Lost Little Lamb
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She was so, so incredibly late... and also hopelessly lost.
The First Year lost track of how long she'd been wandering the Corridors trying to find her way to her Transfiguration class. She'd thought she'd gotten off onto the correct floor at the moving staircase, but perhaps not. All these halls had quickly started looking the same the more anxious and hyperaware of the time she became.
Her first few days of classes hadn't gone quite as smoothly as she'd expected. She wasn't use to such big classes or all the constant noise and activity that came with living with so many other children; it was all a massive adjustment. Her struggles always started first thing in the morning, simply trying to get ready for the day and tame her mass of curls. Nanny had tried teaching her before she left, but clearly, she hadn't absorbed nearly as many tips and tricks because the mane that was usually so well pulled back and managed when she was home, now flowed around her shoulders, barely held out of her face with a bow. Now she was painfully lost in this massive, bloody castle, and her day was going to end with being assigned a month of detention for sure. No exaggeration about it!
This was not a good day; it was decidedly a very, very bad day, indeed.
Taliesin worried her lip as she paused in the hall, turning around herself trying to find something that looked familiar. Bouncing on the balls of her feet and dangerously close to tears... oh she was so late, and going to be in so much trouble if she missed class entirely. Maybe she should try back the way she came? She couldn't have made that many turns between here and the stairs. If she could get back to the stairs, maybe she could start this whole misadventure again and figure out the right way to Transfiguration.
Quiet tears started spilling over as she swallowed hard and started walking again, the soft click of her shoes mocking her as she continued her little Odyssey of finding her way. Eventually she'd have to find something familiar. There was no way she'd be lost in the castle forever.
No one ever died at Hogwarts from getting lost right?
"The girl who carried her last name like a burden..."
Lost Little Lamb
Paris hummed a little as she walked leisurely down the corridor to the hospital wing. Her hand was throbbing but she wasn’t in a hurry to get back to Herbology so she might as well take her time.
If she had only aggravated the tentacula just a little bit later then she could have gotten by with missing the whole class. As it was, she would have to settle with returning within the last twenty minutes.
Paris trailed her not-hurt hand along the wall, slowly tracing her fingers over the stones and tapestries and only lifting her hand to avoid picture frames. Ahh time wasting was such a glorious thing! (But her hand was really starting to hurt now so maybe the time wasting would have to wait until returning from the hospital wing)
She turned a corner by the stairway up to the third floor and noticed a Slytherin girl with red hair she didn’t recognize. Paris assumed she must be a 1st year since she didn't recognize the girl from her own class. Besides, who else but a 1st year might look as lost as this girl?
As much as Paris tended to avoid starting conversations with people she didn’t know, she couldn’t very well leave her. Paris walked up behind the girl and said in a quiet voice, “Hi… need help getting anywhere?”
@Taliesin Annwyn
If she had only aggravated the tentacula just a little bit later then she could have gotten by with missing the whole class. As it was, she would have to settle with returning within the last twenty minutes.
Paris trailed her not-hurt hand along the wall, slowly tracing her fingers over the stones and tapestries and only lifting her hand to avoid picture frames. Ahh time wasting was such a glorious thing! (But her hand was really starting to hurt now so maybe the time wasting would have to wait until returning from the hospital wing)
She turned a corner by the stairway up to the third floor and noticed a Slytherin girl with red hair she didn’t recognize. Paris assumed she must be a 1st year since she didn't recognize the girl from her own class. Besides, who else but a 1st year might look as lost as this girl?
As much as Paris tended to avoid starting conversations with people she didn’t know, she couldn’t very well leave her. Paris walked up behind the girl and said in a quiet voice, “Hi… need help getting anywhere?”
@Taliesin Annwyn
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
-JRR Tolkien
Lost Little Lamb
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So lost in her own worries and thought, Taliesin hadn't even noticed as the other came up behind her before a soft voice shattered the quiet. The First Year nearly leapt out of her skin, letting out a cry that could only be compared to a stepped on puppy as she spun around.
Huge, wet eyes looked over the girl for a moment before she quickly scrubbed at her face and eyes with the sleeve of her school robes, trying in vain to rid herself of the evidence that she's been crying. She was 11 for crying out loud, and 11-year-olds don't cry because their lost. Only crybabies did that, and she was determined that she was not going to be a crybaby when she got to Hogwarts. She was too old for that. Mother and Madame said so, and she had to uphold the family's reputation while she was here.
