……..

Why did all of the corridors of Hogwarts look the same? She knew that the portraits were different, but when the contents of said pictures could move - it didn’t help figuring out where you were. Stopping, the eleven year old crossed her arms and looked back up the corridor in the direction that she had just arrived, and down the corridor that she was going. She could see a staircase moving - but did that take her towards the entrance?

…..

She only wanted to try and find her way to see Professor Thompson. A few of her relatives had mentioned that they could go and visit animals! How cool did that sound? But… along the way one of the staircases had moved on her (which was REALLY cool) and she was now in a new, or at least non-memorised part of Hogwarts.

She should just go back the way she came.. but that really meant that she had just wasted her time… and what if the staircases had moved? Then she would be stood there with nowhere to go.

Griffin!!!

Maybe she could find someone that could help her. Looking around her she saw…. no-one. Great. Okay. Keep walking and ask the first person that you find. Hopefully it would be someone who would be willing to help her.

OH! LOOOOOK!

Prefect man… Uhh…. She couldn’t remember his name, BUT BUT he had been lovely at the feast when he had introduced himself originally… ”Uh, excuse me?” Blinkblink. Did she look lost and confused because she felt it… and she didn’t like it.

It had become a norm for Adi in such a short period of time to find himself trying to practice non verbal spells around the Castle and its grounds. Today he was trying to to levitate a suit of armour but OF COURSE this little expedition was proving futile also.

"Maybe I should have started with something much lighter,'' he muttered to himself. Like maybe a portrait. There were quite a few hanging around here but they looked so... er, disgruntled? Well, in other words, they looked to be in a bad mood. Must be something about this corridor. Heh.

Just as he spun around from the armour, he heard that familiar voice yet he could not place it. Not until he noticed it was the new Hogwartian Marsha.

"Hello, hello!'' Adi was always pleased to meet the newbies of the Castle. They were innocent and SHORT. Man, he was positive he had not been that short when he was a firstie. LOL. "What's up, Marsha?'' Seeee? He remembered her name. "Do you need help with something?'' She did look a tad confused.

As Adi turned towards her, Marsha gave him a small wave hello just to break the nerves and ice a little bit. Not that she was nervous of him - the castle was just HUGE and she genuinely had no idea where she was… she thought she was on the third floor but really by now she could be on the second for all that she knew. Silly long corridors.

”Hi Adi.” She said, and as he recognised her he got a BEAMING smile. ”I … uh. Was wondering if you could help me? I’m a little lost.” She frowned as she looked up and down the corridor. I was looking to go to the other side that the staircase way back there” POINT. Point. “-goes to - but it moved on me… and I’ve never been in this corridor and I don’t know where to go.. and I’ve been walking for ages and I don’t seem to be getting anywhere.”

The Welsh girl frowned as she explained what had happened. Honestly, those silly amazing staircases. Couldn’t they only move when you asked them too? What if she had been going to class. She wouldn’t have made it on time that was for sure. She hoped that the Professors wouldn’t have been too upset and mad at her if that HAD happened. It wouldn’t have been her fault… Right?

”I’m trying to get outside… I overheard Zander saying that you could see animals if you talked to the Care of Magical Creatures Professor and were good and stuff.” Marsha loved animals - she wasn’t one to miss an opportunity like this, ever. She was excited enough as it was to study about them, but if she could see them outside of classes? Well, the eleven year old would be there. Definitely.

Adi returned the wave cheerfully even though Marsha was close by to him now. And she remembered his name! AWESOMEEE! He liked her huge grin, by the way. Very cheerful was this little lioness.

Help? Helpful was Adi's middle name. Hehe. "Sure! What's the problem?'' He watched as a frown appeared and Marsha begin to explain her predicament. Ahh! She was lost! He nodded understandingly. "No worries. Those staircases were the cause of me ending up in places I did not want to be back in my first year.'' So Adi totally understood where Marsha is coming from. Darn staircases. They were fun to be on when they were moving about but definitely not fun when they deposited you on a floor you did not need to go on at the time -___-

"It's pretty simple, Marsha. All you have to do is go straight down to the end of this corridor...'' Adi pointed towards the opposite end of the corridor on which they were standing. "There is a staircase- not moving- at the end there so you can go right down to the other floors to go outside.''

Turning his attention to the awesome subject of creatures, Adi replied, "Zander's quite right! Once you're signed up for it, you can play with the creatures.'' Speaking of the creatures, it had been a while since he had seen his fairy friends. He suddenly had an idea. "How about we visit the creatures together? That way you wouldn't get lost again.''

