou!
 

Sophia was walking with her hands in her pockets to no where in particular. She just needed to get away from all of the chaoticness of the crazy Gryffindors. She needed some peace and quiet after her, well, eventful summer. She saw a couple other people in the corridor, none of whom she knew.

While in the middle of a deep thought, she tripped randomly over her own two feet. "Ugh." she muttered, as she sat on the floor. "Just what I needed." she said, still sitting there. She didn't really feel like getting up at this point.

Gosh, the seventh floor tower was HIGH UP THERE. Like really high. He was panting by the time he made it up the stairs to the final floor. How did the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors do it?! He was glad he wasn't in either of those houses precisely for that reason.

What was up here? The two common rooms obviously but that didn't do him much good--maybe he'd go take a look at the observatory or something. As he wandered down the hall, he wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion as he noticed someone was sitting right in the middle of the hall. Well that was odd. Who'd just sit there in the middle of the hall when someone could step on them?

"Do you need some help?" he asked, approaching the girl and wondering if maybe he needed the nurse or something. Maybe she'd broken her ankle!

Sophia saw a boy approach her, and he had a worried look on his face. Did he think she was injured? Then the question came. "Oh, no I am fine." she said, in her thick Italian accent, smiling. "I just fell, and I didn't feel like getting up." she said, standing up. She groaned and brushed off her jeans, which were know covered in dust and dirt.

Should she introduce herself, or should she just walk away with a thanks? "My name is Sophia Lombardi, I am a second year Gryffindor." she said, grinning. "And yourself?" she asked the boy. She finger combed her hair, because it was probably extremly messy right now, and she hated when her hair was messy, espically when she was meeting new people.

Having just left Mr. Ikenna's office Lexi was in deep thought. So much he left out... so much for her to figure out. Smiling as she shifted the bag on her shoulder up a little higher she began to sing softly to herself. A Muggle song she had heard on her aunt Dora's ipod a long time ago. "It's been a long December and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last..." she sang in a rather lovely voice and then cut off into a hum instead.

Completely oblivious to Sabel's presence she stopped when she noticed her shoe was untied and bent to remedy that problem.

A small smile wound it's way onto his lips as he heard a familiar voice approaching. And a song he had heard a few times on his father's radio during some of their longer drives into the mountains. When Lexi cut off into a hum, he picked up where she left off though he kept his eyes closed and his head rested back.

"I can't remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving
Oh the days go by so fast..."

Grinning, he cracked an eye open and looked down at his friend. "Don't stop, that was rather good."

Hearing someone else pick up the tune she actually started a little. Shows how wrapped up in her thoughts she was. "Oh no, I can't do that... I typically only sing in the comfort of my shower or in what I assume are empty corridors," she said, cheeks BLAZING red from embarassment. "Thanks for humoring me though," she mumbled as she double knotted her shoe and stood back up straight.

Tilting his head on the wall, Sabel watched Lexi with a lopsided grin. "I wasn't humoring, I was being honest. It was really good. Bit of a sad song, but still well sung." Lifting his head a little, he spared her a smile. "I haven't heard that song in a while. How do you know it?"

Lexi simply shrugged a bit at his first remark. "I have always thought it was a beautiful song. My Auntie Dora gave me an ipod thingy once and there are a lot of Muggle songs on there," she said quietly. She missed Dora like whoa.

Shrugging again she began to pick at the sleeve of her hoodie a bit nervously. Why was he having this effect on her lately? It was crazy making whatever it was. He didn't love her, he never would. She needed to let her feelings go. Period, end of story.

He couldn't keep back the small chuckle at her description of the I-pod; it was cute. Shifting his weight, he turned his body so he was properly sitting on the sill, letting his feet fall to the floor so that there was now an open seat beside him if she wanted to join.

Once again he tilted his head at her, considering her expression and her fiddling. "Everything okay?"

He was chuckling at her, why? Frowning slightly she looked up at him and then folded herself into the floor where she stood. Hearing his question she gave a shrug. One of those that says nothing and everything all at once. To say it was loaded would be mighty accurate.

Refusing to look at him she replied, "Lot going on I suppose." Lot of unexplained jealousy where he was concerned. It all made her uncomfortable. She had been so very content with their situation. Or lack thereof. But not, she couldn't be around him without wanting what Arya was stupidly throwing away.

She would give anything if Sabel would look at her the way he does Arya. Anything. "Why... ah hell it doesn't matter anymore," she began. Why won't I ever be good enough... that wasn't a question she wanted to ask. Not to Sabel. He would tell her why.

Ooohkay this was strange. One moment she was happy, the next she was on the floor, avoiding his gaze. With a frown, he slipped down from the window sill to sit in front of her, ducking his head low to peer up at her.

"Hey." Reaching up he caught a stray strand of her hair and pushed it back behind her ear. "Talk to me?" It had been a long time since they had been open with one another, but there had been a time where she had confided in him. And he hoped that she still trusted him enough for that, or that at the very least, she knew she could come to him if she needed someone to talk to.

She heard him moving from the sill and approaching her. Sighing she began to chew on her bottom lip. She shifted her gaze as he peered up at her. Not quite maintaining eye contact though.

