2 Apr 2018, 03:13
Small Thrills
The stone room of the Small Hall looked positively welcoming after a hasty breakfast in the Great Hall. Lucy had not had time to explore this room, but she knew from her fellow housemates that today would be a day to get one's bearings before venturing into the thrill and struggle of daily classes and expectations. While there were things that she knew were on her schedule - Hufflepuff Girl's Dorm Meeting, 3pm; Official Owlery Introduction, 4pm, she also had some free time this morning to explore the castle. At first she was shocked that she was allowed to roam free, but then she reasoned that certain charms and protection spells must be in place to keep most students out of trouble.
Her stomach gurgled happily from her breakfast of eggs and bacon, juice, and a roll. She had a lazy, self-satisfied smile on her face as she slowly approached one wall of the room, gazing at the moving paintings in awe. She had seen moving paintings, of course, since her dad was a wizard and there were a few in her own house. However, she knew that these were different. These people were important - well, more important than her great aunt Aideen. She paused before a set of photos that contained a well-dressed woman, a sleeping, corpulent man, and a thin man that was pointedly looking away from her curious eyes.
"Well?" came a harsh, nasal voice. Lucy jumped, her eyes snapping back to the well-dressed woman. "Did you come here just to gawk? Don't you have classes to attend?"
Lucy was unsure how to respond. Her great aunt Aideen had always said meaningless platitudes as she passed by, like, "Don't you look lovely, dear?" or, "You get bigger every day!" Lucy had never considered answering her great aunt. From the look of the severe woman in the portrait, it was clear than an answer was expected.
"Um -" she started, only to be cut off.
"Don't be timid!" snapped the woman, her eyes needling into Lucy's own.
"My schedule is currently free, ma'am. I wanted to explore Hogwarts a bit more before I was locked into a strict schedule of classes and other duties. I'm a first year, so I want to learn all I can. I figured a good place to start would be with all of you - people who were important enough to have their portrait hung in the only Small Hall of Hogwarts." Lucy flashed her signature grin at the severe woman, clearly unable to see the annoyance on her face.
"Hmph! Flattery. Well, I did not come back to this frame just to be gawked at by some spindly Irish girl. See to it that you do something worthwhile with your time while you attend here." With that remark, the woman promptly strolled out of the right side of the frame.
Her stomach gurgled happily from her breakfast of eggs and bacon, juice, and a roll. She had a lazy, self-satisfied smile on her face as she slowly approached one wall of the room, gazing at the moving paintings in awe. She had seen moving paintings, of course, since her dad was a wizard and there were a few in her own house. However, she knew that these were different. These people were important - well, more important than her great aunt Aideen. She paused before a set of photos that contained a well-dressed woman, a sleeping, corpulent man, and a thin man that was pointedly looking away from her curious eyes.
"Well?" came a harsh, nasal voice. Lucy jumped, her eyes snapping back to the well-dressed woman. "Did you come here just to gawk? Don't you have classes to attend?"
Lucy was unsure how to respond. Her great aunt Aideen had always said meaningless platitudes as she passed by, like, "Don't you look lovely, dear?" or, "You get bigger every day!" Lucy had never considered answering her great aunt. From the look of the severe woman in the portrait, it was clear than an answer was expected.
"Um -" she started, only to be cut off.
"Don't be timid!" snapped the woman, her eyes needling into Lucy's own.
"My schedule is currently free, ma'am. I wanted to explore Hogwarts a bit more before I was locked into a strict schedule of classes and other duties. I'm a first year, so I want to learn all I can. I figured a good place to start would be with all of you - people who were important enough to have their portrait hung in the only Small Hall of Hogwarts." Lucy flashed her signature grin at the severe woman, clearly unable to see the annoyance on her face.
"Hmph! Flattery. Well, I did not come back to this frame just to be gawked at by some spindly Irish girl. See to it that you do something worthwhile with your time while you attend here." With that remark, the woman promptly strolled out of the right side of the frame.
