Sammy had decided staying in the common room too long wouldn't be fun. Besides, he needed to get out there and explore the castle because it was simply magnificent! He found himself in the Entrance Hall, just staring up at the ceiling. Sam had a feeling that a lot of people were giving him weird looks or shaking their heads at him, but he didn't care. He had never seen anything like this. The skyscrapers in New York did not compare to how awesome the castle looked. Yeah he could get used to this.

Wearing her uniform, with no robe coz it was too hot, Louisa was trotting inside the castle after a long walk by the lake. Her cat, Viola, was nowhere to be seen and the girl's were gazing around taking in every detail. The place was almost deserted, students were either in classes or having lunch break. Or whatever.

Except for one.

"Thank goodness! Hey!" She ran after the kid who found joy in staring at the ceiling. "Did you see a fat lazy tabby cat around here?" She put a hand over his shoulder to draw his attention away from the... walls. Or whatever he was staring at. A pet's life was at risk here, no time for sightseeing. Or wallseeing.

Sam was so into looking at the inside of the Entrance Hall...that he didn't hear the girl approaching him. That is...until she talked. He looked at her, somewhat alarmed by her tone. Then she asked about a cat. Really? She sounded like that over a cat?! Sammy eyed the hand on his shoulder. "No..." He looked around and realized how empty the place was. Great. How long had he been standing there?

NO? WHAT? Louisa took her hand off the boy's shoulder, who seemed still in shock of... something. "Are you absolutely sure? She'll be like... tabby. You know dark with strikes of lighter color." Which was what tabby meant but still, "And and.. she'll be lazily walking around. She's not smart or sneaky." Was Louisa rambling? Talking too fast?

"She's my boyfriend's present." Pooooout and folding her arms across her chest as she averted her gaze from the kid's face. She was NOT going to cry. Nope. Not in front of ickle people.

"Can you help me find her?" Pwease?

Sammy shook his head yes. "I know what a tabby looks like. I just haven't seen any cats walk through here..." Then again he wouldn't have been able too. He was too busy looking up at the ceiling.

Sammy watched the girl turn away from him. Yep. She just made the list of weird people he'd met. It was starting to become a long list. Why was she pouting? It was just a cat and it wasn't like it was going anywhere. Who cared if it was her boyfriend's present. He just looked up at the girl. "Erm..." That was an excellent answer.

Oh he knew! Good. He was smart then. Albeit being Slytherin. Hearing the boy's 'erm', Louisa clapped her hands once. "Great then!" Even if the boy was too shy to accept this generous offer of roaming the cathedral-like castle for a cat that belonged to a total stranger, Louisa was going to use him appreciate his help. "I'm Louisa Carter by the way," she added as an afterthought.

Holding her chin with her hand thoughtfully, she squinted her eyes at the huge double doors standing behind them. "Now. If you were a cat, where would you go?" That was a totally serious question.

Wait...what?! Sammy stared at the girl. He thought HE was hyper and weird...but this girl beat him. Heck. This girl even beat Wally and that was a major feat. All he said was 'erm' not that he was up to helping. "Uh...nice to meet you Louisa...but I think I might have a class coming up..." Sammy went to leave and had a feeling he wasn't going to be able to leave. Especially since he had turned towards the dungeons.

He knew that was a logical way to find something...but the girl was taking this way too seriously. "Don't you think the cat could find it's own way back?" It was just a thought.

Blink.

Blink.

More blinking.

Really? He didn't introduce himself and was going to leave her alone in the dilemma? Pffft, that was so Slyetherin of him. The sorting hat surely didn't force anyone into a house. With a straight face she murmured, "Fine." Since when the snakes worried about their classes anyway.

... find its own way back? Hmm. "Well... that's a possibility. But.." if Louisa saw Joao before the cat found her way back, the wall of china would crack down from the tension that would invade the atmosphere. "..it's better if I find her first before... somebody hurt her." Yep, no need to scare the kids. Joao had enough enemies and fearers as it was.

Also, "And she's a she. Not an 'it'." Squinting her eyes at the boy. If he had class and wanted to leave... well, she wasn't going to stop him. She wasn't THAT nagging.

Sammy stopped in his tracks. He was being rude. He was walking off without saying his name...and when he didn't have an excuse to leave. He felt bad now...and could just imagine getting yelled at for this. He turned around to face her. "Nevermind...I'm Sam by the way." Yep. He had definitely been brainwashed with good manners.

Right. Because people were always hurting cats. "Oh. Guess it is better if you find it..."

Sammy just stood there at the way she said the cat was a 'she' and not an 'it'. "Sorry...SHE should be fine."

Oh! He was coming back! Louisa grinned at him, "Nice to meet you, Sam." Who suddenly got bitten by the politeness bug. Or something. And then she nodded her head seriously, yesh it was better if she found it first. "Viola, my cat, is a lazy creature anyway. I bet she's either still making her way up here or around this hall somewhere." Louisa started walking to peer around the pillars standing at the corners of the hall.