Of course, that was easier said than done when she'd already spent all this time worrying and working herself up; and now there was a witness to it as she tried to steady her shaky voice and suppress the sobs threatening in her chest that were stoked by her embarrassment, "I-I... can't fi-find my class-s," she tried to explain, unable to even look the other girl in the eye as she fought a loosing battle with herself to stop the tears, "a-and I'm go-nna be in s-so m-m-much troub-ble." the child whimpered, making another attempt to roughly rub away the teams from her cheeks and eyes.
"The girl who carried her last name like a burden..."
Lost Little Lamb
Paris had never been lost in her first year (her older brother gave her a tour), but she imagined that she would feel similar to this girl if she had. This works as a great excuse to be late for Herbology! was her initial thought, but then she inwardly berated herself for thinking that because no, that is not the reason to help people Paris.
She sighed at herself and then smiled at the girl. She really did want to help, but what do you say to comfort a seemingly inconsolable 11 year old kid? Paris supposed that everything must feel like a huge deal when you are young and she decided that she was no exception. Paris couldn’t begin to count all the times she got mad at her siblings for the smallest and most petty things in the world.
Well, she had to say something. Might as well open her mouth and see what kind of help it decides to give. “Um… maybe I can help? What class are you looking for?” Hey that actually wasn’t half bad! Well to Paris it wasn’t. But she anxiously awaited the girl’s response, unsure if she was supposed to offer help like she had done or try and comfort her first.
She sighed at herself and then smiled at the girl. She really did want to help, but what do you say to comfort a seemingly inconsolable 11 year old kid? Paris supposed that everything must feel like a huge deal when you are young and she decided that she was no exception. Paris couldn’t begin to count all the times she got mad at her siblings for the smallest and most petty things in the world.
Well, she had to say something. Might as well open her mouth and see what kind of help it decides to give. “Um… maybe I can help? What class are you looking for?” Hey that actually wasn’t half bad! Well to Paris it wasn’t. But she anxiously awaited the girl’s response, unsure if she was supposed to offer help like she had done or try and comfort her first.
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
-JRR Tolkien
Lost Little Lamb
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Taliesin sniffed a bit, still fighting to calm herself in the hopes of saving herself a least a sliver of dignity over the situation. At least the girl who'd found her didn't seem to be a mean sort of upperclassman. Thus far, the child hadn't been having the best luck with getting on with her older peers. Most of them seemed to have little patience for the younger students or were simply downright dismissive.
"T-transfi-figuration." the child hiccupped, "I though I g-got off on the right f-floor..." the moving staircase really was quite tricky. It certainly wasn't helpful that all the corridors looked so much alike with very few markers she could use to pinpoint where she was exactly. How anyone managed to find their way anywhere around here was beyond her.
The child sniffed again, finally managing to get her own breathing back under control now that she was in the company of someone who likely actually knew how to find their way and the prospect of death by being lost in a castle didn't seem as likely now. With death off the table, the First Year tried, as subtly as she could to pull herself together; rubbing out of her face curls that were clinging to flushed, damp cheeks and smoothing out the rumbled sleeves of her robes
"The girl who carried her last name like a burden..."
Lost Little Lamb
“Well, you’re a long way from that! This is the second floor, and Transfiguration is up on the fifth floor. But it’s okay to have gotten lost; it’s completely normal. This school is pretty confusing,” Paris said, not unkindly but more matter-of-fact. She started towards the stairwell and nodded her head forward, inviting the girl to follow.
“I usually find the fifth floor by looking for the statue of Gregory the Smarmy. He’s this ugly old statue who I’m pretty sure invented some weird potion or something.” Paris realized she was walking fast, so she slowed and looked back to see if the girl was following. And what great timing, as soon as she looked back at the girl, Paris half runs into a suit of armor and scrapes her hurt hand. Perfect! Just what she needed right now!
