Unvarnished Guidance PV Tabitha

There was something about the rush at the end of classes each day that continued to cause Tabitha to get swept off her feet. She had deeply hoped that, by now, she would have gotten used to the bustling and jostling. In her naïve hopes before being here, she had thought that by this point she would have her own group of peers to accompany her between and after each class. Unfortunately, that was far from the case. She had met a few peers who she briefly acquainted during class and even once or twice, she had walked with a classmate in the passing period. However, she didn't have a guaranteed group just yet (though she daydreamed about it when lectures got too dry).

Tabitha also hoped that by this point in the year-- though it had only been a few days of classes-- that she would be able to walk without thinking and find her way to where she was going. The problem with that, is the fact that she should know where it is she was going in order to mindlessly get there. At the moment, she didn't have a destination in mind and therefore wandered in some uncertain direction. The unfamiliar hallway might have sparked any semblance of familiarity if it was busy with the crowds after class, but in that brief moment of walking without thinking, most of the other students had cleared out. She could only assume she had taken the path between two of her classes or perhaps part way to the library or the common room, but this segment of the corridor didn't seem familiar.

Tabitha stopped walking only moments after realizing she had most certainly lost her way. She took the moment to pivot on her foot, scanning down the way she came and the crossroads down the hall that intersected this one. None of the paths had any landmarks that she knew. More slowly now, she traced back the way she came, lips pursed in a frown and brow drawn in as her expression gave away her confusion.

She held her bookbag more tightly at her side, hoping for the familiar sensation of it pressed against her to ground her. The last thing she needed was to be even the slightest bit stressed. The moment she panicked, she knew it would ruin the rest of her day. And getting somewhat lost in the first week of school was not something worth ruining her day over.

Thankfully, she was not alone in the hallway, so she gave herself a moment to catch her breath and attempted to make her face more presentable. Then, she spotted the closest other student who seemed unoccupied. He was standing still against the hallway, observing. A still target was preferred over a moving one, especially considering the upperclassman that mostly constituted the few remaining in the hallway. This boy seemed closer to her age and at least somewhat competent in maybe giving directions given his calculating expression.

Tabitha approached from the side, giving him a moment to notice her before barging in, "Apologies for bothering you, but which corridor is this?"

@Harvey Barrows

@Tabitha Murrey

Harvey caught the blonde out of the corner of his eye as she made her approach. Soon she was apologizing for the interruption, so at least this one had proper manners. His dark, beady eyes looked her over for a moment. His expression remained set in stone as she made her plea for aid. First note, this girl was rather tall. Not that most didn't tower over the part-goblin that barely stood above four feet in height, but her face looked quite youthful. However, she was definitely a first year considering the fact that she was lost in the corridors and that presented an opportunity.

The boy remembered his first few weeks Hogwarts. While he was much too proud to ask strangers for help, Harvey had filled every free moment that he could trying to mentally map out the maze of a school. It had been tiring and frustrating work. All of the corridors on each level of the castle all looked the same. Ancient stone lined with portraits and coats of armor, but if you looked closely there were enough distinguishing features to at least tell which floor you were on. Even though he had done the legwork and put in the time, it would have been nice to have a guiding hand along the way.

"No bother." Harvey replied in his usual dry tone. "You're currently on the second floor." His help did not come from the kindness of his heart. The boy didn't have much in the ways of compassion and empathy, but plenty in the way of ambition. You never knew what kind of witch or wizard you were getting on looks alone, so he often had to dig in a bit to see if they are worth the while. If she did have merit, perhaps he could gain a useful connection by taking her under his wing a bit. Surely if he offered some help to the lost girl he might gain a favor in return.

"Harvey Barrows." He would extend his hand for a formal greeting. "Follow me." It was barely a request, so if she had taken his hand he would release his shake, turn face and begin down the corridor. Hopefully she chose to follow or the boy would be talking to himself. "Each of these passageways all look very similar. Obvious statement, I know, but if you pay attention to the small details you can begin to tell them apart." Harvey's little legs didn't offer a great stride, but they could surely churn like a steam engine as they soon came to a stop in front of a particular portrait.

