Being rusty and out of shape stunk...majorly. Adam felt like he could hardly move, and as soon as he found an open bench along the corridor his butt was plopping onto it. Adam eased himself onto the seat, his hamstrings screaming in protest as he did so.

Good. Lord.

Adam had been working out...running and lifting...so why in the world was he this sore? Of course he was sure his pain was nothing compared to poor Kurumi who had rather forcefully collided into the stands. He had been meaning to ask her if she was alright, but unfortunately he hadn't gotten a chance to speak to her after practice....

After seeing the Healer, Kurumi had been given a clean bill of health and she was as good as new minus the splint around her wrist. Nothing too serious, just a small fracture from it being twisted strangely while trying to hold onto the snitch during her last grab. She had certainly suffered far worse in kendo and much MUCH worse at the hands of her own classmates.

As Kurumi walked and slowly rotated her write, she spotted Adam looking a little worse for wear. "Adam? What are you doing here?"

Adam was rubbing out his leg with his hands when he heard someone speak to him. Well...speak of the devil. Adam gave Kurumi a little smile, but the smile turned downwards slightly as he spotted the splint on her hand. Poor Kurumi...

"Hey Kurumi," Adam said with a little smile. "I was just taking a minute to sit down and relax...I'm quite sore from practice, but your pain looks like it's worse than mine," Adam said with a little chuckle. "Are you alright? That was quite a nasty spill you took in the stands at practice."

"Oh, this?" she said looking at her wrist and blushing a bit. "It's nothing really. I've been through worse." She giggle in a rather weak attempt to cover up the awkwardness of what her words implied. "I guess I just took Carter's words a bit too much to heart." You know, grab the snitch or dying trying sort of words that were supposed to spark a fire in her fighting spirit but she had instead taken literally.

Adam raised his eyebrows slightly when Kurumi said she'd been through worse. "Well I'm sorry to hear that," Adam said with a little frown. "How long do you have to wear the splint? Adam asked, inclining his head towards the girl's wrist. He had broken his arm when he was really little, three or four but he couldn't really remember back that far, but he did remember how uncomfortable that cast had been. He would be avoiding that again at all costs.

Adam chuckled a little. "Well we all appreciate your heart and effort...that fearlessness can be really useful for Quidditch, but perhaps next time we could find a way for you to be fearless without any injuries involved," Adam said, giving Kurumi a warm smile.

Kurumi shrugged her shoulders slightly, deciding that she would rather not go into details about that part of her past. "Just for a few days, a week tops," she said as she held it up and rotated her wrist to take a look at the bandages for no real reason. "Sure makes writing notes in class and doing homework more difficult though."

Kurumi blushed and turned her head towards the ground. Kurumi had never thought of herself as fearless. She often times found herself shaking in her school shoes when it came to flying. Did fearlessness also involve the ability to overcome fear? If that was the case, then maybe she has just a little bit of that in her. "I don't really fancy too many trips to the hospital wing that's for sure," she laughed.

Adam gave a little nod of the head as he watched Kurumi rotate her bandages to look at them. At least that wasn't too much time to have to wear the thing, and hopefully that time would go by quickly. "If you ever need any help writing or anything, let me know. I'd be more than happy to!" Adam knew writing with a cast was not the most enjoyable experience in the world, and he imagined writing with the splint on would be pretty similar.

Adam gave a little when Kurumi mentioned not wanting to take too many trips to the Hospital Wing. "I am hoping to avoid it myself," Adam said with a little smile. "So far so good..." Adam gave the wooden bench beneath him a little knock. "So, how are you enjoying classes and everything?" Adam asked, scooting over on the bench in case Kurumi wanted to sit down. She had been working hard at Quidditch practice so he wouldn't be surprised if she was a bit tired herself.

Kurumi smiled and a slightly darker shade of pink painted her cheeks. "Thank you, Adam. It means a lot." She set her hands on her lap. "I think I will be alright, maybe I will try writing with my other hand. Work the other side of my brain for a bit." That would be a good thing to do the year before OWLs, right? Good training and what not.

"Let's look out for each other then," she smiled. "Make sure that we both don't do things that will send us to the hospital wing." She laughed a little og the mental image of her and Adam suiting up in armor made out of pillows. Her giggles ended when he asked about classes. "They're...alright...I am not looking forward to History of Magic's next lesson..."

"Don't mention it," Adam said with a little smile. Adam chuckled a little when Kurumi proposed writing with her other hand. "That could be useful...perhaps you'll get so good at writing with your left hand that you'll switch to writing with your left permanently," Adam said with a sideways smile. "Or it'll just help you to be more ambidextrous." At least that was what Adam had heard anyway...

Adam gave a little nod of the head in agreement. It would be useful having them look out for each other. An extra set of hands, eyes, and magical skills was never a bad thing in Adam's humble opinion. "Maybe we should snag one of those suits of armor off the third floor to wear, then strap pillows on the front of them. We'd definitely be invincible," Adam said, laughing at the idea of it. Whew that would be a sight to see! Adam gave another little nod when Kurumi mentioned her classes. "That first History of Magic lesson was really interesting," Adam said with a little nod. "I really like our Professor as well."

