"They should call it Hogwarts School of Mishaps and Misfortunes more like it," Zander grumbled to himself whilst pacing around the swamp area.

How the Seventh Year had managed to end up here was still mystery though. He had just been walking down the stairs to get to the Great Hall, when he must've taken the wrong exit. It wasn't his fault, okay? Six whole years of going up and down those stupid stairs and of course the worst time to get lost he managed to do it on his very last year at the school. How very typical. #AdairProblems, amiright? It was those bloody stairs. Zander wanted them replaced. Why didn't they ever install a lift in this place?

But that's not where his frustration ultimately stemmed from because he knew how to get any from point A to point B in the castle. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that as he was walking down the corridor he may have been spinning his wand between his fingers... And he may have accidentally lost control... And it may have landed straight into the swampy water. Right smack dab in the middle of the Weasley Swamp.

And Zander didn't know what to do. Luckily, somehow his wand hadn't gone down into the murky water yet... But the Head Boy figured he couldn't wait long until it did. He just had to think of a plan. 'Cause he wasn't about to swim in there to retrieve it. There had to be a better way. Also planning wasn't his thing. Where was Sophie Brown when you needed her the most?

So here he was, pacing. OF COURSE this would happen to him.

Dante was on his way to the Great Hall to eat but decided to come by the Swamp to see if anyone was stuck in it. He would of course help them after a bit of chuckling about how dumb they were. Well if it was his friends then he would just help them. Strangers not so much.But you know the one person he did not expect to find here was the famous Head Boy.

Head Boy Zander Adair was being weird. Not like Dante would know when he is not being weird.

"What are you even doing, Zander?"

Dante asked shaking his head and leaning against the wall of the corridor

He was pacing in front of the swamp.

Who does that.

Sweet, Merlin. He was going to have to get in wasn't he? Why was the world so cruel? IT WASN'T FAIR!! All he wanted was a sandwich. Not soggy pants. This wasn't ever a part of the plan.... Y'know, maybe he could stop a firstie or something? People payed them to deliver things to common rooms, Zander figured he could pay one to retrieve his wand. Didn't sound like such a bad idea, though he would feel sort of guilty about it. But see, no respectable Head Boy could be seen roaming around the halls soaked in swamp water. Some things just weren't done.

Still pacing and now scouting out the area for any first years, Zander had almost started to give up all hope. It seemed like everyone avoided this part of the corridor. Not really a wonder as to why. But alas, Huh? Dante. Zander recognized the boy.

"Eeeeerr.... My wand sorta fell in," he nodded towards the swamp, clearly embarrassed about the occurrence. Hey, Dante wasn't exactly a first year... But maybe he'd be willing to go swim for it?

Dante did not really want to be mean right now. But really how does the Head Boy, a seventh year, lose his wand into the Weasley's Swamp. This is the type of thing if you heard it, you would shake your head and say it was a lie. But Dante had seen dumber stuff happen and now thinking about this it was not surprising since this was Head Boy Zander, So Dante grinned at this situation and asked.

"And how exactly did it fall into the Swamp?"

Oh Dante would help in the end. Since he kind of like Zander.

But he would have some fun first.

Yes, yes he knew what it looked like. BUT IT WASN'T WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, OKAY? Actually, no. It was exactly what it looked like. And it must've looked like a total idiot move. So here he was. Zander Adair. This would be his legacy. "Err... Well y'know..."

I was just twirling it around because I was bored and din't think anything bad would happen. La la la. -_______- "It just sort of happened?" would he take that? Because it was the least embarrassing way of revealing the chain of events. And not that Zander didn't embarrass himself on a normal basis, but he was meant to be a good Head Boy here. Not an entire joke.

"But that's not really important 'cause I've got to try and save it before the swamp bubbles over and eats it up." See the problem here Dante? Zander could be logical too. Total Ravenclaw when he wanted to be. "Have any ideas?" He didn't want to be.

Dante was enjoying this because he can just imagine how he lost his wand in the swamp and they were all hilarious. Though even if he was just messing with his wand and dropped it and accidentally kicked it into the swamp. That was still hilarious because he was the Head Boy. Which he should expect more from.

Dante doesn't, but still.

"Just sort of happened"

Dante did not believe that for a second. But he did see the problem that Zander had laid out. And he did as a matter of fact have an idea. Just Zander might not like it in the long run

"I can get it for you."

Dante said getting out his wand.

"But then you owe me one."

"Mhm," Zander nodded sheepishly. Just sort of.... happened.

He wasn't about to expand on details here. 'Cause that's all they were, details. Minor details that were embarrassing as anything. Didn't need Dante to think he was a total flop of a Head Boy. Though uh, that ship had probably already sailed. Sigh. Merlin, life was so much easier when he wasn't expected to be good at things.