3 Apr 2018, 15:58
Small Thrills
Reducio
Hey! Sorry for the late reply. Have had a lot of real-life events I’ve had to catch up on. Happy to start this now!
It had been roughly a week since Anatole had begun this whole escapade of becoming a wizard. He had already made friends and enemies, scarred himself mentally quite a few times, and gotten beat up with snow. It hurt. A lot.
For now, all he needed was a break.
Well, and to find one last room for Adam’s challenge, since he had already claimed the trophy room.
So here he was, wandering mindlessly through the corridors, eventually coming upon the Small Hall. He hadn’t eaten anything this morning, but he withstood hunger like a survivalist. It was strange.
In the Small Hall, Anatole was wide-eyed at the elaborate paintings. This was one room he hadn’t taken the time to explore.
If you knew Anatole, you knew he was very clumsy outside of when he danced. He even fell at the Sorting Ceremony, tripping up to the stage. So naturally, while he was distracted, he ran into the wall and heard a...scream? “Excuse me, sir, what are you doing budging into me?”
It was a voice Anatole could not pinpoint, so the Gryffindor boy stood back, curious and just a little nauseous. The wall hit harder than any sort of snowball. ”Oh, my bad, sir...wherever you are!”
The painting just stared at him as Anatole stepped backwards, not very wary of his surroundings. “Here, Lion. I’m here.”
Anatole jumped, finally noticing the painting of an elegant elderly man, dressed in waiter’s clothes (similar to the documentaries and equally elegant movies). It just stared at him, annoyed.
The Gryffindor accidentally fell back onto the other real girl in the room with a small yelp. The paintings mocked him, laughing. Anatole’s voice cracked, and he turned around, noticing the Hufflepuff. ”Oh! Hi, sorry about that.” This was one of the few times he wasn’t afraid to apologize. Maybe this new girl could become another of his friends.
4 Apr 2018, 04:42
Small Thrills
"Ow, what -" Lucy exclaimed, stumbling backwards as a first-year Gryffindor smacked into her. "Oi!" she huffed, rubbing her bicep. His elbow had landed solidly into the middle of her arm as he had retreated from... from what? She looked up in alarm, trying to find the threat. When she saw the laughing paintings and the snooty waiter, she rolled her eyes.
She jerked her head to the paintings on the wall. "They're rather stuck up for being 2D, eh?" she asked with a grin, the minor injury already forgiven. Though it had fled from her mind, her right arm still held her left, absentmindedly rubbing the tender spot. "Seriously, I just tried to talk to a woman who used to be in that one," she gestured to a painting of a luxurious room with a dark chaise that was recently vacated by the obnoxious woman. "She got mad at me for admiring her! Seriously. And they say our generation is 'entitled'... whatever that means. I just heard it a lot at school. I mean... not this school. My old one. Anyway..." she wiped her palm on her robe, thinking that it might still be sticky from breakfast. "My name's Lucy O'Sullivan. I'm not from an important family or anything. I just feel like my first name sounds better when I say my last name with it. It's a presentation thing."
She paused, taking a breath. Lucy was not capable of observing and talking at the same time, which meant a lot of things went unnoticed. She blinked purposefully, finally taking in the boy that had bumped into her. He looked friendly enough. Her grin widened, and she stuck out her hand for him to shake.
She jerked her head to the paintings on the wall. "They're rather stuck up for being 2D, eh?" she asked with a grin, the minor injury already forgiven. Though it had fled from her mind, her right arm still held her left, absentmindedly rubbing the tender spot. "Seriously, I just tried to talk to a woman who used to be in that one," she gestured to a painting of a luxurious room with a dark chaise that was recently vacated by the obnoxious woman. "She got mad at me for admiring her! Seriously. And they say our generation is 'entitled'... whatever that means. I just heard it a lot at school. I mean... not this school. My old one. Anyway..." she wiped her palm on her robe, thinking that it might still be sticky from breakfast. "My name's Lucy O'Sullivan. I'm not from an important family or anything. I just feel like my first name sounds better when I say my last name with it. It's a presentation thing."