When he touched her she shut her eyes and SIGHED again. She was doing that a lot. "Why don't you love me, Sabel. I just need to know so I can forget about it all. I just need to know what is wrong with me. Why you don't look at me the way you used to. Why you look at HER the way I wish you would look at me," she said in a tiny voice that was strangely devoid of any emotion. "I am not going to get angry with you, I won't cry, you won't hurt my feelings. I want the truth though. The truth as to why you can never love me like that. Then I can tell you my side of things and we can drop it and let it all fall behind us... or I can let it go anyway. I want to have no unresolved issues," she added in an even smaller voice.

He was not expecting that. Slowly, he drew his hand back, his eyes locked on her face, on her expression as each and every word sunk in slowly and deeply. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to be angry that she was jealous of his feelings for Arya, embarrassed that she knew about those feelings, or sympathetic to her internal conflict. Very slowly, he drew back to sitting straight, surprised at how quiet his thoughts suddenly became though his emotions remained strangled like a dam waiting to burst.

"I did at one time, Lexi. I was willing to give you everything. I still am in a sense; I would sacrifice my life for you." For any of his friends, for in his eyes there was no greater gift than that of a friendship. "But..." A long, slow sigh left him as he turned his eyes down the hall, chewing on his bottom lip as he ran one hand back through his hair. How the hell was he supposed to answer this?

Honestly. Bluntly. Truthfully. But with love. There was no other way he could think of doing it.

"You discarded me, Lexi. I know you were in pain, I know you were struggling. But you wouldn't let me help. You, dropped me like a rag and moved onto what I thought you saw as better things. I tried waiting, but each time I tried to extend my hand you turned your eyes away." He sounded like a complete jerk, but it was the truth. "I don't hold it against you, not anymore. We all cope with things different ways and frankly, I am just glad that you made it through, that you are alive and well. It isn't that there is something, anything wrong with you Lexi, it is just that...we aren't compatible in that way. We fight, all the time." A small smile touched his lips and he couldn't help but let out a slight laugh. "I think it's because we are both so strong headed and stubborn."

The amusement faded quickly however, and returned to the solemness of the conversation. "We are both so set in our ways, in our ideas that we conflict more than we synchronize. As friends, we compliment each other well because we force each other to be honest with ourselves, we create a conflict more often than not that serves to make us stronger. And I think, as friends, we are inseparable. But...as anything more...I think, the time has passed."

Hesitantly, he turned his eyes up to her, a sudden lump of emotion caught in his throat reflected in the tears that had begun to prick his eyes. There was no denying it, he cared for her deeply, but he could not bring himself to go through those emotions again. "I am sorry, Lexi. Truly sorry, that I cannot look at you that way. That I cannot...return your sentiments in the way you want me to. I will always and forever be your friend. And I love you with all my heart. But...I am sorry."

She listened to every word he said and kept her eyes on her feet as she picked at the loose thread on the shoe string. If she pulled it it would mess up the whole thing. Kind of like this conversation was going to change everything between them. Oh well, it was time to let it go. When he stopped talking she looked up with a furrowed brow. "All I really have to say is this: I never discarded you, but I am sorry that you saw it that way. I didn't want to hurt you by dragging you through my inner turmoil anymore than I already had. I really thought that once I got somewhat straightened out that I would come back and you would be there for me... I suppose it was both selfish and foolish to expect that. I don't have fight left in me like that anymore, Sabel. I just don't. Too much has changed and too things will only continue to roll downhill," she said as she cut her eyes to look at him.

Oh hell. Were those tears in his eyes? Crap. "And there is plenty wrong with me, Sabel. You are simply too kind to point that out. As it were, Ivan relishes ALL of my imperfections. More than the beauty I think. He really is great and I don't want to lose him, but I had to figure this out first. I think you are the thing that was holding me back... my idiotic hope that you would come to your senses," she said with a hint of bitterness to her voice.

Sighing once more she stood up in one fluid motion. "I think you're wrong, you know. I think the reason we fight is you somewhat resent me for hurting you and I was mad that you wouldn't see what you had in front of you," she added as she dusted off the back of her jeans. "I think that covers all of that, really. Moving on- I went to have a meeting with Mr. Gevrik," she said in a monotone voice. Just let it go, Sabel. She was letting it go. It was GONE.

He could feel his jaw tightening with each word she said. It was taking every bit of him not to snap at her and to retain his anger, but she was just plucking at all the wrong points. This time, he didn't move when she got up, he didn't even look up. And yes, those tears in his eyes were honest and true, but once again, so many things seemed to be Lexi-focussed. "It's okay Lexi, just get up and walk away like you always do when you think or deem the conversation is over. Don't mind whatever else others have to say in return. Maybe that's why you considered me never being there for you, because you never stopped to listen to me fully. Maybe. I might be completely wrong here, but do not insinuate that I have never been there for you or that I judge you." Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, his eyes coming level with hers. Wherever this anger had come from, he didn't like it and it reminded him of the fights they had last term. That and she wasn't walking away, not yet, but it had sure seemed like she was going to.

