If Nem were the sort to take things too personally, they might have thought there had been some kind of sabotage at play at being housed down in the deepest level of the castle, while their twin was placed in Ravenclaw, and lived all the way up in one of the towers. Was it inconvenient? Yes. Did the Sorting Hat deserve to burn for it? Also yes, but that would have been entertaining regardless, so maybe Nem was a little biased. Ultimately, though, it was not that far at all, so the distance itself didn't really matter.

They made a lot of trips up to the seventh floor, partly for Pax and now also for Ez, human liability, but also for the other features found up on this level of the castle. A not insignificant amount of time was spent testing out the Room of Requirement's capabilities, for example. Friends too, or whatever. Today, it was the Ravenclaw common room they had in their sights, since the ever-oppressive ennui had once again taken hpold. Pax could usually be counted on for some kind of entertaining update.

Nem didn't hesitate at the bottom of the stairs, just started the long climb up at a rapid pace - Hogwarts staircases were a good workout. With any luck, there'd be nobody around once they reached the top, but Nem knew better than to rely on luck.

Today wasn't Nem's lucky day, it seems. Quinn was on his way out of the common room as Nemesis climbed the stairs, an abundance of books in hand. He didn't feel like reading in the common room, so he figured it would be nice to find a quiet spot around the grounds to get some learning done. Quinn was surprised at how Ravenclaw-esque he was actually turning out to be. Was he made this way due to being Sorted into the House, or did being Sorted simply heighten his preexisting traits? Who's to know?

Quinn had gotten used to descending the stairs by now, so he was comfortable enough looking through the books the make mental notes of things he wanted to go over more thoroughly—the First Wizarding War, the Death Eaters, Tom Riddle, the Unforgivable Curses, et cetera. Today was for learning about the troubling, relevant wizarding history, he decided.

Since he was looking through his books, Quinn didn't notice Nem quickly ascending the stairs ahead of him, on a direct collision course. This could turn out very badly.

Taking the stairs quickly meant louder footsteps, and over louder footsteps it was difficult to hear more steady, quiet ones. Nem didn't hear those, but they thought they might have made out the closing of the door from all the way up those tower steps.

Still, they didn't slow down, only went up, up, up. Around a bend, and Nem had a moment or two to react to the descending book pile and its associated person, ample time to skirt left and towards the wall, out of the way.

They barrelled ahead, veered to the right, and accidentally shoulder-barged books and boy. Unfortunate as that might turn out, Nem was prepared to at least try and snatch the kid back from tumbling to his doom if necessary.

Quinn only registered the footsteps when it was too late—he looked up, and around the bend came Nemesis, barreling towards him. Seeing a fifth year with a very sharp jawline coming at him that quickly was extremely intimidating for the youngun, and he only had time to gasp before being knocked around.

Into the air flew the books, tumbling down the stairs with a loud clatter. Quinn himself would've gone for a tumble, too, had it not been for Nem catching his arm before he could. Quinn stayed like that for a moment, looking down the stairs at his books falling, processing the last few moments. After a bit he exhaled, regaining his composure. This was the third time he'd had an interaction with someone that ended up with him dropping all his books, and Quinn was just about tired of it. Who had the bright idea to run up the stairs, anyway?

Quinn turned around in exasperation to face his assaulter, when he actually saw who it was. Quinn recognized this one well. His name was... Nemesis, yes. Quinn remembered because it was Greek. And because Nemesis was very intimidating.

But also, very handsome.

Quinn's eyes were clearly registering all of this at once, and his what would be aggressive quip came out as if from a nervous puppy. "W-why were you running up the stairs..?"

Whew. Close one, huh?

Nem let go of the kid's arm when they were sure there would be no further tumbling; wouldn't want him to nosedive into the next life or anything, would they.

Smiling broadly, Nem shrugged and looked up the stairs, and then down, in the direction of the books. "To get to the top, of course," they said, like they hadn't picked up exactly the question the kid had asked. Drawing their wand, they glanced at the boy again and then back to the books, and summoned them all back to their original pile again, which they took the liberty of grabbing. "Sorry about that."

Pausing a moment, Nem scanned the titles of the books, and then scrutinised the Ravenclaw thoughtfully. "Big homework project?" they asked casually, offering the stack of books.

Well, he had a very nice smile, didn't he?

Quinn only slightly processed that they hadn't actually answered the question he asked. He was too busy with his mix of fear and butterflies fluttering in his stomach. Though he could tell this wasn't that one feeling he hated, it didn't feel the same. But it was something, alright. He blushed a bit at the apology. "I-it's no problem..."

As he was questioned about the books, Quinn was brought back to his senses. He took them from Nem briskly, though he tried not to seem like he was snatching them away. That would be suspicious, and Quinn was not suspicious. "Oh, no, just some light reading.." he said with an awkward chuckle. Then he looked down at the books. "Er, or... not-so-light reading..."

Quinn shook his head. No, Quinn, we are angry, it is angry time, we could've fallen down the stairs and died. You don't owe him any explanations, he owes you one. "You know what, no, i-it's really not alright, is it? Running up the stairs is stupid in itself, and then you're not even a Ravenclaw. I would know, I live up there! So, seeing as you almost killed me, I think I deserve an explanation." Quinn set his books down specifically so he could cross his arms. Because that's what determined, angry people do. And he was definitely determined and angry. Quinn was not usually this upfront with new people, especially ones who intimidated him or made him blush but he was trying to stand up for himself more. He needed to learn it pretty quick, the way things were going around here

"Uh huh." Light reading. Sure. Nem glanced at the spines again, and tilted their head momentarily as though in thought, and added, "I've found the early twentieth-century stuff very enlightening, myself."