Muttering to herself Lexi made her way out... from where she had been hiding... and SIGHED. She was done. It was glorious. GLORIOUS I SAY. She still had ink smudges all over her face and hands, but she didn't care because she was finally going to get some fresh air.

Hitching her bag up higher on her shoulder she paused to lean against the wall. Smiling to herself she closed her eyes for a moment before giggling slightly. Was she losing her mind? No. Surely not. Heh. When she opened her eyes she noticed that her shoelace was untied and bent forward to remedy this... only sending inkwells and quills scattering across the floor. GUUUUUUUH!

Salander was a little lost, his head hasnt been this crowded with stuff to do since.... well ever. Just as he turned the corner he saw his Gryffincess finally come around from her tasks. He crept towards her intending to give her a surprise hug when she suddenly bent forward, her belongings spilling on the floor.

He stopped short just behind her and boomed suddenly "Ten points from Gryffindor for littering!"
*chuckle!snort*

Didn't anyone ever teach him NOT to SNEAK UP ON A GRYFFINDOR?! Lexi squeaked and threw her elbow back instinctively... which lucky for Sal was nowhere near him since she was bent over. "GREAT MERLIN, STRADIVARIUS! YOU NEARLY GOT YOURSELF ATTACKED!" she exclaimed as she held her hand over her heart and straightened up to glare at him a bit.

Yeah just a bit seeing as she was really stoked to see him. Blowing her fringe from her face she promptly rolled her eyes at him. "Take points from me all you want to, Sir. You will just have to make it up to me somehow... oh an you would have to face Madam Donovan when she heard about it," she said with a smirk. Heheh.

Her things now forgotten...and her shoelace... she stuck her arms out for hugs. HUGS? Lots of them? Yes? Please!

He let out a cackle when Lexi jumped up in surprise. Yeah a little joke he'd like to pull once in a while, although he knew all too well what them elbows can do. Chuckle!grinning as Lexi spoke he decided to pick up her belongings quickly and placed them back into her bag. Surely he didnt want anybody walking along to get into an accident, slipping and hitting their head then running to his Head of House whining about irresponsible seventh years innit?

Sure that all of Lexi's things are safely back in he slung her bag over his shoulder and turned towards her, then wrapped his arms around her. "I was just joking Luv" he grinned and kissed her nose. Awww ink smudges all over? "You look like you need help with a little clean up" Cue eyebrow waggling.

Lexi was not nearly as amused by this as Salander seemed to be, but she still couldn't be angry with him. Contrary to popular belief she wasn't a fire breathing hag... or any of the other terrible things that had been said about her lately. Which, THANKFULLY, she had no clue about the goings on since she had been locked away working on important things. Heh.

She smiled at him as he tucked her things away and then happily returned the hugs he gave her. SIGHS FOR LIFE... good sighs that is. "I know you were, love. I wouldn't think for a moment you would do something that silly." Hehehe. She scrunched her nose playfully as Sal kissed it and then giggled at his brow waggles. "You silly man! Why would you say I needed to get clean? Hmmm. I think I look utterly Ravenclaw with all the ink and such. I think I lost a quill in my hair last week sometime... must have come out in the shower though 'cause I haven't found it yet," she said with a shrug.

"No tell me Head Boy Salander... is it against the rules to give your girlfriend a quick snog in the corridor? If we make it quick and no one sees us?" she inquired with a smirk.

Everett hadn't had any idea of what Hogwarts would be like when he transferred, so he found it surprising how much work he had ended up doing. He was tired of studying and doing homework, and ready for a break. So he mused about possible things he could do while he strolled around the school.

The fifteen year old ran a hand through his hair, glancing around for a familiar face, or someone else he could chat to. He could play his guitar instead, but that would involve having to go back to the dorms to get it, which he could not be bothered doing. So he would stick to just looking for a chat instead.

"Ohhh a quill lost in your hair? Well I really need to spend time looking for it then...." he grinned as he combed his fingers through her hair, parting it a bit this way and that, pretending to be looking for that all elusive quill. "Ravenclaws are good folks, but I wouldnt trade my Gryffindor Princess for anything." Insert cheesy grin here.

He looked around and, realizing that they are kinda in the middle of the corridor, he pulled Lexi by the hand and walked further down, finding a nice, secluded corner not easily seen from passersby or anybody gazing from other floors "Better?" he smirked and leaned for a meaningful kiss. Man, he missed doing these little things with her. The trouble with being busy with tasks, the love life takes a back seat. And he's gotten all sad face with that.

Lexi gave a fit of giggles and playful swats as Salander picked through her hair as she often woke to Rufus doing. "Did you spend too much time with the monkey over break, love? He teaching you bad habits?" she asked with MORE giggles. And now look at that... he had gone and messed her hair up. SIGHS. "Good for you that your Gryffindor Princess has a little Ravenclaw AND a little Slytherin in her. Not a plain old boring Gryffindor. I have some depth," she said trying to keep a straight face and FAILING.