Drawing a hand back through his hair, he let out a slow, uneven breath to reign himself back in. Apparently he still felt there were a lot of unresolved issues between them, or maybe just a lot of pet peeves that annoyed him real fast, real quick. Though really, she needed to learn how to hold a conversation rather than simply ending it when she thought the time was right. Hopefully she learned that before her and Ivan had to have a talk. But she wanted to drop it, fine, he would drop it. "What did Ikenna say?"

Really? REALLY. Shaking her head she let him spew it all out and crossed her arms across her chest. With one eyebrow quirked she watched him get up and kind of glare at her. "Bout done then?" she asked with a hint of amusement to her voice. Making a clicking sound with her tongue she shook her head again. "First of all, SAbel... stop being so bloody overly analytical. I was not saying that you weren't there for me as a friend. I meant in the relationship sense. I meant only that I was hoping that when I got out of the hospital and got my head right that you would want to be with me. And 'I' have never insinuated that you judge me, but it is plain as day that you do the way you have approached some topics of conversation with me... but I am not trying to fight with you. And in case you weren't sure... I am not walking away. I was simply standing up because that floor is really cold," she said with a light tone to her voice. "Sabel... perhaps you need to work on your feelings too. Because that was a lot of anger to have and a lot of conclusions you jumped to there..."

"Uuuh. Mr. GEVRIK is not a bad guy. I think he is very sincere that he has our best interests at heart, Sabel. Speaking with him was very enlightening indeed," she said with a little shrug.

If he didn't like his teeth, he may have cracked them from how forcefully he was grinding them. It took a great deal of effort to slacken his jaw and relieve the pressure on them. Here was the pot calling the kettle black. But there was no sense in arguing about them; it was all they seemed to do and for once, he wanted a conversation that didn't turn around on either one of them. And this would just go back and forth in a never ending circle if he decided to clarify any point offered. She didn't want him to talk about it further, fine, he wouldn't. Period. Onto other matters then.

"Not a bad guy?" Folding his arms across his chest, he released another slow breath to try and expel some of the tension so he could think straight along this line at least. "I'm curious as to how a man that mocks a well known and respect professor in front of the entire staff and student body can prove to be enlightening." Unless it was an ironic sense of enlightenment. "What did he say?"

Really. He was letting it go like that... all that jaw clenching was not fooling her. He wanted to say something. A lot of stuff. Sighing she stepped closer and lay her hand on his arm. "Hey, please just get it off of your chest, please. Nothing is ever going to be.. RIGHT until we have both gotten it all out. Just calm down and let's talk like rational people. I will listen. I will answer if you want me to answer... or you can just say what you think and I will accept it and we will move on. I just... I got it out there, I spoke my piece. Now I feel like a weight has been lifted. Do the same?" Idiot boys... they never just let go.

She would wait to continue the Gevrik discussion until he said yes or no...

Okay, so maybe the jaw clenching wasn't as over as he thought it was. Especially not when she touched him and talked to him like he was a child. Though the frown didn't extend onto his expression, his eyes burned with an intensity of the frustration, anger and emotion of all they had been through together. "I have spoken my part, Lexi. I have told you the truth and you chose to argue it and then shut me up when I was interested in clarifying a few points. If you don't wish to take my words at face value, don't ask for them." That was it, that was all. Circles would only result from anything more. "Now, what about Gevrik?"

Really. Shaking her head Lexi removed her hand from his arm and smiled sadly. "That makes me really sad, Sabel. I am trying so hard right now. You said some things, I said some things then you shut down. I would have blown up and walked away before... I am not sure what else you want from me. I just don't understand why you get so damned angry with me when I am calm and you pick apart what I say and twist it into something terrible when I mean no disrespect. I think it is you that needs to take MY words at face value and stop thinking that I am trying to attack you all the time." Now she was getting a little angry. Just a smidge. It was okay for Sabel to twist everything she said, but she couldn't try to get him to open up? Bull... it was a load of bull.

"I would suggest you talk to Gevrik before you make your decision as to his character. I trust him. He is a nice man with our best interests at heart," she said simply. Stepping back further from him she shook her head once more.

"The only reason I shut down, Lexi, and I will quote you, is because you asked me if 'I was about done'. That means very well you were done hearing what I had to say. As you end the conversation every time when I start saying things that perhaps you don't want to hear." Drawing up his hands, he held them in front of himself in self defense. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not picking apart what you are saying or making you out to be the 'bad guy'. I'm stating a fact we both know is true."

When she took a step back, he watched her with sharp eyes, wondering if she was going to turn and leave and consider this conversation over. "I don't twist your words Lexi, I perceive them and I did apologize if it was a wrong perception. But how about this? You stop putting words in my mouth and emotions in my heart, you stop assuming why I am angry at you and if I am still angry at you, stop thinking you know me so well as to know my thoughts and maybe you'll see that I've never been a damn thing but open with you. Every time you ask me about these matters I tell you straight up, but for some reason you think I'm holding something back. I can assure you, you would know if I was. I have told you everything with all the truth I can muster so saying anything else at this point would just be repeating myself and I really don't see the point of it when you don't care to actually listen to what I say."

