Second Floor Corridor
 

So many a door and so many a chore are found on this, the second floor.

Serena was still in tears, though she was trying (and completely failing) to hide them. She followed Mordred towards the corridor, she wasn't scared anymore, at least the crying was stopping a fully fledged panic attack starting.

Mordred dragged Serena away from the suit of armors and let someone else deal with the thing. "Why in Merlin's beard are you crying?" he asked Serena. "You said you were okay...and now you're crying your eyes out." he added.

Being with a girl was already uncomfortable for the boy, let alone a crying one.

Serena had stopped crying, though her eyes were red to match her face. "Nothing's wrong *sniff* Honestly" She was still holding the Acorn tightly and to her horror it cracked. She burst into tears again, first the Mirror door being closed, then the Radio breaking now this! Why was it everything which helped always broke. Serena gulped in some air and said "I..." before tears overcame her. She attempted to regain control and continued "When I was *sniff* in Primary school..." Serena then began to cry again.

Mordred strained his ears to hear her out, but talking while crying didn't help. He gestured Serena to sit down on the side of the corridor, as he crouched and sat on the cold hallway.

He loosened his tie and tucked his legs with his arms. "Go on." he told Serena.

Serena was still trying to regain control of her body, muttering disjointed words "Stupid... Shouldn't be... Freak.." She sat on the seat Mordred gestured to and continued to calm herself down. She managed to stop crying and then it went quiet, Serena quickly took her Radio out and turned it on. She calmed down visibly to the sound of 'The Phoenix and The Dragon' playing loudly in the background.

Gulping slightly Serena began "When I was in *gulp* Primary School, I had a friend called Oklan. He was a Muggle, but that's no...*gulp* the problem. Anyway, I never really had a best friend, I went round in a three with him and *gulp* Jonathan, who was a Wizard. We never completely got on, but *sniff* in year 45, we had to do this meditation thing in two's and Oklan got paired with another girl." Serena began to speed up here, as though trying to get through quickly. It was hard to understand what she was saying. "Then, we went off to the spare room to do it and I had this massive panic attack 'cause it was quiet, and then he laughed at me and said it was stupid to be scared and he went off and told Oklan I was a stupid person and it was all going so well." Serena breathed out massively at this point before continuing miserably "It all might have been OK, but I got angry at Jonathan, 'cause he and Oklan were talking without me in the playground, I went over and..." Serena's voice died down, as it had been increasing in pitch and volume for some time. She began again, her voice strangely quiet and low "I told him he was an idiot and he shouted back and..." Serena sighed "I accidentally turned his ears into antlers in front of Oklan"

Serena buried her face in her hands. "They were always going around afterward, I don't think Oklan said much against me but Jonathan kept up a non-stop mutter about me being freakish. I mean Serena's voice became shrill "He was a Wizard too, he just hated me for the antlers and all" Serena broke off and gulped massively Should I tell him? she wondered to herself then took a deep breath. "I saw you and Daisy yesterday, that's where I found your Pan-Pipes, I didn't want to eavesdrop, but then I saw you both together and I was just reminded of them. I then got trapped in the mirror passageway and then the Radio broke. And that's about it." She said awkwardly. He doesn't need to know everything Serena reasoned with herself Or does he? I know his secret... With what was a huge effort Serena added. "That's not all that matters though, it never would have happened if... Well..." She looked like she was having a massive internal struggle before she burst out "I'm a Sedatephobic" Before turning bright red.

“Tell you something Serena, and it might be a surprise. We are all freaks here.” Mordred pointed out as he tried his best to understand Serena’s story. “Your friend Jonathan, if I may say is pretty much of a freak. Antlers and all.” He smiled, hoping to make Serena feel better.

“That Jonathan fellow must be upset, for good reasons. One is the antlers…” he said trying his best not to laugh. “Second, you’re a better witch than him. That must have hurt his pride. Is he here in Hogwarts?” he asked.

