Daxton was still in the process of attempting to create a mental map of the castle. It was a large, confusing, and overwhelming place, usually the kind of place he would have stayed clear of. But he had to live here if he wanted to be a student at the school, so steering clear wasn't an option. At all.

Luckily, he had an excellent memory. As such, after just working his way through the corridors once, he could easily recall any basic route. Now it was just a case of walking around again, looking for anything he missed, and drilling the layout of the building into his memory, for reasons.

The Ravenclaw boy padded through the corridors, his bare feet nice and quiet on the cool flagstone, taking careful note of his surroundings. He spotted the tapestry again from some way down the corridor, and remembered seeing it on his last circuit of the halls. This time, Daxton stopped in front of it, and regarded the depiction closely.

As far as he could tell, there was absolutely nothing interesting about it. But usually there was a story behind art, so that even the most boring images had intriguing backstories. Daxton tried to take in as many of the details as he could, so that he might attempt to look up said backstory later, when he visited the library.

Sighing Chris was walking around the castle aimlessly. He really wanted to go bother Torie and pull him out of his common room but that was really close to where the spider thing happened last term and...well best to avoid all of that.

Then there was Timmy and he didn't know what that was all about and didn't really want to analyze what might be going on there. Carrying his guitar, hoping that inspiration would strike him he wandered down a hallway he'd been before when Torie made him go explore before the spider thing.

Spotting another Ravenclaw he smiled, "Hey there." He didn't recognize him but that didn't mean anything he only knew like five bloody people in this school. He walked up beside him and looked at the tapestry and then back at the kid. "What are you doing?"

What... what was he...?

... Daxton... blinked at the other boy who'd just joined him. The boy who had happened across him very openly staring at the tapestry, and asked him what he was doing. And it was a boy from his House, too. Unbelievable. The only solid evidence Daxton had so far that Ravenclaw was the House of smart people was the fact that he himself had been sorted there. Maybe also David Truebridge.

Nuclear physics, was the sarcastic answer that initially sprung to Daxton's mind, but he was distracted by the sight of a guitar in the boy's hand. All criticisms of the newcomer's intelligence were immediately let go, and Daxton stared intently at the instrument. He had had to leave his own guitar at home. It was very pre-owned and battered and had a lot of character, and his mum had gone through pains to get it for him, apparently, and neither of them wanted to risk it getting stolen or broken while he was at school. It wasn't until Daxton saw this other boy with a guitar that he realised he so wanted his own.

Ignoring the question posed to him, Daxton pointed at the guitar. That. He wanted it. He wanted to play it. Now.

Chris looked at the tapestry and then at the boy again. Did he not speak? Or maybe he couldn't speak. MAYBE HE WAS A MUTE! That'd be kind of cool. Maybe he could teach him sign language. He put it on his mental list of things he wanted to learn at some point.

Soon though he noticed the kid staring at his guitar and he raised an eyebrow. Well at least something interested him. Then he was pointing. Maybe he really didn't speak....Hmmm how would they communicate if he was?!

Seeing him point to the guitar he held it up and looked at it. "You want to play it?" Did he even know how to play? And it was his NEW guitar!!!! He really didn't want to give it to the kid. "Do you know how to play?" He bit his lip nervously and looked from his guitar, back to the kid, and back to the guitar. "If you drop it we'll have issues...." he said as he handed the guitar over.

A simple nod was Daxton's response. Yes. Play it. Look at it. Compare it to the all the guitars he had ever laid his hands on in the past (the count of which reached no more than two). This one looked newer than either the ones he had seen before, and was no doubt more expensive.

Another nod, more impatient this time. Why would Daxton want the guitar if he didn't know how to play one? That was just illogical. The other boy's last statement made very little sense to Daxton, so he simply ignored it, and took the guitar when it was at last handed to him.

For a moment, Daxton turned the instrument over in his hands, inspecting every last inch of it. The body, the strings, the headstock, the tuning pins, the fingerboard, even the frets and the fret markers themselves. It really was quite fine. Probably worth a fair bit of money, too.

Not seeming to mind that they were stood right in the middle of the corridor, Daxton went and sat down right there on the floor, moving the guitar into a position so that he could play it. He moved his fingers over the strings into a few different positions to get a feel for it, then strummed a couple of chords.

It didn't sound half bad either.

Chris watched the kid as he took the guitar and looked it over. He felt oddly proud at the close inspection of it. It was awesome he knew but really he had been surprised he'd gotten it in the first place.