She paused, taking a breath. Lucy was not capable of observing and talking at the same time, which meant a lot of things went unnoticed. She blinked purposefully, finally taking in the boy that had bumped into her. He looked friendly enough. Her grin widened, and she stuck out her hand for him to shake.
5 Apr 2018, 04:50
Small Thrills
Anatole scrambled off the floor, getting to his feet hastily and clumsily. He didn't expect the girl, especially a Hufflepuff, sweet and attractive, unlike anything Anatole ever was. He tried to laugh, but once again it came out awkward and awry. Luckily, she joined in after noticing the waiter, who raised an eyebrow at her. "Some school, isn't it," Anatole commented with a smirk. "Stuck up indeed," he muttered into her ear and under his breath. Would be a shame if she couldn't hear with her blonde hair in front of her ears.
At her tale, Anatole cackled even louder. "Are you kidding me? That's hilarious! Me? Entitled? Preposterous!" He kept laughing, gripping tightly onto the stranger's shoulder for balance. He didn't care if she thought the gesture was weird. Also, Anatole wasn't sure whether the entitled comment was valid or not. Patricia had always said he was like every other lonely kid, except for a few distinctive features she wished she could touch, but couldn't. They were intangible.
Anatole held back a giggle successfully this time."Well, now if you're a fan of well-sounding names, boy, do I have one for you!" He cleared his throat, once again imitating the prince he had always wanted to be. It would make her think fonder of him, possibly. "Anatole Evans, at your service." He bowed, later taking her hand and jostling it up and down. He was never shy of a new friend when it happened.
At her tale, Anatole cackled even louder. "Are you kidding me? That's hilarious! Me? Entitled? Preposterous!" He kept laughing, gripping tightly onto the stranger's shoulder for balance. He didn't care if she thought the gesture was weird. Also, Anatole wasn't sure whether the entitled comment was valid or not. Patricia had always said he was like every other lonely kid, except for a few distinctive features she wished she could touch, but couldn't. They were intangible.
Anatole held back a giggle successfully this time."Well, now if you're a fan of well-sounding names, boy, do I have one for you!" He cleared his throat, once again imitating the prince he had always wanted to be. It would make her think fonder of him, possibly. "Anatole Evans, at your service." He bowed, later taking her hand and jostling it up and down. He was never shy of a new friend when it happened.
5 Apr 2018, 05:36
Small Thrills
Lucy grinned at the comment Anatole made under his breath into her ear. The waiter, as if expecting the remark to be about him, took offence and also vacated his painting. Sensitive bunch, she thought to herself and laughed, joining in with Anatole. She wasn't quite sure why he was laughing, but she enjoyed it anyway. She felt the weight of his hand pull her a bit, as if he were using her for balance. She wasn't sure if he was having trouble balancing because he was laughing so hard or if he wasn't feeling well. Maybe his head bumped the wall before he fell on me, she mused to herself, still grinning at the boy.
"Well, now if you're a fan of well-sounding names, boy, do I have one for you!"
She paused expectantly, but jumped a bit as he bowed before he pumped her arm vigorously. She returned the handshake firmly and shook back with just as much enthusiasm. "Anatole? What a perfectly marvellous name! You don't even need to add your last name onto that to make it sound impressive. You're lucky," she added, smiling. "You could be a one-name person if you wanted to be. There are very few first names in the world that have that ability."
Her eyes danced mirthfully as she took a step back. She adjusted her robe so it sat properly on her shoulders again. Her parents had bought it a bit big so she could grow into it when she hit her annual growth spurt in the spring, and it had gone slightly awry after the body slam and handshake.