Sam could follow suit. He better did, in fact, or she'd fret. Louisa wouldn't bite at least.

"So, Sam, are you new around here? Is that why you were staring up at the ceiling?" Searching for the cat didn't mean they couldn't chat. The boy was nice enough to tag along. even if he needed persuasion first

Selina pat her tummy as she stood up from her seat in the Great Hall. It felt so nice to be back at school and settled. Merlin knew that she was going to be in for quite the shock of her life this term. Now that Elektra was back which she was still trying to not let dampen her night and she was Captain and she had school and classes and friends and Gideon to deal with all this term she knew it was going to get a little hectic. But right now she was just thrilled to be back in school and on her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room. She had missed that place more than she could say. It was a home to her like no other and although she had good parents and no traumatic stories save one, nothing else felt more like home then Hogwarts.

So she collected herself and scurried out of the Great Hall and to the stairs outside of the Great Hall in the entrance hall. She started to make her way to the stairs when she felt her her shoelace was untied. Before she headed up the stairs she leaned down to tie her laces.

Grayson was full and wanted nothing more than to go to bed. He left the Great Hall. As he lazily walked into the Entrance Hall. That was when he saw Salina. With a slow smile creeping up on his face, he approached her and said,"Well if isn't my night angel here to guide me to bed. Or at least to the Gryffindor commonroom. I don't know where it is." he said.

He stepped a bit closer and said,"We keep bumping into each other. I wonder why?" with a slight smirk.

Sammy just smiled up at her. Yeah...he would have felt horrible if he would have been rude. Really guilty. Darn brainwashing... "That does sound like a lazy cat." Most cats he was around were either incredibly active...or incredibly lazy. Usually the second one. Anywho...Sam watched as the girl started to look around behind pillars and such. He decided it would be best to just do the same. Keep away the guilt. He headed over near the hourglasses to look.

"Yeah...and was I really staring?" Sam had hardly noticed. All he knew was the hall was crowded when he had started...which made him wonder how long he was there.

She heard a certain voice echo in her head and she groaned in upset. How had he found her so soon? She thought she had dodged him on the train when she got up and left the compartment in a huff. But the voice proved right when she sat up to see Grayson Bay standing next to her as she finished lacing up her shoes. She swore she was being punished for something she did in a previous life because this guy would just NOT go away.

Selina stood up when she was done lacing her shoes and rolled her eyes at the night angel comment. When he very blatantly hinted that she should be his guide to the Common Room she rolled her eyes and said, "No thanks Grayson. I'm good... and I'm not your night angel."

Then he took a step closer to her and the tiny redhead looked up at him curiously. What in Merlin's name was he getting at? And that smirk was not charming, it was annoying. So she crossed her arms and said, "We aren't bumping into each other... you just keep finding me." And she was not trying to be found.

Grayson clutched his chest and said,"Ouch. Must you hurt me this way." before slipping on a sly smile."You know, I'm not all that offensive. Well, not as bad as you. If you just relaxed a bit and stop resisting me, our relationship could grow some more." he continued.

He looked down at the red head and said,"You are absolutely pretty. Especially when you're all fiesty like this. The defiance is so refreshing." He was enjoying taunting her. He knew she got more fired up when he did.

When he clutched his chest she crossed her arms and looked up at him. She was still not entirely comfortable with how close he had stepped toward her. After all they had just met today and Selina was pretty certain that the pair of them were not on the road to being friends. Although, there was something deep in her mind that was ringing, underneath all of that smirk, could be a decent human being. But she was getting ahead of herself.

He was not all that offensive... but not as bad as her? Did he realize that that statement alone was offensive? She calmed herself down a bit from his stupidity and replied, "You realize that your last statement was offensive, Einstein? And you are the person who is putting our possible friendship at a stalemate..." He was being difficult.

Then he went and did it AGAIN. What was with him calling her pretty and all of the flowery compliments? They were honestly just getting on her nerves. And the whole feisty thing... ugh. She rolled her eyes and retorted, "You are a piece of work. Do you know that Grayson Bay? And thanks for the compliment but that really isn't appropriate to say to someone you want to be your friend."

When Louisa straightened up and saw him looking around as well, she grinned satisfied. He was cute. And nice. Not as rude as she thought he was, maybe he was just creeped out by her? Yep. That probably was it. She moved on to look near the staircase, there were tiny corners where Viola would find best to hide in and sleep.

"Yes, you were." She laughed, "Not that it's wrong or anything. You know a person is a new student when they stare as they walk around. It lasts for a week before you get used to the greatness of the castle, don't worry, I've been there." Only she made sure not to be seen by older students. It didn't work of course but at least Sam didn't run into a meanie older fellow, like she had three years ago. Heh.

"What year are you in? A second year?" He didn't look as ickle as a firstie.

Sammy kept looking around behind the hourglasses...at least looking as much as he could. He really wasn't to thrilled to be looking for this cat, but maybe if he found it for her he could go back to exploring.