She shook out her hand but stopped quickly, as that made the throbbing worse. Paris ignored it and started walking again. “What’s your name anyway? You’re a Slytherin right? I really like your hair by the way.” Paris said this all very fast and in one breath. She would have continued asking questions, but she cut herself off before she could overwhelm the girl. Ugh, why did her nervous tendency have to be one that makes other people nervous?
@Taliesin Annwyn
“I usually find the fifth floor by looking for the statue of Gregory the Smarmy. He’s this ugly old statue who I’m pretty sure invented some weird potion or something.” Paris realized she was walking fast, so she slowed and looked back to see if the girl was following. And what great timing, as soon as she looked back at the girl, Paris half runs into a suit of armor and scrapes her hurt hand. Perfect! Just what she needed right now!
She shook out her hand but stopped quickly, as that made the throbbing worse. Paris ignored it and started walking again. “What’s your name anyway? You’re a Slytherin right? I really like your hair by the way.” Paris said this all very fast and in one breath. She would have continued asking questions, but she cut herself off before she could overwhelm the girl. Ugh, why did her nervous tendency have to be one that makes other people nervous?
@Taliesin Annwyn
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
-JRR Tolkien
Lost Little Lamb
|
The child worried her lip a bit as the girl explained just how turned around she'd gotten, and how far she actually was from the correct floor before nodding for Taliesin to follow her. Which Taliesin did so faithfully, if not struggling a bit as she readjusted her bag on her shoulder and tried to keep up with the older girl's quick pace through the halls. As they moved, the rainbow haired girl explained her landmark of some ugly statue Taliesin couldn't recall if she'd noticed before, but she'd certainly make sure she took note of it this time.
The younger snake flinched when the older girl clipped the suit of armor, pausing as her nervous eyes flickered back and forth between the girl's expression and the hand she was trying to shake out, "A-are you alright?" she asked softly, unsure if the other heard her as they quickly set back to their walking pace.
The onslaught of sudden questions made the child hesitate a moment. She was still adjusting to and building her, frankly poor, social skills; but she was trying, "I'm Taliesin Annwyn... y-yes, I'm in Slytherin." she'd confirm, "Th-thank you." she'd murmur next after the girl complimented her hair, her own hands nervously trying to smooth it down a bit, "My Nanny tried to teach me how to style it like she does, b-but I'm not very good at it." Usually well maintained curls, meticulously quaffed back and out of her face, at current were in a bit of a state of frizz and confusion. And after who knew how long of the child fussing and running around aimlessly through the corridors, stray curls were starting to come loose from the crooked bow that was fighting for it's life to keep the hair of her face, "I... I like your hair... I-I didn't know hair could be so many colors. Its very pretty." she complimented, her voice nervous but earnest.
"The girl who carried her last name like a burden..."
Lost Little Lamb
Paris nodded stiffly at the girl’s inquiry after her hand. “I’m fine. Just got attacked a little by the Venomous Tentacula in greenhouse three during Herbology. I was just on my way up to the Hospital Wing.”
They reached the steps and Paris stopped to wait for the girl. Seriously, stop walking so fast or people will think you hate them or something, she criticized herself before nodding with a small smile. “Taliesin… is that Welsh?
Paris started up the steps and hopped the disappearing one in the middle instinctually, so used to the quirks and curiosities of Hogwarts that she barely had to think about how to get around. “My name’s Paris; I’m a second year Hufflepuff. I don’t care that your hair is fluffy, I like how natural it looks and it’s very lovely. And thanks. It’s just dye, but I really like it this way.” Paris groaned internally because ugh stop talking fast; you sound desperate. Like what is with me doing everything fast? It scares everyone off. Just chill.
As Paris spoke, she realized that the girl, Taliesin, might not know to jump the disappearing step. She turned with a small gasp to ensure the girl made it.
@Taliesin Annwyn
They reached the steps and Paris stopped to wait for the girl. Seriously, stop walking so fast or people will think you hate them or something, she criticized herself before nodding with a small smile. “Taliesin… is that Welsh?
Paris started up the steps and hopped the disappearing one in the middle instinctually, so used to the quirks and curiosities of Hogwarts that she barely had to think about how to get around. “My name’s Paris; I’m a second year Hufflepuff. I don’t care that your hair is fluffy, I like how natural it looks and it’s very lovely. And thanks. It’s just dye, but I really like it this way.” Paris groaned internally because ugh stop talking fast; you sound desperate. Like what is with me doing everything fast? It scares everyone off. Just chill.