The neutrality remained as he continued to watch her, never breaking his gaze from her. "I am curious Lexi, and perhaps you can explain this to me, how a man who ridicules a staff member you have known for five years can gain your complete and undying trust in every word he says and every intention he has, while a friend who is willing to give his life for you cannot gain even a fraction of that trust. Please, explain to me how that works." Because more than anything at the moment, that stung. Badly.

"You are such a lying little prat, Sabel Dakest! If you said everything you wanted to say then you wouldn't be clenching your jaw to keep from mouthing off. YOu have NEVER been STRAIGHT with me. Not one hundred percent. Not from where I am standing. But, that's right the self righteous, all knowing, all perfect Sabel is infallible, is that it? Yeah I thought it was something along those lines. Merlin forbid that you actually had to admit that you feel something... Merlin forbid you had to admit you were wrong about me, MERLIN FORBID you have to be a supportive friend and NOT tear me apart," she said, her volume growing a little each word.

Hearing him but choosing not to speak any further she took a page from his book and clenched her jaw tightly. Then Gevrik... Ugh. "Sabel... you are being SO dramatic about this. I did not saying he had my 'undying trust' stop being such a drama queen, please. And like I said, perhaps you should visit him yourself. You will find that he is very open to speaking to you about anything you wish to discuss. And now... even though you will surely say I am being unreasonable... I am going to go. I am really and truly over you... over this... I don't need anyone in my life that makes me feel as terrible as you do, Sabel. YOu make me really, and truly feel like I am not good enough. I get enough of that from my family... I don't need it from you or anyone else for that matter. Go climb a tree or something and I will go find Ivan and we will forget that the other even exists. Sound good to you? It sounds great to me." She was serious... it shocked her, but she was serious. She could let him go like that. No more Sabel. He wouldn't exist to her anymore.

Before she really had time to think he had his hand on her. Really. He was ALWAYS doing that. Wait a second. No. He wasn't doing this to her. She was wrenched from the present and a flood of memories came to the forefront of her mind. Her back was against the wall and he had her hemmed up. Not a very sanity condusive position for her. To keep from hyperventilating she clamped her eyes shut tight and whimpered slightly.

She listened to his words like they were in the distance. She heard all of what he said and did not comment. She kept her eyes shut as she felt him hover closer to her. Whimpering again she shifted slightly making sure he couldn't reach her lips. Then he was back away from her slightly. He was freaking her out. It wasn't HIM it was her past and this ... ugh. When he finally stopped talking and she could no longer feel him intruding in her personal space she opened her eyes ever so slightly and took a deep shaking breath. Pushing herself off of the wall she moved forward and closed the distance between them. Staring at him for a moment she put her hands on either side of his face and actually pressed her lips to his, lingering only for a moment before pulling back. Then in the same instant, without warning she brought her hand back and aimed her palm and his right cheek with as much force as she could muster. "Don't you EVER do that to me again," she said in an even voice.

Tears she didn't realize were coming started to spill her eyes and run down her cheeks. "Never again, Sabel. Never." she said as she stepped away from him and hugged herself, a sea of emotions washing over her. He knew she had a terrible past. Why corner her like that? That was cruel and she hated that he did that... hated it.

She couldn't help but feel some TINY bit of satisfaction as she watched his head fling sideways from her slap. He knew better than to do something like that to her. KNEW BETTER. She shook slightly from head to toe and let the tears fall. When he wrapped his arms around her she tensed for a moment... and then began to relax into the embrace. "You. Never again, Sabel. Don't, please, don't," she said quite nonsensically. He had shaken her to her core with that little act.

She didn't make a sound as the tears fell, she didn't speak again. She just wrapped her arms around him and balled her fists up in his clothing where she gripped him. She allowed him to rock her and pet her.

She had done it. She had gotten him to open up. Totally. Spill it all. It may have cost her a sliver of sanity, but the air felt clear between them for the first time in a while now. That was a comforting thought.

Taking a calming breath she whispered in a hoarse voice, "I didn't mean it when I said I wanted to forget you. You are one of my best friends... I have just never been so mad at you." That was all she needed to say, all she could say... that was all. It was over. They could move on and be happy.

Heather walked out into the corridor and began walking. Now she wasn't sure if she wanted Derian to find her or not. Maybe Heather could find someone else to talk to?

Tay wandered down the corridor and bumped into someone- "Oh, i'm sorry!" she said to the girl with a big, radiant smile- she was slightly embarassed though. She pushed back her blonde curls and stood slightly awkwardly- "I'm Taylor."

Oops. Heather had bumped into someone. "Oh it's fine." Heather said smiling back at the girl. "Hi Taylor, I'm Heather P. Miller." Why did she always have to put the middle initial in there. She couldn't just say Heather or Heather Miller, it had to be Heather P. Miller! Ugh.

Tay smiled- "Well, it's good to meet you Heather P Miller" she said, winking at Heather and giggling- Heather had looked a little embarassed when she'd said her second name, but Tay didn't want to make her feel bad. "So, are you a firstie?" she asked her kindly.

"Is it that obvious?" Heather asked laughing. She hoped she wasn't being a pest. A lot of people looked down on her because of her age. "What year are you?"