"So, what are you up to for the rest of the day? I have some Hufflepuff stuff later with my prefect, but I'm trying to decide how best to explore until then. Say, you aren't a Hufflepuff, are you? At least, I haven't noticed you if you are. I mean, that isn't to say you aren't noteworthy, it's just that I don't notice a lot of things. Well, I think I notice the average amount of things, but my mum is always telling me that I don't notice anything, so I guess she would know."
"Well, now if you're a fan of well-sounding names, boy, do I have one for you!"
She paused expectantly, but jumped a bit as he bowed before he pumped her arm vigorously. She returned the handshake firmly and shook back with just as much enthusiasm. "Anatole? What a perfectly marvellous name! You don't even need to add your last name onto that to make it sound impressive. You're lucky," she added, smiling. "You could be a one-name person if you wanted to be. There are very few first names in the world that have that ability."
Her eyes danced mirthfully as she took a step back. She adjusted her robe so it sat properly on her shoulders again. Her parents had bought it a bit big so she could grow into it when she hit her annual growth spurt in the spring, and it had gone slightly awry after the body slam and handshake.
"So, what are you up to for the rest of the day? I have some Hufflepuff stuff later with my prefect, but I'm trying to decide how best to explore until then. Say, you aren't a Hufflepuff, are you? At least, I haven't noticed you if you are. I mean, that isn't to say you aren't noteworthy, it's just that I don't notice a lot of things. Well, I think I notice the average amount of things, but my mum is always telling me that I don't notice anything, so I guess she would know."
Last edited by Lucy O'Sullivan on 9 Apr 2018, 05:16, edited 1 time in total.
8 Apr 2018, 18:05
Small Thrills
For once, the disturbing, eerie stone hall lost its spookiness. Anatole felt confident enough to mute out the jeers of the framed masterpieces behind him and focus on the real person there, the girl. Her name rolled off the tongue and felt amazing to say aloud. Lucy O'Sullivan. Not as easy to remember, however.
Her bright, warm, slightly crooked smile coaxed Anatole to reflect one back at her. She thought he was funny, Rosie thought he was funny...really? That was another thing Anatole never thought of himself as: a jokester. "Blame my parents, I wasn't able to grant myself this name. Almost as if I struck it rich." He looked behind her, at the paintings, and a woman's bone-rattling stare from the painting behind Lucy. "Took me a few years to find out how to say it, you know."
"One name? Sounds fascinating, actually." She was right, it could have been great. If he ever became a prince, they could just call him Prince Anatole, no need for the surname. The radio would synchronize his name with a high title, and everyone could just call out "Anatole"
and only one person would turn his head in humourous reply.
"So, what are you up to for the rest of the day? Say, you aren't a Hufflepuff, are you?"
Anatole turned around, revealing the red on his cloak. "You are indeed correct, I'm not Hufflepuff. I'm a bold Gryffindor. I don't have much all to do today except explore, attend one or two classes, catch up with friends, and write. Well, the joke column for the Gryffpost, specifically." He led her down the Small Hall, taking his arm in hers. "Anyways, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
This girl just made Anatole's bland day much better.
Her bright, warm, slightly crooked smile coaxed Anatole to reflect one back at her. She thought he was funny, Rosie thought he was funny...really? That was another thing Anatole never thought of himself as: a jokester. "Blame my parents, I wasn't able to grant myself this name. Almost as if I struck it rich." He looked behind her, at the paintings, and a woman's bone-rattling stare from the painting behind Lucy. "Took me a few years to find out how to say it, you know."
"One name? Sounds fascinating, actually." She was right, it could have been great. If he ever became a prince, they could just call him Prince Anatole, no need for the surname. The radio would synchronize his name with a high title, and everyone could just call out "Anatole"
and only one person would turn his head in humourous reply.
"So, what are you up to for the rest of the day? Say, you aren't a Hufflepuff, are you?"
Anatole turned around, revealing the red on his cloak. "You are indeed correct, I'm not Hufflepuff. I'm a bold Gryffindor. I don't have much all to do today except explore, attend one or two classes, catch up with friends, and write. Well, the joke column for the Gryffpost, specifically." He led her down the Small Hall, taking his arm in hers. "Anyways, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
This girl just made Anatole's bland day much better.
