Okay, okay! Not laughing, all right? Sheeeeeeesh.

Girls.

If he was still in his old school, Ethan would definitely run for his life. Why? She’s a girl, secondly she looks like a madwoman who woke up on the wrong side of the stairs. It’s a good thing that she doesn’t look that bad, so it’s all good. The Slytherin tucked his hands behind him and staaaaaaaaared at the girl. She’s interesting.

Mhm.

“I actually would want to question that, uh…miss.” He said as he stuck a finger up in the air as if to shut her up. “Why would I pretend to be not lost, when the probability of me getting lost in this huge school is 99.99 percent?” Right? Why pretend when he’s sure he will be? Ethan’s wise enough to admit defeat if he knows he will never win a battle. Deep, but yeah, you get the idea. “Exploring is different from getting lost. Therefore, I made a decision to sightsee the school so that I may know its nooks and crannies by heart.” He said as he did a slight bow to her with his hand on his chest. Is that a good answer? Did that make sense? Hopefully it did, because time’s ticking and he waaaaaanted to cover as much ground as he possible. Besides, he still needs to walk Feo. Yup!

“You seem to be in a bad mood, but may I suggest that you take a walk? Y’know, get those bad vibes out of your system?” He’s being helpful, okay? Okay. And Merlin. He’s hinting! “I can use a buddy.” And that means you, Hufflepuff.

Abel looked up at this pretty girl, and paused before lightening his grip on the stairs. "So... This is normal??" Oh merlin he must be an idiot. Though his parents didn't tell him about some kind of staircase that just moves around all the time. That bit of information would have been nice. Yeah that's real comforting, no one has died. Could you imagine if someone actually feel all the way down to the bottom and DID die? Abel just hoped he wouldn't be the lucky guy to be the first.

Now he had completely let go on the railing and got up to where he was standing. Now, feeling pretty stupid, he cleared his throat at the sound of her question. "Um, my name is Abel. Yeah I'm pretty new, no one told me these things move." As if trying to justify himself, which made him feel like now it didn't make a difference. "What's yours?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by brelovesweasleys

Abel looked up at this pretty girl, and paused before lightening his grip on the stairs. "So... This is normal??" Oh merlin he must be an idiot. Though his parents didn't tell him about some kind of staircase that just moves around all the time. That bit of information would have been nice. Yeah that's real comforting, no one has died. Could you imagine if someone actually feel all the way down to the bottom and DID die? Abel just hoped he wouldn't be the lucky guy to be the first.

Now he had completely let go on the railing and got up to where he was standing. Now, feeling pretty stupid, he cleared his throat at the sound of her question. "Um, my name is Abel. Yeah I'm pretty new, no one told me these things move." As if trying to justify himself, which made him feel like now it didn't make a difference. "What's yours?"

Yes, it's settled, he was adorable.

And she was smiling at him, everything was okay, he wouldn't die so as long as she was here. No harm done to anyone or any flight of stairs. "It's very normal, you'll get used to it." Honest. And if her words weren't enough, surely her smile was trusting enough for him to believe her.

He should trust her, she couldn't lie about this.

Look! He was finally letting go. Excellent! Abel. Huh, she's never heard that name before. "Abel, it's lovely to meet you." Again, he should be grateful he's a Slytherin, otherwise he would've been left in those stairs. "It's alright, I reckon Gryffindors and Ravenclaws are the ones who are told about them on the first night." The others didn't have to use them much unless they were running late or it was the only way to get somewhere.

Like her lesson, which was obviously forgotten. "I'm Lotus Wisteria, but you can call me Lottie if you want." She nodded, and..., "Do you like chocolate?" They should get going soon, though, before this flight of stairs decides to move again, "Where were you heading to?" Fair question, she could give directions.

NOT a grouch? Delilah raised an eyebrow before shaking her head slightly. "Fine, if you say so, Mr. Head Boy." She obviously didn't believe him but whatever. He could think what he wanted to. The girl stifled a yawn and stretched her legs out more comfortably, finally turning to look at Theo with her curious blue eyes. ".... Do girls actually fall for that creepy smile of yours?" Heh. She actually wanted to know.

....... Huh?! Not that bad? Was he joking? What even. "You've always made it a point to annoy me! Like... How about that time you threw mud at me, hmm?"

Agatha had decided to try and take her pet raven up to the owlery to see if it would stay there and quit messing her bedside table.

To be fair, Chess didn't do any mess normally, but Agatha just wanted him in the owlery for a change. He would even be able to mingle with his... kind? Sort of? Owls were very different from ravens, but they were all bird at the end of the day.