YES! He wanted to do that!

Marsha looked up at Adi and then sighed as he told her that the staircases had played tricks on HIM too. That was better… At least they weren’t just picking on her, right? Right. It was much better knowing that it was a problem for the whole student body rather than just one Welsh first year who had noooo idea where she was. Nice staircases for tormenting the whole school. Giggle!grin.

So, she had to follow this corridor… well, at least she was helplessly wandering in the right direction! Annnd at the end of it there would be a staircase that would pretty much lead her outside. Oh, that didn’t seem too hard, but what about when she got outside? Where did she go from there? She hadn’t had a Care of Magical Creatures lesson yet… Griffin, she really needed to search more of the castle so that she wouldn’t feel so lost all of the time.

Gasping, Marsha grinned at Adi. ”Oh woah, that would be amazing! Are you sure? Were you not on the way to do something when I interrupted?” She asked him. She didn’t want to stop him from doing something else he wanted to do … but if he really was free then she would love the company. Maybe she could find out where some of the other classrooms and important places were on the way there… Just like AJ had offered… And Zander… Hmm, maybe she needed to talk to them and ask them to take her on a tour.

She was slowly inching in the right direction, hoping that he really would go with her. She was excited now.

MAGIC CREATURES! What wasn’t there to be excited about?

Poor Marsh. She looked so dejected about the rude staircases. Yep, Adi had thought of them as rude when he was younger but now? He thought nothing of them but fun, fun, FUUUUN! One day he would conduct an experiment with those stairs. There were some questions he needed answered. Of course he could just look for those answers in books but what fun would that be? Holed up in the library again? No thank. He had had enough of that last year.

Buuuut back to the firstie! "It would be and yesh! I am one million percent sure, Marsha.'' He would switch anything he doing in a heartbeat if it meant going off on an expedition to meet creatures. "Nah, don't you worry about that. I was just practicing non verbal spells but I suck at it.'' No need for a disappointed and frustrated Adi to take over right now. A trip to see creatures would keep that Adi away. Plus he had the company of the always (so far) cheerful Marsha. "Did you know there are fairies there? And winged horses?" Gosh, Adi was getting all excited at the thought of seeing his two fairies. They were STILL there, right? He had not had the time to check in on them since coming back to Hogwarts.

Adi holstered his wand. "Come ON, Marsha! Let's go meet the creatures! Any ones in particular you want to see?" Was she a HUGE magical creature fan as he?

Kace needed to do his Potions homework. He owled Puck and asked her to do the homework with him. He got her reply and she said she didn't have a partner which was perfect. He told her to meet him on the third floor. I mean he thought of the idea of being near the hospital wing incase anything happened out of the blue. As he got near the third floor corridor and he picked a nice cozy spot, he realized Puck isn't here yet.

Typical. She was always fashionably late. He shrugged and began to explore while waiting for her. He had his potion vial ready to take. Apparently this potion was supposed to make him really happy. He was gonna see how that went. He wondered what potion Puck made.

Okay so she might have been a bit late…but c’mon they were in the second floor and stairs were evil. Seriously, they kept moving on her and bringing her the wrong way like it didn’t want her to meet up with Kace at all…brilliant.

“Hey,” she muttered panting slightly as she got there. “I had to take five different corridors to get to the right staircases,” she groaned and took a deep breath coughing a bit. “I promise I’m not out of shape but seriously when I was on the fourth floor the staircase stopped mid movement...and then stopped on the wrong side so I had to run around the third floor to get here" she groaned and finally sent him a grin.

“So what potion did you make?” She asked excitedly.

As Kace was exploring the corridor a little bit more, he heard someone huffing and puffing down the hall. He turned around and noticed Puck was coming down. He laughed at her because it was just Puck ya know? Of course she was late because she messed up. "Easy there Puck.." he told her. "It is fine just remember to breathe is all. Do you need water?" he asked concerned. Man her cheeks were really pink. Now onto the task at hand, "Oh I made the Happiness potion. What did you make?" he asked excitedly back.

"I mean I am not gonna lie I am quite concerned for these side effects." he chuckled hopefully Puck felt the same way.

Puck just grinned over to Kace. “I think we need to take the chance, and go for it.” She chuckled as she took his potion in hand. “but I’m fine, I just got lost this place is like a maze,” she laughed some more now calmer than she had been before.

Okay.

