Maxton was lost.

He might've been a second year now but this castle was BIG and it was still possible to get lost. He'd been in the library and was trying to make his way back to the Slytherin Common Room and now he had no idea where he was.

The Common Room was in the dungeons which meant he needed to go down. And he had. And then the moving staircases had tricked him into a dead end and he'd had to go up again. And then he'd tried another route down and then....

Anyway, to cut a long story short he was well and truly lost. Curse those moving staircases!

The recently turned thirteen year old rounded a corner and was greeted by one of the most magnificent views he'd ever seen.

Wooooah.

It was true what they said - you only appreciated the good things in life once they were gone. Daisy had learned that lesson last term. She had never really appreciated the carelessness that came with having no life-changing, breakdown-inducing exams at the end of the term until her fifth year. Sixth year, however, had no such responsibilities and, despite the fact that she was kind of, only not really studying for her NEWTs already, the sixteen-year-old was making sure that she made the most of her time at Hogwarts.

So far, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

That was why she was walking down the corridor on the fourth floor, towards the balcony. She had accidentally discovered it last year and that seemed like the perfect spot to waste some time before she had to go to the library and start her homework. Or something. As she rounded the corner, however, she saw a very familar head of hair that she definitely wasn't expecting to find. "Maxxie!" Before he could do anything -- like escape her, for example -- Daisy rushed forward towards her younger brother and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tightly. CARDEN SQUEEZE YAY! "How's old age treating you?" He was THIRTEEN already! Daisy could still remember the day he was born. Or maybe it had been Alexander.

One of them, anyway.

Getting lost in this castle wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It meant you found new places to explore. Maxton was always looking for new hiding spots to read his comics. The Common Room could get FAR too loud sometimes.

Speaking of loud...

Someone had engulfed him in a hug and he really hoped it was his sister and not some stranger. That'd be awkward. Maxton gave his elder sister a pat on the back - hugs weren't really his thing which sucked because his family REALLY liked hugs.

"It's not off to a great start," he mumbled, wriggling out of his grasp and pointing to his forehead. "I got my first proper pimple!"

One, two, three, four, five...

A six seconds long hug and a pat on the back? Was age converting Maxton to hugs? Maybe there was hope for her brother yet. Daisy was sure that soon enough Maxton would accept hugs and maybe hug her willingly too and who knew?? He might stop being an idiot, accept his birthright and begin supporting the Falmouth Falcons. Daisy couldn't wait for that day. She would personally help him remove all that Chudley Cannons paraphernalia from his bedroom because she was such a nice sister.

"A pimple?!" She allowed her brother to escape her grip and bent over to take a look at his forehead. Her hand moved his hair out of the way so she could have a proper good look and a wide grin stretched across her lips. "Maxxie, you are a man!" Well, turning into one, anyway. "Want some of my Pimple Poofer potion? Or are you going to owl Mum asking for some?"

Maxton Carden was becoming a MAN!

Six years in and the vastness of the Hogwarts castle was one that could not be easily taken for granted. It became a pointedly obvious fact when your walking became aimless--at least, this was the explanation Levi was ready to give anyone curious enough to ask. Aimlessly walking down the hallways with his messenger bag teeming with books was a thing he did every day, for sure.

Truth was, he'd been looking for someone. He'd stepped out of the Gryffindor common room intending to find a quiet place to work on homework but somewhere down the line those intentions had turned into finding the someone in question. He supposed sending a birdie could have made the task easier; but conversations needed to be had and the time he'd spend looking for the person the good old way was required in order to steel himself for... whatever.

He'd ended up somewhere in the balcony, however, because Gryffindors could be cowards, too. Books sprawled around him, and some of which were open in random pages, levitating only inches above the ground. It was a strange thing to be out in the open in the middle of the winter, but the wonders of heating charms were infinite.

Rather than beginning on his homework, Levi reached for his calendar and scratched off yet another day. Never in his life had he found the last few weeks before the Christmas break so eternal.

Valerie had fallen back on old habits of particularly isolating herself since the conclusion of the first task. Letters from home only added to her constant simmer of agitation, particularly in light of having to stay here during the holidays. She supposed such sentiment was quite hypocritical of herself when she stopped and reflected upon the earful she had given a few of her schoolmates back in the Beetle during their first week here at Hogwarts, but she could not help it. Family, blood ties, were of the utmost importance to her.