As Paris spoke, she realized that the girl, Taliesin, might not know to jump the disappearing step. She turned with a small gasp to ensure the girl made it.
@Taliesin Annwyn
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
-JRR Tolkien
Lost Little Lamb
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Taliesin furrowed her brow a bit as the other girl explained what had happened to her hand. Why was she leading some pathetic underclassman around if she was hurt? She wanted to ask her as much, but the older student moved on quickly before she could, "Yes. I was named after the bard." she explained.
The girl did her best to follow the girl quickly up the stairs as she listened to the girl talking, smiling a little when the Hufflepuff said she thought her hair looked pretty despite its fluff. When Paris had made her little skip over one of the steps, it hadn't occurred to her there might've been a reason for it until the step vanished from her and the child yelped. For all her nervousness and naivety, at least Taliesin wasn't without decent reflexes as she clung to the railing and caught herself on the next step with her knee so she didn't completely fall down the stairs. The cold stone bit her knee and her heart pounded with the shock of her fumble, making her hands tremble and eyes water up again, but she tried to recover as smoothly as she could as she climbed back up to her feet and catch back up again; though she steps were certainly a bit more tentative now.
"I-I didn't know y-you could dye hair." she chose to continue the conversation as casually as she could force her voice to be. The older girl had already found her a total crybaby mess once. If she wanted any hope of maintaining some dignity for herself, it was best she not allow herself to make a big deal of the fall either. After all, even if it was a little scary, she was a Slytherin now, and from what she'd gathered from watching her housemates, Slytherin's aren't suppose to scare easily like that. She needed to learn to be tougher.
"The girl who carried her last name like a burden..."
Lost Little Lamb
Paris moved forward to help the girl, but she simply got up and came up the steps where Paris stood. “I’m so sorry, I jumped it out of habit and forgot that you probably wouldn’t know about it!” Paris’ voice was full of guilt and apology.
She shrugged at Taliesin’s comment about her hair, unsure of what to say, and kept walking up the stairs. She made sure her steps were more deliberate this time so that the first year would not be taken by surprise again by another tricky staircase. Paris might have said careful or some other form of caution when another truck step came up, but she got the feeling that this girl was not one who liked to be coddled or directed with every single step, so she settled for her purposeful walk.
They reached the third floor landing and Paris thought fleetingly about getting to the hospital wing, but her mind quickly returned to the present task because in her mind, it’s more important to help this kid than to get my hand treated. That can wait.
Despite that, Paris glimpsed briefly down the third floor corridor at the hospital wing doors as they continued up the steps. She didn’t want Taliesin to worry, so she did her best to hide the shake in her hand, but she couldn’t help clenching it into a fist for a brief moment, resisting the urge to shake out the pain.
Paris decided it was best to keep going at conversation, as the girl was likely still worried about her lateness. “You needn’t worry about being late. The teachers are all a little more lenient with the first years at the beginning of the year as they are still figuring the layout of the castle.”
@Taliesin Annwyn
She shrugged at Taliesin’s comment about her hair, unsure of what to say, and kept walking up the stairs. She made sure her steps were more deliberate this time so that the first year would not be taken by surprise again by another tricky staircase. Paris might have said careful or some other form of caution when another truck step came up, but she got the feeling that this girl was not one who liked to be coddled or directed with every single step, so she settled for her purposeful walk.
They reached the third floor landing and Paris thought fleetingly about getting to the hospital wing, but her mind quickly returned to the present task because in her mind, it’s more important to help this kid than to get my hand treated. That can wait.
Despite that, Paris glimpsed briefly down the third floor corridor at the hospital wing doors as they continued up the steps. She didn’t want Taliesin to worry, so she did her best to hide the shake in her hand, but she couldn’t help clenching it into a fist for a brief moment, resisting the urge to shake out the pain.
Paris decided it was best to keep going at conversation, as the girl was likely still worried about her lateness. “You needn’t worry about being late. The teachers are all a little more lenient with the first years at the beginning of the year as they are still figuring the layout of the castle.”
@Taliesin Annwyn
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
-JRR Tolkien