She squealed with glee as he tugged her toward a hidey hole down the corridor throwing glances over her shoulder on occasion. Hehehe. She returned the sweet kiss and then saw that look on his face. "Why've you got your sad face on, Stradivarius? What's been going on wif you? Anything exciting to tell me about? Taken any points? MISSED ME MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF?" She pulled him in for a hug and lay her head on his shoulder. The PERKS of having grown an inch over break AND wearing heels. It was a stretch, but she could still rest her head there without too many problems.

After getting an owl about the whole Slytherin Sidekicks mentoring thing that he had signed up to do earlier in the term, Matt was highly intrigued over the fact that he was to be meeting with not one but two students who had been transfers; at least that was something that he understood what with being from Los Angeles and being officially a Hogwarts student for the past couple terms. He decided to strangely explore exactly what the fifth floor had since that had been one of the few places he hadn't been yet, maybe there would be some kind of clue to the mysteries of the school and the whole decree situation.

But as he wandered about through the corridor, he came about a younger boy who had to have been a Slytherin since he was at the house meeting a couple months ago with the Head Boy and Girl about why the house was in such trouble points wise. "Hey, what's up dude?" He nodded slightly before putting his hands behind his back at least for the moment.

He wrapped his arms around his Gryffincess and rested his cheek against her head, eyes glazing over as it stared at nothing in particular "Oh just..... stuff. A lot of stuff. Didnt think being Head Boy was this tough. I mean Finn looked real cool about this all last term. Maybe because he's got smarts and knows how to do stuff easily where I have to struggle and rack my head all the time." Then he shifted so he can peer into Lexi's face "Yeah I miss you Luv-- our little moments like these..." he said as he hugged her even tighter "... really taught me how to value these more. " Precious moments versus preassure moments.

"Well there are drawbacks to responsibility. Those are facts of life, love. And Finn never LOOKED cool. He ACTED cool. HUGE difference. He was stressed out, I am sure of it." She knew Finlay well enough to know he probably DID get stressed a fair bit about things. Mhm. "Oh love that's not fair to yourself. You are brilliant." She KNEW this for a fact.

She snuggled into his grip and closed her eyes. "Well we won't have to sneak about and steal moments for much longer. We will be free and happy for a little while at least," she reminded him with a little poke to his nose. Hehe. She did, however, tighten her grip on him as well. "That being said; I miss you, too. So much." Indeed she did.

"Well...." Taryn glanced around all suspicious like. "See, I heard the conspiracy theory from Sierra Greingoth." She smiled, "Do you know Sierra? I bet you know everyone, being a Prefect and stuff." HEHE.

Sierra was totally one of her BFFS, even if the other Slytherin girl didn't know it yet. "There's lots of ideas, really. Hard to tell which ones are true and which ones aren't."

This would've been hilarious if it wasn't so mortifying, actually, because the ONLY thing that mattered from everything that this girl had said was...that there were conspiracy theories going around, and no one even knew where the house-elves were.

He knew where the house-elves were. They were EVERYWHERE, but they didn't want to be seen. Not that he was going to mention that to the girl in front of him.

"I know her," he said, a smirk showing across his face, "I'm Treyen, by the way...and you would be...?" THERE! He didn't know everyone.

He heard what she'd said and resisted the urge to laugh. "The house-elves are all fine. I wouldn't worry about them. I'd worry about the girl who's speaking of house-elves gone missing." Because that little girl might end up missing instead, yes?

GRIN. That was true. He didn't know EVERYONE. Hehe. "Taryn." Yep, that was her name. It wasn't lovely like Vivian or EVOLETTE MCKENNA, but it was good enough, in her opinion.

Taryn gasped, "Really? You think something will happen?" OH HOW EXCITING!

And kind of scary and dangerous, but EXCITING!

Taryn?

"That's a pretty name." He said, tilting his head to one side as he finally smiled nicely to the girl. Finally. The smirk was gone. He was just smiling, because he actually liked the name.

Taryn.

It was...different. And nice. Another nice Slytherin. Man, there were many Slytherins at Hogwarts this year, were they not? Or they all seemed to find him.

Oh, there was NOOO scaring this one, right? "Something will. And if I were you, I'd probably go knock on the Potions Mistress door to ask for help on how to overcome the terrible events that will haunt Hogwarts this year." Yeah, those drama lessons paid off, eh? Or were they Lola lessons? "And I say Potions Mistress because she's your Head of House." So, basically, go ask Lafay some random and amusing questions about house-elves on the run or something.

Jade was walking around the school, now on the fifth floor, waving to boys and enjoying herself. She had won countless numbers of beauty contests all around the world and she wouldn't waste one day not looking good. However, she did miss it back home where she would hang out with her brother, Mark, and ignore her parent's insults. Now that was the life.

While she was walking she accidentally ran into a girl and rolled her eyes. "Can't you see I'm walking here?" She asked, waiting for the girl to step aside.