"Aww don't worry. And i'm just Second." Tay answered kindly, tucking a loose curl behind her ear and smiling again. "I guess you're excited to be here right?" she asked Heather, full of encouragement- she knew it had been pretty scary last year, you needed all the support you could get!

"Completely. My parents didn't go here when they were kids so this is a new experience for my whole family." Heather responded. She liked Taylor so far, she was sweet. "I hate chatting and running, but I think it's best if I go right now." Heather said. She needed to think, that's what this walk was for. She really did like the girl though she was sweet. Heather continued her walk down the hallway. The lake sounds like a nice place to be. She thought to herself and headed towards the direction.

The tears had stopped flowing, but she still quivered slightly in his arms. Trauma. Takes a while to work through. Sighing once she started to think about what she had vowed before she left London...

It brought a giggle out of her, then another, then before long she was outright laughing. "I vowed not to be involved in any drama this term... The first bloody day back almost... This," she said through guffaws.

Well laughter was good...right? He was going to say yes for the sake of argument.

Drawing back a little, he shifted his hands to Lexi's upper arms and peered at her, a slight smile touching the corners of his lips. "It wouldn't be Hogwarts if there wasn't any drama." Pulling one hand back to himself, he hesitated before pointing his finger at her, his tone light without any accusation or anger; simply that of a statement. "Just don't...kiss me again." Ever.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Hogwarts was a breeding ground for angst it seemed. Then he was pointing his finger at her. Rolling her eyes at him she chuckled, "I only did it to make you uncomfortable. I succeeded. Besides the slap would not have been nearly as satisying had I not done that first." Logic. It was logical to her anyway.

The grin turned into a slight frown, his finger wagging a bit before he retrieved both his hands and shoved them in his pockets. "I'm not even going to make a comment to that." If he did they would probably just end up fighting again.

"So, you going to tell me about this Ikenna character?" Shifting his position, he found it more comfortable to lean one shoulder against the wall rather than stand awkwardly in front of her.

Oh well. All is fair in love and war... that was a war. She still felt a little shaky, but not like before. Smirking slightly she let a shrug roll off of her shoulders and let it go.

"Like I said, I went to talk to him. Asked him why he was here, why he was so creepertastic, and some other stuff. He... isn't as bad as I thought. He is just an outsider to us, we should give him a chance. He actually said he was going to work on being less creepy," she told him with a smile. "I brought up Vindictus also. I asked him a lot of rather rude questions and he was absolutely pleasant and didn't fault me for being curious. If you want to find out for yourself, then seriously go speak to him," she said with a nod.

"I was planning on it." His words came slowly, indicating they had been mulled over quite a bit, and that he was still mulling over what she had just said. A slight frown had taken to his brow as he watched her closely. "Did you consider it might be an act he's trying to pull?" Pleasantness in the face of rudeness was a rare quality or a faked one.

Lexi shook her head. "Trust me, Sabel. You can't fake sincerity like that. I asked him why the Ministry didn't come to our aid three years ago... then I asked him if HE would have helped save all of us... I believe him. It was there in his eyes, Sabel," she said decidedly. She was NOT a nonbeliever. Ikenna was alright in her book.

"If one can mask an emotion such as undying, unrequited love, Lexi, they can mask anything." After all, love in his books, was the most powerful and hardest-contained emotion of them all. "Sincerity would be easy to fake if he could hide something like that. Not saying that he does either way, just that it's not impossible." If you had training and the mindset, nothing was impossible. "So why is he here?"

Uuuuh... okay. Was Ikenna masking undying love for someone? OR was that Sabel's way of admitting HE was hiding. Hmmm. Ship. Sailed. Pffft.

"I can't explain it to you, I really think he is sincere though. Call me crazy if you would like, but go talk to him. YOu will see for yourself," she said with a nod. "He is here to protect us? Funny enough... I was more concerned with why he was so creepy, to be honest," she admitted.

"Fair enough." He let his eyes trail out the window again, the frown remaining as he worked things over in his mind. "Doesn't it seem strange to you though, that the ministry is coming in now? Hogwarts was quiet last year and the year before. Things have been good here. But then maybe it doesn't have anything to do with Hogwarts at all." He remembered the quibbler Arya had shown him; new minister assistant, rebellion against the secrecy of wizards. Everything had to add up, somehow.

Alyssa walked all around the seventh floor exploring it. She hated being on the ground, A.K.A, the Slytherin common room. She knew barely anyone here at hogwarts, everything was un-familiar,and the people she knew she never saw. But nope, this didn't bother her. The only thing that did bother her is not having someone TO bother. But Quddich tryouts were soon, and she knew thats her oppertunity to get to know some people.

Adam stumbled around the corridors.After 3 years at the castle he could not make his way around without getting lost somewhere.It was a bit dim do to the candle statue being the only source of late. So it took him a second or two to realize he had bumped into someone.
"Sorry."He said walking on ahead.

Alyssa raised her eyebrows at this kid. HE bumped into HER and walked AWAY? Uh no, things dont work like that. "Hey, kid, next time watch where your going" she said to him. But then she put on a smile and said "Hi" with a little wave. Hopefully he wasn't intimidated by her. Its not like she was trying to be mean. Its just thats how she is. And people need to learn to deal with it.