“You know, even if I’m pureblood I still had my dose of freak moments.” He said grinning as he scratched his head. “Even if I know that my parents were magical people, I grew up knowing that I did not have their capabilities to help me grow as a normal child until my 9th birthday wherein I almost had the house on fire. Every time I’m upset, apart from setting things on fire, I break things, I make people fly across the room…I was a freak myself and never understood any of it. That was the time my parents revealed to me that I am a wizard, a magical person just like the both of them. And because of that I was able to learn spells to protect myself and to feel that I belong.” Mordred then got Serena’s broken Acorn. “You know, friends come and go.” He said as he tossed the acorn on his hand. “They come in and out of our lives quite fast, don’t you think?” he asked as his thoughts brought him back to Chloe.

"You said back at Fortescue’s that you still keep in touch with this Oklan fellow, yes?” he asked. “You’re lucky to have a friend like that. Someone who doesn’t think less of you despite what happened.” He said as he let himself be reminded of Chloe. Mordred too was lucky to have Chloe as his friend. She trusted him despite his name, his family background. She saw what others didn’t see. She saw that Mordred was worth the chance as she fought against her own father about her opinion. She never won in that debate, but Mordred knew that despite what happened to their families, they still remained good friends. “I wonder how she is now.” He said in a whisper, shaking his head to get out of his reverie.

“So, you were the one who was behind that bush.” Mordred narrowed his eyes. He hates being eavesdropped, especially because he revealed so much to Daisy. But that didn’t matter now, even if Serena knew or not, they were square.

“You are afraid of silence?” he asked frowning. “Right.” He said as he noticed the radio beside her. Mordred remembered the time when he confronted his father about him being magical. He too was afraid of what he can do and it was a big step for him to embrace his new self. “You know. You have to face that fear. You have to help yourself Serena. There’s no other person who could help you with that but you.” Mordred commented as he returned the acorn. “Be brave.” He said as he got up to leave.

Serena tearfully shook her head at Mordred. "I lied, I never met up with Oklan, except in my head." Serena accepted the Acorn and pointed her wand at it "Reparo" She whispered and it sealed itself up.

Just when Mordred made his first step down the stairs he turned around again to face Serena. "Do you realize that you just made me a fool?" he said in a hurt tone.

"I don't believe this!" he said to himself.

"The story you just told me, was that a lie too?"

"What?" asked Serena, looking hurt and confused. "I wouldn't lie about that, it was hard enough telling you." *sniff*

"So you lied about Oklan. How can you not tell me the truth that you haven't talked to him?" Mordred felt he was cheated. He was being truthful to Serena since they met back at Fortescue's. Mordred hated when people lie to him. He is a boy full of secrets and trust was sacred to him.

"And about the pan flute. I knew someone was there, and it turned out to be you. Merlin knows what you've heard." Mordred's face all red all of a sudden. His grip on the stone rail of the staircase became tight.

Tears returned to Serena's eyes, maybe she shouldn't of told Mordred. She didn't want to eavesdrop, she had only lied 'cause she didn't want to tell him. "I just *sniff* didn't want *sniff* to tell *sniff* anyone. Merlin knows how much my *sniff* sisters tease me about *sniff* everything." Serena spent a moment trying to regain control (again) "Anyway, I already knew most of what I heard, I can't remember much anyway"

Mordred approached her again and sat in front of her.

"Why are you so afraid, Serena? You have to stand up to them. You are a capable witch."he could not imagine himself being bullied by his cousins. He always found a way to get back at them.

"And even if you don't remember much of what you've heard, you still did listen. That's what I'm angry about." he said as he got his white handkerchief and offered it to her.

"You know, a lot has happened today and I'm beginning to have a terrible headache. Let's just forget what I said." he said as he stood again and made his way to the stairs.

"Bye" Serena sniffed before saying towards Mordred's retreating back "Please don't tell anyone 'bout my fear please."

"You can trust me Serena. I promise I won't tell." he assured her. As much as he wanted to stay, Mordred felt very heavy and decided to retreat back to the dungeons.

"Be brave." he said again to her. And with that he made his way down to the dungeons.

Simon had been looking for somewhere to practice this for a bit, he was sure he couldn't get into trouble for what he was about to do, school was for finding out things and Simon was about to find out if he could sing, Simon looked around there was only a few people on this floor so even if he could sing it wasn't as if too many people could hear him.

