It was time for exploring and this was going to be the first stop! Plus, moving staircases were so much cooler than the ones at home.

Zara skipped down the stairs and stopped on one of the landings as she waited for the stairs to finish moving. There were so many choices and she was going to try EVERY staircase during her time at Hogwarts. PERSONAL LIFE MISSION! She would so do that and there was nothing to stop her in her mind.

Hopping on the staircases that stopped at the landing she was on, she leisurely made her way to the middle of it and held on as the staircase began to move again.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Art stood at the top of the moving stairs, looking down. They weren't moving at the moment, but they certainly would start. Would this be the place? He stomped a foot on the top step, not really knowing why. Wasn't that what people did? It wasn't as if the staircase hadn't stood the test of time. It had been here for many years. He didn't know precisely how long, but a VERY long time.

Wheeling down those stairs would be fun!

Paul saw Art waiting for him at their appointed spot. As he approached, though, he looked up the staircase...and down....and hmm. He was feeling very much like having a wheelchair race DOWN THE STAIRS was possibly not a good idea. "Art, my old friend!" he smiled and put an arm around him as he drew nearer. "The more I look at these, the more I think we should stick to a corridor race!" he said as he glanced upward once more. "I don't fancy breaking my neck, Art..." he said slowly. "I'm not Gryffindor." Not even a little bit.

He saw a small one enjoying the staircase ride above them. He sent her a wave and a smile. "How are you doing today, m'dear?!" he called out.

Zara looked around in wonder as she continued to ride the moving staircase. She had since to a different set of stairs but they were oh so much fun. Her mum had definitely failed to tell her how amusing their were and all the nice portraits in the shiny frames! She liked those as well.

Glancing around she noticed two professors below and waved back. "Wonderful, sir!" she beamed brightly. "I hope you both are doing well," she added with a small curtsy, even thought she was pretty sure they couldn't see it.

Art turned with a grin as Paul approached. Art gave him a very MANLY clap on the back. Not too hard though, he didn't want to wind his friend. His comments were quite sensible, but they still made Art laugh his deep chuckle. "Well... well I see what you mean," he commented, looking down. "Imagine if they moved just as we were about to wheel ourselves onto them." He looked over the edge. That would be a big drop.

Art was about to answer Paul's question, of how he was doing, when he realised it wasn't aimed to him. He looked to see a young child enjoying the stairs. Art smiled warmly at the girl, who he remembered was sorted into Ravenclaw. "Well I'm not too bad," he said, giving his legs a few shakes. Although his knees were back to normal, no sign of arthritis - thanks to magic - he still felt his joints stiffen if he stood or sat in one position for too long. "How many things have you discovered in the castle?" he asked. He, very vaguely, remembered his amazement at the castle when he first started. And being that he was a Gryffindor when all of his brothers were Ravenclaws, he had the Gryffindor common room to discover, all by himself.

Paul chuckled as he waved back up at the girl. "I'm glad to hear it! We're doing fine! Be careful on these stairs, okay? I know they're fun to ride and whatnot--" and, just as Paul said this, the one he and Art were standing on started to move, and Paul clutched the railing tightly. "But you neeeeever know when they're gonna move!'" he laughed a bit. "Finding your way around okay?" Casual calling out in the stairway. NBD.

"Um yeah exhibit A!" he pointed at their staircase, which was still in motion. "I...like my life, Arthur," he teased lightly. "I think the corridor would be better. Just...deciding WHICH one..." he looked up at the girl. "And what should we do about the students? They can't get involved....I mean, they can watch, but I don't fancy letting them race with us," he muttered.

Liability was a thing!

Zara giggled softly as the stairs stopped and moved direction again. Just hanging out on the stairs was the best choice she had made! Hours of entertainment and she wasn't harming anyone. It was the prefect pastime in her mind. Glancing back down at her professors, she smiled brightly. "I'm just starting my adventures, sir." The staircase was the first stop and she had gotten distracted to be honest, but she was thoroughly amused just the same. "The portraits have been very nice and informative," she added with a quick nod. Not only were they in shiny frames, they seemed to know so much and she would definitely be talking to them a lot in her time at Hogwarts.

"I promise to be careful, sirs." So far, she had kept a tight grip on the railing and tried to keep her centre of gravity low. Zara was amused and having fun, but she knew there could be dangers involved if she was careless on the stairs as well. Glancing back, she nodded in understanding. "I shall sir," she replied as the stairs stopped and she ran down to the landing.

Perhaps it was time for her to move on to exploring the hallways for a bit. The stairs would still be there.

Art let out a chuckle as the staircase started to move. He didn't mind the surprise and adrenaline that came with being on the staircase at the RIGHT TIME. This being one of them, apparently. "Well... I see what you mean about riding down here when... w-well when it's moving." Art had to admit he was glad Paul had said something. "I fancy my life too, actually. My kids would kill me if they found out we'd wheelied down the moving staircase. Even a stationary staircase." Which, unfortunately meant that a corridor it would be. Perhaps they could work their way up to a staircase?

Art was glad to hear the young Ravenclaw had stumbled across the portraits, and now had began her adventure. "Well if you need any assistance, the house ghosts will help I'm sure." Nobody knew the castle better than those four, surely? Miss Monroe seemed to be having a joyful time, and safe which Art was sure Paul was relieved about. It was good that the students could have a SAFE adventure through the castle.

He placed a hand to his chin and rubbed it in thought. "Well... well we could do a test run somewhere less populated." That way there would be less students. "Surely we can't stop the over 15s from joining. Maybe... charm the area a little. Cushioning charms or something." Thinking out loud.

"OH yes!" he called up after Art had spoken. "The ghosts indeed are very helpful! Especially Friar! and Nick! And the Grey Lady--maybe avoid the Baron!" he smirked. Grumpy, mean old ghost. The first year didn't need that in her life. He gave her a wave.

A test run? "Where would you like to do a test run, Art?" he muttered. "And we need to knick a chair from River's...." He wondered how hard that would be. Tip-toeing around might not be enough. "Unless you've got a wheelchair down in the dungeons, old man," he smirked.

Art found himself nodding in agreement about The Baron. "Yes... he's a bit of an old grump, he is." Art usually tried to avoid grumpy people... and ghosts. He didn't like the negativity. But the other ghosts were fantastic.

Art had a think... "Hmm... we could try the dungeons. N-not as many people go down there." Although it was quite hard down there. But they were wizards, after all. They could cast some charms around the area. He let out a laugh. "No, don't be daft. I'm as spry as they come! Er... we could go and... I could pretend my knees are acting up again." He was smiling at the thought.