So.

“Lets do this,” she grinned as she uncorked his potion drank down the vile of potion. It was sweet, and almost as soon as she swallowed it she could feel the change. Her usual snark was disappearing and there wasn’t any heavy pressure in her heart or hurt…she felt, like she was floating on a breeze all happy and gosh, it felt great. It was so annoying really.

The smile on her face was ridiculous like something a sycophant would use. “I feel insane,” she laughed and well…giggled.

Kace laughed and totally agreed with her. This place was like a maze no doubt about it. I mean sometimes he got lost. It was nothing to be ashamed of. I mean if you got lost you had an excuse to explore what the castle had to offer. He nodded and took a swig of his potion when she did at the exact same time. Least it didn't have a bad taste. As he took it, he noticed how happy he felt. He felt his smile widen beyond his control. He couldn't help but laugh when Puck laughed. He didn't know why he was soo unbelievably happy. "Hahaahah I feel sooo GREAT!" he said and began to dance around.

He began to walk around the corridor and began to prance around. "Mann Puck I feel like I am on cloud nine.." he chuckled and began to look at the ceiling. "HEY HEY YOU KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD DO?" he asked with a cheery smile. "We should goooo into the forbidden forest. I have like a happy feeling about it." I think Kace might have gone a little too happy at this point. This was beyond his control.

Puck smiled over to him as she felt the euphoria setting in. Sure, she could feel her usual thoughts going about swimming in her head as if they were being thought through a filter. “Kace this feels nice right?” She grinned over to him.

And began to skip down the hallway even trying to do a cartwheel that only ended in her sliding across the floor. “Oh that was silly,” she laughed and then heard what he had said. “The forest is forbidden though,” she laughed and beamed at him.

“You sound crazy, I love crazy…we should find people and hug them” she grinned as she disappeared into a classroom and reappeared craft supplies, stencils, and a piece of parchment…taking the supplies she quickly snuck up behind the still moving Kace and attached the parchment to his back after writing on it.

“There. Now you say free hugs!” She beamed at him before duplicating the sign and attacking more to him, on his legs, stomach, arms…seeeeeeee now even creatures knew where to hug him.

“You look great Kace, all fun and happy and I’m going to do it I’m doing this” she laughed as she practically thrust her arms around him and SQUEEEEEEEZED “I’m a constrictor.” She giggled.

Kace smiled widely and heard Puck's question and totally agreed. "Why yes it feels fantastic. Like I feel like I am on sugar but I am not. Like I am soo sugar high. I haven't been this happy in like forever ya know??" he asked with wide eyes. He saw Puck do a cartwheel on the floor and he couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Mannn this is too funny. It only makes me happier." he said still laughing probably like a hyena at this point. "Pshhh but imagine what we could dooo in there?" he asked with all the happy possibilities. He heard Puck's idea about hugging and it sounded WONDERFUL! HE LOVED HUGS!

He nodded vigorously and saw Puck disappear for a minute. He titled his head in confusion and then saw her come right back. He saw her make his free hugs sign and he was beaming. There was nothing wrong with it. Maybe he could use it on Emmy. He saw Puck make her move and hug him first. He felt the really tight sensation and he chuckled and replied back, "Well I got you in a tight bear hug nowww." he said squeezing her back.

Puck was still standing there hugging Kace like her life or snakelike hunger depended on it when Kace said he was giving her a bear hug and hugged her back. “I’m not letting go Kace Lecium…” she chuckled and felt her words becoming harder and harder to come out – that wasn’t fun. But she was happy. “Kaaaace I can’t breathe,” she pouted at him but her eyes were still giddily happy and the giggles were still escaping her.

Oh god.

She sounded like some creepy thing from a kid’s show didn’t she? But she didn't mind she was still happy. "We should go and have the house elves make us food! Or make food ourselves and eat everything in sight and eeee just have fun?" She grinned and smiled at him.

After getting used to this potion, he never been this happy in his life. He didn't know if he liked it or not. I mean sure it was a nice feeling being happy but if you were happy all the time someone would think something is wrong with you. No one would want that.

Kace laughed and he was gonna let her go either. But he knew they needed to let go eventually and that wasn't a happy thought. This fella really loved hugs. Woops she couldn't breathe, so he reacted quickly and let her go but she already escaped being the ninja she was. He heard her idea and his eyes widened and he nodded vigorously. "YES YES. Let's do that. I am quite hungry.." he said massaging his rumbling tummy. "Let's go.." he took her hand and ran with her.

