The Cost of Curiosity pv: Matt

Date: 24th May 2026

Months he had spent pondering over every useless word in hours of dreadful literature in this place with little to no success. Articles older than his parents written with the apparent sophistication that to him just read as pompous arrogance. Letters detailing fragments that could contain exactly what he needed only to be footnotes.

Matthew was exhausted, more so than he could even express but still he drudged through more and more pointless texts vigorously for he had no choice. The potions would only last so long, and with what he had discovered the day before he knew where the answers lay.

Hidden in a small alcove he could use to observe the whole library he kept a beady eye of everything. The summary of the narrative he had just been reading only spoke of the dangers of memory magic as a concept without any actual evidential support. By Merlin he had heard all about the dangers by now, text upon text had warned him what he was doing would demand consequence but he was already playing a losing game.

Damning the book back to its shelf where it could once again collect dust, he continued his observations of the space particularly eyeing the ever obnoxiously present restricted section. The temptation was so outlandish to have it right in sight despite the knowledge he could not enter. Matthew was not foolish enough to try during the hours of day, such was a guaranteed detention, but that did not mean he was not plotting.

Most of the collective gaggle of students were busy studying for exams or gruelling over the overly complicated homework's assignments they had been prescribed. Still there was always something interesting to be found when one looked closely enough. A girl below sat with her book placed elegantly in front of her matching the overall air of class and aristocracy she held, clearly a pure blood if appearances were to suggest, but that was not what intrigued him.

You see the brunette was positioned in such a way to suggest her perfect devotion to studying, the kind of pristine, studious persona all purebloods were meant to pretend to be, but Matthew knew that more often than not that was just an act. So he watched her, and in that time he noticed how all too often her focus was not on her book whatever it may be, but on the very place of his own fascination. Though the question remained what she wanted that required restriction?

Judging from her size she had to be a first year or second at most. She had all the semblance of a Slytherin but given his lack of presence within the common areas since Illowy left he could hardly chastise himself for not knowing if she was. Yet as he pondered her intentions it almost seemed as if she answered his call and began walking towards the very door itself. Brazen but not entirely moronic she clung to a nearby shelf appearing to those who did not suspect her to be simply lingering over texts but he knew better. And with his multitude of experience in getting in trouble he knew he better interfere before she got herself into a whole heap of trouble.

Sliding out of his seat he glided down to where she was positioning himself on the other side of the bookshelf and then parting the books to where they could look eye to eye he whispered through the shelves, "If you're going to try something that ridiculously stupid, might I suggest at least doing it after dark." The girl had no need to know that he had plans to do the very same thing in the future, she didn't need to know anything about him for all he cared. But if she was determined to break the rules he was going to at least be sure she did it well.

Interacting with @Tes Cadell

a 𝓢 𝓘 𝓢 𝓢 𝓨 a

𝓒 𝓐 𝓓 𝓔 𝓛 𝓛

WC:350

Location: Library

OOC Note: N/A

Date: 24.05.26

Outfits: Reducio

Mentions: Reducio @Matthew Campbell

Speech: Reducio Sissy -Matt -

French|English|Parselmouth

When I believe I had laid out a pretty good plan my lips curved iinto a small smile. Every movement had been accounted for. Everything timed. It was simple, really. Almost disappointingly so.
Well. That was before my thoughts were interrupted by an unfamiliar voice, "If you're going to try something that ridiculously stupid, might I suggest at least doing it after dark." I turned towards the source of noise, which, conveniently, was right in front of me.
I paused my movements.
Only then did I adjust my gaze toward the gap between the shelves, meeting his eyes through the narrow space he'd decided to interrupt. Then, I shifted, my fingers trailing along the spines of the books as though it was my initial intention.
I was actually quietly assessing the stranger. Older, vaguely familiar- maybe I spotted him in the Common Room a few times, too comfortable and observant.
Annoying. Probably thought he owned the place too.
“How... interesting” I said in a quiet voice, my tone almost sounding sarcastic, “I don’t recall asking for guidance.” I outlined sharply.

I picked up a book, willing to carry on with my performance. I knew he probably saw right through it. People like him always thought they found the solution to an unexistant problem. But that wasn’t the point. Others didn't notice and they wouldn’t notice
I had no intention of turning this into something louder than it needed to be, so I picked up a book, like any sane person in a library would, an opened it to a random page, “And if anyone looks ridiculous” I added, replying to his previous comment, “it’s the boy hiding behind the shelves” I pointed out, eying him up and down as I firmly shut a book before placing it back where it belonged.
He seemed like a pain. Putting his nose in other people's business like he already knew my intention. He was right, of course, but he did not need to know that, or give him the right to lecture me
Right now, he was just an obstacle to get through.

Stamina: 5 | Evasion: 4 | Strength: 2 | Wisdom: 7 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 3
Abilities: Parselmouth