.... "You can!?!... Wait a minute," he paused, leaning forward a little and furrowing his brows suspiciously. "Owe you one? What kind of favor are we talkin' here?" Because he already owed Maggie one and Merlin, it felt awful knowing he had to do something for someone no questions asked. The worst.

What was the price? 'Cause was Zander actually willing to pay it.... ?

Well since Zander did not want to expand on what exactly happened. Dante would not question it. Probably not as embarrassing as Zander thinks. Though maybe being Head Boy makes it that embarrassing.

Dante did not expect him to just agree. But now he was questioning it. Well look at you Zander bargainning. Dante nodded at the fact he could get it back. It was easy when you had a wand, Mr. Wandless Head Boy.

"One equal to how badly you want your wand back."

Dante said looking at the wand in the swamp and twirling his hand in his hand. It as simple as that.

Zander considered this. One equal to how badly he wanted his wand back. The Gryffindor furrowed his brows at Dante. Hm.

But there really wasn't any other choice at this point, right? "Fine, fine you've got yourself a deal." 'Sides, the kid would probably forget about it and then Zander would graduate and wouldn't owe anyone anything anymore. It'd be perfect. Exactly what he was banking on with Maggie too.

Ahem.

"Let's hurry though before it's completely unrecoverable, yeah?"

Oh look at him thinking it over and no he will not forget about this before the year is over. But enough about that now he has a wand to get and see he had been practicing the summoning charm in his free time and this would be the perfect opportunity to use it in a real circumstance.

"Then we have a deal and of course"

Dante pointed his wand at where the wand was and concentrated as hard as he could on getting it the wand into his free hand. Which he did with his eyes open this time. Thank You Professor Baxter.

"Accio"

The wand zoomed into his hand and he grinned because he has succeeded.

He held it out for Zander to take. Now he had a favor from the Head Boy. He had to spend some time thinking on this once he was back in the common room.

Well of course he was thinking over it. But also of course he had to agree in the end. It was his wand. Zander was nothing without it. Unfortunately. Sweet Merlin. Seven years at magic school and suddenly you are what you cast with. This place really had changed him.

O________o

Weird.

"THANK MERLIN!" he grabbed the wand, giving it the most appreciative look. Merlin. Zander sure had missed this thing.

Ahem. Right. Dante. Um. "Thanks, Dante. You sure saved me," he grinned. Zander really did owe him one. Though errrr, hopefully it wasn't something messy. "I thought it was a goner," now errrr, did this mean he could finally go eat? Because the seventh year was most definitely hungry now. Sigh.

There now he owed Dante one. Though he would probably just want access to the Prefects Bathroom at some point before he graduated and that would probably be it. He had heard it was an awesome place from his brother. That was it. Nothing sinister or going to cost Zander points or anything.

"You are welcome"

Though Dante still wanted kind of want know how he lost his wand in the swamp. It was not important or anything. He was just curious. Like if he did not answer. Dante would just go get something to eat and that was it.

"So how did you lose the wand in the swamp or did it 'Just happen'"

Dante asked putting the just happen in air quotes.

If Zander did not want to answer. It was still alright with Dante.

And there he was with the questions again. Merlin, Dante asked the real ones, didn't he?

Again, Zander appeared to be quite embarrassed over the matter. "Er, well it sorta just flung out of my hand," he properly mussed his hair ahem. "Didn't realize I was this close to the swamp, Seventh Year and those bloody stairs still confuse me every time." Ha ha ha? He attempted to laugh aheeeeeeeem.

It was all the stairs though. All their fault. Zander was innocent here.

So be warned, Dante. Never trust the stairs.

"Anywaaaaaays," he awkwardly drew it out. "I think I'm gonna head over to the Great Hall before they take all the food away," did they do that? "Thanks again for saving my wand, Dante." Yeah, he did owe him one. Dante earned it fair and square unlike that Maggie girl.

Paul didn't mind the castle. During the winter months, it was welcome, as opposed to his drafty greenhouse quarters. But sometimes the man just had a hankering to go for a leisurely walk around the school, sipping his tea in a calm manner, to see if he saw any students to talk to..or coworkers...or whomever.

He found himself on the first floor...and he was about to walk RIGHT past the swamp corner...

But he stopped, because he suddenly remembered that it was HERE still after ALL THESE YEARS! Heh. It brought back quite a bit of nostalgia...and he found himself leaning against the wall next to the space, careful not to actually touch it or step into it, and just smiled to himself as he thought of that one time he got stuck in here with his friend Britannia Vitters.....

Ahh.

Good times.