Why she had been particularly salty that day.

Regardless of external factors, the sixteen year old was attempting to make lemonade out of lemons (although sometimes it felt more like lemonade out of oranges) and exploring what options Hogwarts had to offer. It was these wanderings that brought her here now and elicited the pleased twitch in the corner of her lips when her eyes fell upon Levi Kenning. Number two in the five-way tie for second place.

"Countdown to the next task or something of the more personal variety?" she asked while pointing one of her slender fingers towards the calendar in his hand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie Gray

Valerie had fallen back on old habits of particularly isolating herself since the conclusion of the first task. Letters from home only added to her constant simmer of agitation, particularly in light of having to stay here during the holidays. She supposed such sentiment was quite hypocritical of herself when she stopped and reflected upon the earful she had given a few of her schoolmates back in the Beetle during their first week here at Hogwarts, but she could not help it. Family, blood ties, were of the utmost importance to her.

Why she had been particularly salty that day.

Regardless of external factors, the sixteen year old was attempting to make lemonade out of lemons (although sometimes it felt more like lemonade out of oranges) and exploring what options Hogwarts had to offer. It was these wanderings that brought her here now and elicited the pleased twitch in the corner of her lips when her eyes fell upon Levi Kenning. Number two in the five-way tie for second place.

"Countdown to the next task or something of the more personal variety?" she asked while pointing one of her slender fingers towards the calendar in his hand.

Scratching another day off the calendar had progressed into underlining and drawing circles around the date in which he got to go home. And by the time the Gryffindor boy realized the balcony no longer belonged to him in its entirety, the number had been encircled so many times it was barely visible. An unfortunate discovery considering it'd been a gift from his grandfather; a terrible gift, make no mistake, but one could not expect much from a man pushing ninety-five.

He looked up sideways at the new arrival. Valerie Gray was immediate competition for the first spot--after Kyle Baker, of course--but Levi had perfectly polished manners he could put into practice. Especially considering this would be the first time he found himself alone with one of the Ilvermorny competitors. "Hello." See? Manners. He supplied a smile to match. "Personal variety." The next task could wait for a while, for all he cared. Levi set the calendar down on the floor next to him. "Counting down the days I've left until I get to go home, actually. It's good to see you, Valerie."

The excessive circling was noted and marked simply by a inquisitive raise of one of her pale brows. She could infer a few things from his confirmation but the Wampus felt no real urge to pry further. Not yet at least. Understanding personal motivations would come at a later time and possibly after she assessed whether or not Levi Kenning was of the variety of person that she could stand to spend more than ten minutes with in private.

Or now since he had offered said information to her freely.

"Hello," she echoed as her eyes softened slightly despite the glimmer of jealousy lingering around their edges. "Is it?" He question was marked with a transparent tone of surprise. "That is not a sentiment I am accustomed to hearing recently," she observed unapologetically. She supposed the polite thing would to be to thank him or offer up a similar set of words in response, but Valerie was rather done with deception for now. It merely caused her blood to boil again.

Well.

That was unexpected.

Either Valerie Gray was a perfectly accomplished liar or she really had chosen to go with a truth here, however blunt it might be. And it was. "Sure." His response was quick enough, though he struggled for a moment to keep his dark brows from shooting up. "Unless I should have a reason not to be pleased to see you, in which case I encourage you to share it, if you'd like."

If truths were to be so easily handed, then she might as well.

Casually, Levi flicked his wand near the area around him and cast a cushioning charm on the floor. His smile was small, but relatively genuine and there was, unsurprisingly for anyone who knew him, some curiosity there as well. He allowed the books to neatly drop back on the floor and manually began to mark the pages where he'd left off--or where he would have left off, had he actually started. "Would you like to sit, Valerie?"

Which indeed, Levi Kenning. Which indeed.

Not knowing yet what caliber of person he was, the swiftness to his reply raised suspicion. "You would have to tell me that," she replied with a nonchalant shrug. Her hands slid themselves into her pants pocket as she considered the Hogwarts boy further. She had heard rumors of his performance during the first task (it was difficult not to seeing as this particular champion appeared to have quite the fan following) and her interest had perked upon hearing that he too had applied a daydream charm to his pseudo No-Maj as well. It was alluring, to say the least, to find someone else of the same mind as herself. "I know not your opinion of my actions in the stands after our portkeys out of the task," she added bitterly. Not in regards to the opinions of others but in reflection of the task itself.