Simon was nervous he hadn't done anything like this before and didn't want people to say he could sing, well maybe if the school had somewhere where he could practice without people knowing then he wouldn't have to do it here.

Simon decided now was the best time to do it. Simon suddenly spoke louds"A one, A two, and A three." well he had done that okay by the looks of it, now all he had to do was open his mouth and sing as loud as he could.

Simon started to sing"My heart keeps beating so fast, I don't understand the feeling that's inside of me, I want to sing to the moon and the stars, but I'm not allowed too, so you'll lot will have to do." Simon was dancing as he was singing. "First you said you were mine, then you went away, I was so confused, I wanted to cry but I found it hard, then you came back to me, and I just forgave you, I'm such a fool"

Simon stopped singing, he looked around to see if anyone had heard him, well he was sure someone had but did they like it or didn't they, hopefully a Professor hadn't heard him though he was sure he hadn't done anything wrong.

Simon looked around as this guy who looked older than him spoke. "I've always wanted to see if I could sing, so I decided to put on a show." Simon smiled, "I was going to decorate the wall but then decided against it." Simon stood still for a few minutes.

Simon had stood still long enough now it was time to sing his next song. "Hogwarts, Hogwarts your the best, we have the best Professors in the world such as Lafay, Hadley and Bishop, who know a lot of things, I think Hogwarts is the best." Simon was dancing again as he was singing well there was nothing wrong with that now was there.

Simon stared at the boy as he started to speak. "And who are you?" Simon asked, it wasn't as if this boy knew anything about music and surely if Simon wanted to sing he could sing what he wanted. "I was just warming up." Simon smiled. "Anyway I'm practice, to see what I'm good at, if you want to join then you can but otherwise just listen."

Simon looked around well it seemed like no Professor had heard him somehow which was only a good thing, though as he kept reminding himself he wasn't doing anything wrong. "One day my life was perfect, I was in control, then suddenly without warning I lost my way." Simon looked at the older boy and shouted. "IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU."

Dianna walked through the second floor hoping to take her mind off some things. It's been a busy, busy day for her so Dianna needed some peace, tranquility, silence and- someone horribly singing. My god, that guy needed some vocal lessons or Dianna just needed some duck tape. The latter seemed better but sadly she didn't have any with her at the moment.

"Nobody warned me that there was a concert down here." Di told the boy. Oh great, it was footsie guy.

Chloe was walking through the corridors when she suddenly an ear shattering sound. It almost sounded like someone howling in pain. Chloe ran around the corner to see what may have happened. She was suprised to see nothing was wrong. It was just Simon singing. Man this boy needed help. "Uh, hey Simon, mind if I teach you some techniques to help you with this little show you've got going on.". Better than telling him to shut up. He could be good, or atleast not make peoples ears bleed with some practice.

Oakey was on a mission it didn't matter if his new friend Mordred told him not to do it or to go ahead with it. He didn't even care if Mordred was right behind him or not. Oakey NEEDED to get back to the suits of armor, he NEEDED to OVERCOME his fear, he NEEDED to teach that boggart a lesson about messing with his emotions. He was repeating the spell in his head over and and over again Ridiculous no, Redikulos, no Radicalus, NO, NO, NO He said this out loud. Riddikulus! That's what it was he was sure of it. Oakey had learned his first spell and classes hadn't even begun yet. He pushed his way through a crowd of people who were all standing by some awful singer who clearly needed some lessons. OAKEY WAS ON A MISSION!

Simon stared at girl that had played footsie with him. "And no one warned me, that if I started singing idiot Slytherins would come and disturb me." Simon smiled evily. "Now if you don't mind I was in the middle of do..." Simon started to say then...

Another person who didn't like him singing so what, Simon was about to say something rude when he realised it was his friend Chloe, who he hadn't seen for ages. "Hey....." Simon smiled. "The only way you can help is if you join in." Simon smiled he could really do with a singing buddy.

Amy had been bopping away down to potions when she heard raised voices and...Oooh. Simon? Exciting..*eyebrow wiggle* Amy grinned and carried on bopping up to the second floor. Screw potions, ohh haii there Simon Amy grinned...and Di?

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