"This here is Tully Tumbleton." With an abnormally long index finger, Harvey would point to a rather fat wizard dressed in bright purple robes in the painting before them. The subject in question would lazily shift his eyes in their direction. "Known for some sort of cauldron handle innovation. Rather boring." Harvey knew some fuss was coming. Boring! How dare you! I'll have you know... Tully was very sensitive, so Harvey would beckon the girl on to save them from the earache. "Not the most exciting wizard to ever live, but his size and colorful robe is an easy marker if you're turned around. Tully Tumbleton, second floor. Questions?" Harvey finally paused and looked up to her with the same stoic expression they had started with.

Tabitha was subconsciously aware that the boy seemed to look her over cynically. It felt rather the same as an introduction to someone at a gala where her mother seemed to push her forward to be examined. She had to resist the urge to draw attention away by shifting her weight to her other foot or fretfully wear her hands together. Instead she managed to stand with enough fake pride in herself and a polite smile, stood back enough she didn't need to look down.

Second floor. How was she on the second floor? Had she gone up a stairwell? When? The puzzlement on her face was unguarded by sheer magnitude. Sure, she'd grown up in homes with questionable blueprints and hidden rooms but Hogwarts was something different. In all the stories from her family, none of them had highlighted or admitted to getting lost. Tabitha was certain they had to have, though, with just the unpredictability of the stairwell in general.

The boy extended his hand to shake and Tabitha didn't hesitate to take it. "Tabitha Murrey," This was an interaction she had done many times and she felt very confident in the introduction. Though his name, Barrows, she quickly ran through her mind, trying to determine if that was a family name she should recognize. Since coming to Hogwarts, she realized just how important it would have been to actually memorize the family trees her mother always hinted towards. She always leant on her family muttering names to her so she knew them for interactions, now she didn't know when it would be useful to. With the poise he carried himself with, Tabitha didn't doubt he very much was likely to be a Pureblood as well.

He quickly moved on, beckoning Tabitha to follow, and she paused for only a moment before following behind him. She would quickly attempt to compose herself, walking with the practiced smooth motions she had learned. There was something in her that wanted to prove herself to the rather stoic boy.

As Harvey spoke, Tabitha would nod, unsure of what the proper spoken reply would be. When he continued, she listened attentively, with more focus than she would at a lecture. This was the kind of practical information that she found actually beneficial. "Tully Tumbleton, Second Floor," She echoed his words back, nodding, committing it to memory. As the painting objected Harvey's comment, Tabitha quickly followed behind him, speaking as she walked, "Do all of the corridors have paintings? What if the people exit the frame? Are the frames distinct as well?" Tabitha straightened once she stopped speaking, inwardly chastising herself for rambling on with her questions.

@Harvey Barrows

@Tabitha Murrey

After giving this girl a solid looking over, Harvey could at least tell that she didn’t buckle under pressure easily. He had noticed that an intense stare could backdown students even a year or two older than him. Something about the direct eye contact made others squirm a bit, but she must have been used to the scrutiny as Harvey’s glare was noticeably judgmental. Perhaps this was a hint at her background? Probably been to a ball or two. Most likely shown of as one of the family’s jewels. No way to tell for sure, but her confidence sis peak Harvey’s interest.

Cordial introductions were made, but the realization of where Tabitha was in the castle left quite the puzzled look on her face. It pained him to remember his own trouble with memorizing the castle as Harvey couldn’t stand not getting something right away. Clearly the designer of this castle was a madman or woman as absolutely nothing about it made sense and that was what drove the boy to come up with his system of identifying his location based on the portraits. Within no time he was cruising the corridors with a confident step.

Her surname did not ring a bell right away, but he committed it to memory so that he could look up the family line later. In the magical community one never knew if they were rubbing elbows with peasants or royalty, so it was good habit to do your research. Harvey knew his own name would mean nothing to her, but he of course did not let on to that in the slightest. His physical traits usually gave him away as a half-breed or at least marked him as different from the norm. Given that goblins have no surnames he couldn’t take one from his grandfather, so he was stuck with the lowly name of Barrows. A Wizarding family of poor stock. A lineage of drunkards and charlatans, but the boy would see a change to that. Barrows would mean something one day.

There was no time for anymore pleasantries as Harvey whisked her away for the guided tour and he was pleased that she didn’t hesitate. The boy had no patience for people unsure of themselves. Tully Tumbleton would serve as their first marker and it was one that had proved quite useful. “Very good. If you can find ole’ Tully then you know that you’re near the end of the corridor on the second floor which will lead you to the stair well. Up one floor for Charms or the Hospital Wing, down a floor for Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic and Muggle Studies.” Harvey had walked it over and over in his free time shortly after arriving in his first year. She would do well to do so too.