Her bird was nicely perched on her shoulder as she walked from the dungeons up to the ground floor, then first floor. When she reached the second floor, though, Chess started trying to climb to the top of her head. It was hard work to keep him down on her shoulder and Agatha would scould the bird as she tried to fix her hair.

This happened many times while she was going up the staircases, and when they reached the fourth floor, the bird, probably realising what his owner was about to do, flew off her shoulder. "Chess!!" Agatha yelped, trying to grab his leg as he went up in the air a meter above her and started flying in circles. "Chess, come BACK here NOW!"

But nope, the bird wasn't going down any time soon, apparently.

SPOILER!!: Agatha ^_^

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ju

Agatha had decided to try and take her pet raven up to the owlery to see if it would stay there and quit messing her bedside table.

To be fair, Chess didn't do any mess normally, but Agatha just wanted him in the owlery for a change. He would even be able to mingle with his... kind? Sort of? Owls were very different from ravens, but they were all bird at the end of the day.

Her bird was nicely perched on her shoulder as she walked from the dungeons up to the ground floor, then first floor. When she reached the second floor, though, Chess started trying to climb to the top of her head. It was hard work to keep him down on her shoulder and Agatha would scould the bird as she tried to fix her hair.

This happened many times while she was going up the staircases, and when they reached the fourth floor, the bird, probably realising what his owner was about to do, flew off her shoulder. "Chess!!" Agatha yelped, trying to grab his leg as he went up in the air a meter above her and started flying in circles. "Chess, come BACK here NOW!"

But nope, the bird wasn't going down any time soon, apparently.

Leah was on her way upstairs to visit her little friend Horatio in the Owlery. She promised her parents that she would take excellent care of her pets this year, and the start was good. The second year did not lose Horatio on the train platform, stopped Filomena from attacking another pygmy puff, and fed them frequently.

The girl squeezed the new toy she got for her owl. It made a cute sound. Grinning, Leah looked up just in time to see a bird flying around above her. An older girl was trying to catch the bird. Gosh her hair was a mess. Normally Leah would criticize the other girl's hairstyle and give some advice, but apparently the bird was the bigger problem right now. "Do you need help?" Not that she could help much, being short and small.

UGH, she couldn't even SEE properly with her her all over the place and Chess flying EVERYWHERE!! Stupid BIRD!!! "CHESS! COME BACK DOWN HERE!" She yelled again, as if she hoped the bird would obey her. She knew it wouldn't because her pets only did whatever they felt like and Agatha did NOT like that. Only SHE could do whatever she felt like.

The Slytherin was jumping a bit, watching to not fall down the stairs or anything, trying to grab the raven to was going in circles above her head when she heard someone speaking to her. She stopped jumping and looked in the direction the voice came from, trying to get her hair out of her face. "Um." It was a bit embarrassing having to admit she did need help, but there was no way to deny it that time, was there? "Yes." She said plainly to the girl she had never seen before. "He needs to go to the owlery but he doesn't WANT to." Agatha added, shooting a glare up towards the raven.

SPOILER!!: Agatha :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ju

UGH, she couldn't even SEE properly with her her all over the place and Chess flying EVERYWHERE!! Stupid BIRD!!! "CHESS! COME BACK DOWN HERE!" She yelled again, as if she hoped the bird would obey her. She knew it wouldn't because her pets only did whatever they felt like and Agatha did NOT like that. Only SHE could do whatever she felt like.

The Slytherin was jumping a bit, watching to not fall down the stairs or anything, trying to grab the raven to was going in circles above her head when she heard someone speaking to her. She stopped jumping and looked in the direction the voice came from, trying to get her hair out of her face. "Um." It was a bit embarrassing having to admit she did need help, but there was no way to deny it that time, was there? "Yes." She said plainly to the girl she had never seen before. "He needs to go to the owlery but he doesn't WANT to." Agatha added, shooting a glare up towards the raven.

Eeep, that was one hyper bird, flying everywhere. It was cute, but Leah suspected that that type of animal probably would not listen to its owner well, and it was soon proved correct. The other girl was yelling at the bird but it would not come down. She seemed embarrassed to see Leah here. The second year coughed and said, "He needs to go to the owlery? Isn't that place for... owls?" She had temporarily forgotten that that was where she was headed for.

"Does the summoning charm work on animals too?" the Hufflepuff asked. It was a suggestion. The girl could summon the bird and lock it up in a cage on the way to the owlery.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, that SILLY BIRD!!!