"Oh." Sam was going to have to make sure he didn't do that too much. Oh. So a lot of people did that then. Now he didn't feel so weird. "Really? I'm glad I'm not the only one. He didn't see anyone else do it this year.Oh well.

"Nope. I'm a first year." He wondered why the girl assumed he was a second year. Could he really pass for a second year?

"No, it's truthful. You just want call me offensive. What is your deal with me? I'm a normal who speaks the truth and speaks it ever. It is not in my nature to change because one person doesn't like me. If you expect your pouting, huffing and puffing is going to change me, then hold your breath. But let's forget you outright called my rude and obnoxious without getting to know me first. Now that's what I call," she said as he stepped around her. He stopped just beside her and to finish chastising her, he bent his head to her ear and whispered,"offensive."

Grayson knew exactly how to word his argument. Stopping behind her with his face away from her and his hands in his pockets he said,"I'll ask again. Will you show where the common room is? Or shall I wonder around the castle by myself?"

He turned to look at her, waiting for her tirade to begin.

Louisa saw something... fluffy, crammed somewhere deep in a corner of the under staircase. The thing wasn't moving but... it could pass for a cat's tail. "Shh!" She gestured at the boy, who turned out to be a firstie. "Here.." Bending down slowly, "..we.." on her fours, she started crawling forward, "...GO!" Her hands clasped on the tail and she pulled the cat out, the poor creature screeching and clawing with her paws.

"Aww.. come now, dear." She loosened her grip and held the angry cat in her arms, "Looks, Sam, I've found her." Louisa started walking toward the quiet firstie, "Meet Viola." She held the cat from under her forelegs and pushed her toward the boy for.... a paw shake? Whatever came to his mind.

While the girl was grinning satisfied of finding the pet, Viola's eyes were half-open, apparently nonchalant of this big show. And sleepy. Naturally.

She very nearly cringed as he pointed out that she herself had been rude. It was not exactly the effect she had been going for when she made her original statement, but this newly sorted Gryffindor boy drove her up the wall and around the hedge. Every time he smirked at her he gave off this air of confidence that was peculiar. Selina believed that everyone should be self confident and assured in who they are as people, but he did not even know her and was acting a little too chummy for her own liking.

Then he walked around behind her like a shark stalking his prey. She suddenly felt very mindful and jumped a little when he whispered in her ear. What was he plating at. She turned around on her heel and looked up at him dead in the eye. He had backed away and now was acting somewhat civil.

After a few seconds of contemplating her next move she looked him up and down and decided, "Okay. I'll show you to the Common Room..." As she started to head toward the stairs she looked back at him and said, "And I am not obnoxious."

Sammy didn't see the cat anywhere near the hourglasses. He was about to find some other place when Louisa said she found the cat. He walked over and wondered if he was supposed to grab it or something...but she already had her hands on it tail. Sammy couldn't help but flinch as the cat let out screeches. It was NOT happy about having its tail pulled and Sammy figured he would probably feel the same way. You know, if he was a cat.

"I see that." Sam looked at the still angry looking cat in Louisa's arms. She was holding the cat out to him...what was he supposed to do. "Erm...hey Viola." He just looked at the cat, who now seemed to be falling asleep.

No pawshake? Pooooout. Louisa kept her hands under the cat and she smiled down at Sam, "Thank you for the help, Sam. You were really nice." Yes, she was saying this to a younger student. And smiling as she said this. See? She wasn't all bad.

"If you need anything around the school, you can ask me." Like a tourguide, perhaps? Or someone older who bullied him? She had lots of joke products for defense, you know. OR! "I can help with homework, too. Just don't be shy." Flashing another grin at the quiet nice snake boy. Yep, Sam. She was going to remember this name. "You said you had class to attend?" She could help him get there early.

Max was a people-watcher. He liked to know what was going on without being directly involved in things. During the first few weeks of school, he knew the ground floor would be full of excitement: first years trying to decide where to explore, students curious to see who the first house would be to take the lead in the house point race, and groups running outside to enjoy the nice fall weather. It was perfect for seeing who was secretly dating whom and to catch little bits of gossip as people passed.

Now, Max wasn't a gossiper himself nor did he care enough to share any overheard information, but he still liked to invest interest in the lives of his fellow students, even if they didn't know he knew anything. He simply took great pleasure in sitting in a classroom and knowing why two former best friends were avoiding eye contact or why two people were catching each other's eyes and smiling from different sides of the room.

It was just stimulating to be knowledgeable over others' excitement and drama since he had none of his own.

For such reasons, Max decided not to wander out to the grounds to read The Noble Sport of Warlocks in his hand today. Not yet, at least. It was prime people-watching time. As people moved by, Max stepped to the side and leaned against the wall, acting as though he was waiting for someone. Or taking a breather from adventuring down the many staircases from the Ravenclaw common room. Either way, Max let himself look interested in the hourglasses on the wall adjacent to him, casually bending his legs in and out to stretch them. It was a lot of stairs.