“Excellent question. I’m sure you’re no stranger to magical portraits, so they are often empty. I chose Tumbleton not only because he looks like a giant plum, but his portrait frame is golden and his name is on a plaque just under it. You should be able to spot it even if he does leave.” Again, Harvey’s voice would carry a rather informative tone, but that was as close to friendly as she was going to get at the moment. “So, shall we continue up or down a floor. I can show you some other markers that might be helpful and we could discuss any other troubles you may be having? You should have the school mapped out soon, but are you adjusting well otherwise?”

Tabitha assumed it was evident at this point that she had passed whatever check he had to determine her worth. The scrutiny he initially demonstrated had now shifted into a rather useful informant and she was quick to do her best to gain any spared knowledge. She kept up the demeanor that had initially granted the first moment of his time and the small polite smile remained unwavering. Though, the smile may in fact be more genuine than the practiced rest of her self.

Tabitha nodded along as he spoke. Firstly, describing their location in reference to other stories. (It may be due time that she familiarized herself to where the Hospital Wing resided. She had yet to have needed their assistance, but it would only be a matter of days, she assumed, before that may change). He then went on to describe notable features regarding the frame itself to identify Tulle's picture and Tabitha continued dutifully nodding.

"I would be more than welcome to have the continued guidance," Tabitha spoke and then seemed to realize she may have come off a bit too pretentious. The words sounded too much like her father agreeing on a tour of some manicured garden. The next time, she tried with a bit more casual politeness to her tone, "As long as you have nowhere else to be. You have already been immensely helpful,"

Tabitha briefly considered grabbing a notebook out of her satchel and writing down notes regarding the halls and sketching out some attempt at a map. Though, she wasn't sure if that would seem rude and not giving Harvey her full attention. As of this point, she seemed fairly comfortable remembering the tips she'd been given so far, so she tucked the thought away for later, if details began to slip her mind.

She then realized he had in fact ended with a question she neglected to respond to. "I am adjusting well enough. There's much to take in but I've not had any issues-- aside from the riddle-locked Ravenclaw door," It was the sort of practiced reply, once more. But it seemed rather evident in her expression, she had not yet given it much thought and was only now considering the quality of her settling in.

"I assume you're not a first year?" Tabitha spoke, again, initially without thinking much of it. She was a bit worried about over-familiarizing herself and inadvertently pushing away this pragmatic peer, but certainly a few tidbits of casual conversation were in good taste.

@Harvey Barrows

@Tabitha Murrey

It continued to please Harvey that this young witch was following along so well. Being thrust into such a large student body came with the terrible reality of having to suffer fools and idiots. It was always a nice change of pace to interact with someone with a sharp mind and an observant eye. Perhaps this Tabitha would be worth getting to know better. If he could find out what made her tick then maybe he could keep her coming back? While it was always nice to make a genuine friend, those relationships were hard to come by. Especially for someone as particular as Harvey, but building transactional relationships would keep his circle flush with favors.

Tabitha answered with a practiced tone. One that had Harvey shooting her a calculated gaze, but he wasn't bothered by it. More so further intrigued by how well she spoke. "I wouldn't have offered if I didn't think it worth while." His own tone was firm, but not biting. Just enough to let her know that he was willing to help because for now she was keeping his interest. "I am happy to assist those that are willing to learn and those willing to give back." It was always a two way street with Harvey and he had no qualms with being honest about that. "But please, let's continue." No need to dive in too deep when introductions were just made, but he dangled the carrot just to see.

Harvey nodded along as Tabitha explained how she was settling in. "Slytherin myself, but I've heard of that pesky door of yours." It seemed silly that the common room door would be locked behind a riddle every time. Like that was the epitome of being wise. "If that's your biggest trouble so far, I would say you're doing quite well." Harvey had seen people struggle quite a bit when first starting at Hogwarts. He tried not to judge, but it was usually a turn off if he was being honest about it.

"Second year." Harvey confirmed. "I was fortunate to have a successful first year and I'm feeling confident in the year to come." He tried not to brag too much, but his hard work and dedication had paid off in a huge way. "It can be helpful to have friends who can offer you assistance along the way." The olive branch was there for the grabbing if she wanted. "Let's go up a floor, shall we? The trophy room is worth a visit if you haven't seen it yet. So, tell me Tabitha, any of the subjects standing out as a favorite so far?"