His next actions were curious to say the least and her instincts were pushing her to believe that he was luring her into a false sense of security. However, unknowingly like himself, she was curious. "Not particularly," she answered honestly despite bending at the knees moments later and bringing herself to sit on folded legs beside him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie Gray

Which indeed, Levi Kenning. Which indeed.

Not knowing yet what caliber of person he was, the swiftness to his reply raised suspicion. "You would have to tell me that," she replied with a nonchalant shrug. Her hands slid themselves into her pants pocket as she considered the Hogwarts boy further. She had heard rumors of his performance during the first task (it was difficult not to seeing as this particular champion appeared to have quite the fan following) and her interest had perked upon hearing that he too had applied a daydream charm to his pseudo No-Maj as well. It was alluring, to say the least, to find someone else of the same mind as herself. "I know not your opinion of my actions in the stands after our portkeys out of the task," she added bitterly. Not in regards to the opinions of others but in reflection of the task itself.

His next actions were curious to say the least and her instincts were pushing her to believe that he was luring her into a false sense of security. However, unknowingly like himself, she was curious. "Not particularly," she answered honestly despite bending at the knees moments later and bringing herself to sit on folded legs beside him.

Keeping his eyebrows from raising was futile this time and in truth, he didn't try very hard at all. When he regained control of his expression, Levi offered an innocent smile. His knowledge of Valerie Gray beyond the first challenge was, if he was being honest, minimal and if anything, he was interested to know if his intel had been right. After all, the particular dementor she'd faced had somehow managed to rebuff her fully corporeal patronus. Levi hadn't known that was possible. So he was left with no choice but to wonder if what she'd cast was just the illusion of a patronus as opposed to a real one. Surely that was the only feasible explanation.

"I thought it was deplorable," he said, candidly, offering a one shoulder shrug as he watched her do the opposite of what her words said, and sat. "As was Dora's and Jesus'. But Brent and Aurora aside," at this point, he frowned, recalling their perfectly carefree attitudes after the challenge. Levi had been torn between rolling his eyes, asking if they were aliens or flinging them off the stands. "I think we were all a bit tense and confused. Myself included."

His words elicited a giggle (yes, giggle) that left her lips curled in an amused smile. She felt little remorse when she reflected on what had transpired, the only instance particularly standing out in her mind being the lingering look of disapproval Jesus had left her with, and where she to have done anything differently she would have ensure that her hex actually hit Madelyn. There was nothing redeeming about cheering on a task like that one. Nothing. "Many actions that day were deplorable," she concurred.

The actions of Dora had intrigued the Wampus to say the least. Another of the Hogwarts champions she had been meaning to seek out, although experience was telling her that that particular blonde was more of a rabid beast at the moment and would not hesitate to bit if approached. But the sixteen year old had seen her poster imploring champions to consider donating their reward rather than keep it in excess. It was intriguing to say the least.

"Aurora is an aside," she stated firmly as a growing sense of unease eating at her insides at the ease of which she found herself speaking with Levi Kenning. Unnerving. Which was why she found herself proceeding with more caution, omitting her opinion aloud about Brenton's subjection of all in the stands to his reenactment of a No-Maj teen romance film.

"Some not nearly as much as they should have been," she retorted cooly. Her grey eyes focused intently on his chocolate ones, perhaps searching for a confirmation of kindred spirits she had felt in the stands that day. "I heard your mutterings to that schoolmate of yours. The young girl who did not complete the task," she commented, her tone crystal clear with approval. "Cassandra, I believe is her name." Valerie could not recall for sure in this moment, but the younger girl had been knocked out of the competition regardless. Therefore making such information superfluous to the Wampus.

This was turning out to be an educational experience.

Sayings often held some modicum of truth to them but 'don't judge a book by its cover' had never felt as accurate as it did right now. Levi was unclear on what he'd have expected from someone like Valerie, but giggling, he was certain, was not it. He barely managed to keep himself from gaping, and satisfied the need to by chuckling into his fist.

That girls from across the pond could surprise him the same way the ones at Hogwarts did was, strangely enough, comforting.

He cleared his throat. Levi's sole interaction with Aurora Chae had been brief and wordless; she'd smiled at him upon her arrival back in October and he'd smiled in return because he was polite and because he had eyes. And that had been that. Largely forgettable until he was given reason to remember it; this being the first time it happened."I don't know her well." he said, his tone diplomatic despite the clear question in his dark eyes. "Though I must admit her last name surprised me."