"I said sorry."Adam told the girl.
"Oh your older, ...Umm. You were mean to me, then you say Hi in such a nice voice...What's your name?"He asked her.

"Alyssa. Sorry about that. I didn't relieze your were so..er.. young." she said, with a litlle forced smiled to show him she wasn't an idiot-freak girl. "Whats your name?"

This girl seemed to be a quick mood changer.One minute she was demanding Adam to do something, then extremely nice, to interrogating him.Raising an eyebrow he responded to her question,"Adam Burn- 3rd year Gryffindor.
And I'm 13- I'm not THAT young..."He told her sternly.

"Oh, well yeah, you aren't that young, but that is what I thought at first, so yeah, just calm down." she said nicely. Ok. Sheshhhh. Being around a crazy 10 year-old all the time must really screw your age-determining abilities up. "I'm a fifth year SLytherin, 15 years old." she said.

"Slytherin?"Adam asked shaking his head."I've had enough trouble for a lifetime with your lot- sorry Alyssa- but I'll just pass through and see you in classes and what not- let's agree on that, shall we?"Adam asked her.

If he met one more Slytherin girl, he was destined for stress- he wasn't taking the chances no more. His immune system was weakening.

"Oh my - I AM NOT a crazy person, don't worry. Trust me, I feel the same exact way" Lie. Lie. Lie Lie Lie. Just because of a stupid talking hat people hat to judge you. "People shouldnt judge others on what group a stupid talking hat puts them into." she said folding her arms. She was just on the verge of talking bad about gryfindors - but giving this dude a chance wouldnt hurt.

"I'm not saying YOU are crazy. I never implied that."Adam said.
"My history with Slytherins have not been very good- so I'd rather not be friends with them anymore.I am not judging you based on a hat-based on people I know to be crazy that are snakie serpents."Adam explained himself.

"I seeeee. Sorry bout that." she said, which, she knew in the first place he wasn't calling her crazy. But she just guessed that so she could make her point before she was being called crazy, which will probaly be soon. "I totally understand.' she said nodding.

No you don't see. Adam told Alussa harshly.Then realizing she was trying to be nice and make conversation,Adam shook his hands and said,Sorry.Are you new here?I haven't seen you around the corridors last year

Lexi watched the boy WORRYING. Gosh dang.. He worried so much. Fighting the urge to smooth out the wrinkles in his forehead she sighed. "Did it ever occur to you that there may be a multitude of things we do not know? We are children... adults aren't going to call on us and say, 'Oh hey there... by the way, the safest place in our world is no longer safe. Kthnxbye'," she said with an eyeroll. She had seen the Quibbler article. Who knows what is going on around the WW... she nodded her head and then shrugged directly thereafter. Awesome, right?

"Yes. I was home-schooled before. Then -" she decided to stop there. If she started telling too long of stories, she would get into her real name. That was going to be a permanent secret. Who names their kids some weird freaky made up name, and then a second name after a spice.

He spared a slow glance at Lexi, considering her for a long moment. "I suppose that's true." His frown deepened a little as he glanced down the hall at some of the passing students. It didn't stop him from thinking about it, trying to puzzle it out. Especially when his friends and those he cared about were involved. When it came down to that, the distinction between being an adult or a child vanished. A problem was a problem even if he wasn't an adult. It just seemed irresponsible to consider things otherwise.

Lexi chewed the inside of her cheek as Sabel stood in thought. No doubt trying to decide how best to save the wizarding world, or at the very least Hogwarts and all of the inhabitants. She sighed internally. He was, no doubt, going to worry himself into an early grave if he kept that up. Silly boy.

She had more selfish worries on her mind. She should probably focus on others once in a while, but meh. She hugged her arms around herself again and smiled for Sabel. "I think I want to go to the common room... would you care to escort me? Perhaps hang out for a while? I feel like there is a lot I need to talk to you about. Catching up to do and whatnot..." she drifted off. Caught in her own thoughts she wondered if telling Sabel was the best idea. Or if telling Sabel in the common room was the best idea either.

Lexi's words drew him out of his thoughts slowly, a smile touching his lips until he saw the way she was hugging herself. Was she still shaken up? The guilt pricked at the corners of his mind again, and he did his best to pay it little attention; doing so would just bring the event up again in conversation and they seemed to have decided to move past it.

Nodding, he pushed himself away from the wall and wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her upper arm as he started towards the common room with her. "We haven't done that," without ending up in some sort of argument, "in a long time."

Stacey :D
 

After eating, sitting at the lake for a while and then a wonderful tour of the castle, Ara was more than thrilled about spending so much time with Finlay. He was such a wonderful person, no wonder he was a Prefect for Ravenclaw.

"Wow," she spoke with an interest to the floor. "It's like a real princess castle," which she should be up here and not in the dungeons, but then again, all this would go to her head far more than it should. "I have to say that was quite an impressive tour, yet, this floor seems pretty cool." And it was cool for obvious reasons. "Of course it is cool if you are up on this floor with your common room." She loved filling his head with wonderful egos about himself. She did it to herself every day and it was reassuring coming from others.