9 Apr 2018, 05:29
Small Thrills
She nodded as he spun, showing her his cloak colour. She was glad that she had not somehow missed him in the Hufflepuff introductions. That would have been rude and embarrassing for both of them. She raised her eyebrows when he took her arm as they walked out of the Small Hall. Are all Gryffindors like this? she wondered to herself, charmed and dumbfounded. Was this really just an eleven-year-old that she was walking with? He was the most gentlemanly person she had ever met.
"I don't have much all to do today except explore, attend one or two classes, catch up with friends, and write. Well, the joke column for the Gryffpost, specifically."
She latched onto those words, an idea forming in her head. Before she could pursue it further, she stopped in her tracks, abruptly halting them in the middle of the corridor. "You write a joke column? YES! I love jokes. Can I read it?" She grabbed his arm and shook him a little with excitement. She paused as a new thought came into her head. "Wait, can students from other houses read the Gryffpost? Or is that against the rules or something?"
She hadn't heard of anyone in Hufflepuff reading the paper from any other house, though she wasn't sure there really was a desire to do so. Her brows scrunched together as she tried to recall what she was thinking before she had gotten excited about his joke column. Something about... today... and... exploring!
She turned to him. "I was hoping to explore today as well! I haven't seen much of anything, just the basic areas. Did you have anywhere in mind? If so, can I tag along? I mean, it's okay if I can't, I am sure I'll find somewhere to go, but I thought it'd be more fun to have company. More is always better!" Lucy threw her arms wide, as if to encompass the other students passing in the corridor in her proclamation.
"I don't have much all to do today except explore, attend one or two classes, catch up with friends, and write. Well, the joke column for the Gryffpost, specifically."
She latched onto those words, an idea forming in her head. Before she could pursue it further, she stopped in her tracks, abruptly halting them in the middle of the corridor. "You write a joke column? YES! I love jokes. Can I read it?" She grabbed his arm and shook him a little with excitement. She paused as a new thought came into her head. "Wait, can students from other houses read the Gryffpost? Or is that against the rules or something?"
She hadn't heard of anyone in Hufflepuff reading the paper from any other house, though she wasn't sure there really was a desire to do so. Her brows scrunched together as she tried to recall what she was thinking before she had gotten excited about his joke column. Something about... today... and... exploring!
She turned to him. "I was hoping to explore today as well! I haven't seen much of anything, just the basic areas. Did you have anywhere in mind? If so, can I tag along? I mean, it's okay if I can't, I am sure I'll find somewhere to go, but I thought it'd be more fun to have company. More is always better!" Lucy threw her arms wide, as if to encompass the other students passing in the corridor in her proclamation.
13 Apr 2018, 03:50
Small Thrills
Reducio
Once again, apologies for my late reply! Been caught up in other threads, procrastination, and real-life work.
This was it, almost picturesque. He had let a smidgen of his persona take the lead again, and here he was, strolling down an elegant hall with an equally elegant girl. Wait until Adam and Kaegen saw this! His dreams might as well been accomplished right then and there. Patricia would have been proud.
However, he thought that he would be doing this with Rosie instead of this...Lucy.
Anatole's persona was judgemental, so he shook his head, hopefully erasing it from his mind. He refused to let the picky self choose out his friends: which ones were better, and which ones were worse.
A broad smile upon his face, the duo continued to walk down the hall, until a jolt came from his left side. The girl had stopped them abruptly; Anatole almost collapsed again. She grinned at his comment about the joke-writing. Was he even supposed to tell her that, since the Gryffpost was exclusively Gryffindor? "Well, erm..." His voice was swallowed up by mutters from inside the paintings. "I'll see what I can do about the segment." Anatole sighed, frantically trying to please her. "My style of humour is a little more elaborate than the normal one-liner, I guess. I could uh...what could I do?" He gave a nervous chuckle, turning towards her and scratching his head. "I'll see if I can remember one of my old ones...uh...maybe a little later." He looked into her eyes with a smirk. "But certainly, we may explore together!"