As the kid sat down he sat down next to him and watched him play a bit. What an odd fellow. "How long have you played?" HA a question that wasn't a yes or no question. Maybe he'd answer this time. "I'm Chris by the way," he said with a small smile. Maybe he didn't know anyone and he was just still nervous about going here...anything was possible really.

The moment the other kid sat beside him, Daxton shuffled away in a none too inconspicuous manner; even just a someone else's knee brushing against his own was unacceptable, and he was keen to avoid it. But other than that, the boy kept himself to himself, and that was fine by him.

He paused in his playing for a moment in order to answer the question, and held up nine digits. The other boy could work out for himself what unit of time he meant by that. Daxton was about to keep playing when he suddenly remembered a key component of conversation ettiquette. He pointed at the other boy, by way of asking the question back to him. This guitar in particular looked new; it was possible to work out the answer otherwise.

Okay. Chris was the other boy's name. Good to know. Daxton nodded his head, and went back to playing the guitar, completely unaware of any expectation that he might provide his own name in return.

Milo was in need of assistance like bad.

He had almost completely forgotten about his Charms homework and was currently on his way to the library in hopes of finding someone to work with him. He'd had no luck in the Common Room (apparently they had all done it in a timely fashion and had not forgotten) but there was always a lot of people in the Library this time of day.

Foam ball in hand the first year Claw walked down a corridor filled with multicolored tapestries just a few turns from his destination.

Paulina had spent a rather productive afternoon in the library. She had been studying for her NEWTs, and while that was boring it at least helped her feel a little more prepared for the exams. Maybe she would get at least one O - naturally she couldn't get any less on Herbology.

Making her way down the corridor, she spotted a young boy she had seen in classes. He seemed to be rather preoccupied with something. "Everything alright?" she asked shyly. It was then that she noticed the ball in his hand.

Ohhh.

"You need someone to work with?" She knew that Charms was due soon so she could help him if he wanted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Paulina had spent a rather productive afternoon in the library. She had been studying for her NEWTs, and while that was boring it at least helped her feel a little more prepared for the exams. Maybe she would get at least one O - naturally she couldn't get any less on Herbology.

Making her way down the corridor, she spotted a young boy she had seen in classes. He seemed to be rather preoccupied with something. "Everything alright?" she asked shyly. It was then that she noticed the ball in his hand.

Ohhh.

"You need someone to work with?" She knew that Charms was due soon so she could help him if he wanted.

He couldn't not finish practicing for Charms homework. The Professor would be really disappointed in him and Charms was his favorite so far. He was almost there and he would find someone to do it with.

Oh, someone was talking to him. Looking up and pushing some of his hair out of his eyes, Milo spoke to the older girl. "Um, uh yeah. Charms homework. I forgot." he said quietly. He had seen her in lessons but wasn't sure of her name.

"I'm Milo. I'm just a first year so I'll have to use the Arresto Momentum spell. Do you want to practice too or just throw it for me?" It was up to her. Maybe she had forgotten to do her homework too? Though she didn't look as bothered as he was.

As the boy told her that it was Charms he was worried about, Paulina nodded. She as correct in her assumption then.

"Nice to meet you, Milo. I'm Paulina. I've already done my homework, but I'll gladly toss the ball to you." She would have opted to banish the ball towards him, but had a feeling that it might be a little too fast for him if she did that. She didn't worry that Milo couldn't do the spell, but she thought that tossing the ball would give her more control over things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

As the boy told her that it was Charms he was worried about, Paulina nodded. She as correct in her assumption then.

"Nice to meet you, Milo. I'm Paulina. I've already done my homework, but I'll gladly toss the ball to you." She would have opted to banish the ball towards him, but had a feeling that it might be a little too fast for him if she did that. She didn't worry that Milo couldn't do the spell, but she thought that tossing the ball would give her more control over things.

"Thanks, Paulina." She was definitely nice to help him. She could have been doing something more interesting for herself or heading down to dinner. They wouldn't be too long though, Milo only had to practice a few times. He hadn't struggled much during the lesson after all, but more practice was what was assigned.

Tossing her the blue, foam ball, Milo pulled his wand out of his pocket and got ready to cast. "I'm ready when you are." He stuck his tongue out as he concentrated hard on the spell in his head.

Paulina smiled at Milo as he thanked her. "Glad to help." Honestly it wasn't a problem for her at all. It would be a shame if he missed out on handing in his homework because he had been slow to start. Probably had forgotten about it.