It had been a nice morning, a very nice morning. Although he was feeling hungry again now. And the great hall was really so far away now. Maybe he had some chocolate frogs in his common room, because he really did not feel like walking all the way down to the ground floor again. He was going to be so tired. He'd need a nap.

"Shame your in the dungeons then isn't it?" Because Ara was totally the princess....although Neptune was the princess too. So maybe there was two princesses? "Well...I do try to keep my touring skills as up to date as possible." Lie. He never gave people tours. Ara was a very lucky girl. "Well....it is very cool cause I'm up here." He agreed with a big grin. There she went feedin his ego again. It was very nice. He could get used to it. "You know Ara....you're a very special girl." He voiced that comment with a grin. Yeah. Very special.

Ara stopped walking to look at Finn with a questionable look. Usually when guys started out as 'you're a very special girl' it meant they just wanted to be friends. Yet why was she mad about that? That was surely a strange thought she had, hoping that the 'special girl' only meant something else and not friendship only.

"And I know that you are a very special guy," she said, keeping his same words going as she moved to step in front of him. She wanted to see if she could read him in any way, and saw a smile on his face. Yup! He meant it differently and not as just friends.

He was a special guy? Well he knew that already. Of course he was a special guy. He was Finlay Carmicheal, and he was epic. He smiled at her though, and squeezed her hand. Finn was feeling that temptation of wanting to kiss her again, and this time he really did want to do it. Because well. She was pretty, and he was an awesome kisser. Yeah. It would be epic.

"I know." He smirked at her, pulling her out of the middle of the corridor and more to the side, just incase anyone else came along. He glanced at her lips again. Could he? He really didn't want to intrude.

"Alex Greingoth, first year Hufflepuff," Alex introduced himself with a smile. He thought about asking this girl if she knew of Anna, but he knew that wasn't possible, since Anna had been away from Gryffindor quite a few years ago now. "Can I ask a question? How do you manage to make it ALL the way up here from the Great Hall without passing out?" he asked, unable to contain his puzzlement any longer. "I thought my lungs were going to give out climbing all those stairs!" he said with a chuckle.

True story.

"Nice to meet you, Alex." Sophia said, grinning. He seemed older than a first year. Maybe it was because she was about his height, because she was short. She giggled at his rather odd question, and she realized that she did walk those stairs everyday. It had just become second nature to her. "Well, it just takes getting used to." she said, honestly. "My first day here I felt like I was going to pass out, espically running around from class to class." she said, smiling. "But, it is tough for the first couple weeks, and I have asthma, which doesn't help at all." she said, laughing. "So, what class are you looking forward to most?" she asked.

Sarah<3 start of the romantic date :')
 

Alex stood in the seventh floor corridor looking around him. He was nervous. One of the few times he had been nervous in his whole life. True story, a very true story. Was this totally wrong? Asking Ellie to meet him on the seventh floor? Yes probably. He should have just picked her up by the Ravenclaw Common Room but then again, he had no idea where that was and he just didn't have the time to get lost again.

He had tried to straighten out his hair a little but failed miserably. He should know by now that his hair had a life of its own. Always messy, always ruffled. Merlin. He ran a hand absently through his hair as he looked down the long corridor to spot a certain brunette. Ellie? El? *sniff* What if she wouldn't show up?! Suddenly he got extremely nervous, like really really nervous. What would he do then? Probably run back to the dungeons and never come out again. Or just let the squid eat him up or something. *wibble*

The Slytherin boy really hoped she would be there soon. One; he looked like a total loner fool standing there by himself, and two; he was just really looking forward to seeing her again. If she didn't show up soon he might just... leave. Bohoo...

Ellie stepped out of the Ravenclaw Common Room and looked around for her certain Slytherin boy. No sign of him yet. She looked down at her outfit and straightened her blouse. She was nervous. But whhyy? She had never been nervous like that before. She took a deep breath and smiled. I am going on a date with Alex Reed!

Turning the corner, she saw a figure at the end of the corridor, their back to Ellie. Was that him? Oh Merlin was it?! Yep, it was Alex. She could recognize that beautiful head of messy hair from a mile away. Her heart beat sped up. She came up with a brilliant idea. *shifttyyy* She tiptoed her way over to Alex trying to be as quite as possible. When she reached him, she covered his eyes with her hands. "Guess who?" She whispered.

Ara felt a tug of her hand as she was removed from the busy middle of the corridor and off to the side. A rush of emotions washed over her once they stopped and her eyes glanced towards Finn. He was staring at her, a look that he had only possessed before, though for a short time. She licked her lips, breathing as best as she could for the moment. Was he going to kiss her or did he just like staring at her lips? No need to speak and ruin the moment, she was just going to see where he was going from here and hopefully that was the same direction she was wanting to go.

Finlay smiled at her, not really noticing anyone else that was walking down the corridor, which was probably a bad idea considering that he was prefect. But Finn thought that Ara was the only important person that he could see right now. He pulled his eyes away from her lips, and looked into his eyes, with a smile. He really did want to kiss her, it really was far too tempting. Ara was just too pretty, and it had been a while since he'd kissed Fallon on the train. So....he stepped a bit closer, leaned in and kissed her. Scoree Finlay.