Agatha SIGHED at the raven that kept flying above their heads. She tried reacheing for it again, but whenever her hands got closer to it, the raven would go a bit further up. "NOOOOOO!!!" You BIRD!!

And the girl that had just appeared out of nowhere asked if Chess needed to go to the owlery, saying that it was a place for owls. "It is, but Chess's been doing a big mess in my room and I can't keep him there anymore." It was partially a lie, actually, because most of the mess was her cat's fault. But Agatha wouldn't accept it, nope. Even having seen the cat doing it before. "I'm going to try and leave him up there with the owls. Besides, he needs to socialise with other birds too." The Slytherin nodded as if she knew what she was talking about. Which he didn't, but whatever.

The Summoning Charm? "Um... I don't know." To be fair, Agatha couldn't even remember the incantation of that Charm, but there was no way she would let that unknown girl know that. Instead, she looked at her and offered: "Why don't you try it?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ju

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, that SILLY BIRD!!!

Agatha SIGHED at the raven that kept flying above their heads. She tried reacheing for it again, but whenever her hands got closer to it, the raven would go a bit further up. "NOOOOOO!!!" You BIRD!!

And the girl that had just appeared out of nowhere asked if Chess needed to go to the owlery, saying that it was a place for owls. "It is, but Chess's been doing a big mess in my room and I can't keep him there anymore." It was partially a lie, actually, because most of the mess was her cat's fault. But Agatha wouldn't accept it, nope. Even having seen the cat doing it before. "I'm going to try and leave him up there with the owls. Besides, he needs to socialise with other birds too." The Slytherin nodded as if she knew what she was talking about. Which he didn't, but whatever.

The Summoning Charm? "Um... I don't know." To be fair, Agatha couldn't even remember the incantation of that Charm, but there was no way she would let that unknown girl know that. Instead, she looked at her and offered: "Why don't you try it?"

Stepping back a bit, Leah watched as the bird flew higher up. To be honest, she did not try reaching for it just like the other girl, because she knew she was too short to catch the bird. She even had trouble reaching for a book in the library, how could she reach a flying bird?

The Hufflepuff nodded, as if understanding the problem of the bird Chess making a mess in the girl's room. She had a pet kneazle in her dormitory herself, and it frequently caused trouble too. "I see.." she said. "That would be nice, making friends with the owls there." It would be cool to have a new type of bird at the owlery too.

Startled, Leah raised an eyebrow, trying to be as calm as possible. She had no idea what the summoning charm was. Change to plan B. "I don't know, I think it could be dangerous. Your bird could literally break a leg or something on the way down." she shrugged. "Uh, does Chess like a specific type of food?" The second year asked.

"Exactly." Agatha agreed with the younger girl about Chess socialising with owls. She stopped jumping around for a bit to get all of her hair out of her face and looked at the random girl. "I'm Agatha Hapgood." She said, ignoring her bird for a couple of seconds. It was impossible for her to ignore Chess any longer, since the bird dove in her direction and pulled a strand of her hair as it flew back up when Agatha tried to reach for it. "CHESS!! Stop that!" The Slytherin shot a glare at her raven.

Chess could break a leg on the way down?? "It's not a good idea to use that Charm then." The third year looked back up at the flying bird and thought for a while. She didn't have a clue how to get the raven back down. If he liked a specific type of food? "Uh... I don't know." Guilty. Her uncle had given her some bird food of some sort so Agatha could feed it, but she had no idea what Chess really liked. "Bird food, I guess? Or uh... a mouse?" Did that even make sense? Did ravens eat mice? She had no idea.

.....Was that why Chess was going bonkers then? "Oh..." Agatha watched her pet as it kept flying in circles. He wanted better food, did he? "I need to talk to my uncle." She announced. The Slytherin was about to go downstairs when Chess flew down and perched on her head, making the girl freeze on spot.

Marigold STAAAARED right back at the person. She was slowly becoming more awake, so her annoyedness was ebbing away. Plus he called her miss which was endearing, okay? An honest feeling of regality was gained with that four letter word. "I'm Marigold, by the way." Had she said that? She couldn't remember through her sleepy haze of a minute ago. "So, explorer then. You're a first time Hogwartian, then?" She couldn't remember if she had set out to explore during her first term. She didn't think so, but then again all she could remember from that year was ice cream, Kace, and Ronnie.

Sightseeing. That was a good way to phrase it. And the last dregs of Marigold!monster left her system right as he invited her on a walk. "Sure! Tallyho, explorer."