Watching him, she nodded. "I'm good whenever you are." She didn't mind waiting though she was sure that he was confident enough - not like he hadn't practiced the spell before. There had been a whole class activity on this after all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Paulina smiled at Milo as he thanked her. "Glad to help." Honestly it wasn't a problem for her at all. It would be a shame if he missed out on handing in his homework because he had been slow to start. Probably had forgotten about it.

Watching him, she nodded. "I'm good whenever you are." She didn't mind waiting though she was sure that he was confident enough - not like he hadn't practiced the spell before. There had been a whole class activity on this after all.

He was ready! 'A-resto-mo-men-tum'

Milo watched the ball in her hand and prepared himself to stop it in mid air when it was thrown to him. The spell was obviously a good one to know incase of an emergency or if something fell but it was good for games too it seemed. "Alright you can throw it now!" The first year told the girl. He took a step back or two so that there was more space between them.

Watching Milo finish getting himself ready to stop the ball in midair, Paulina moved a few paces backwards and got in the perfect position to throw the ball. Once that was sorted, she waited for the go ahead so that she could send it his way.

Once he gave her the all clear, Paulina tossed the ball towards Milo, trying to give it enough height but not too much. Hopefully it wasn't too fast for him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Watching Milo finish getting himself ready to stop the ball in midair, Paulina moved a few paces backwards and got in the perfect position to throw the ball. Once that was sorted, she waited for the go ahead so that she could send it his way.

Once he gave her the all clear, Paulina tossed the ball towards Milo, trying to give it enough height but not too much. Hopefully it wasn't too fast for him.

And they were off!!

Milo eyed the ball from the moment it left the Hufflepuff's hand and watched as it arched into the air of the corridor between them. It wasn't thrown too hard and not too low either. Paulina had definitely done this assignment before. Maybe she had partnered with another younger student and had helped toss it to them too?

"A-arresto Momentum!" Milo tried to cast but he'd started to late and the ball was almost to the ground. "Arresto Momentum!" The ball froze just before touching the ground. Too close for comfort though. "That was close, alright again please!" He grabbed the ball frozen in the air and tossed it back to her.

As the ball came soaring towards him, Paulina saw Milo try to stop it, but it seemed that he hesitated a bit. Wincing, she watched as it made its way to the ground, but at the last second he managed to get another attempt in and that one was a success. "Good job," she said as he grabbed a hold of the ball. That had been a little too close for comfort, but there were other opportunities to practice the charm.

Catching the ball, Paulina sent it towards him once more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

As the ball came soaring towards him, Paulina saw Milo try to stop it, but it seemed that he hesitated a bit. Wincing, she watched as it made its way to the ground, but at the last second he managed to get another attempt in and that one was a success. "Good job," she said as he grabbed a hold of the ball. That had been a little too close for comfort, but there were other opportunities to practice the charm.

Catching the ball, Paulina sent it towards him once more.

"Thanks." It hadn't been his best spellwork but at least he had stopped it in the nick of time, some excitement at least.

When the Puff had gotten the ball back, she had waste no time in tossing it back to Milo. He had his wand already raised this time and just as it reached the peak of his arch he quickly jabbed his wand at it and said, "Arresto Momentum!" loudly and clearly. The ball froze as if it had struck an invisible wall and was now stuck to it.

"Aww, yes! That's what I'm talking about!" The first year jumped where he was standing and pumped a fist into the air. And then proceeded to jump up and catch the ball where it was. "Here Paulina, I think I only need to try one more time to be sure I have it down all the way." With a quick toss the ball was back in her hands.

Paulina smiled as Milo thanked her. She was rooting for him to catch the next ball as well.

This time he managed to cast the spell right when the ball reached the highest point, and because he did not hesitate this time it was an immediate success. "Way to go," she said as he jumped in the air and gave a fist pump. Awww, it was nice to see him so happy about the achievement.

She caught the ball as it once again made its way towards her. "Sure thing!" she said as he told her that he needed to stop the ball one more time. She promptly tossed it back towards him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Paulina smiled as Milo thanked her. She was rooting for him to catch the next ball as well.

This time he managed to cast the spell right when the ball reached the highest point, and because he did not hesitate this time it was an immediate success. "Way to go," she said as he jumped in the air and gave a fist pump. Awww, it was nice to see him so happy about the achievement.

She caught the ball as it once again made its way towards her. "Sure thing!" she said as he told her that he needed to stop the ball one more time. She promptly tossed it back towards him.

Last time Milo, you can do this.

The blue, foam ball flew into the air out of his partner's hand and made its way once again towards him and his outstretched wand arm. The first year concentrated hard and imagined himself stopping it again. He went over the incantation in his head super quickly and then said it aloud as the ball approached his side of the arch. "Arresto Momentum!" The ball slowed and then froze where it was.