So the feeling was wearing slowly, the pure unadulterated happiness seemed to waver and thoughts were happening. The usual mental dialogue that filled her waking life seemed to pour back in slowly, like it was through a broken sink that could hardly flow. But still she was giggling which was causing her to cringe.

WHAT DID I PUT IN ME? She felt the thought creep in like a wisp of darkness almost threatening to smother the happiness the potion had cause. “Kaaace we should make pizza or or or cookies or both and like eat everything…maybe even find House elves to hug?” She offered and grinned to him.

“oh my gosh, did I tell you I hugged Toddles the other day, he doesn’t know how to hug but I’m planning on teacing the house elves how to squeeeeeeze hug people….cause imagine a cuddly little house elf?” She asked speaking quickly as the giddiness was still there. Never gone, well, never fully gone really.

“I feel weird,” she muttered and frowned slightly before giggling again even though she was trying not to. Giggling was the worst. The absolute worst.

Kace was feeling to happiness potion wearing off. I mean he wasn't as happy as he was before. Before he felt EXATIC! He felt like his world was working on his side. He was still happy with the prospect of hugging a houself. I mean that sounded like fun. Maybe the house elves could use some loving. "Yeahhh Pizza and cookies sounds AWESOME!" he grinned with glee. He raised his eyebrows at the news and was very very very happy with the news. "GREAT! I mean now you have a new little house elf buddy." he smiled widely.

Then he felt the potion suddenly drain from him and he felt like his normal self. Woaaahh now this was weird. He didn't feel the euphoric state. "Mann I feel weird too..I just feel like I was like another person. I didn't even feel like myself being that happy. I mean I do not think I like being that happy all the time. It is not normal.." he said just saying his thoughts. He saw her laughing I guess that was a side effect? Kace did too much giggling like his mouth was starting to hurt from smiling too much.

Angel was totally waiting for Leah, she wanted to know something and she wanted to know it now, what was going on between her and a certain guy, because from where she was sitting it looked like sparks were flying and that meant one thing her bestie was in LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVE. She knew all the signs from falling for a certain Gryffindor.

Angel just paced the hallway, she had no idea why but she had gotten here early and so she paced the hallway, just waiting for her best friend to show up. She hoped it wouldn't be long but she didn't care either way.

There was nothing unusual about two best friends planning to hang out in a random corridor. Still, Leah could not help but feel strange - as if Angel knew a secret of hers. But that could not be right, she was not keeping any secrets. So she walked up the stairs and turned round a corridor to find her bestie pacing back and forth.

"Hiii," she grinned, "what's UP?" She hoped Angel did not wait long.

Angel was still pacing up and down the corridor waiting for her best friend she had just turned one way when Leah came the other so she quickly turned around smiled at her best friend. "What's up?" Angel looked at her best friend before continuing. "WHEN WAS YOU GOING TO TELL ME ABOUT A CERTAIN HUFFLEPUFF BOY!" Angel giggled, seriously Leah knew that he had a crush on her right it was that obvious. "Come on bestie spill the beans, or I'll send you on a march." Angel smirked as she nudged her best friend.

Leah smiled. She didn't give her a shock by suddenly appearing, did she? That did not seem like the case, anyway. But -

...

"What boy?" she stared innocently at Angel. OF COURSE she knew who she was talking about. "There are TONS of Hufflepuff boys, for your information." It was difficult to ignore the smirk and the nudging the Gryffindor CONSTANTLY gave Leah. Urgh.

Angel looked at Leah. "I think you know which one I'm talking." Angel giggled. "The one that begins with a H." Angel nudged her friend then she decided to tease her. "I can tickle you if you want to act like this." Angel giggled as she started to tickle her friend. "You know you want to tell me all about it."

Leah raised an eyebrow. Angel was REALLY trying to get the words out of her. She wanted to deny anything about a boy whose name begins wih an H, but knew it would be useless. AND she was afraid of her best friend tickling her. She was experienced in this y'know, and grew even more ticklish every time.

"FINE," she shrugged, edging away from Angel jokingly, "What do you want to know?" There wasn't much to tell really. Henric was Leah's friend... that was about it.

Angel looked at Leah and giggled as she saw her best friend starting to edge away. "I can do more you know." Angel stuck out her tongue to show she was joking.

"I want to know if your in LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVE!!!!!" Angel smirked that had to be the first question right. Angel thought so anyway and she really wanted to know the answer.