He stepped forward, leading his lady in the dance of exploration. At first, they would interlock arms, striding through the hall as if it was a ballroom of their own. Heads spun as they passed by more and more exquisite paintings, adorned on finished walls. It was a simple choreography, one he could teach easily to his newfound friend.
14 Apr 2018, 05:33
Small Thrills
Lucy easily ignored the muttering paintings. She was too excited about the possibilities that lay in store inside the castle. "Excellent. Well, you can always owl it to me. Who knows how busy we will be after today. I hope we have classes together. I've met loads of Hufflepuffs, but it is hard to meet people outside of your house. So it'd be nice to have someone to compete with," she smirked, relaxing as they strolled along arm in arm.
Lucy was having a grand time. New school, new friends... this was easy. Even non-Hufflepuff first-years seemed eager to make friends and establish some sort of group or link to one another, so she hadn't run into any major strife. How different this Gryffindor was from her fellow Hufflepuffs, though! He almost seemed... fake? No, not quite. There was just a bit of conflicting personality, but Lucy didn't think too hard about it. Her mind was already frittering to the next thing.
"Oh, look at this!" she cried, pointing to a tapestry as they strolled farther away from the populated thoroughfares. Her hand reached out to touch - always a tactile person - and she gave a little cry of exclamation as her hand went farther back than the wall the tapestry was supposed to be hanging on.
"What?" she whispered to herself, under her breath. For a moment, she forgot about Anatole and focused solely on the tapestry. The beautiful weaving of an idyllic scene played itself in front of her. It was a scene of students playing Quidditch on a striking green pitch with loads of fans in the stands. The busy pattern obscured the slight depression beneath the fabric.
Both of her hands grasped the left edge of the tapestry and peeled it back a bit. "Blimey," she whispered again. Behind the tapestry sat a wooden door with an old fashioned O-ring hanger. It looked old, but somehow well-maintained. There were no signs of cobwebs or decay. "What is this?" she asked herself, peeling back the tapestry farther. She glanced around, realising that maybe she wasn't supposed to explore all of the castle, and jumped slightly when she saw Anatole. Oh yeah, she laughed inwardly, Duh. Of course you aren't alone.
She gestured to the door. "Where do you think this goes?"
Lucy was having a grand time. New school, new friends... this was easy. Even non-Hufflepuff first-years seemed eager to make friends and establish some sort of group or link to one another, so she hadn't run into any major strife. How different this Gryffindor was from her fellow Hufflepuffs, though! He almost seemed... fake? No, not quite. There was just a bit of conflicting personality, but Lucy didn't think too hard about it. Her mind was already frittering to the next thing.
"Oh, look at this!" she cried, pointing to a tapestry as they strolled farther away from the populated thoroughfares. Her hand reached out to touch - always a tactile person - and she gave a little cry of exclamation as her hand went farther back than the wall the tapestry was supposed to be hanging on.
"What?" she whispered to herself, under her breath. For a moment, she forgot about Anatole and focused solely on the tapestry. The beautiful weaving of an idyllic scene played itself in front of her. It was a scene of students playing Quidditch on a striking green pitch with loads of fans in the stands. The busy pattern obscured the slight depression beneath the fabric.
Both of her hands grasped the left edge of the tapestry and peeled it back a bit. "Blimey," she whispered again. Behind the tapestry sat a wooden door with an old fashioned O-ring hanger. It looked old, but somehow well-maintained. There were no signs of cobwebs or decay. "What is this?" she asked herself, peeling back the tapestry farther. She glanced around, realising that maybe she wasn't supposed to explore all of the castle, and jumped slightly when she saw Anatole. Oh yeah, she laughed inwardly, Duh. Of course you aren't alone.