MERLIN DID SHE JUST SAY TALLYHO WHAT WAS HAPPENING HE MUST BE AN INFLUENCE!

Girls. The way they change their mood is worse than the moving staircase, really. But then again, why would one Ethan Mordaunt complain? At least this person in front of him is now a proper lady, and not some monster, evil...ANYWAY. Introductions of course!

"Ethan. Pleased to meet you Marigold!" Ethan waved at her and tucked his hands behind him. Now, this is more like it. He'd rather explore the castle with someone who is in a good mood. "Yep. It's my first time here. You guys got a really huge school. And...a moving staircase!" Ethan moved to the side and peeked at the bottom. "I have a question though. Why does it move?" He never asked his prefects, Cassia and Theo about it, but hey! Maybe Marigold knows the answer.

There she was.

Just sat in the middle of the staircase with her Hogwarts: A History book opened up and her head tilted downward, devouring the book as her eyes darted left and right along the pages. This was quite possibly her favorite place to read now that the outside was cold and not really safe for her book or people apparently.

Swaying a little as the staircase began to move, Coral-Bay lifted her head to take a look around, having been oblivious to the world around her only moments ago.

She didn't want to move from her position on the staircase as it felt safest there. However, she wasn't really afraid of heights, she liked to sit on the edge of the wooden bridge outside and lean over it and everything- but there was something different about the staircases, maybe the ever curious eyes of the paintings on the walls, that made her uncomfortable sitting too close to either side.

The inside of the castle seemed even more full than usual, especially when there were not lessons taking place. Charlie blamed the cold, obviously, for forcing more people inside. She herself missed sitting under the beach tree, and walking by the lake, but she had to deal with it.

They all had to. Speaking of dealing with it, Charlie meandered a long the staircase, darting ahead of the crowd that was swelling behind her, coming from one classroom or another. Spotting a young Ravenclaw in the middle of the staircase, she hurried down it as soon as it stopped moving.

"Come on." She said, taking Coral-Bays forearm and motioning and attempt at pulling her to her feet. "There's a whole classroom on its way down here." And she didn't want the younger girl to get crushed.

That would be bad.

Eyes skimming some more, her face lit up a bit as she was reaching her favorite part of this chapter, that she'd read about 10 times already, and skimmed faster causing herself to get more and more excited at a book that would probably bore most to tears.

Ooooh ooooh ooooooh! The best part! Just as she was about to turn the page, her arm was grabbed and she was being pulled up. What in the- She plunged her finger into the book, holding her place and put on a pouty face for Charlie. What in Merlin's name was she doing?

Stumbling forward a little, Coral continued giving the older girl a pout for interrupting her, even after she'd explained herself. "A whole classroom?" Awww, dang. Hearing the approaching footsteps, she tucked the book under her arm and let the girl lead her off and out of the way.

"What class just got out?"

"A whole classroom." Charlie confirmed with a nod, guiding the younger girl towards the railing. As she'd approached from behind, she'd managed to drop a piece of paper into the girls page, and hoped it stayed when she closed the book.

Nothing was worse than losing a page, in Charlie's opinion, no matter the book. She hadn't noticed the younger girl stick her finger in between the pages, though. And she was ignoring the pouty look. The kid could pout allllll she wanted, but Charlie was just trying to help. "Not sure." Watching the people pour past, the sixth year leant again the bannister and sighed. It looked like her trying to avoid the crowd had failed. All to help someone. Gosh, maybe she should have been mean and stuff and just sauntered past.

Leah was glad to agree with the girl on something. She thought that Slytherins were not really the.. agreeing type. And maybe that was why she had never thought to introduce herself first. "I'm Leah." Agatha certainly looked better without her hair jumping around. Hmm, also without her bird messing with it. The Hufflepuff could kind of understand better why she wanted to send the bird upstairs.

Phew. The girl was not going to push Leah further to try the spell, which was more than great. As Agatha looked up, she followed her gaze to the bird. Coming to think of it, she had never seen that type of a bird before. It was definitely not a owl.. she looked back at the girl when she mentioned mice. "I was planning attracting your bird with its favorite food." she said, shrugging.

She was leaving? Then what was Leah supposed to do? Watch the bird and let it stay at its spot or just leave? "Huh? Who's your -" she was about to ask when the bird Chess landed on Agatha's head. Leah supposed it was her responsibility to catch it. Creeping up slowly behind the two, she jumped and grabbed for the bird.