It was true that Nem had not expected that sudden about-face in the kid's attitude, but bar a near imperceptible raise of the eyebrows, their was no change in their face or body language. Nem did not attempt to interrupt, only locked their eyes on his, silent, waiting.

They let the silent pause linger too, for several long moments after the books had been set down and the boy had his arms folded so petulantly across his chest. Really. All that was missing was a pout. Maybe a foot stomp. Even the quads had more class.

Twirling their wand - still, by the way, very much drawn - once around their fingers in an idle manner, Nem considered him. "Anything else?"

Quinn would not respond to his comment on early twentieth century literature—what he was reading was his business, not Nemesis's. And, besides, reading about this stuff to try and get an idea of who these Alliance people were and what they wanted was not something he wanted to publicize.

Quinn kept his eyes locked on Nem's, trying to beat him in this stare down. It... didn't exactly work out. It started with him reddening in the face, and then his knees started shaking, and then he started sweating a little, until he ultimately broke eye contact.

He gave a frustrated "Hmph." at Nem's snarky comment and wand-twirling. "Threatening a first year? How very mature of you," he shot back, picking up his books. Quinn paused for a second.

"You know what?" he said, an idea popping into his head. Quinn started climbing back up the steps towards the knocker. "I think I'll just do my reading up here this morning. Lovely staircase, really. Good to get the brain juices flowing, don't you think?"

Before the kid could get beyond their reach, Nem struck out and grabbed his arm. Firm, yes, but not too tight. Not enough to hurt, just enough to get his attention. Let's make this a teachable moment.

"And you're calling me stupid?" they hissed into his ear, regaining the couple of stairs he'd already taken, and not letting go. "Has this year not yet taught you how stupid it is to take on someone who clearly has the advantage?" Height. Probably strength. Definitely magic. Nem had even had their wand drawn already, not to mention they were standing on a very treacherous flight of stairs. They hardly needed to rely on those to cause lasting damage, but still. "Don't assume everything is what it seems. You should be treating everyone like they might be one of the Neo-Alliance in disguise." Such a person wouldn't hesitate to send this kid face first to the corridor below at breakneck speeds.

Nem though? Nem was not like that. They weren't in disguise much nicer. Friendly, benevolent. They let go of the kid's arm, and returned their voice to its usual volume as though nothing had transpired.

"You know, I really don't recall threatening you, but I am sorry if something came across that way." They sounded utterly sincere about it too. That was two apologies from Nem, for anyone keeping count. "If you apologise for being so rude, though, I'll give you that explanation you feel you deserve." Only fair.

Quinn's butterflies had long flown away.

Quinn was taken off guard from the sudden grab, and he let out a bit of a gasp. The blood drained from his face as Nemesis whispered in his ear even though his heart was pounding. All he could do was stand there and shake until Nem let him go, and he was still standing there processing what they said.

And then he processed. And processed. And color returned to his face. And Nemesis wanted him to apologize? When his apologies weren't even real?

Quinn grit his teeth.

"You know, I'm not as dumb as you seem to think I am. It's not like I'm going around and shoving my wand in Alliance members' faces. But I am angry that you nearly knocked me down the stairs, and I think it's my right to be angry. And I am not going to be patronized by you just because you see yourself as being above me. So, no, I'm not going to apologize to you." Quinn was still shaking, but he didn't feel scared. He looked Nem straight in the face. Who cared about why he was running up the stairs anymore?

It didn't really seem worth pointing out that this kid was proving he was exactly as dumb as Nem thought he was, and moving lower in their estimations with every moment that passed.

So angry too, like he even needed to declare it. Shaking like a leaf in his rage and still needed to announce it for anyone to hear. The fact he could put himself into such a tailspin over a few dropped books didn't exactly bode well for him.

Nem raised their eyebrows again, an infinitesimal amount, and waited... and waited. When nothing more was forthcoming, they simply said, "Alright." Their stare was steady but casual, their features inscrutable. "So don't." Nothing more than a rejected offer; what exactly did he expect was going to happen?

Surely they were done here now. Ultra-polite, Nem redelivered an earlier question. "Anything else?"

This wasn't even about the books anymore for Quinn, he was more mad at Nem's attitude—Quinn hadn't even done anything wrong, and they were treating him like garbage. Well, Quinn was over bullies, and (in his eyes) this was one he could stand up to. Especially because Quinn hated nothing more than being treated like he was stupid.

Even though Quinn was shaking, he was not breaking eye contact this time.

He gave Nemesis a once-over, then set his jaw. If they were actually going to kill him, he would be dead right now. But, there was nothing else to be said, was there? "No, I guess not." He turned and started making his way down the stairs.

"You know," he started, stopping to look back at Nemesis, "my Gram tells me that bullies either live short, stupid lives or long, sad ones. I wonder which one you'll have." Quinn turned back around and kept going down. He now felt nothing but contempt for Nemesis Upstead.

The kid was learning. Maybe. Probably not. Nem didn't really expect he'd had any sort of epiphany in the last few moments, but it worked out regardless. They would have hated to have to stand here and make a point.

Well. Disliked.

... At the very least, it would have been an inconvenience. Nem had no interest in going around and attacking the student population, even the apparent death-seeking lower years and Gryffindors. The entertainment value wasn't quite enough to outweigh the nuisance factor, not the way the situation currently looked. If they'd stood to gain something from it, that would have been another matter entirely, but still not a reaction the kid was evidently trying to provoke.

Nem watched him go, idly twirling their wand around their fingers again. All through the kid leaving, stopping, his clumsy attempt at a verbal swipe, and final departure, they only watched dispassionately. When he was out of sight and around the bend, however, they let out an obvious snort of laughter, and simply continued on their way to the top of the staircase, at a run.