Mostly because, well--as far as he could tell, Chae was Korean and Aurora appeared to be anything but. More surprises from girls across the pond, he supposed.

"Cassie McNally, yes. We're friends." He brushed the tip of his nose with his thumb, realizing a beat too late that Valerie seemed to be trying to engage him in some sort of staring contest. One of the corners of his lips tugged up a fraction, and he stared back, curious as always. A nonchalant shrug was added. "Was it inappropriate, do you think? I thought it fitting, all things considered."

Biting her tongue (literally) Valerie set her jaw and refrained from suggesting he not bother. That was his choice and mistake to make, not her own. Though the Wampus was quite confident that that particular Horned Serpent's attitude at the conclusion of the task was reason enough for Levi to approach with caution. "Did it?" Valerie had not given it much thought and was admittedly ignorant to what the Hogwartian was referring to. "Perhaps you should take that as a sign that things with her do not always line up."

Cassie. So her recollection had been correct. Valerie did not consider herself on terms with this Cassandra to be permitted to use a nickname with her and therefore would restrict herself to formalities for the time being. Which seemed to be more of an indefinite thing since the younger girl would no longer be a participant and thus limiting the sixteen year old's interactions with her. Although she had heard that Aiden was her date for the Merlin's Pride event. She had yet to ask him how that had gone. Her own experience she would rather not discuss. "Quite the opposite," she confirmed as her eyes narrowed in on that tug to his lips. All the confirmation she needed, really. Enough to permit her walls thin just enough to let slip (in a more intimate setting) some of her upset. "As I said. Many actions were deplorable. From the deployment of sixteen dementors to the mockery of No-Maj."

Although Levi could not even picture the seemingly always cheerful Aurora Chae engaging in an argument with Valerie Gray, it'd appear that whatever fallout there may have between the two ran quite deep. He brushed his thumb to his chin, gauging her expression. And response. Inappropriately, he felt the need to chuckle; but all sense had not left him, and the boy merely schooled his expression into a politely interested one. "If you don't mind me asking, Valerie--what is so bad about Aurora? Most appear to like her. Not that this means much, exactly." Being nice meant little, after all. Even the worst sort of people could be nice. "But surely I cannot be faulted for being curious."

His interest had been piqued, in truth. Or maybe Declan's love for gossip had rubbed off on him, a little bit. And it was evident the Ilvermorny girl--from Wampus, no less--had little qualms about offering her opinion. Or opinions.

Levi's exposure to the American wizarding community had been minimal; prior to Ilvermorny's arrival, and despite knowing that no-maj was the same as muggle, it was always a little jarring to hear and see the word outside of the confines of a book. He supposed that 'muggle' probably had a similar effect on the American wizards. "It's impressive," Levi said, his voice dropping a fraction as distaste began to overcome his previous curiosity, "that they managed to contain all of them in the Dark Forest. That all the energy in the stands did not attract them." He resisted the urge to shake his head, settling instead for lightly pursing his lips. "It's more impressive that some of us had no problems making executive decisions and obliviating what we all assume were muggles."

Did she mind him asking? Of course not. "I do not recommend trusting her any further than a Knockback Jinx can hurl her," she offered simply. "If even that much. Her personality is about as fake as her nails." The Wampus herself has a chill disposition and was ruthless herself (she would be the last to deny this either of these) but that particular Horned Serpent rubbed her like sand paper. "But by all means, indulge your curiosity if you must." She was in no position nor mood to tell him what he could and could not do. Nor was it particularly any of her business.

The change in his voice did not go unnoticed and it was more than enough for her pale eyes to focus on him, her own interest hanging on his every word. "I had assumed that it was a fake," she muttered at first, the bitterness in her tone unavoidable as she turned her gaze straight ahead again. Her fully corporal patronus failing her first attempt was still a sort spot. Particularly upon hearing that Kyle had defeated his with nothing more than a wisp. "It seemed the only logical explanation for things." Particularly the fact that the dementor she had faced down had screeched. "Or perhaps even more impressive than that is the reality that we were made to believe this competition was above The International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and No-Maj nothing more than pawns," she retorted cooly. She could feel the blood in her veins running hot at the memory. "Disposable pawns at that considering the complexity of Memory Charms. The moral compass of a few select competitors aside."