Coral tilted her head up to watch the girl's expression as she was guided away from the stampede. She didn't even notice when Charlie had slipped the paper into her book. Apparently, she had been too busy keeping a pout on her lips to notice the girl's kindness.

"Do you really think they would have trampled me?" Don't people pay attention to where they're walking anymore? She huffed and pressed her self against the railing as the kids came pouring past, turning her pouty on them instead of Charlie.

Would it be really mean to trip a few for interrupting her reading in a roundabout sort of way? It could be really dangerous.. They could fall off the stairs. Or they would just fall maybe.. and that would make her feel better for a little bit. Was she thinking too much like Hallie?

Marigold nodded at Ethan. It made sense that he was a newbie. "I'm still learning things about this school, and I've been here four years." She started walking to the stairs, then threw a casual "Moving staircases," over her shoulder at Ethan. "Because… it wants to trick us?" She pondered for a second. "I don't know, do you think Hogwarts is… alive?"

THAT IS SUCH A SCARY QUESTION.

Ethan grinned. "See? This school is so huge! Four years and you're still exploring Hogwarts." Which, by the way should be entirely okay because it makes school life exciting no? And yes, he's quite intrigued as to why the moving staircase moves? Is it for...security purposes? Is it...timed for some reason? Or does it force the students and staff to explore Hogwarts more?

Ethan's somewhat drawn to the last idea, but then stopped when Marigold said something about this school being alive?

The Slytherin tilted his head. It is possible! Ethan crouched and tickled the steps with his hand and it moved! "IT IS ALLIIIIIIIIVVVVEEEE!!!"

They're gonna die!

Marigold actually did like the largeness of Hogwarts: she could always find a hidey-hole or somewhere new to explore. By now, she was completely into going around and exploring with this strange but interesting guy. Plus, she could be all tour guidey and totally quote stuff her grandpa told her.

'Yes, this here suit of armor once jumped and landed on my grandfather's friend's head…" Yeaaaah. Very exciting stories.

GASP. Hogwarts WAS ALIVE!@@!@O$Q$*(&#(*$&()#!*#)(!*#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do they do now? Do they…. talk to it or something? Marigold looked warily at the ground. "If it's alive, and we're saying hypothetically it is… what does it… eat?"

FINGERS CROSSED NOT STUDENTS!

Agatha was still glaring up at her bird when the girl introduced herself. "Nice to meet you." She said almost mechanically as she was busy trying to think of ways to get her raven to come back down. "UGH!!" Silly BIRD!!

The Slytherin wouldn't admit this girl she just met was right about attracting Chess with his favourite food. "Yeah, I thought of that, but it didn't work." She lied, avoiding the girl's gaze, going from watchign the raven fly to facing downstairs where she was about to go. The third year was about to respond to Leah when she had to freeze on stop because of Chess being on her head again.

Agatha's eyes were fixed on one random point of the staircase in front of her as she considered how to move to grab Chess without him flying off again. Before she did anything, her body suddenly felt a lot heavier and then she was pretty much tackled and almost fell over and rolled down the stairs. She clinged to the handrail and felt something tugging on her hair multiple times! "AAAAARGH!!!" The girl flailed one of her arms trying to reach for the bird, but Chess just kept pulling her hair with his free leg as the other one was probably being held by the Hufflepuff girl.

If Ethan had the time, he would have given his companion a stare. They were in danger, did she not know? The stairs…it’s moving, and her theory’s right about Hogwarts being alive! Good Merlin, was she a Ravenclaw? Asking information while they’re in danger? Ethan just concentrated on holding the stone railing and looked all the way down.

Merlin have mercy.

“I don’t knoooooow! We’re gonna die soon and you’re asking me that question, like what—“ Ethan stopped because the stairs stopped moving, and they’re not dead.

Blink.

“Oh. We didn’t die. What was your question again?” Ethan asked calmly as if nothing happened. Merlin. Sorry about that.

"Probably."Charlie was apparently being unusually short and blunt. She blamed it on schoolwork, and helping kids, and lack of boyfriend time. It wasn't even a matter of her boyfriend not going to the same school, anymore - last year, when she'd pined for Tristan for that reason, she'd felt it unwarranted, due to their lack of status. Now, however, he was just older, and working, and her loss was totally deserved.

She sighed as she watched the last few people dribble past, before turning to Coral. "I mean, you're little. You're one person. They're like... thirty. And impatient." You know, the definition of teenagers. She felt better having elaborated, and pushed her blonde hair out of her face as she sat down, leaning against the barrier.

"Sorry."