He'd done it again. He'd had some more time this way rather than them just falling from the ceiling as they had in class. "Thanks Paulina! I've got to run and get my summary written and ready for tomorrow. Maybe I'll see you at dinner tonight?" he could chat and stuff with her if the Hufflepuff table wasn't too crowded.

"Thanks again! I really needed the practice. Catch you later!" And with that, the first year scrambled off to the Ravenclaw Tower to finish his homework.

"So, I saw you looking at that Daxton kid. What do you think of him?" Benzi asked as they neared the tapestry one floor down from the Ancient Runes classroom. He'd have preferred to sit somewhere on the grounds for an activity like this, but it was much too cold and it would take them ages to get there.

Spotting a bench opposite the tapestry, the Ravenclaw made a beeline for it and sat down, rubbing his hands together. He'd left his gloves up in his dorm today, which probably wasn't the best idea. "D'you want to go first? We have to," he glanced down at his card and swallowed, "tell each other something personal."

"He's a lovely boy."...even if Reagan hadn't spoken to him other than that once. She could tell he was thoughtful, though. More observant...She had to wonder at the sort of things he'd learned since being back at school. See, when you were seen and not heard, it was much easier to blend into the crowd; be invisible. If she were the sort, she might've tried to extract this information from him, but Rea had put her pursuits on hold this term. She'd suffered personal tragedy and just couldn't bring herself to dig up dirt right now. Her gramma would be disappointed. "I've found it's easier to communicate with him through sign language if you know it."

Just passing along helpful tidbits, in case one of their fearless leaders needed the assistance. Dax might not have appreciated it, but people already cared for him, from what the older Ravenclaw could see. They wanted to befriend that cutie.

Also...

"It is drafty." She commented offhandedly, withdrawing her wand and pointing it towards the bench. A cushioning and warming charm later, and Reagan was making herself comfy atop it. Charms, she could slay. Charms were good. "Would you like me to warm your hands?"...because warming charms worked on skin, didn't they?...Reagan couldn't remember, actually. Erm...Maybe not? She'd experiment later. "...Something personal. Hmmm." What could she share that was wasn't already very open about? There wasn't much, to be honest. "I'm so open about my life." HEH. "Oh, I hope to produce an organic line of potions one day for everyday use, because animals are my friends." Was that considered personal? Reagan didn't know...

Peeking at her own cards, she bit her lip. "How about you, Benzi? Something personal."

Leaning back, Benzi sighs. "I don't know I can't read him.. my sister likes him and at first he seemed like bad news but now I'm not sure. He's actually teaching her sign language, who'd have though," he said, looking at Reagan with a shrug. "I dunno what to make of him and I've tried just being nice and supportive but I'm not getting anywhere." And, what may be contrary to popular belief, he does actually care about the little ones and their wellbeing. Especially the little Ravenclaws. Especially the ones who are alone.

One of his favourite things about being a Prefect was that he was someone the kids could talk to if they needed it and he'd miss it once he'd graduate. But, not really the task at hand for the moment. "Nah I'm good, but thanks," he waved away her offer to warm his hands because that could have disastrous results if not done properly and he needed his hands.

"That's... interesting," Benzi nodded with a small smile. Not really his cup of tea but he wasn't about to go into that with her right at this moment. "I, hmm," he started, and leaned back on his hands as he thought of something he could share. Everything he thought of seemed way too personal.

"I have anger issues," he sighed, and looked down at his hands. "I've been spending all of this year trying to be better."

Unfortunately, Reagan usually wasn't one to discuss others at length without them being present...but she commended Benzi on his honesty where Daxton was concerned. And on him trying. It wasn't uncommon for some to get frustrated, especially with a younger housemate, and stop trying altogether. "He's just not a people person." Yes, GASP! There were people like that, and honestly, Rea didn't understand it at all. She LOVED people...but alas..."I think it's important to find a way to relate to him, you know? What are his interests? Find that out and you'll have an in."

Shifting around on the bench, she peered at Benzi. There were further questions about the tidbit he'd shared, but she figured it was best left for another time. They had other questions to get through, after all. "I hope that's working out for you."

Her eyes fell to the cards again.

"We're supposed to do an impression of a Professor or celebrity." Reagan chewed her lip, thinking seriously about the Hogwarts' staffing line up. Whooooo could she doooo...OH. Giggling, Rea raised her hands and did several SNAPS! with her thumbs...and then arched a brow at her companion.

Your turn, bro.