She gestured to the door. "Where do you think this goes?"
19 Apr 2018, 14:17
Small Thrills
Was caught up in writing the new Advanced Summoning Lesson.
Anatole grimaced, looking at the girl. "The deadline's soon and I don't have a single lick of an idea about what I want to write. Maybe you could help me once we get somewhere." He breathed in, still strolling through the hall. The atmosphere felt warm and inviting, ironic considering that cold attitude of the paintings. "I hope so too. Don't think I'm weird or anything, but you look like an alright friend." The young wizard snickered. "The funnier thing is I actually haven't met as many Gryffindors as I originally expected. My best best friend is a Hufflepuff," he tried not to rub it in her face that he already had a best friend, but he wasn't sure what his voice did to morph it, "and I'm not a huge fan of Ravenclaws for whom I've met, and uh Slytherin are a whole different story!" He laughed, leaning on the girl a little. As usual, he noted it wasn't love, but rather just friendship.
However, she wasn't like Rosie. She wasn't a substitute.
Anatole flinched at her small yelp, his attention flickering toward the painting. He smiled as it recoiled back, maybe even afraid of the blonde girl. These places were peculiar.
He cleared his throat, trying his best to act noble, even attempting a terrible haughty accent. "I see, I see, my lady. Interesting indeed! A fascinating scenario!" Anatole somehow didn't break out laughing.
However, the boy grew more alarmed as she took the painting off of its hanger. The Quidditch players didn't move as she removed it. Instantly, Anatole warned her, dropping the accent. "Oh, well, I...I really don't think you should do that, what if someone comes...?" Anatole's head whipped both ways, checking the coast was clear. "Are you...sure that this is legal?"
Anatole didn't know what to tell her. "I, well, I don't know where it goes..." It was strange when Anatole couldn't control his words in situations like this. He wanted to not get sucked into another corridor, since Kyden had done that to him already and the whole journey there he was petrified. Thankfully, this Hufflepuff seemed much less intimidating, so he agreed.
"I'm in. Let's follow it."
Anatole grimaced, looking at the girl. "The deadline's soon and I don't have a single lick of an idea about what I want to write. Maybe you could help me once we get somewhere." He breathed in, still strolling through the hall. The atmosphere felt warm and inviting, ironic considering that cold attitude of the paintings. "I hope so too. Don't think I'm weird or anything, but you look like an alright friend." The young wizard snickered. "The funnier thing is I actually haven't met as many Gryffindors as I originally expected. My best best friend is a Hufflepuff," he tried not to rub it in her face that he already had a best friend, but he wasn't sure what his voice did to morph it, "and I'm not a huge fan of Ravenclaws for whom I've met, and uh Slytherin are a whole different story!" He laughed, leaning on the girl a little. As usual, he noted it wasn't love, but rather just friendship.
However, she wasn't like Rosie. She wasn't a substitute.
Anatole flinched at her small yelp, his attention flickering toward the painting. He smiled as it recoiled back, maybe even afraid of the blonde girl. These places were peculiar.
He cleared his throat, trying his best to act noble, even attempting a terrible haughty accent. "I see, I see, my lady. Interesting indeed! A fascinating scenario!" Anatole somehow didn't break out laughing.
However, the boy grew more alarmed as she took the painting off of its hanger. The Quidditch players didn't move as she removed it. Instantly, Anatole warned her, dropping the accent. "Oh, well, I...I really don't think you should do that, what if someone comes...?" Anatole's head whipped both ways, checking the coast was clear. "Are you...sure that this is legal?"
Anatole didn't know what to tell her. "I, well, I don't know where it goes..." It was strange when Anatole couldn't control his words in situations like this. He wanted to not get sucked into another corridor, since Kyden had done that to him already and the whole journey there he was petrified. Thankfully, this Hufflepuff seemed much less intimidating, so he agreed.
"I'm in. Let's follow it."