Ara's brain was working overtime, physically and mentally but once Finlay's lips touched hers, all thoughts, visions and motor functions came to a halt as she melted in Finn's arms. Her legs were mush and the only thing she did was place her arms around his neck, holding on to her very first REAL kiss she had ever had. She was not ready to let go and her thoughts were only of him and him alone.

Finlay smiled against her lips, tightening his arms around her waist. Yup. This was perfect. She was pretty, and he was just epically awesome. Although he wasn't too sure if it was a prefect thing to be snogging in the corridor, but he really did not care at all. Not yet anyway. But there did come a point when he actually needed to breath again, so reluctantly he pulled away from Ara. "Nice." Yup. It was very nice.

Eye's closed, puckered lips, tilted head and a dreamy look was the way Ara looked at the moment. SHE WAS JUST SNOGGED BY FINLAY!

Breathe...
...breathe...

....breatheeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

FINALLY, Ara began to move, though her only movement was a wide smile that crossed her lips. Her arms were still wrapped around Finn's neck as she was not planning to let go any time soon until she heard his voice, smiling more at what he said. "Veryyyy," she finally half opened her eyes to gaze like a love sick puppy at the boy that just kissed her. Wowwwww!

Finlay was tempted to laugh at her, as he saw the dreamy look on her face. Man....she really was so cute. Soo soo cute. Very nice. Yes. That was a good way of describing it. Finn hadn't felt that good a kiss in a long long time. Ara was definitely his type. Although now that he had kissed her, he really didn't want to let anyone kiss her. He was getting a little possessive. hehe. But was he ready for another girlfriend?

Yes. He already knew the answer to that question. "Ara..." He grinned at her. "Wanna be my girlfriend?"

Huh? He...he...OHMYMERLINANDHISBIGLEFTTOEFULLOFWHATEVER INTHEWORLD....

"Yes." Her eyes opened, her mouth formed the word as Ara was all gitty and giggly on the inside. SHE HAD A CUTE BOYFRIEND? EEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! "Yesyesyesyesyes," she spoke rather happily then smiled her best cute smile and pulled Finn in to kiss his cheek with a slip up of kissing his lips every now and then. She.Was.Happy.

Now. Finlay was really hoping that she wasn't going to reject him, because that was going to be rather embarrassing. But by the huge smile on her face, He had a feeling that being rejected wasn't going to be a problem at all. He grinned as he kissed his cheek. Well. This totally rocked. Soooo much. He had a cute girlfriend, and everything was totally awesome. His prefect badge was definitely a babe magnet, and it had totally worked out very good here. "Well...that is awesome."

Ohhhh! Now they could go around the school holding hands, being all cute and..."Man we make a cute couple," she blurted out with a smile on her face. "And I have a very cute boyfriend." Her eyebrows wiggled with happiness as her hand found it's way back to his. She was so ready to show him off yet she really didn't have anyone to show him off too, hmmmm.

Finlay laughed, swinging there hands a little. "Yeah. We do." Because they were obviously both epically cute. One of the best couples in the school. Obviously. He rolled his eyes, turning a little, so that he was resting against the wall. "You're gonna keep feeding my ego aren't you?" He grinned at her. Finlay really didn't mind at all if he wanted to feed his ego. It was already big enough, just thanks to how Vain he was, so it didn't really matter. Well....as long as he liked it.

"Why yes I am," Ara acknowledged as if it were nothing at all. "And I know you don't have a problem with it so..." She paused, sticking her tongue out playfully to Finn, then giggled. He really was cuteee just as she knew she was pretty. Two cute people....wowwww!

Kim was curious as normal and decided to walk around the corridor's till he reached the Seventh Floor one Kim body was now slowly draining of energy so Kim looked for a sit somewhere and sat down. He laid back in the bench that he found and started whistling.

Justin strolled down the lkong, dark corridor, guitar at hand and mind at ease. Thankfully, he was able to relax. No one to annoy him and no secrets to keep. And he'd finally got his girl. That was his top priority. Accidentally knocking a boy's foot as he walked past a bench, Justin immediately turned back to apologise to the boy. He too appeared to be very relaxed. His type of guy. "Sorry, I didn't notice you were there" he said. Well he didn't. But the boy was big enough to spot. So it made him suck even more. "I'm Justin by the way" he told the boy holding his free hand out to shake.

Kim took Justin's hand and said "Its cool no worries my name is Kim" Kim noticed to guitar and said "cool guitar" before slightly relaxing again trying to catch his breath.

Justin smiled. "Nice to meet you Kim" he replied taking a seat beside the slightly older boy. He didn't look much older, probably by a year tops. But he seemed like a nice enough boy to be friends with. And Justin needed friends. Looking down at his guitar, Justin smiled. "Thanks. Do you play?" he asked Kim.

"Its nice to meet you to" Kim moved over so that Justin had enough room to sit and when we was asked if he played Kim kindly smiled "No I don't play the guitar I prefer playing the piano or violin, I'm a classical music junkie."

Justin smiled at Kim, it appeared they were going to make friends easily. "Interesting" he replied. "I attempted to learn to play the piano when I was a child but it didn't work very well., I took to acoustic guitar too well" he giggled. He was obssessed by it.